Alfa Romeo 166 (1999 - 2005) 2.0 TS 16V Lusso 4d (00) (2001/Y) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

sophisticated and listen to your heart rather than head. looks very expensive

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

all loved it. i owned it at 21 so broke the mould for the type of person you would expect to see driving it. got some nice smiles from girls my age at petrol stations.

Would you buy this car again and why?

if i ever saw one with low milage i would honestly buy it whether i needed a car or not. the 166 was the best car i have ever had the pleasure of driving. germany can keep their mercedes. in the words of clarkson 'sitting behind the steering wheel of the 166 just feels like a special place to be'

What are you likely to buy next?

the replacement alfa are launching in 2010

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£4,500

When did you buy the car?

September 2005

Did you get a good deal and why?

excellent deal. was not long out of warranty so hard to sell, even though it had done under 45,000 miles. i paid under 5k for a car costing £30,000ish 4 years earlier. ridiculous!

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

wasn't looking for it, but sat in the driver seat at auction and knew i would buy it

What was the dealer like?

seller said it didn't meet reserve and tried to haggle. i refused to budge

What's it like to drive?

fantastic. chomped up asphalt to make 3 hour journeys feel like a pleasurable short ride. smooth, comfortable, effortless

What's it like to park?

it was longer than my dad's vectra estate and quite wide. town centre multi-storey was challenging and i would always come back and check it for dings

Have you had any problems with the car?

clutch pedal squeaked sometimes. standard service from independent mechanic cost about £100 with all new spark plugs. chuffed. numbers had worn off gear knob and arm rest storage fastening clip broke only 45,000 miles after new

What's most practical about your car?

massive. extremely comfortable for everyone.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

heated leather electric seats. loved the centre console that was tilted towards the driver. engine sounded lovely