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!
Superb car, well done! Had the same spec 15 years ago, only with black leather (which was like new after 7 years and 65k). When all the small electric niggles are sorted (mostly faulty leads, nothing major) the only thing to be aware of is the leaking heater core. Lots of tips online.
It pays to have the suspension bits sorted, because it's a wonderful thing to drive, and don't skimp on good tires, they deserve it.
The engine and manual gearbox are great, albeit a little lacking in torque nowadays, but the Busso sounds like a mini Ferrari, and the car gives the cool Italian industrial director from the late 90s/early naughties vibes.
And just look at that side profile...
Still a great looking sedan, that.
There's another 166 around here as well...
Enjoy and keep us updated!
It pays to have the suspension bits sorted, because it's a wonderful thing to drive, and don't skimp on good tires, they deserve it.
The engine and manual gearbox are great, albeit a little lacking in torque nowadays, but the Busso sounds like a mini Ferrari, and the car gives the cool Italian industrial director from the late 90s/early naughties vibes.
And just look at that side profile...
Still a great looking sedan, that.
There's another 166 around here as well...
Enjoy and keep us updated!
Excellent choice! I had one of these on hire back in the day - same engine including manual gearbox. As I recall I got it on a cheap daily rate of £23/day as the sun visor on the drivers side had broken. I took it home and switched the passenger side one over to the drivers side. Granted the airbag sticker was on the wrong side but it did the trick!
Must have held onto it for a couple of weeks and ran up a fuel bill that eclipsed the rental charges running it between Glasgow and Chester. It was a great thing.
Good luck with yours!
Must have held onto it for a couple of weeks and ran up a fuel bill that eclipsed the rental charges running it between Glasgow and Chester. It was a great thing.
Good luck with yours!
Great choice! I had a string of V6 Alfas many years ago, culminating in a glorious 166 in silver with black leather - 'twas a lovely thing 
I never really gelled with the sad face styling having loved the 164s previously, but it was a much nicer thing to be in. I often scan the classifieds for another Alfa just to get that V6 again, but nothing has ticked the boxes yet. I wish you good health to enjoy.
I never really gelled with the sad face styling having loved the 164s previously, but it was a much nicer thing to be in. I often scan the classifieds for another Alfa just to get that V6 again, but nothing has ticked the boxes yet. I wish you good health to enjoy.Well, this goes straight to my heart - wonderful machine with the right gearbox and interior trim.
The other 166 here is in Azzuro Nuovola and was at PH 25th last year, amazing colour.
Recommend getting a windscreen shade if you park in the sub as the back of the wood wheels can crack and peel under UV!
I'm keen to see that engine detailed....!
The other 166 here is in Azzuro Nuovola and was at PH 25th last year, amazing colour.
Recommend getting a windscreen shade if you park in the sub as the back of the wood wheels can crack and peel under UV!
I'm keen to see that engine detailed....!
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:
Lovely! Saw one parked up in Siena, Italy 2 years ago, while I was supping my early morning coffee, the sun rising and creating some fantastic shadows across the Tuscan city....a 166 was looking so sharp parked up on the corner, to think these were ridiculed by some on release, they look fantastic today!
Good review here, by JayEm - Good YT channel tbh if no-one knows of him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW558PqtENY&t=...
Good review here, by JayEm - Good YT channel tbh if no-one knows of him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW558PqtENY&t=...
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.
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