The car we are looking at this week is the time testing designer looking Alfa Romeo 164. Designed in the late ‘80s to challenge Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, Volvo, Saab and various other mid-size prestige cars, the 164 took Alfa Romeo to new levels of comfort, refinement and build quality. And despite now being 22 years old this year, the 164 still manages to impress. Released at the Frankfurt Motorshow in 1987, the Alfa 164 was designed in conjunction with the Saab 9000, FIAT Croma and Lancia Thema, and continued Alfa Romeo’s move towards front wheel drive. Then local distributor Milan Auto, managed to get many owners to part with their money for this fast and desirable luxury sedan.
Priced almost RM140, 000 new it was cheaper than its German counterparts and came fully loaded with a host of luxury features that others at the time were lacking in. Interestingly, the Alfa 164’s ‘Type 4’ chassis was jointly designed by Saab, Lancia, Fiat and, of course, Alfa Romeo. It remains a very stiff and rigid platform that puts the rickety contemporary local-built cars to shame. Built to appeal to the executive market, the 164 interior is fully leather-lined and well integrated. Standard features include power windows and mirrors, central locking, electric seats, electric steel sunroof and a retractable rear blind. The gauge cluster also goes the extra mile with a volt meter and oil pressure gauge.
A used 1992 Alfa Romeo 164 can be an interesting purchase if you know a little about Italian thoroughbreds. Start with the drivetrain. High mileage engines may be smoky but look for hardened valve stem seals first before spending big money on an overhaul. In the early days of automotive electronics, the Twin Spark relied on two completely separate distributors driven by totally different engine components to feed each circuit of spark plugs. Their synchronising is critical for smooth and efficient running. It also doubles the number of wear and tear components including plugs and leads, distributor caps and other parts. Most 164s come with a ZF auto which is hardy but if abuse then secondhand replacement is the only choice as new boxes can be almost RM25K.
Apart from wear and tear items like bushes and joints, the front and rear suspension are fairly reliable with no real problems. Check rear-drive shaft joints and centre tail shaft couplings if there is vibration or shunt under
load. Undersized brake rotors will be due for replacement. The inboard rear discs need closer inspection as the extra work required may have forced the owner to put it off. Fluid changes are vital so check the master cylinder for weeping if it has dirty fluid. Check all linkages and rods as wear can remove what was left of pedal feel. The 164’s outstanding ride and handling balance depends on the condition of its shockers. Because the originals last so well, they may now be due. If you don’t want to go down the original route, at least pick a quality European alternative such as Koni or Spax. The most common fault is power steering failure and steering rack leaks. The whole system needs to be checked thoroughly. The correct tyres and wheels are also critical. While big wheels and low profile tyres can make the 164 look like a touring car, they can also destroy the geometry and ride/handling balance which is the 164’s most endearing feature. Make sure you get the appropriate size and width.
One big problem with the interior of the early 164s was the plastic trim items inside and out. They are now getting expensive and hard to source even at junkyards.Even when it was relatively new, the 164s plastic bumper trim, body trim, door handles and other items may require refinishing after extensive weather damage. Cabin trim seems to last much better than older Alfas but look out for wear on the door handles and switchgear. For any imported car of this age, check the operation of all accessories including all gauges and warning lights, switch gear, air-conditioning. Watch the temperature gauge during a test run and observe whether the cooling system is coping with the extra load of the air-conditioner. Prices for an early 164 3-liter auto can start from as low as RM4,000 and works it way up to as high RM11,000 for a well looked after 1993 unit. If you are really keen to get your hands on a 164 then pay a little more and get a 1996 168 ‘Super’ which is the one to own.
Prices would be in the region of RM12K to RM18K and you should be able to get a well looked after ex-company maintained car that should keep you on the road with much problems. However take note that Alfa ownership is one of many trials and pains where you need to be patient with your car and have a lot of annual leave a year for visits to the specialists.
