RE: SOTW: Alfa Romeo 166 3.0
Discussion
Had one for four years, sold it recently to buy GTV V6 (very early midlife crisis).
Great cars, very few left. The manual V6 is a great four door stallion, the late 3.2 are rare and a find, very few good ones left.. Yes they need love but they reward you with such a sense of wellbeing and exclusivity you could only find in a QP.
Sure the germans are more completent and reliable, have a E class in my stable now (Frauline workhorse)..
But in these days of humdrum, a good example of 166 sits with its head above the rest..
The bug first hit when i saw one soon after launch, late night heading out of london on the M4 elevated section.. Black with Milan plates.. it looked fanastic... like a Gucci suit.. It was charging down its own automotive catwalk..
PS They handle suprisingly well esp with koni sports suspension..
Over n out
Great cars, very few left. The manual V6 is a great four door stallion, the late 3.2 are rare and a find, very few good ones left.. Yes they need love but they reward you with such a sense of wellbeing and exclusivity you could only find in a QP.
Sure the germans are more completent and reliable, have a E class in my stable now (Frauline workhorse)..
But in these days of humdrum, a good example of 166 sits with its head above the rest..
The bug first hit when i saw one soon after launch, late night heading out of london on the M4 elevated section.. Black with Milan plates.. it looked fanastic... like a Gucci suit.. It was charging down its own automotive catwalk..
PS They handle suprisingly well esp with koni sports suspension..
Over n out
cjgreaves41 said:
Yep that is a nice ride! Shed heaven.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgG1wF7OZn4
Just drive it and as soon as anything expensive conks
out take the seats indoors and call them TV-chairs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgG1wF7OZn4
Just drive it and as soon as anything expensive conks
out take the seats indoors and call them TV-chairs.
There was one of the last ones on an 06 up for auction at Manheim Colchester last night I couldn't help but logon and watch.
CAP Clean about 2200 IIRC....sold for about £4500. Some people really want them.
FWIW they're better built than anything Mercedes could manage from the same era and the 3 I had for various periods gave little trouble. They have some very specific, and very common, things which give trouble but if you keep on top of those they're not badly built.
If you look how many are for sale with 150-200k on the clock they can't spend that much time off the road!
CAP Clean about 2200 IIRC....sold for about £4500. Some people really want them.
FWIW they're better built than anything Mercedes could manage from the same era and the 3 I had for various periods gave little trouble. They have some very specific, and very common, things which give trouble but if you keep on top of those they're not badly built.
If you look how many are for sale with 150-200k on the clock they can't spend that much time off the road!
One of the teams on the Screwball Rally ran one of these this year.
It did 2,000 miles of heavy footed European driving with casual ease as I understand it.
When I got to one of the campsites one evening, they were parked up with the engine running. When I asked why they'd left her ticking over, they showed me a mini fridge they had connected to it on the back seat.
They were using the Busso V6 to chill their beer! Madness!
Sirs - I salute you and your reckless disregard for economy in pursuit of cold lager.
It did 2,000 miles of heavy footed European driving with casual ease as I understand it.
When I got to one of the campsites one evening, they were parked up with the engine running. When I asked why they'd left her ticking over, they showed me a mini fridge they had connected to it on the back seat.
They were using the Busso V6 to chill their beer! Madness!
Sirs - I salute you and your reckless disregard for economy in pursuit of cold lager.
i had one for a couple years and it didnt cause any more maintenence issue than any other car iv had (e36 328i, type r, currently x5).
It was brilliant to drive and i actually liked the front end.
find one with service history and get the belts changed when you buy it and your laughing.
What else could you buy for sub 1k money with extras that you get in a 166.
It was brilliant to drive and i actually liked the front end.
find one with service history and get the belts changed when you buy it and your laughing.
What else could you buy for sub 1k money with extras that you get in a 166.
Bobda on here used to have a lovely 166 Super until some scumbag stole it.
I fondly remember him pinned to my rear bumper when I was in my 147 GTA a while ago...
The 3.2 is the same engine as the GTA but with a different manifold I think - reduces power to 240bhp rather than the 250bhp in the GTAs.
I fondly remember him pinned to my rear bumper when I was in my 147 GTA a while ago...
The 3.2 is the same engine as the GTA but with a different manifold I think - reduces power to 240bhp rather than the 250bhp in the GTAs.
I had the 2.5 v6, i did 60k in it in 3 years, never left me stranded, nicest 3 piece suite i've ever owned
yes it had some "quirks", after a while the cruise control packed in, turned out the spring that held the clutch pedal had gone soft so was resting on the switch that stopped the cruise working, would return 30+ on a run, still remember the day the centre pipe rotted, V6 straight through! sounded glorious!!
Took it for an MOT the senior mechanic gathered the young lads round the bonnet "now thats what an engine should look like!" with the chromed down pipes
needed the ex's small hands to change a headlight bulb, and my sz 11 fitted no bother on the pedals
the only car ive ever regretted getting rid of! cos she wanted a puma!
yes it had some "quirks", after a while the cruise control packed in, turned out the spring that held the clutch pedal had gone soft so was resting on the switch that stopped the cruise working, would return 30+ on a run, still remember the day the centre pipe rotted, V6 straight through! sounded glorious!!
Took it for an MOT the senior mechanic gathered the young lads round the bonnet "now thats what an engine should look like!" with the chromed down pipes
needed the ex's small hands to change a headlight bulb, and my sz 11 fitted no bother on the pedals
the only car ive ever regretted getting rid of! cos she wanted a puma!
Vocal Minority said:
I have been without an Alfa for less than 12 and the perusing of the classifieds is getting worse and worse...I am now sitting at my desk twitching
Me too. 147 GTAs for £5k with the Q2 already fitted.The day I took mine down to Auto Lusso to have the 330mm brake kit and Q2 fitted was a wonderful day. Expensive, but wonderful.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff