I've bought my first Alfa Romeo, a 166 Super Lusso!
Discussion
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!
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!
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:
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:
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.
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.
New cars are dangerous things, I have a desire to try and make a GTA version of the 166,
There's a bit of clutch judder, so that will likely need replacing, whilst its being done it makes "sense" to install a Q2 LSD or a Quaife LSD. Then uprating the suspension, adjustable coilover, new control arms etc maybe polybush?
There's a bit of clutch judder, so that will likely need replacing, whilst its being done it makes "sense" to install a Q2 LSD or a Quaife LSD. Then uprating the suspension, adjustable coilover, new control arms etc maybe polybush?
Fitted some improvements at lunchtime, the new GSR silicone intake hose and a BMC drop in air filter
The intake hose was in a very sorry state, splits and cracks and held together by electrical tape. Hoping these additions will enhance the intake noise.
The engine bay needs a good clean, I’ve noticed a leak coming from the rear valve cover. I’d want to get the covers painted in the future so I’ll plan to replace the gaskets at the same time.
The intake hose was in a very sorry state, splits and cracks and held together by electrical tape. Hoping these additions will enhance the intake noise.
The engine bay needs a good clean, I’ve noticed a leak coming from the rear valve cover. I’d want to get the covers painted in the future so I’ll plan to replace the gaskets at the same time.
boyse7en said:
I had a red one of these that I loved. Eventually the clutch went and a replacement was over £1000 (and the car was barely worth that at the time) so it ended up being broken.
Interior is great, really hardwearing
Front balljoints/arms need to be treated pretty much as service items, they wear out with alarming alacrity.
Make sure the timing belt gets done on time. You really don't want it breaking. If you can get hold of the cam locks its not a terrible job to do yourself.
Keep an eye on the sills. They have a trim over them which can hide creeping rust
I’ve not felt brave enough to take off the sill covers yet. Interior is great, really hardwearing
Front balljoints/arms need to be treated pretty much as service items, they wear out with alarming alacrity.
Make sure the timing belt gets done on time. You really don't want it breaking. If you can get hold of the cam locks its not a terrible job to do yourself.
Keep an eye on the sills. They have a trim over them which can hide creeping rust
I think trying to make this a b road blaster is likely a fools errand. The car does currently get unsettled over bumps so I’d like to get the suspension refreshed and the alignment sorted, then I can make a proper judgement on what (if any) handling mods can done.
That said I’m just back from the cinema and it was GLORIOUS to drive the Alfa. The intake noise is much improved and the car feels perkier now the intake hose is sorted. Placebo? Probably, but who cares!
That said I’m just back from the cinema and it was GLORIOUS to drive the Alfa. The intake noise is much improved and the car feels perkier now the intake hose is sorted. Placebo? Probably, but who cares!
the 166 is definitely not the best steer but the engine and ride make up for it. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff