Alfa Romeo 164 Super V6 24valve Review

Overall Rating

Fantastic engine, fantastic neutral handling (better than a GTV), ultra stable from zero to 150mph (even when 5 up with a boot full of luggage), very practical and comfortable, a driving delight. The best 5 seater Alfa ever and more reliable than the Cloverleaf, which has electronic suspension that fails.
Brakes are very powerful - give them a big push and the biggest danger would be another car ramming into the back of you, but if you've been driving it seriously there won't be anything close enough to make it a problem.
Series 2 cars (24valve V6 engines, forget anything other the V6 - it is a wasted opportunity) are much more reliable than the earlier cars.
If the engine management system develops a fault a warning light will shine - prodding the accelerator 5 times, ignition on, engine not running, will make the light flash a code of 4 numbers, telling you what the fault is.

Wind noise from A-pillars from 70 to 150mph, typical Italian electrics can fail in non-vital areas: i.e. folding door mirrors, sunroof and LCD heater display.
Brakes can start to fade if screaming between multiple roundabouts/junctions.
Don't buy one if you drive with anything other than a cool head - it is too powerful to be driven hard without full attention.

If you have the space to store it buy a second 164 for spares - the cheapest way if you plan to have one long term.
There is some torque steer but far less than in the Series 1 cars and you get used to it. Road testers who just drive the cars for a few hours complain about it but after a few days you hardly notice it - you are putting 210bhp through the front wheels, after all. The chassis is well up to it and actually feels like it wants more power on the autobhan as 5th feels a bit flat at 120mph but goes better once over 130mph; mind you we were fully loaded - as mentioned.
More stable aerodynamically than the series ones, which only felt stable over 100mph. You don't notice anything less than a hurricane cross wind at all.
I've read a lot of people commenting on the 24valve engines running hot and I did have this problem but it was simply a blocked radiator that I changed myself in a couple of hours.
Fuel consumption depends on how you drive it - I used to get about 30mpg when I first bought and was learning its limits but now drive it harder and get less. Drove to Russia and back, passing Berlin at 150mph, with my wife videoing, kids sleeping and every crevice in the car stuffed with luggage - had just one problem, a cracked headlight glass due to a stone chip and Latvian roads - took 20 minutes to change the glass.
Make sure you service it well and it will serve you well. Plan to keep it for ever. If you get the chance buy one.