Thoughts on the 166
Discussion
Benn lusting after an Alfa for a few years and just wondered what the collective thoughts were on one performance reliability etc. I really like the idea of such a rare car, but is there a reason so few were sold....looking at this one at the mo 3.0 Sportronic 44k at Veloces, just think they look 
Phil, I've run a facelifted 166 for the past 5 years and it's just turned 100,000 miles. No real problems at all except at the 96,000 mile service where the day before the diff exploded! Gearbox was replaced and I had a upgraded Q2 (Alfa's name for an LSD) diff plus new clutch. I also had the heater matrix replaced at about the same time - a cheap part, but several hours labour needed as most of the dash needs to come out.
However don't let that put you off... These are really the only weak points on these cars and if you choose a sportronic like the one above you wont have to worry about exploding diffs....
166's are not the fastest cars, the most economical cars or the best handling cars, but there is just something about them.... I've owned over a dozen Alfa's and the 166 is one of my absolute favourites.
However don't let that put you off... These are really the only weak points on these cars and if you choose a sportronic like the one above you wont have to worry about exploding diffs....
166's are not the fastest cars, the most economical cars or the best handling cars, but there is just something about them.... I've owned over a dozen Alfa's and the 166 is one of my absolute favourites.
Just go for it - nothing in this class gives so much class and equiopment for so little. Your only competiton is from existing 166 owners looking for upgrades abd other dealers who snap them up. The 166 is the car bargain of this decade, fast reliable, luxurious, discreetly handsome rare Q car.
History - Engines are bomb proof, but essential cambelt (tensioners and rollers) every 72k. Do water pump at same time if it has original plastic impellor. Heater matrix known weak spot, which always leaks on the expensive (€1400) auto gearbox ECU. No spares for manual gearbox, but easy LSD upgrade to Q2 cures most ills.
Bodywork - impeccable fit, finish and paintwork. Dont accept poor condition
Handling - twin wishbones up front may tire about 80-100k, resr has complex multi-link. Get or check alignment.
Interior - heavenly with leather (which still ooks good after 120k), and lots of standard toys.
Opions - Nice to have. DSP audio amplifier, Sat nav, sunroof, phone, Xenon lights (standard on facelift cars?)
History - Engines are bomb proof, but essential cambelt (tensioners and rollers) every 72k. Do water pump at same time if it has original plastic impellor. Heater matrix known weak spot, which always leaks on the expensive (€1400) auto gearbox ECU. No spares for manual gearbox, but easy LSD upgrade to Q2 cures most ills.
Bodywork - impeccable fit, finish and paintwork. Dont accept poor condition
Handling - twin wishbones up front may tire about 80-100k, resr has complex multi-link. Get or check alignment.
Interior - heavenly with leather (which still ooks good after 120k), and lots of standard toys.
Opions - Nice to have. DSP audio amplifier, Sat nav, sunroof, phone, Xenon lights (standard on facelift cars?)
TI spec was an option pack for the lusso with lower suspension, 18" wheels, 'TI' door plates and red dash lighting.
166's in my experince are a match for anything for build, alfa's best built car by a good margin. If you go for a 04 on facelift car with a V6 all the 3.0 cars are auto and all the 3.2's are manual (the most sought after). When i say 'all' its not many. Only 44 3.2's were registered in the uk. I had a 3.2, a beautiful car inside and out, on paper performance and especially economy don't seem to quite stack up against the latest german metal but none of that matters when you actually have one, great cars.
166's in my experince are a match for anything for build, alfa's best built car by a good margin. If you go for a 04 on facelift car with a V6 all the 3.0 cars are auto and all the 3.2's are manual (the most sought after). When i say 'all' its not many. Only 44 3.2's were registered in the uk. I had a 3.2, a beautiful car inside and out, on paper performance and especially economy don't seem to quite stack up against the latest german metal but none of that matters when you actually have one, great cars.
ITP said:
TI spec was an option pack for the lusso with lower suspension, 18" wheels, 'TI' door plates and red dash lighting.
166's in my experince are a match for anything for build, alfa's best built car by a good margin. If you go for a 04 on facelift car with a V6 all the 3.0 cars are auto and all the 3.2's are manual (the most sought after). When i say 'all' its not many. Only 44 3.2's were registered in the uk. I had a 3.2, a beautiful car inside and out, on paper performance and especially economy don't seem to quite stack up against the latest german metal but none of that matters when you actually have one, great cars.
Thanks for that just the info I needed...cheers again166's in my experince are a match for anything for build, alfa's best built car by a good margin. If you go for a 04 on facelift car with a V6 all the 3.0 cars are auto and all the 3.2's are manual (the most sought after). When i say 'all' its not many. Only 44 3.2's were registered in the uk. I had a 3.2, a beautiful car inside and out, on paper performance and especially economy don't seem to quite stack up against the latest german metal but none of that matters when you actually have one, great cars.
I think veloces also have a nice looking 05 3.0 Lusso aswell at the moment to compare the difference to the TI spec car.
Also, i think both those cars were bought from private buyers up north for about 7k, so with some profit for them and a bit of a deal for you there is probably a bit of money off to be had
Also, i think both those cars were bought from private buyers up north for about 7k, so with some profit for them and a bit of a deal for you there is probably a bit of money off to be had
I recently sold my '99 3.0 Sportronic at 92k miles.
I loved every moment with the car, and so did my wife. Stunning interior, sublime engine, excellent bodywork.
Issues I encountered were:
Brilliant car, have it inspected before purchase, or buy from a respected dealer.
I loved every moment with the car, and so did my wife. Stunning interior, sublime engine, excellent bodywork.
Issues I encountered were:
- Airflow meter failed - cheap(ish) and easy to replace
- "Dog bone" engine mount worn (£30 from dealer and 5 minutes to replace)
- Heater matrix leaked onto the gearbox ecu causing "limp home" mode - sorted by Alfaworkshop before any damage was done.
Brilliant car, have it inspected before purchase, or buy from a respected dealer.
i'm on my second 166 now, the one thing i'd say is service history from either a good independent or alfa themselves is very very desirable.
my current 166 has been smooth comfortable and very stylish transport for nearly two years now, with no real issues.
watch out for corroded radiators (£150 online) leaking heater matrix (cheap part - about £66, but fiddly and time consuming to fit) slack dual mass flywheels shown up by a heavy clunk going on and off the throttle (quite a lot of labour to fit, and wise to fit a new clutch too - expect upwards of £600 in total)
clutches are quite heavy and have a short travel, but this soon becomes very intuitive when you drive one. the V6 is the better car, although the 2 liter isn't a dog by any means, I feel the V6 in either 2.5 or 3 liter or 3.2 guise suits a car of this size better.
buy on condition and history rather than age, its better to buy a 2000 model V6 with 70k on the clock than a 2002 4 cylinder with 100,000
bear in mind that pre 2001 cars all fall into the more friendly tax band, 2001 - 2005 is a bit painful, 2006 onwards is in the utterly silly tax bracket. a 2006 car needs to be notably cheaper than an identical 2005 car to offset this.
this is my 1999 2.5 - i love it, cracking car.
my current 166 has been smooth comfortable and very stylish transport for nearly two years now, with no real issues.
watch out for corroded radiators (£150 online) leaking heater matrix (cheap part - about £66, but fiddly and time consuming to fit) slack dual mass flywheels shown up by a heavy clunk going on and off the throttle (quite a lot of labour to fit, and wise to fit a new clutch too - expect upwards of £600 in total)
clutches are quite heavy and have a short travel, but this soon becomes very intuitive when you drive one. the V6 is the better car, although the 2 liter isn't a dog by any means, I feel the V6 in either 2.5 or 3 liter or 3.2 guise suits a car of this size better.
buy on condition and history rather than age, its better to buy a 2000 model V6 with 70k on the clock than a 2002 4 cylinder with 100,000
bear in mind that pre 2001 cars all fall into the more friendly tax band, 2001 - 2005 is a bit painful, 2006 onwards is in the utterly silly tax bracket. a 2006 car needs to be notably cheaper than an identical 2005 car to offset this.
this is my 1999 2.5 - i love it, cracking car.
Edited by philoldsmobile on Friday 1st January 19:21
Edited by philoldsmobile on Friday 1st January 19:24
After I posted yesterday I looked through the classifieds and low and behold my old 166 is advertised for spares as the cam belt had snapped at 100k, 8k miles and about 4 months after I sold the car.
Previous cam belt change was in Aug '05 at 56k miles IIRC - so the belt lasted 44k miles and 52 months.
I'm genuinely gutted for the new owner.
Previous cam belt change was in Aug '05 at 56k miles IIRC - so the belt lasted 44k miles and 52 months.
I'm genuinely gutted for the new owner.
Phil Dicky said:
village idiot said:
i bought one (3.0 super manual in nuvola blue with black leather and 17" sports alloys), it was s
t, so i sold it...
seot.
A bit more info than it was st, so i sold it...seot.
t would help.For saying this is a thread on PH about the adviseability of buying an Alfa, the fact that VI's comment is about the only negative one should tell you something!
Rollcage said:
Phil Dicky said:
village idiot said:
i bought one (3.0 super manual in nuvola blue with black leather and 17" sports alloys), it was st, so i sold it...
seot.
A bit more info than it was st, so i sold it...seot.
t would help.For saying this is a thread on PH about the adviseability of buying an Alfa, the fact that VI's comment is about the only negative one should tell you something!
Rollcage said:
Phil Dicky said:
village idiot said:
i bought one (3.0 super manual in nuvola blue with black leather and 17" sports alloys), it was st, so i sold it...
seot.
A bit more info than it was st, so i sold it...seot.
t would help.For saying this is a thread on PH about the adviseability of buying an Alfa, the fact that VI's comment is about the only negative one should tell you something!
okay, put it this way... unless you are going to buy one of those medium mileage facelift cars, if you are going to buy a 166, view yourself as the end user. if you can afford to lose what you put in, then fine.
they are heavy cars and things wear out quite quickly (suspension, brakes etc etc) and if you are buying one at circa £2k, you cannot expect it all to fine and dandy. the fuel economy is laughable for what they are and the headlights are next to useless too (quite unnerving if you are driving at night)
on the face of it, they look good, they are not massively slow, and the v6 does sound glorous, ableit in a slightly muted kind of way.
i'm glad i have 'owned' one, but i equally glad i got out of it again. if i had the same £2.5k again now and knew what i knew now, i would buy and old merc, audi a6 or beemer 5-series.
i'm not a doom-slayer of alfas (i have had 3 and intend to own many more), but the 166 as a budget buy is a bit like buying a bentley and running it on income support.
Edited by village idiot on Sunday 3rd January 10:37
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