I've bought my first Alfa Romeo, a 166 Super Lusso!

I've bought my first Alfa Romeo, a 166 Super Lusso!

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LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,926 posts

226 months

Tuesday 2nd July
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With my Punto going to its new owner, I decided my next car should be Italian - apart from the rust my Punto had been really reliable in the year I owned it so I'm totally sure my next Italian car will be the same....well I hope as much. The question was, which brand? No other Fiats really tempted me so that left Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati & Ferrari - and the latter three were well out of budget.

For my first Alfa Romeo I wanted to tick the bucket list engine, the 3.0 24v Busso V6 - but I didn't want to spend more than £4,000. This made getting into a decent car pretty tricky, a 156 or GTV V6 normally starts at £5-6,000.

Some deeper research was required!

Browsing autotrader I found a 3 litre 166 but it had the sport tronic gearbox, which I think would be a real waste of the beautiful V6 engine. Then I stumbled upon this:







A 2001 166 Super Lusso, meaning it had the 3 litre V6 and a 6 speed manual gearbox!

It looked to be in decent condition and was only £2,995, making it the cheapest (admitedly probably not for long) Busso V6 Alfa currently available!

The interior needs a clean but no rips or tears, and it has the rare wooden steering wheel & gearknob:



It rides really well, body work is ok and underneath looks pretty solid:



I'm started to collect a list of upgrades (suspension/intake mostly), as the drive is pretty floaty which I'm putting down to some tired shocks/bushes etc. But thats the fun of cheap cars!

Neil1323bolts

1,179 posts

114 months

Tuesday 2nd July
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I know absolutely nothing about these cars, well apart from the engine, but that looks amazing and in great condition, enjoy

sidewinder500

1,421 posts

102 months

Tuesday 2nd July
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Superb car, well done! Had the same spec 15 years ago, only with black leather (which was like new after 7 years and 65k). When all the small electric niggles are sorted (mostly faulty leads, nothing major) the only thing to be aware of is the leaking heater core. Lots of tips online.
It pays to have the suspension bits sorted, because it's a wonderful thing to drive, and don't skimp on good tires, they deserve it.
The engine and manual gearbox are great, albeit a little lacking in torque nowadays, but the Busso sounds like a mini Ferrari, and the car gives the cool Italian industrial director from the late 90s/early naughties vibes.
And just look at that side profile...
Still a great looking sedan, that.
There's another 166 around here as well...
Enjoy and keep us updated!

Bogsye

401 posts

160 months

Tuesday 2nd July
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Excellent choice! I had one of these on hire back in the day - same engine including manual gearbox. As I recall I got it on a cheap daily rate of £23/day as the sun visor on the drivers side had broken. I took it home and switched the passenger side one over to the drivers side. Granted the airbag sticker was on the wrong side but it did the trick!

Must have held onto it for a couple of weeks and ran up a fuel bill that eclipsed the rental charges running it between Glasgow and Chester. It was a great thing.

Good luck with yours!

Mr Tidy

24,529 posts

135 months

Tuesday 2nd July
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Congratulations on buying your first Alfa, especially as it is manual with the Busso engine! thumbup

larrylamb11

629 posts

259 months

Tuesday 2nd July
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Great choice! I had a string of V6 Alfas many years ago, culminating in a glorious 166 in silver with black leather - 'twas a lovely thing smile I never really gelled with the sad face styling having loved the 164s previously, but it was a much nicer thing to be in. I often scan the classifieds for another Alfa just to get that V6 again, but nothing has ticked the boxes yet. I wish you good health to enjoy.

Fattyfat

3,307 posts

204 months

Tuesday 2nd July
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I had one of these (3.0 manual Super Lusso) about 10 years ago. Nero vulcano paint from memory. It was lovely. Enjoy!

bolidemichael

15,231 posts

209 months

Tuesday 2nd July
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It’s such a handsome car and has a certain elegance to it. I’ve always felt that the styling is similar to the E63 6 series.

Austin_Metro

1,320 posts

56 months

Tuesday 2nd July
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Big thumbs up! Pretty rare too, have you seen one coming the other way yet?!

Om

1,929 posts

86 months

Tuesday 2nd July
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These look stunning in side profile. Wonderful engine too. I hope it treats you well!

Panamax

5,149 posts

42 months

Tuesday 2nd July
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Wonderful engine! And welcome to the whacky world of torque steer.

RSTurboPaul

11,289 posts

266 months

Wednesday 3rd July
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Love it smile

Spinakerr

1,277 posts

153 months

Wednesday 3rd July
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Well, this goes straight to my heart - wonderful machine with the right gearbox and interior trim.

The other 166 here is in Azzuro Nuovola and was at PH 25th last year, amazing colour.

Recommend getting a windscreen shade if you park in the sub as the back of the wood wheels can crack and peel under UV!

I'm keen to see that engine detailed....!

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,926 posts

226 months

Wednesday 3rd July
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Thank you for all the positive comments! The styling is 100% marmite, I’ve never owned a car that has a such a 50/50 split on pretty/ugly with zero gray area before. Certainly makes an impact!

I’m taking it to the PH Annual Service but it’ll just be in the car park.

The engine bay definitely needs a good scrub, in time I’d like to get the valve body covers painted and the inlet tubes polished (or maybe replaced if it isn’t too expensive).

I’ve ordered my first upgrades, the intake flexy hose is split so I ordered a silicone replacement:




AlfaCool

88 posts

61 months

Wednesday 3rd July
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Well done with your purchase.
Sadly only now are these cars given the praise they should of had when new.

7 5 7

3,524 posts

119 months

Wednesday 3rd July
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Lovely! Saw one parked up in Siena, Italy 2 years ago, while I was supping my early morning coffee, the sun rising and creating some fantastic shadows across the Tuscan city....a 166 was looking so sharp parked up on the corner, to think these were ridiculed by some on release, they look fantastic today!

Good review here, by JayEm - Good YT channel tbh if no-one knows of him smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW558PqtENY&t=...

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,926 posts

226 months

Wednesday 3rd July
quotequote all
James’s review is spot on regarding the steering, there’s. A slight vagueness to it/delay in response. I didn’t buy it to be a b road blaster (I’ve got the supercharged z3 for that), so it’s not a deal breaker for me.

I do think the handling can be tidied up, some people have fitted coilovers and polybushed the entire car so that could be an option, assuming the ride quality can be maintained.

PurpleTurtle

7,656 posts

152 months

Wednesday 3rd July
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Lovely car, looks like it is bearing up well. What's the mileage on it?

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,926 posts

226 months

Wednesday 3rd July
quotequote all
75k miles I think? Not too many considering the age of car.

Limpet

6,528 posts

169 months

Wednesday 3rd July
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Looks tidy. And THAT engine cloud9