Alfa Romeo 166 (Alfa Romeo 166 in general)

Member Name: pugwash

Product:	Alfa Romeo 166 in general
Date:	14/08/00 (641 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Speed plus comfort

Disadvantages: No plastic bumpers - great care needed when parking!

I echo the enthusiasm of the other two reviewers. This is, I imagine, one of the best combinations of luxury and oomph that can be bought for the price. Having only done less than 3000 miles on my 3-litre 6-speed manual version I haven't yet got the full benefit of the engine, but am already impressed and am looking forward to the time when it will have loosened up more.
The various screens that one has to learn about take some getting used to, and at first a fair amount of time is spent just finding out how to work them. The fact that the screen is rather low down in the centre of the car means that one has to get accustomed to looking down leftwards and up again pretty smartly if there's much traffic around.
Before buying this car I had a test-drive on a Jaguar S-type, which many people might feel would be a comparable machine. Sadly I have to say that in my opinion the Alfa is far and away the better bargain. Its nimble performance leaves the rather squashy Jag in the shade, and furthermore the model I tried was the top of the range and cost £33,000. The ordinary version was £5,000 less but came without "extras" which are standard on the 3.0 166, such as Cruise Control.
All in all, a most satisfactory purchase.

Pugwash, 13-8-00

Summary: