19 Feb 08
Space, a smooth ride and sufficient speed - that's what you want if you spend a lot of time on motorways. However, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get your hands on a nice, comfy cruising machine. The reality is: comfort comes cheap if you're after a large family saloon or former executive car. With most second-hand buyers looking at practical estates or, alternatively, more sports-focused models, less fashionable four-doors are ten-a-penny and attractively priced.
Prices: From £1500, but £10,000 will get you a three-year-old, top-of-the-range V6.
Engines: 2.0, 2.5 V6, 3.0 V6, 3.2 V6.
Watch out for: Dodgy electrics, unevenly worn tyres and faulty wheel alignment/tracking; oil pump and timing belt problems with four-cylinder engines.
For: Unusual and Italian; looks more expensive than it is; a lot of car for the money.
Against: Not very robust; 156/159 are better-looking.
Alfa's 156 and 159 are more striking, and more dynamic to drive, so the larger 166 is often overlooked. Sportier to drive than most of its rivals at the time, however, it's also more comfortable than you'd think; it was one of the first Alfas in which the driving position suited anyone other than a long-armed, short-legged ape.
The 166 is heavy on fuel - especially the 3.0 V6 - but otherwise should not be too expensive to maintain. Don't go to an Alfa dealership because you'll pay through the nose. Find a good independent local specialist and pick out the best example with the most service history. It's not as poorly-built as Alfa-sceptics suggest, but the 166 does suffer from a lot of niggly smaller problems.
Review: Alfa Romeo 166 (1999-2006)
