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Cheap vintage Alfa Romeo 164: Bella Macchina needs no sound chip

2019-09-22T13:01:35.108Z


Little money, but still fancy a classic car? No problem - they are namely, the bargain sled. This time: the Alfa Romeo 164, the sporty sedan with the cult engines.



General to the model

Die-hard Alfisti wrinkled their noses when the Alfa Romeo 164 appeared in 1987. Quite untypical for the traditional brand from Italy rolled the new sedan of the upper middle class with front wheel instead of rear wheel drive. Compensated for the car with creamy engines and a sophisticated equipment.

The 164 should thus ensure the survival of the traditional brand Alfa Romeo, which was economically on the ground in the 1980s. 1986 followed the takeover by Fiat, the 164 had been planned before.

Technically, the 164 based on the Tipo-4 platform such as Lancia Thema, Fiat Croma and Saab 9000. The siblings were created by Italdesign and 1987 for several years on the market. For the 164 Alfa Romeo had the bodywork design against Pininfarina. The result was a sleek wedge shape with virtually no rounding.

The front wheel drive made the transmission tunnel smaller. As a result, more space was released in the interior, and the trunk volume was neat. "The 164 is a beautiful touring car," emphasizes Thomas Bücker, type officer for the 164 at the Alfa Romeo Club Germany.

The customers were well-heeled individualists who once wanted something other than BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class: namely, a chic Italian design with sporty technology and good equipment. So were electric windows front in the Alfa 164 series (the Mercedes W124 cranked in the basic version by hand). There was also a central locking with infrared remote control, aluminum rims and rear roller blind.

The engines did not have to shy away from the competition with BMW and Mercedes. The snotty twin-spark four-cylinder (with performance-enhancing dual ignition) were known from the Alfa 75 and with just under 150 hp already no light sailor. A two-liter turbo offered 175 hp. Those who could afford it chose the big V6 engine. The three-liter units with 180 hp thrill even today with silky smooth running and adequate power for the one and a half ton sedan. With the facelift 1992 (all 164 were called from then on "super") came the top model QV (Quadrifoglio Verde) added: The 24-valve six-cylinder made 232 hp and accelerated the Alfa Romeo up to 245 km / h. The 2.5-liter diesel version (the diesel engine came from VM Motori) was allowed in early 1987, even fastest diesel series passenger cars in the world call. Exotic today are the four-wheel drive versions Q4, which were built only about 1,200 times.

Why just that?

Even the twin-spark four-cylinder are angry, but the sound of an "Arese V6" addictive. So is the pithy-roaring three-liter six-cylinder, which belongs to the legendary Alfa Romeo engines and was also installed in the164. Modern cars get sound chips and flap exhausts to sound like something. Alfa 164 drivers can only laugh about that.

With air conditioning and comfortable leather seats makes traveling (not just the lawn) even today still fun with the Italians - especially since the four-door with its generous space is also great as a family car. Only with the front wheel drive you have to arrange. If you also like to drive your car with the accelerator pedal, you prefer a rear-wheel drive. But do you want to drift with a noble sedan like the Alfa Romeo 164?

Availability

Despite nearly 270,000 copies sold (end of production was in 1997), the 164 even at Alfa Romeo meeting has become rare. Nevertheless, you will find the used car portals quite quickly. Even six-cylinder models are affordable. High mileages over 200,000 kilometers, however, are the rule. Hand-carved wagons from first or second hand are rare.

More, almost cheeky cheap rides can be found in the previous episodes of the series:

photo gallery


38 pictures

Cheap vintage cars: buck on sheet? Please long here

Spare parts supply

Wear parts such as brakes or ancillaries of the engines are still good to get. Here the common platform pays off with the other Tipo 4 models. With sheet metal, interior and ornament it becomes more difficult. Clubs and forums can help. It looks quite bad when replacing the less built Q4 four-wheel drive. Many parts are no longer available, with the special electronics workshops today are usually overwhelmed.

Spare parts prices (example)

  • Mudguard front, used: from 50 Euro
  • Set brake discs front: from 80 euros
  • Water pump: about 100 euros
  • Timing belt change in the V6: from 800 euros in workshops

vulnerability

As bad as the older brother Alfasud, the 164 does not rust. Corrosion on wheel arches, spring plates and the rear axle frame still often cause problems. Nerves can also breakdowns of the on-board electrical system - with hundreds of plug connections, the troubleshooting can take. Elaborate is the change of the timing belt, which is due every five years. In addition, the plastics become hard and brittle in old age. The Alfa engines, however, are good for normal maintenance for 300,000 kilometers and more.

price

From about 1,500 euros there are ready to drive copies, sometimes even with valid HU seal.

Various construction sites are likely in this price range. Even groomed V6 can be found for less than 5,000 euros. Lover pieces with all-wheel drive (Q4) are traded with 15,000 euros and more.

Points of contact on the Internet

  • http://www.alfa164.de/
  • https://www.alfaclub.de/
  • https://www.alfisti.net/alfa-forum/

Source: spiegel

All tech articles on 2019-09-22

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