Recently found a '91 164L, 5 speed with 158,000 miles, no rust at $2,200.
Learn me some 164 do's and don'ts for considering this car, the Pininfarina design is a plus. Owner says runs and drives great. I've always thought of owning an Alfa, mostly Spyders, but how does this stack up as a DD.
finicky control systems for the HVAC, can be troublesome. Typical Alfa engine, pulls strong, sounds great, must be cared for (timing belts)
Overall a really nice car, fun to drive.
At last check windshields were NLA and if you could find one it is usually over $1000 so glass problems are a deal killer.
Thanks for the info timing belt, HVAC. Windshield glass, OK. Still looks a go.
you know you can drop that engine into an Alfa spider with some work...
JThw8 wrote:finicky control systems for the HVAC, can be troublesome. Typical Alfa engine, pulls strong, sounds great, must be cared for (timing belts)
Overall a really nice car, fun to drive.
At last check windshields were NLA and if you could find one it is usually over $1000 so glass problems are a deal killer.
+1. Had an LS, but when it was in the shop once, we got a basic L for a weekend, and really liked the motor. Timing belts are super important- this one had it fail, and was pre- new guides, so it went through a quart of oil every other day.
Cool car, but just not for me.
(oh, and the Spider swap is very hard. It needs a pretty unique bell housing to even persue the swap.)
mad_machine wrote:you know you can drop that entire drive train into a Yugo with some work...
FTFY
Timing belts and water pumps are are a 30k replacement schedule, be sure they have been done or budget to do so. Being a FWD car makes the job a bit more difficult than it does in the GTV6, but the average joe can still do the job at home. You want to make sure you use Alfa parts though, many of the aftermarket parts are not the same quality.
Alfa only parts and the timing belts will pretty much destory the whole motor if you dont keep on top of them.
They are good cars but you need to wait on parts.
JThw8 wrote:mad_machine wrote:you know you can drop that entire drive train into a X1/9 with some work...
FTFY
FTFbothofY
They are pretty, but being WWD kills them for me.
Isnt the saab 9000 the same platform? But i guess that just it... nothing else interchange
yes.. the 9000 Lancia Thema, Fiat Chroma, and Alfa 164 all used the same "chassis"
That is the whole reason GM bought Saab.
