Driving to Corsica in my Alfa 166

Hi there,

I'm driving to Corsica this summer in my 166 2.5 Sportronic. People think I'm crazy and doubt the cars capacity to make it (being an Alfa etc!). I just think they're jealous! I wondered if anyone on the forum had done a similar long drive (i anticipate doing about 2000 miles in two and a half weeks)? Any encouraging words? Or words of advice? Or caution? Obviously I will have a full service beforehand!

Stephen

PS Has anyone used Italian Car Spares in Poole for a service/MOT? Any recommendations for a local (Bournemouth) Alfa specialist?

They're stupid. I'm sure your 166 will eat the miles.

Make sure you take lots of pics for us!

totally agree with AGM - a well serviced Alfa 166 will have no problems, I'm sure.

Enjoy your hols!

I wouldnt consider taking anything else..........my longest trip 700miles and the worst part of it was pulling into my driveway!!!!!!I could have done double that.............

You shouldn´t have any problems doing that trip! In fact, I can hardly think of a car more suitable of doing it! Great seats, aircon, and overall comfort. Think you´ll arive with a big grin!

Also, considering the "high milers" list elsewhere on this forum, I wouldn´t doubt the car can stand 2000 miles. I´ve done over 650 miles in a single day with mine!

I've made lots of long-distance trips in my Super and never had any problems. My recent trip to the UK and back was around 4000km and the car didn't miss a beat. I've driven from Berlin to Munich several times and have just come back from the area around the German/Austrian border with no problems. And that's with the speedo up around 220-250km/h!

It all depends on how well the car has been serviced & looked after. A friend of mine drives his from Berlin to Sicily and back each year. Have fun!

I wouldn't want to do a trip like that in any other car. Happy hols and yes, post some pics!

yes indeed 2k.mls nothing,did a big touring holiday on the west coat
of Scotland,when I had my first 166,well over 2k. mls,never missed
a beat ,eat up the miles,really they are a great long distance car.
Have a good holiday!

that's the sort of journey it was made for, have a great holiday, the Alfa will be fine.

Hi, did most of your journey when I bought my 166 in Alton in February and drove down to the South of France - no problems apart from keeping the speed down on the Autoroute.
Been really warm this week and my car needs a new radiator as it can't cope with the heat!
Make sure yours is OK ( and your aircon!) as its really hot here (can be 40C+) in summer and will show up any cooling problems.
Have a great time.

We go to the south of France most years on holiday - Usually do 3000 miles in 2 to 3 weeks.

My Alfas have always done me proud - Have done the trip in a 164 3.0 12v, 156 SW 1.8, 166 3.0 Super and doing it this year in the 166 3.2 Ti, 9 weeks now - Can't wait!

Thanks for the encouragement! I feel happier now. Must be about 10 weeks until we go. I plan to get "The Schloss", as it's known, serviced and MOT'd about a month before so there's plenty of time to sort out any faults or see if they've missed anything. I will ask for special attention to be paid to the radiator. She's only done 53k and is on her third cambelt so she should be okay.... famous last words? Still I figure it would be easier to get the car fixed on the continent than in the UK (language barriers aside) - should be passing the factory too on the way to the port in Savonna...

If you're in that part of the world make sure you visit the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese. Its a journey that we are thinking of doing in the future in our 166. I can't think of another car that would eat up the miles like the big alfa.

We've had several long camping trips in Europe in the 166. In 2003 we drove 8,000 miles through France and Italy to Sicily and back via Hungary and Czechoslovakia without any problem. The car had done about 60k miles at the time.

Since then, we've had holidays in the South of France, Rome and Croatia. The radiator was giving problems in Italy but we survived. The alternator failed on a tiny island off the Croatian coast but we had it fixed at the only garage on the island (£166 coincidence - or what!). I can't think of many cars that soak up the miles like the 166, our record day was 700 miles (11 hours).

I've found my 166 has been very reliable and the alternator failure was the nearest I've ever come to a roadside failure in 144k miles. Bear in mind that 166s are as common in Europe as the UK and garage charges are lower. I usually take a few basic tools and jump leads.

Mike

Italian cars are made for this..Long autostarda journeys..
My Alfa Sprint went from the UK to Austria and Italy and back with no problem whatsoever..My previous Lancia's [ Thema 16V Turbo and an
8.32 ] Always did UK to Italy and back in summer with no problems at all...That's what they like..They hate town trafic and short trips...
Enjoy yours..............

that should be a good journey, I'm taking mine home to Italy in August! Can't wait!

I don't know any good alfa specialists in bournemouth, but i know a fantastic one in Tidworth, (other side of Salisbury).

It's called Garrison Motors, The guy is an alfa expert as i think he used to race them.

Originally Posted by steveisfrowning

totally agree with AGM - a well serviced Alfa 166 will have no problems, I'm sure.

Enjoy your hols!

hang on - Corsica as in Corsica?????

I was driving to Hungary and back last year, and it was brilliant. The lumbar support really did the trick between Calais and Sopron - 1400 km - in one day.
I got the VDC light coming up twice, but other than that, I had no issues. I had my usual "I drive a V6 Alfa" smile on my face all the time except when I was at the petrol station:-)
And both my wife and I were LOL on the Nürburgring.

Originally Posted by steveisfrowning

hang on - Corsica as in Corsica?????

Well obviously some of the journey is going to be on a ferry but yes Corsica as in the big French island in the Med.

you will love it the alfa will be fine, last year we drove to monte-carlo then onto to cannes from the midlands uk ,our route loughborough dover calais geneva chamonix thro mont blanc tunnel into italy continued towards turin befor crossing the border back into france up over the alps to st martin vesubie final leg to monte carlo driving the col de turinni then onto cannes, peeps said i was mad but car never missed a beat like you i had car serviced before i went and cambelt changed. i did it the year before in a 1985 v12 xjs and that never missed a beat either. enjoy your trip im planning my next !! we covered 2300 miles in a 3 week holiday. my lads wanted to know why we wernt flying like 'everyone else does' but they loved it too lol

You probally cant do it in a nicer car, last october I started a huge road trip in america I went through 25 states and 11,000 miles in 7 weeks in a big american chevy and all I could think of is how great it would be in alfa if I could get one.

Well I bought mine for a Euro tour, I liked the car so much I still have it

From Calais I took mine north to Holland then down through Germany and Austria before crossing the Alps to Milan and Turin. Then back over the Alps to visit the Swiss before taking the Autoroute back to Calais.

Well over 3000 miles and no problems at all, other than the Fuel bills

For the past 3 years have driven to Northern Italy in a Volvo S80 2.9 !!,over 3,000 miles in 3 weeks.This year in my recently aquired 166 3.0 Sportronic(cant wait)Fiance takes pics of scenery,I take pics of everything Italian(cars,cars,car museums,cars and cars)Going this sept' post some pics when we get back.