1991 Alfa Romeo 164 L review from North America

Passenger wheel bearing gave out.

Oil pressure sender was broken when I bought the car and was replaced.

Car would occasionally fail to start, and then would flood - making it impossible to start for the next few hours.

Car was rear-ended and from then on the cabin smelled like gasoline fumes.

The rear-ending was done by a non-insured motorist and broke a tail light and barely dented the right rear corner. The lowest estimate to repair the damage (by anyone who thought they could - most shops sent me away since it was a car they'd never heard of) was $6000.

Electric windows worked intermittently.

Seat electrics worked intermittently.

Most people consider their cars female, but for some reason, I consider most of mine male. But not the Alfa 164...it was an Italian woman all the way, with the classic temperament to boot. This was the most astoundingly beautiful car I'd ever owned - a black body with a gorgeous and astoundingly sexy tan interior. This car was well-cared-for and in pristine condition when I got it.

I immediately changed the timing belt (needs to be done every 30,000 miles) and water pump. I then settled into my love affair with this Alfa.

Then she decided that she no longer loved me.

Note that in the 9 months I owned the car, I was able to put about 3000 miles on it. Most of the time, it sat in my garage or driveway pouting. And of course, one of the few times I was able to get the car out onto the road, it was rear-ended.

The car would eventually have issues starting - a problem nobody could diagnose amongst my many Alfa-related friends - and then after I replaced the front wheel bearing and took the car off the jack stands, the car never started for me again. I tried for 3 months to get it to start to no avail so I sold the car to the first person who would be brave enough to take on an affair with this vixen.

The potential buyer looked the car over, took the key, sat in the car and turned it over... and it immediately started. I shook his hand and told him the car was obviously meant for him since I'd not been able to get it to start for 3 months. I didn't look back as he drove away. I may even have mumbled, "good riddance."

But still, when I have the rare sighting of a 164 on the street, my heart gives a big tug. The car is sheer sexiness and has great performance, though it doesn't stop particularly quickly. My Alfa friends are convinced I had a lemon - likely built on a Friday... and I really want to believe them. Maybe that's why I now have an Alfa Romeo Spider in my driveway...sometimes, one never really learns one's lessons...