THE Alfa 166 is a marvellous car to drive and is now down to very small money if you fancy driving in the lap of luxury.
It was the flagship of Alfa’s range until it was dropped in 2005 but sold in very small numbers here.
That’s a pity, because apart from the occasional electrical problems of Alfas in earlier models, its reliability record is not too bad.
The 166 is a big saloon with all the right kit and the kind of performance and refinement that some others cannot match.
It’s a refined grand tourer with an excellent turn of speed even with the smallest 2 litre engine - which has a delightful soundtrack.
This produces an excellent 155bhp, and reaches 60 from rest in under 10 seconds so it’s no slouch. Next up are silky 2.5, 3.0 and 3.2-litre V6’s with 190 or 220 or 240bhp.
Although these have superb performance, unless you are willing to pay for that in poor economy, go for the 2.0-litre.
Interior
It’s a really beautiful car that stands out from the BM and Merc crowd. All have climate control, alloys, full electrics, remote locking, alarm system, excellent power steering and heated front seats.
Many are also fitted with optional leather upholstery and electric seats, which are superb. Later models are more reliable, service history is a must and avoid the semi-autos.
FAST FACTS
Alfa Romeo 166 2.0 Lusso
Price: Pay £1,700 for an ’04 54 Tourismo, £2,550 for a facelifted ’05 55-reg Lusso
Mechanical: 155bhp, 1,970cc, 4 cylinder petrol driving the front wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 124mph
0-62mph: 9.5 seconds
Combined mpg: 29
Insurance group: 15
CO2 emissions: 230g/km
Marks: 8/10
Main Rival:Ford Mondeo