RE: Shed of the Week | Alfa Romeo 166
Discussion
Slow, thirsty, unreliable, WWD, and judging by owners’ comments, not engaging to drive. Umm?
But, nice chairs and the exterior looks cool. Until viewed from the side. Those front and rear overhangs are vast, it looks deformed - did it share its platform with the smaller Stilo??
Sono fuori.
But, nice chairs and the exterior looks cool. Until viewed from the side. Those front and rear overhangs are vast, it looks deformed - did it share its platform with the smaller Stilo??
Sono fuori.
NGK210 said:
Slow, thirsty, unreliable, WWD, and judging by owners’ comments, not engaging to drive. Umm?
But, nice chairs and the exterior looks cool. Until viewed from the side. Those front and rear overhangs are vast, it looks deformed - did it share its platform with the smaller Stilo??
Sono fuori.
Fuori di testa?But, nice chairs and the exterior looks cool. Until viewed from the side. Those front and rear overhangs are vast, it looks deformed - did it share its platform with the smaller Stilo??
Sono fuori.
NGK210 said:
Slow, thirsty, unreliable, WWD, and judging by owners’ comments, not engaging to drive. Umm?
But, nice chairs and the exterior looks cool. Until viewed from the side. Those front and rear overhangs are vast, it looks deformed - did it share its platform with the smaller Stilo??
Sono fuori.
Unreliable? The owner says not a single thing broke, unlike his BMWs and Mercs, so not sure why you feel this particular car will be unreliable.But, nice chairs and the exterior looks cool. Until viewed from the side. Those front and rear overhangs are vast, it looks deformed - did it share its platform with the smaller Stilo??
Sono fuori.
I agree its not very quick, the 4 cylinder Alfas of that era seemed to be rather under-engined compared with the opposition.
A lot of car for £800 though and different to the herd.
NGK210 said:
Slow, thirsty, unreliable, WWD, and judging by owners’ comments, not engaging to drive. Umm?
But, nice chairs and the exterior looks cool. Until viewed from the side. Those front and rear overhangs are vast, it looks deformed - did it share its platform with the smaller Stilo??
Sono fuori.
Apparently it was due to be released before the 156, but Fiat/Alfa high ups weren't impressed with the longer front and back ends and the way it drove so they sent it back to be reworked before release meaning it hit the market after the 156.But, nice chairs and the exterior looks cool. Until viewed from the side. Those front and rear overhangs are vast, it looks deformed - did it share its platform with the smaller Stilo??
Sono fuori.
Launch reviews said the 2 litre Twin Spark drove better than the V6 due to less weight in the nose.
alorotom said:
Alfa interiors always look so wonderful and inviting - much nice than the standard german fare of the same era.
Indeed - I've driven both generations of 5 series the 166 went up against and while the E39 in particular had a certain charm in how unrelentingly competent it was, I think you would struggle to spend much time describing the interior without an early landing on the word "efficient".When I settle behind the wheel of my own standard German fare there is certainly much to commend it over my Alfa experiences. Everything is well laid-out and legible. Switchgear is in sensible places for it to be, rather than inexplicably on the floor, roof or the passenger side of the central tunnel. Storage consists of substantial bins and boxes rather than apologetic indentations designed to fling your accoutrements about the cabin at the first sign of cornering. The starting procedure does not require gathering errant pieces of trim from the footwell and a futile prod at the peeled-up corner of an airbag cover. I have a dial which shows me how much fuel and range I have left rather than an elegant Milanese denial of responsibility for the task of discovering whether there may or may not be petrol today. And indeed, while it may be the lowest of the motoring hack clichés there is some tiny satisfaction in switches and stalks which engage with a weighted click rather than the resistanceless feeling they are one operation away from pinging off into some forgotten interior crevasse.
And yet... it is worthy but dull. There is no design or sense of flair, there is a collection of shapes which are in places merely because they needed to be there. There is nothing there like the feeling of sinking into an Alfa cockpit, staring down twin dials that evoke GTA Juniors and snarling twin cams. There is no incongruous wooden steering wheel elevating your commute to the level of Nuvolari wrestling some prewar beast. Even when the reality was slightly closer to frustrating exploration of the dynamic limitations of a Tipo-derived chassis than feeling racing heritage with every turn of the steering wheel, I still find it hard to look at a photo of an Alfa interior and not feel the urge to jump in and drive.
greenarrow said:
NGK210 said:
Slow, thirsty, unreliable, WWD, and judging by owners’ comments, not engaging to drive. Umm?
But, nice chairs and the exterior looks cool. Until viewed from the side. Those front and rear overhangs are vast, it looks deformed - did it share its platform with the smaller Stilo??
Sono fuori.
Unreliable? The owner says not a single thing broke, unlike his BMWs and Mercs, so not sure why you feel this particular car will be unreliable.But, nice chairs and the exterior looks cool. Until viewed from the side. Those front and rear overhangs are vast, it looks deformed - did it share its platform with the smaller Stilo??
Sono fuori.
I agree its not very quick, the 4 cylinder Alfas of that era seemed to be rather under-engined compared with the opposition.
A lot of car for £800 though and different to the herd.
Edited by NGK210 on Friday 20th March 17:16
Timberwolf said:
Indeed - I've driven both generations of 5 series the 166 went up against and while the E39 in particular had a certain charm in how unrelentingly competent it was, I think you would struggle to spend much time describing the interior without an early landing on the word "efficient".
When I settle behind the wheel of my own standard German fare there is certainly much to commend it over my Alfa experiences. Everything is well laid-out and legible. Switchgear is in sensible places for it to be, rather than inexplicably on the floor, roof or the passenger side of the central tunnel. Storage consists of substantial bins and boxes rather than apologetic indentations designed to fling your accoutrements about the cabin at the first sign of cornering. The starting procedure does not require gathering errant pieces of trim from the footwell and a futile prod at the peeled-up corner of an airbag cover. I have a dial which shows me how much fuel and range I have left rather than an elegant Milanese denial of responsibility for the task of discovering whether there may or may not be petrol today. And indeed, while it may be the lowest of the motoring hack clichés there is some tiny satisfaction in switches and stalks which engage with a weighted click rather than the resistanceless feeling they are one operation away from pinging off into some forgotten interior crevasse.
And yet... it is worthy but dull. There is no design or sense of flair, there is a collection of shapes which are in places merely because they needed to be there. There is nothing there like the feeling of sinking into an Alfa cockpit, staring down twin dials that evoke GTA Juniors and snarling twin cams. There is no incongruous wooden steering wheel elevating your commute to the level of Nuvolari wrestling some prewar beast. Even when the reality was slightly closer to frustrating exploration of the dynamic limitations of a Tipo-derived chassis than feeling racing heritage with every turn of the steering wheel, I still find it hard to look at a photo of an Alfa interior and not feel the urge to jump in and drive.
What a wonderfully written piece, thank you When I settle behind the wheel of my own standard German fare there is certainly much to commend it over my Alfa experiences. Everything is well laid-out and legible. Switchgear is in sensible places for it to be, rather than inexplicably on the floor, roof or the passenger side of the central tunnel. Storage consists of substantial bins and boxes rather than apologetic indentations designed to fling your accoutrements about the cabin at the first sign of cornering. The starting procedure does not require gathering errant pieces of trim from the footwell and a futile prod at the peeled-up corner of an airbag cover. I have a dial which shows me how much fuel and range I have left rather than an elegant Milanese denial of responsibility for the task of discovering whether there may or may not be petrol today. And indeed, while it may be the lowest of the motoring hack clichés there is some tiny satisfaction in switches and stalks which engage with a weighted click rather than the resistanceless feeling they are one operation away from pinging off into some forgotten interior crevasse.
And yet... it is worthy but dull. There is no design or sense of flair, there is a collection of shapes which are in places merely because they needed to be there. There is nothing there like the feeling of sinking into an Alfa cockpit, staring down twin dials that evoke GTA Juniors and snarling twin cams. There is no incongruous wooden steering wheel elevating your commute to the level of Nuvolari wrestling some prewar beast. Even when the reality was slightly closer to frustrating exploration of the dynamic limitations of a Tipo-derived chassis than feeling racing heritage with every turn of the steering wheel, I still find it hard to look at a photo of an Alfa interior and not feel the urge to jump in and drive.
(no sarcasm intended)GravelMachineGun said:
Feel perhaps like I'm the only one who thinks this is an ugly box? Alfa have made some great looking motors, this isn't one of them.
eel perhaps like I'm the only one who thinks this is an ugly box? Alfa have made some great looking motors, this isn't one of them. The front end is certainly controversial but the side profile is absolutely perfect. It's the most perfect fwd side profile I've ever seen and the interior is absolutely stunning to this day. Still looks incredible.
Earl of Petrol said:
Looking for a nice V6 GTV or Brera now....,
Julian @ Alfa Aid has a to-die-for GTV 
It's not up on their website or AT yet, but I'm pretty sure it'll go quickly. It really is something else!
I'm so so seriously tempted. And to be 100% honest, if I did not have a gearbox issue on my current Alfa I WOULD be trading it in!
Lovely old thing and cracking value. I don’t see the performance as an issue either. The equivalent 520i wasn’t significantly faster, nor were the 2.0 litre A6 and E-class offerings of that era and the twin-spark is arguably at its best when given a good ragging anyway.
I’d love to own it, but having one Alfa tests the patience of SWMBO - two would be pushing my luck
I’d love to own it, but having one Alfa tests the patience of SWMBO - two would be pushing my luck
alorotom said:
Timberwolf said:
Indeed - I've driven both generations of 5 series the 166 went up against and while the E39 in particular had a certain charm in how unrelentingly competent it was, I think you would struggle to spend much time describing the interior without an early landing on the word "efficient".
When I settle behind the wheel of my own standard German fare there is certainly much to commend it over my Alfa experiences. Everything is well laid-out and legible. Switchgear is in sensible places for it to be, rather than inexplicably on the floor, roof or the passenger side of the central tunnel. Storage consists of substantial bins and boxes rather than apologetic indentations designed to fling your accoutrements about the cabin at the first sign of cornering. The starting procedure does not require gathering errant pieces of trim from the footwell and a futile prod at the peeled-up corner of an airbag cover. I have a dial which shows me how much fuel and range I have left rather than an elegant Milanese denial of responsibility for the task of discovering whether there may or may not be petrol today. And indeed, while it may be the lowest of the motoring hack clichés there is some tiny satisfaction in switches and stalks which engage with a weighted click rather than the resistanceless feeling they are one operation away from pinging off into some forgotten interior crevasse.
And yet... it is worthy but dull. There is no design or sense of flair, there is a collection of shapes which are in places merely because they needed to be there. There is nothing there like the feeling of sinking into an Alfa cockpit, staring down twin dials that evoke GTA Juniors and snarling twin cams. There is no incongruous wooden steering wheel elevating your commute to the level of Nuvolari wrestling some prewar beast. Even when the reality was slightly closer to frustrating exploration of the dynamic limitations of a Tipo-derived chassis than feeling racing heritage with every turn of the steering wheel, I still find it hard to look at a photo of an Alfa interior and not feel the urge to jump in and drive.
What a wonderfully written piece, thank you When I settle behind the wheel of my own standard German fare there is certainly much to commend it over my Alfa experiences. Everything is well laid-out and legible. Switchgear is in sensible places for it to be, rather than inexplicably on the floor, roof or the passenger side of the central tunnel. Storage consists of substantial bins and boxes rather than apologetic indentations designed to fling your accoutrements about the cabin at the first sign of cornering. The starting procedure does not require gathering errant pieces of trim from the footwell and a futile prod at the peeled-up corner of an airbag cover. I have a dial which shows me how much fuel and range I have left rather than an elegant Milanese denial of responsibility for the task of discovering whether there may or may not be petrol today. And indeed, while it may be the lowest of the motoring hack clichés there is some tiny satisfaction in switches and stalks which engage with a weighted click rather than the resistanceless feeling they are one operation away from pinging off into some forgotten interior crevasse.
And yet... it is worthy but dull. There is no design or sense of flair, there is a collection of shapes which are in places merely because they needed to be there. There is nothing there like the feeling of sinking into an Alfa cockpit, staring down twin dials that evoke GTA Juniors and snarling twin cams. There is no incongruous wooden steering wheel elevating your commute to the level of Nuvolari wrestling some prewar beast. Even when the reality was slightly closer to frustrating exploration of the dynamic limitations of a Tipo-derived chassis than feeling racing heritage with every turn of the steering wheel, I still find it hard to look at a photo of an Alfa interior and not feel the urge to jump in and drive.
(no sarcasm intended)
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