Alfa Romeo 164 3.0 V6 Cloverleaf

1996 Cloverleaf 24V - A stunning car in many ways and they still look razor sharp. Very quick at higher speeds, with a glorious and serious growl above 4000rpm. If you can find one that's been pampered they're trouble-free but any problems need addressing quickly and properly otherwise they deteriorate quickly; there's quite a lot to go wrong. Always a sense of occasion when driving this beast. They're quite rare now so people take a second look. Basically the best car I've ever owned but wasted on the daily commute.

The Alfa Romeo 164 sedan was first introduced to Australia in 1989, it was a new design and a new concept for Alfa, the 164 aimed at the luxury sports sedan market. The engine has an exciting exhaust note, highlighting the sporting nature of the car. The 164 is a delight to drive on twisting roads, the steering gives a driver full feedback of the road conditions and the firm but comfortable ride provides great control. As a luxury sedan, it has the looks, style and breeding to hold its own in the prestige field.

If you see an Alfa 164 S or L for that matter for $1200 to $1600. Either run like hell, be prepared to toss in another $3000 or be a back yard or real Alfa tech. Having owned 3 164's and many rear drive Alfas I would highly suggest buying one with a service history that is not word of mouth but documented. Call the shop and ask about the car - a lot of shops will tell you if a car needs work or has been abused by the previous owner. Water pumps, timing belts and head gaskets would be my first concern. Engines are rock solid if not over heated.

Have never regretted buying my Alfa Romeo 164 and don't really see a point whereby I will part with it, very addictive stuff.

Generally reliable machine, the car has been off the road for 3 months (mostly waiting for bits) in 5 years ownership. Has cost a small fortune to rectify previous owners tight maintenance budget!

I had to replace the engine on my Alfa Romeo 164 3.0 V6 Cloverleaf Sports Car so all the conections were undone and put back togather and most of them were cracked or fell apart. A lot of the parts could of been modifid and made easier and more accessible then they were. very frustating and hard to put everything back togather. Besides all that the car is exceptionally great.

Having owned a 1990 3.0V6 for 5 years now (changed from an Audi 80 quattro), I firmly believe this is one of the best drivers cars ever.

Very easy to handle in low-speed traffic, thanks to a gearbox that lets you do 65mph in second. Recently, I drove through a tunnel at 120 with the windows open, the sound still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

My love of this car was rejuvenated last year, when I got in to the habit of downshifting, sounds fantastic!

Yesterday, I testdrove my new car - a BMW 850 V12 for a full 40 miles on motorways, and small streets. Nowhere near as exciting as the 164

I believe the Ultra-rare Q4 (4WD) version is the best drivers car on Earth.

I have owned this 1995 Alfa Romeo 164 3.0 QV (Cloverleaf/S) for just 3 months or so, but had heard of other 164 QV owners' enthusiastic comments on their "babies".

Having owned several Alfa Romeos including 2 GTV6 2.5s, a 75 2.0 & a 2.5 V6 auto, a Sud Sprint 1.7, and other lesser versions of 164s (3.0 manual, 3.0 12V auto, and 24V auto), I have to come to admit that this 164 24V QV is by far the best old-Alfa-spirited breed of all Alfa models produced in the 80s' thru now. Not even the latest GTV 3.0 24V or the 166 so called "GTA" can compare facing this 164. The sound and the fell of the car are soo good!!

At a mere HK$25,000 (US$3,200), this car is a steal!

My Alfa Romeo 164 3.0l V6 Cloverleaf car has pretty much everything: air-con, leather, electric everything, a 3 litre engine that sounds truly wonderful and has plenty of power. Electronic suspension (auto and sport), good handling and fine looks.

Must be maintained as per Alfa specs or this car will bite you! Ignore at your peril. Stay away from main dealers (unless they are enthusiastic and knowledgable about the 164) if you can find a good independent specialist in your area. Expect to pay £65 per hour labour at dealer.

All parts still available when this was written (2002) but Alfa parts can be double the price of the same part in a different box from a motorfactors!

things to look for when buying: Does the aircon work PROPERLY, check tyre for uneven wear (bushes need fairly regular replacement), check all electrical gadgets, make sure cambelt has been changed every 36k miles (plenty of horror stories available on the net for those who ignored this advice).

A truly wonderful car that deserves classic status in years to come.

24v models much improved over 12v.

You haven't lived until you've got behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo 164 3.0l V6 Cloverleaf. Whether the 12v or the 24v version, the power is heartstopping. They also look fantastic. My 1995 'M' reg. would have cost £25,000 when it rolled off the forecourt, but at just over 100,000 miles on the clock (and still the most incredible looks, sound and performance), just £3,250.