What do you think of the Alfa 164?

OK, a general question, but I was interested in what you people think of the 164 in detail. What do you think of the handling, engine, interior, everything!!

I'll start with mine.

I got my 164 3 litre Super 24v manual 2 and half months ago. L reg, 47k miles.

The engine is magnificant and sounds fantastic when the throttle is buried. It is actually fairly quiet at low revs and starts to sound louder around 4k, which is really where the power kicks in, almost like a turbo. I drive around with the windows down just to hear how wonderful it sounds. I have never driven a car with such a great sounding engine!!

Handling is pretty good for a big car. I haven't really pushed it, but it has a nice turn in and plenty of grip and does not roll much. I love the steering which is quick, and from what I have read a characteristic of many Alfas.

Economy isn't great. I average about 17mpg around town, but upto 30 or so on the motorway. Maybe I am foolish to expect more!

The general build of the car is good, however the interior build quality is truely awful!! Around the windscreen posts, the material is coming away from the post on both sides. Parts of the interior trim are loose. The central console doesn't display properly.

Also, there is a flap next to the handbrake. What is the point of this?!!

Seats are comfy, but not low enough, I feel too high up.

The looks are pretty good for a big saloon, my friends say it looks like a Peugeot and I can't really disagree to be honest, but part of the great thing for me about the 164 is that it looks relatively normal, but if you have the 3 litre, it really is a wolf in sheeps clothing. It just does not look like a 150 mph car!

It's a very quick car. Not a great deal of low down torque, but it doesn't matter when it likes to rev so much. It feels like the front wheels sometimes struggle to put the power down.


Overall, I love the 164. I can't give as detailed a view as many on here as I don't know a great deal about cars and I have only had it 2 months! However, all I can say is, it has made me love Alfa Romeos and I will definately be buying more in the future. There is just one thing really about the 164 above all others that makes me almost cry with happiness..... the engine...... GODLY.


Right, your turn!

Thanks, great review. Have the same car, and agree with you mostly. The interior build is very good for an Alfa, though the vents seem to break very easily. The flap on the handbrake hides the gubbins when the handbrake is off, and apart from looking stylish, it means small objects can't fall in. The engine on the super can be brought up to QV spec (230bhp) with a small mod - see http://www.squadra-tuning.com/Englis...dification.htm

The big problem with the 164 seems to be the electronics, failure of any of the components can strand the car, and can be expensive to fix. Despite that, they really are very special, and have little difficulty keeping up with more modern cars ! <g>

..couldn't disagree with much of that but i don't find the interior quiality too bad.. though that said, i think it's better in the pre-facelift tsparks i have than the super..

i suppose it looks like a pug cos it was designed by the same chap (fiorovanti ?) at pininfarina around the same time as the peugeot 405. i love the styling of the 164, especially on 17" wheels..

i don't think my V6 TB "sings" quite like the 24v engine, but it's still very nice.. very quiet, then growls almost like a little V8 when you push it.

..and despite what people seem to say about big-engined front drive cars i think it handles much better than my (lighter) tspark, though not quite as much fun. the V6 car has a much lower centre of gravity than the tspark, and also sits lower at the front, which i think makes a big difference..

but the main thing about the 164 is despite it's shortcomings it has a sort of charisma about it.. don't know what that is but it's not always easy to find..

Hi there,

I have the Alfa 164 T-Spark Lusso 1992 Model and having just got it MOT'd n taxed, am looking forward to driving it. So far I have found it to be lovely to drive. find that it being all electric can be a bit off putting but will enjoy it anyway.
can anyone tell me how to adjust the clutch on it lol only its slipping a bit and as much as i'd love to put it in to the garage and have them see to it finacies say no.

once i get some pics i will post them up
GlasgowMale48

I agree with most of whats said,I have a 93 164 super 24v and found getting used to the power delivery of the 24v engine a little tricky at first,after driving my alfa 75 2.5 which just used to 'go' in any gear at any speed.
I feel you really have to work the 24v harder to make it go but after 4k revs it flies,especially in third and fourth but feel fifth gear is too tall.
The interior,I feel,is too conservative for an alfa,a bit bland you might as well be sitting in any other european car.
I do agree that it is a fast car,deceivingly so for an inconspicuous 13 year old car .

What I do like:
4-7k revs
still looks good for an old design
high speed stability
dosen't rust that badly
fast

What I dont like:
upto 4k revs
overly firm suspension
tall gearing
bland interior
front wheel drive

i have a 3.0 166 and a 2.0 164! i went to newquy about 12hrs drive. I wnted to take the 164! To make the 164 even better consider getting a really good audio system! i put one in mine, Kenwood 7x10 in the front doors (i had cut to the doors) and 7x10s in the back, get some really goos amps and a decent head unit, a system in a 164 sounds really really good. The cars just makes music and driving even better.

I have driven many cars, 520i's, 525i's etc... and the 164 well its my frav! Get some alloys on, but not cheap ones that look naff! ill try and post some pics!

PS:im not a boy racer!

Currently have a 164 3.0 24V and a 166 with the same engine. Talk about chalk and cheese. The 164 is real hooligan in comparison with the 166 which feels rather staid. However the looks of the 166 from the side and rear are fantastic. Problems with 164 are few but the ICS seems to be a common problem with an intermittent display. The 166s all seem to throw up phantom warning lights plus mine has a very erratic drivers window (requiring removal of ICS to get to relays apparently). Both cars lights years better than our previous 156 (we had a perticularly bad one).

I love 164s enough to have two of them. It's a shame they don't still make them really.

I have a '92 Twin Spark which I bought for 100 quid to do a charity rally. I've always loved the shape of the 164 and, for the brief time I've driven it, it seems to go and handle really well. The seats are very comfortable and supportive.

My only issues are:

1) The interior plastics must have been made by Fisher Price from recycled yoghurt cartons. They really are shockingly cheap and nasty.

2) Why does everything have to be so effin' complicated? Every (apparently) minor job I've done on the car has turned into an all-day nightmare, requiring me to either: remove large parts of the car; and/or purchase special tools. I replaced the handbrake cable last weekend: it took me nearly 4 hours!

I agree with most of what has been said other than it looks like a 405. Sure it has a similar line and detail along the flanks but that's about it. The pug looks like a pug and the Alfa looks like an Alfa!

This car can seriously benefit from suspension upgrades which if you get right you end up with a big car with small car handling. Interior can get squeaky but the Super/FL interior is miles beyind the earlier versions and I find I can keep on top of squeaks and rattles and keep the interior squeak free. Fuel consumption is something I rarely look at - too depressing but it is very very good for a 3.0l on long runs. In town just forget it!!!

I'm not going to repeat what's been said only to say that it has me totally smitten. Everybody wants to go for a spin in my car at club meets and I often find it full of people just sitting in it (very relaxed, small meets where we all know each other).

Love it so much I don't want to part with and would like to go back in time for my next Alfa (to sit alongside the 64) and go for an Alfetta or something along those lines.

Alfa romeo 164 ..... there is NO substitute....

Nuff said

ive had four (two ts , a v6 and now 24v) Only problem was that timing belt snapped on my H reg 3.0 with 136000 on clock

as for looking like a french car... Come on!! only the side line is similer..

Great looking car, treat it well & will last for life!! the 24v i just bought has 160000 miles on it, with no wear and not even a HINT of any leak!

Originally Posted by v6junky

This car can seriously benefit from suspension upgrades which if you get right you end up with a big car with small car handling.

What suspension mods would you recommend ? Thinking about it, the one thing I find about the 164 is that it hates any sort of badly surfaced road, the suspension can't cope.

how much are we talking for a well looked after later 164 24v then ?

I had one 7 years ago and it was fab. Got it down to 11 mpg. but on a long run I could get well over 30mpg. I had the electric seats in the back as well, very novel.The v6 engine is probably the best in the world. Unlike some car makers the engine looks like a work of art not covered with bits of plastic! It will eat tyres if you boot it from start a lot and in the wet it will spin its front wheels all day....well almost. It handles like a car half its size and never fellt big to me. The electrics can be a problem, but if your hand with a test meter a soldering iron and wiring diagram you'll sovle most problems. The air con/climate needs to be used regularly even in winter to keep the system lubricated. In winter use it with the heater and it will demist the car very very quickly. Any way I could go on but I'm sure others can give you better advice, I've only had 5 alfas... Good luck with the old girl...

Cheers
Alfamadman:

Originally Posted by rustyQV

What suspension mods would you recommend ? Thinking about it, the one thing I find about the 164 is that it hates any sort of badly surfaced road, the suspension can't cope.

Good combo out there which is not too expensive are B&G springs on KONI yellows. Set them up on soft setting and you'll get a great compromise between handling and comfort. You can also go with Bilstein Sports (Sprints n/a on the 164) but they don't work well with lowered springs. Up to 30mm should be OK but they are designed for standard springs. As far as springs are concerned, anything that's progressively rated is fine (and TUV approved). I have Zender springs which work well and I'm about to change the shocks for Koni's once I get my brake lines in (steel braided Goodrigde). As I say, the results are great but be carefull around town with speed bumps and pot holes as you can do some damage if you're not careful. All depends on what you're after and how you drive!

Originally Posted by v6junky

Good combo out there which is not too expensive are B&G springs on KONI yellows. .. the results are great but be carefull around town with speed bumps and pot holes as you can do some damage if you're not careful. All depends on what you're after and how you drive!

Thanks very much for that, especially the description of the results on ramps, because I'm surrounded by the blasted things, and much as I'd like to improve the suspension, it can't be at the price of driveability in the local environment. Otoh, do the Konis etc work any better than the standard or rough roads (for locals, I'm thinking of the military road in Wicklow), on which I just cannot use the car at anything above about 50 or 60 because she starts hitting the bump stops.