1992 Alfa Romeo 164 S review from North America
"Unmatched Italian style and sound"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
When I purchased my black 164 S I knew it had a cooling issue due to a leaky radiator so that was ordered. What I didn't know was that the previous owner had overheated the head gaskets due to above problem. So head gaskets were done too as well as all coolant hoses. Front lower control arm bushing needed replacing too since handling was not as good as my 1992 L model. Routine brake pads and tires and my car runs near new.
General comments?
The car is unique and very fast for the year and size, not common like BMW or Mercedes. I get compliments always. I would recommend for anyone who wants an affordable semi exotic Italian sport sedan, just be sure to know service history, particularly when timing belt was changed. This is crucial to these cars. I would also spend more for a car that needs next to nothing unless you have a fat wallet or are very skilled in auto repair. And I don't mean brake jobs! There are deals for nice S models out there, but for a real no needs car expect $4500 to $5500 as of 2008. An L model can be had for about half to $3500 for a real clean one.
Recommended reviews
| A brilliant performance saloon |
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| Buy black, kill BMWs for a fraction of the cost |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1992 |
| Year of manufacture | 1991 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.0 Gas Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 149000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 155000 miles |
| Previous car | Alfa Romeo 164 |
| Date of Entry | 30th January, 2008 |