New Car (take 2) - Alfa 166 Super Lusso

[GLPoomobile 958]

Sooooooooo, the Saab lasted 6 days and then I crashed it Pics are here if anyone is interested.

 

It's replacement is this.....

 

 

 

 

Full album can be viewed here

 

It's a 3.0 manual (Super) in Minerva Green. 17" horse shoe alloys, cream leather, wood dash, gearknob and steering wheel (knob and wheel feel lovely), electrically adjustable and heated seats, cruise control, auto climate control, phone, sat-nav (I need to get the code for it though as it's currently locked out), and 6 disc CD changer. Probably more I've forgotten. It's done 87k with FSH except the last stamp at 84k (but it has been serviced regulalry, just not stamped), full MOT, belts etc changed last year at 77k by the head mechanic at Mangoletsi, 2 previous owners were Alfa Owners Club members, and it was originally an Alfa press car and was used in the Autocar roadtest (I'm going to contact the publisher and see if I can get a copy). Also has a SS Novitec exhaust from cat back which adds a little bit of character but isn't much louder than standard and barely audible at motorway speeds.

 

It's a nice car overall, in fact bloody great for the price, but it's by no means perfect (got to be expected for a 12 year old motor). I'll enjoy it for a while, but I've really got to try hard not to spend any money on it as to be brutally honest, I preferred the 9-3. If I can find a nice 9-5 HOT Aero in about 6 months time I think I'll swap over.

[blue_haddock 2]

It does like nice in a big barge kind of way.

 

I'm also liking the idea of a 9-5 Aero

Edited November 21, 2010 by blue_haddock

[muddatrucker 125]

Its ugly, but I like it.

[GLPoomobile 958]

It's not ugly, it's quirky (quirky as in eccentric. Not quirky as in Pauline Quirk, which is ugly!)

 

It ain't that big either. You class it as a typical rep barge, but it doesn't feel big to drive.

Edited November 21, 2010 by GLPoomobile

[muddatrucker 125]

It's not ugly, it's quirky

 

It ain't that big either. You class it as a typical rep barge, but it doesn't feel big to drive.

Its ugly in the same way a BMW 635Csi is, ugly but nice.

[welshpug 1,657]

where's the fog?!

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

where's the fog?!

 

Exactly what I was thinking, you big gay purple hat wearing pimp mother f***er!

 

Where's yo bitches?

[GLPoomobile 958]

where's the fog?!

 

It was behind me, off camera

[Tesstuff 222]

I am gobsmacked you are talking about the car and showing gay photos when the highlight of the day was a Reliant Robin WITH TRAILER trying to slipstream us up that hill

[GLPoomobile 958]

I am gobsmacked you are talking about the car and showing gay photos when the highlight of the day was a Reliant Robin WITH TRAILER trying to slipstream us up that hill

 

Whoa there, back up the f***ing train!

 

For the sake of clarity, the Robin was tailgating YOU in YOUR 405, not my 166 After you got overtaken by an elderly couple in an old Golf (IIRC) who must have been in their 80s. I guess time is of the essence when you only have a few years left to live

[Tesstuff 222]

Yes that is correct, the old couple are locally infamous, as they converted their Mk3 Golf with a Citroen 2CV 600cc engine, that is why the overtake took so long

 

Excellent car GLP , any idea of the mpg on yesterday's return journey?

[GLPoomobile 958]

Ahem

 

MPG not so good

 

Average of 26. Crusing at 70 gets about 27. Got 29 average over the A702 from the motorway to home. Drive out this morning saw about 22 The Saab was better on the juice, with more go to back it up. The Alfa goes alright, but you have to wring it's neck to get the best from it.

[Tesstuff 222]

Oh , that is a bit disappointing on a run mate.

[miamichris 9]

Ahem

 

MPG not so good

 

Average of 26. Crusing at 70 gets about 27. Got 29 average over the A702 from the motorway to home. Drive out this morning saw about 22 The Saab was better on the juice, with more go to back it up. The Alfa goes alright, but you have to wring it's neck to get the best from it.

 

Just crash it and get another saab GLP, problem sorted!

[happygoron 2]

But, more importantly, how does it sound?!

[GLPoomobile 958]

Meh, it's alright. I think it would need a lairier exhaust and a cone filter to really satisfy. Sounds nice low down the revs, nice deep and smooth rumble, but further up the revs when giving it beans it sounds a bit disappointing.

 

Don't get me wrong, it's a nice car, and I'm not having 2nd thoughts. I knew before I bought it that I wasn't 100% convinced about getting a 166, but I've done it now and I'll likely move on in 6 months. The box is ticked. I don't really see that this particular model has any more character than most other cars. The selling point is the V6, but even that's not really set my world on fire.

 

f*** I'm hard to please

[SurGie 54]

Im sure it will be fine as long as its not too comfortable to drive that it ends up crashed

 

The side and the back look ok to me its just the front looks that puts me off, the barge comment i agree in part due to one of the photo's, yet the other one makes it looks smaller.

 

Good luck with this one GLP

[kyepan 291]

round of applause for just going for it there steve. When you think it's a four door saloon, it really does look nice.

 

 

It can be agony to watch your extended bouts of online procrastination at times

 

Would you consider spending the money to change the exhaust?

 

I've given some very serious consideration of late about buying a DC2 integra, they are cheap as chips now. A friend has just bought one, and hands down i prefer it over my sisters civic type r.

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

Its ugly in the same way a BMW 635Csi is, ugly but nice.

I presume you are talking about the new-ish one, not the late 70's/80's classic that looks like a shark!

 

I do like those wheels. I remember photoshopping them on my 155 in around 1999.... I have managed to find it

 

[muddatrucker 125]

I presume you are talking about the new-ish one, not the late 70's/80's classic that looks like a shark!

 

I do like those wheels. I remember photoshopping them on my 155 in around 1999.... I have managed to find it

 

Nah I mean the 80's version, it does have an angry shark look to it, but its ugly and thus beautiful!

[Anthony 1,003]

Apologies for going a little off-topic...

 

Nah I mean the 80's version, it does have an angry shark look to it, but its ugly and thus beautiful!

I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but the old 6-series is in my opinion one of the best looking cars BMW has ever made - I certainly can't see how one could ever be described as ugly...

 

 

 

The new 6-series on the other hand, like most Bangle-era BMW's, I think is just wrong on so many levels - for me, their styling and understated presence peaked with the E39 5 Series and E46 3-Series (and E32 7-Series for that matter).

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

+1 with Anthony. My old man keeps contemplating getting rid of his E30 M3's for a nice M6 or 635CSi Highline. He even bought one for spares and carefully cut the entire nose off it to mount on a wall in his house, until he realised the wall would need reinforcing in order to do it so it is now undercover down the garden!!

Classic Schnitzer ETCC one http://www.bmwe34.net/Wiki/img/wiki_up/150...5racing_10_.jpg

[MrG 3]

agree with Anthony and Henry, the old 6 is a classic, lovely looking car.

 

What about its predecessor? the e9, just as nice.

 

Competition e9

 

But back on track, don't dismiss Alfa due to the heavier saloon, the engine shines in other cars. Have fun then move it on I suppose is the way.

Edited November 23, 2010 by MrG

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

But, more importantly, how does it sound?!

 

 

At last - it took so long for this to asked.

For your trouble have a listen to this collection of 'different' Italian V6's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry got carried away there.

 

 

EDIT: One more

 

Edited November 23, 2010 by Simes

[happygoron 2]

EDIT: One more

 

 

Want. Next stop pistonheads....