Alfa Romeo 164

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.80 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $36500.00 from Brisbane, Australia

Year / Model Reviewed:
1999 156 Sedan

Strengths:
Styling, roadholding

Weaknesses:
performance, dealer support.

Summary:
This should be a stunning sports sedan if it were not let down in critical areas. Styling is superb. One of the first "retro" styles and still the best (personal taste). Handling and roadholding are excellent. Rebound in the front shocks under hard cornering can be fixed. Body roll is typical and can be sorted with a stiffer roll bar if desired. Braking is satisfactory. Body and interior are good after regular use. No rattles, squeaks or rust evident. Seats trim and upholstery in excellent order. Extras are minimal and the sound system is not great quality, but gadgets are not what one buys an Alfa for. Ride and comfort are firm but not harsh or noisy, and that's what you expect. Engine and road sounds are audible but not intrusive. Perfect for a sports sedan. Choice of tyres is critical to interior noise. High performance tyres and you can't hear yourself think. Now the down side. Performance below 3000 rpm (ie., city traffic) is awful. The car bogs down off the line so badly that it will not beat a clapped out Viva from the lights without a lot of engine revs and clutch slipping. Requires the same technique for any incline start and will not climb a 15 degree driveway from a standing start. A rolling start is essential. After the variable timing cuts over the rush is like an old-fashioned turbo. All this makes is a very uncomfortable car to drive in city traffic. My wife hates it. This issue seems to be an ECU / timing control problem, but the dealer has never been able to isolate or fix the problem. It is not an isolated instance. There is quite a lot of complaint about this issue on Alfa chat groups, with the same lack of resolution, although it does not seem to affect every vehicle. Second, the airconditioning is far below what is expected as a normal standard today. It is totally innefective on a warm (Australian) summer day. Most Australian, Japanese and European brands have sorted this issue long ago. Why not Alfa? Ergonomics is also below average. The main instruments are obscured by the steering wheel from a reasonably normal driving position, even though there is a lot of seat and steering wheel adjustment. On balance it did not deliver on the one important thing that you buy an Alfa Romeo for, a great driving experience.

Similar Products Used:
Alfa Romeo 164; Alfa GTV (1978); Alfa Guiletta (1975).

Price Paid:  $60000.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
1997 / 164 Q4

Strengths:
Handling, Road Holding due to 4wd., Much more reliable than expected. Precious 6 Speed Manual Transmission.
Beautiful Accellation.

Weaknesses:
Terrible Ride, Bumpy and Excessive Road Noise. Small Trunk due to 4wd.
Fuel Consumption, 6 km to 1 litter. Body is very weak, floor shakes.

Summary:
I can recommend for those who are looking for a Manual Sports Sedan.

Similar Products Used:
I have treded 1992 MB E280.

Price Paid:  $13000.00 from Alfa Dealer in Taipe

Year / Model Reviewed:
1997 / 164 3.0 24V

Strengths:
Excellent engine. Pininfarina line. Alfa heart and soul. Still firm poise at 240 km/hour. Fuel economy on freeway, but you lose the pleasure to have other provoking BMWs and Subarus eat your dust.

Weaknesses:
Electric glitches. Fast wear-out on two front tires.

Summary:
Bought secondhand in 2000 when its speedo was 23,000 km. My fourth Italian and second Alfa, and the best whatever country or make I've ever owned. Drives much better and faster than BMW 525i. I use it to work everyday and put 100,000 extra km on it. But inside out it still feels like day one.

Similar Products Used:
Alfa GTV 2.0 (1979)

Price Paid:  $3000.00 from BCA

Year / Model Reviewed:
1996 T-Spark Super Lusso

Strengths:
Very smooth on motorways upto speeds of 130 mph. Great in country lanes at 50 mph, good comfort, even for passengers, servicing a lot cheaper than V6. Oil is clean after 3000miles

Weaknesses:
Power steering a bit too heavy, Electrics go weird sometimes. Front tyre wear, Ape like driving position, if you are over 6Ft tall.

Summary:
The European Alfa 164 has very suttle differences to the U.S spec cars. My car has the total spec, including Air Con seats. Its good to drive and own. The 2.0 8v engine is best giving a combined fuel consumption of 36 miles to the gallon ( English Gallon ). The engine can be tweaked with a air induction kit, to boost the BHP up by 30 to 180 Bhp.

Similar Products Used:
Alfa 155 Q4 Twin Turbo. Alfa 155 2.0 Twin Spark. Alfa GTV 3.0 24v Turbo ( 450 Bhp ).

Strengths:
Model 164Q4 Fantastic V6 Engine,terrific roadhanlding,permanent 4wheel drive, Luxurious leather interior,instant acceleration

Weaknesses:
quite high gas consumption,the dashboard could be of a better quality, the trunk is small due to 4 wheel drive

Summary:
Tested @ Mondial de l'automobile in Paris,lefted me speechless, engine noise somptuous, roadholding extra, very aggressive car makes you want to drive very fast.was for sale @ 40.000$.
Now discontinued a days can be found 2nd hand @ 15.000$
Amateur car car the maintenece is pricey

Similar Products Used:
Lancia delta integrale 16v to sporty and rigid
lancia Thema Turbo ie, faster but less, less technologically refined,but LX version is unique for details and build construction