1994 Alfa Romeo 164 24V Cloverleaf review from UK and Ireland

Where do you begin?

Clutch

ABS Modulator

Starter Motor

Air flow meter

Brake Discs.

I bought a stunning black example and all went well with the car to begin with - then all hell broke loose.

You name it, it packed up. The clutch cost £700 to replace and took 3 days to fit.

Then the ABS Modulator packed up, and these cost £1400 brand new, but I was able to get one second hand for a tenth of that price.

Great all is well I thought - except the starter motor then packed up - then the Air flow meter, followed by the ABS sensor, then a front brake disc cracked... Oh did I mention that the Air Bag Light flashed an error all the time and nobody could switch the damn thing off? All in all it spent 3 months of 2005 in the garage getting fixed...

As for the dreaded Italian tin worm - lets just not go there...

I paid £1700 for the car and spent £2000 maintaining it for less than 2 years - I eventually gave up and sold it for £800... And I cracked open a beer to celebrate it departure from my life!

I've owned Alfa's before and honestly thought I'd always have one, either as a everyday car or a weekend toy, but this car has proved to me that the Italians can design beautiful cars, but they just can't build them well. I doubt I'll ever buy one again.

If you must have one buy the basic twin-spark version - the 24 valve is just a complex bomb ready to go off in your face - you have been warned!