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Trinity, my 158K-mile 1991 Alfa Romeo 168 S (as of 10/22/04)

Trinity basking in the sun with the Q4 beside her	Trinity with my friend Ricardo and his soulmate Scottie

The 164 S is an early 1990's front-drive Italian sport sedan with a 12-valve all-aluminium V6 producing 200 hp (regular 164's had 183 hp). It came loaded with all sorts of luxury fare as standard - all-leather interior (including dashboard and seatbacks), automatic climate control, six-way power front seats, heated seats front and rear, cruise control and more. As a daily driver, my S is quite reliable. Italian cars in general are plagued with a reputation for gross unreliability, but in actuality, just like all other makes, its manifestation (or lack thereof) depends very much on the care and maintenance they receive. Unfortunately, parts and service for these cars are prohibitively expensive for many, so unsuspecting owners often purchase these fine automobiles and fail to properly upkeep them, and hence things fall apart. In the 47,000 miles I've driven since I bought the S, I've spent $18,206.51 on maintenance and repairs. That seems exorbitant and maybe it is, but Trinity is truly a wonderful car to drive and has never let me down. Be that as it may, Alfa left the U.S. market in 1995 due to poor sales. The 164, which arrived stateside in 1991, was the first of a newer, more refined breed of Alfa, but it came slightly too late to revitalize their sales in the U.S. Italian car ownership is not easy or light on the wallet, so one needs a certain level of fanaticism to own one of these cars - why on earth would I spend that much on repairs on a 13-year-old automobile? One drive in a 164 and you will understand. The 3.0-litre V6 installed in the 164 was unanimously acclaimed by journalists around the world as being the best V6 engine in production (at least until the arrival of the Nissan V6 a few years ago - its first real competitor in 12 years). Quick-revving and highly characterful, Alfa engines, whether in 4-cylinder twin-spark or V6 form, are among the best in the business. They say that Alfa engines are the best-sounding this side of Ferrari. They also say that Alfa sprinkle magic dust on each of their steering wheels. Armed with telepathic steering, passionate engines and seductive body designs, no wonder once a driver has experienced an Alfa it is hard to turn back to "other" cars. One drive will ensure your addiction.

E-mail me if you're in the area and I can book you for a test-drive (Bay Area, California)

The 1996 Alfa Romeo 164 Q4, with only 69,000 kilometres/43,000 miles on the clock (as of 10/22/04):

The Q4 with my college friend Jeremy. He sure looks proud	The Q4 parked on the coast near Half Moon Bay, San Francisco

The Alfa Romeo 164 Q4 was the top-of-the-line model in Alfa's European range from 1993 to 1997, featuring all-wheel-drive, electronically-controlled suspension and 235 horsepower. The extremely complex and capable design of the AWD system effectively muted any discontent that enthusiasts may have habored about the front-wheel drivetrain of the regular 164. Unfortunately the Q4 was never imported into the U.S. due to Alfa's sales slump in this country. However, a couple enterprising fellows decided to take the challenge of overcoming EPA and NHTSA regulations and successfully imported Q4's into the United States, this car being one of them. I know of at least three that exist in the U.S., although there may be one or two more. The Q4 was the lowest-production and highest-performing 164 ever built, and as such is one of the most sought-after 164 models. An extremely rare automobile, it was only produced in left-hand drive, and so was never imported into Great Britain. The S and the Q4 look very similar, but under the hood vast differences abound (Alfa reportedly spent $34 million designing the Q4). Exterior-wise the handsome Pininfarina shape was already a classic, so few styling updates were incurred during the 164's lifetime. The midlife facelift undergone in 1993 focused on a major update of the V6 engine from 12 to 24 valving and an overhaul of the interior rather than altering the exterior. The 164 was produced in varying levels of trim, the S and Q4 being the top-of-the-line models pre and post-facelift respectively. These models were known as "cloverleafs", and were distinguished from regular models by a more highly tuned and powerful version of the 3.0-litre V6, different wheels and exterior body cladding. In addition, cloverleaf models were equipped with electronically-adjustable suspension, enabling the driver to switch stiffness between "soft" or "hard" depending on driving environment and mood. Despite recent advances in horsepower and technology, the 164 Q4 still steadfastly retains its place among my list of the top three sports sedans in the world (the other two are the Maserati Quattroporte IV Evoluzione and the BMW M5). Although not the newest or most technologically advanced, the mystique and rarity of the Q4 gives it an aura totally of its own. The well-designed Alfa Romeo 164 is often heralded as the model which saved Alfa, and the Q4 stands as the ultimate iteration of the 164. Back in the 1980s build quality was poor and the company was not in the best of times. Fiat bought Alfa Romeo during that period, and one of the first improvements was made to quality control, the 164 being the first beneficiary of the new influx of capital investment. Introduced in Europe in 1987, the new sedan's handling combined with its striking styling led many to praise the 164 as one of the best Alfa Romeos in the 100-year history of the marque. Especially in its later years, when early electronic and mechanical glitches were ironed out and its interior greatly refined, the 164 represented one of the most exciting and capable sedan buys on the market, with the Q4 on the top of the list. As confirmed by journalists in the articles section, the Q4 takes the already revolutionary 164 to a new strata of ability, luxury and perfection. Today, the 164 Q4 enjoys membership in the world's most exclusive sport sedans club, with reportedly only several thousand ever produced. Its world-class driving dynamics and Alfa's historical heritage combine to produce a sports sedan with few equals. While not everyone can appreciate all that the Q4 offers (those looking for luxury of a different kind can turn to Mercedes) or are willing to put up with the quirks and niggles all Alfas are sure to present, true driving enthusiasts who have experienced the style, the power, and the legend of Alfa Romeo will not be disappointed in the least.

What's the difference between an Alfa 164 and an Alfa 168??

164's and 168's are actually identical in all respects. In most places around the world these cars were marketed as 164's. In Asia however dealers were worried because in Chinese, the numbers 1-6-4 pronounced together sound like the phrase "continuously dying". Bad fung-shui, to say the least. So they succeeded in petitioning Alfa Romeo headquarters to change the model number just for the Asian market. 1-6-8, a name much more condusive to sales, sounds like "continuously prospering". Hence it came to be that 164's were relabeled as 168's in markets such as Hong Kong and Thailand. For an additional air of exclusivity, I bought a "168" badge in Hong Kong and fitted it to my S in lieu of the "164". :-)

To the left is the 3.0-litre V6 which powers most 164's. In its various guises, which includes 12-valve or 24-valve iterations, it makes from 183 to 235 horsepower (a European-only version also has a turbo). Trinity has a 200 hp 12V, while the Q4 gets the top-of-the-line 235 hp 24V. By the way, the "Q" in Q4 stands for Quadrifoglio (Italian for cloverleaf). Notice that Alfa Romeo do not cover their engines with a plastic sheath - they showcase their engines in all their glory. Beautiful, ain't it? Image taken from Rich Lasner's fabulous-looking red 164 S

My dad and I drove the Q4 cross-country from Ithaca to San Francisco in Christmas 2001, where she now resides. In March 2002, a dozen Alfa Romeo fans in the San Francisco Bay Area gathered together at our abode to inspect the Q4. Among them was experienced track maverick Nizam Zambri, who wrote a brief synopsis of the event. He also wrote a fascinating road test article on his webpage. His conclusion is that the AWD system of the Q4 greatly enhances the car's handling - gone is the front-weight bias of standard FWD 164's.

Still thirsty for more 164 info?

The Unofficial Alfa Romeo 164 Home Page - great place for more Alfa 164 information

The Alfa Romeo 164 Discussion Forum - highly active chatboard of Alfa 164 owners

Alfa Romeo 164 Q4 Driving Impressions - by Nizam Zambri

Good luck in your quest to become an Alfista! (Alfa Lover)

More photos and information on the Alfa Romeo 168 S and 164 Q4:

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Background: Alfa 164 Q4 frontal grille
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