Italian cars had a reputation of dissolving like an Alka-Seltzer over here. ha ha. Listen closely enough when it rains and you could probably hear them fizzing.
I’ll never understand why European motor journalists judge large luxury cars by handling and performance... That’s why they’ve all become non existent in American manufactures, land yachts get bashed for being what they were designed to be, disconnected from the road, soft and plush, and gentle. Go ride in a Cadillac brougham and compare it to today’s Cadillacs, we’ve stepped backwards in comfort and ride quality... Now it’s all about cornering and speed, even in large luxury cars... makes no sense.
@@jimmy5391 It's possible to have ultra plush suspension and still do well over 70... Look at any modern Rolls Royce, Bentley, 7-Series BMW, S-Class Mercedes, Audi A8. None of those are slow cars, and all of them ride like a cloud. Those cars survived because of their high price tag, and the people who buy them typically already have a sports car in their garage and don't need a 4,000+lbs car with tight suspension.
It's because roads around here are far more involved and windy so a car thats fast and nice to drive is kind of praised above anything. Comfy cars don't really handle so journalists at least here in the UK slate them.
@@1Reddd I know what your're saying, I'm talking about a 70's caddy or a mercury with the long hoods. Everybody in the 70's had them. They drove slow and are entirely made of metal, but their beasts and you feel every corner like butter
Haha, you’re right. The same steering wheel as all of the Panther platform Ford cars like my parents 1992 Ford Crown Victoria. The rest of the interior is gorgeous and bespoke (from what I can see here) at least.
Ford are tossers who don't understand how important a unique steering wheel is to a brand -that's how they managed to trash jaguar, land rover and volvo. By all mean share parts the customer can't see but don't try to stick generic parts where its noticeable over luxury brands. Idiots. I'm glad their on the way out now.
Thats a feature. So when the coolant inevitably leaks out the head gasket blows in order to let the oil to move to the coolant passages so you only have to fill one fluid
I had the P11 1.6 Primera and it was a fantastic car, extremely reliable and very good to drive. traded it for a new Hyundai in 2019. kind of regret it financially since the Primera was still going strong and with the lockdowns it would have been even more worth keeping.
Basically yes, it didnt need things like spark plugs until 100k miles. However of course it still required fluid changes etc as normal...my Dad bought one and it was superb!
Bet ulrika would have been creeped out at his comment if in the unlikely event she was watching. Oh wait she went for another skinny lizard like receding pencil necked gentleman in sven. Common language i guess.
I really wanted to like the big Deville, Seville, and Eldorado from the 90's/early 00's. Great looking cars IMO, great power, drove nice(contrary to what Clarkson says), very quiet and posh ride. Its just GM stuck all their engineering flunkies over at Cadillac, we all know about the Northstar headgasket issues, but then you stick this engine in transversely where you can't work on it. Then there are a million other daft problems like electronic struts, a $10 part in the transmission that fails and requires you to pull the tranny, not to mention how all the trim bits break, warp or fall off after a few years. You'd think that for the Cadillac premium they'd spec some nicer interior bits that don't break, but nope.
Interesting that Tiff mentioned having a 6 speed manual here (or the lack thereof), thought that was a relativity recent addition to mainstream cars, seems I'm wrong!
Will Poundstone: you're wrong. The Taurus wasn't "the Mondeo's American cousin". The two cars had nothing to do with each other, including the platforms they were sitting on. Not to mention, the Taurus was a size bigger than the Mondeo. The Mondeo's American equal would be the Contour. The two were basically identical.
I believe the Mondeo's American cousin was the Contour, as far as being platform-mates. If you're talking market segment (e.g. larger family saloon) then you'd definitely be right.
I'd say those Alfa 156s have stood the test of time the best in terms of looks over everything shown , seems to be the case with Italian cars, forward vision
B5? I had an early one with a venerable but smooth 2.6. Actually chose it after a 156 2.0ts i went to look at sold on the day. Bankrupted me but it felt so solid. Was only 19 couldnt get insured on a 406 coupe v6. Most people my age at that time who were not rich kids ran finaced clio 1.2 billabongs new c2s or outright owned something old they modded. Like an old corsa or fiesta. That audi gave me 18 months of expensive but relaxing motoring. Had beautiful leather and quattro bits like wheels and skirts but no ac 😳 windy rear windows and was basic af but it just felt class from the door thunks to the relaxing waftability. Wasnt fast only 150bhp but it felt a cut above. Everything was so nicely damped and finished inside. Got a new 307 after which was loaded for the day, auto lights foldy mirrors and climate control on an 03 but was tinny by comparison.
This shows how car reviewers have no clue on what they're talking about. Calling A gs300 with a 2jz a big Corolla! And calling the North Star v8 a good engine! Meanwhile hating on the ls1 corvette seriously wtf
Nobody really knew about Northstar headgasket problems back in 1997, these cars were still at most 4 years old back then. And when its running right, it is a sweethart of an engine.
It's a European view of the cars. The GS300 wants to be a luxury sedan, but in Europe that is a tough market to compete in. The Lexus brand has no value in Europe and they see it as a disguised Toyota with a markup. It's not technically a corolla, it's a Toyota in the eyes of Europeans and the corolla is used as an example and because they have similar looking headlights (that's why they had a shot zooming in on those headlights). They praised the North Star engine for being innovative and the problems with the engine weren't known back then, they crapped on the corvette for the disappointing handling and the overall plasticy build quality. They did not critique the LS1 engine, which is really good. Not everything anybody says is just straight forward what they mean, especially in media there is a lot of symbolism to convey the actual message.
The gs300 is anything but a corolla wth is he talking about. I understand the connection and resemblance between a ES300 and a Camry or a IS to a corolla, but the GS is a full sized luxury sedan and it’s rear wheel drive how is it at all corolla
1:20 that steering wheel is from a 1992 Ford Taurus (You british have never heard of the Taurus, so I'll tell you, it was the Ford Mondeo's American counterpart
@@herrfister1477 somehow i understood that weak attempt at english. It's not prohibited but manufacturers sure as fuck are trying hard to make cars as soulless and as boring as possible.
When look now at those old BMW's and Audi's you see that 156 interior quality is not really there, but it still looks and drives better than both, especially that horrible Audi. The thing is, no one really cares for handling, while design is mainly subjective thing, also Audi looks nice today. That is why Alfa Romeo will eventually disappear, they are great at things that almost no one cares for, things that can not be explained with numbers and measures, things not possible to touch and comprehend easily. If there is one thing that makes BMW great, it is the fact that they managed to put some of those things into their cars and still sell well.
@@BojanBojovic never had one tho when I will afford a Giulia gtv6 I'll have one. I lived in northern Italy and I know many people who have Alfas. Engines are usually very reliable but electronics and especially suspension repair is very expensive and rust proof wasn't good either. Good looking and fun to drive but I never heard anyone calling them even remotely reliable. A few passionate enthusiasts are willing to accept all the challenges that come with owning a Alfa but the larger audience just doesn't want to be bothered. Myself I would loved to have one for daily use but after all the problems I saw my friends having, ( usually small problems, a sensor malfunction, a door not closing and other minor things but after having issues like this as frequently as once a month ,one after a year or 2 gets fed up with it).
@@dumyjobby I have over 500 000 kilometers in my 3 Alfas so far, I owned the first 146 TI for 6 years, second 156 1.8 TS for two years, and now I have 159 JTDm for more than 6 years. All 3 cars were purchased used, 146 with 74 000 km on the clock, 156 with 60 000 km, and 159 with 100 000 km on the clock, only 146 was from Germany while 156 and 159 were imported from Italy. I sold 146 TI with 200 000 km on the clock, no major problems except suspension bushes which are somewhat standard problem on Italian cars from 90's and 2000's. Interior was good enough but not the same quality as some German rivals, all switches were working well, all lights, no electric problems. Variator was good except few seconds of rattling after start during winter months. I really enjoyed this car, it was fast and the handling was great, not expensive to operate, and for me really reliable. Then I bought 156 1.8 TS and sold it after just two years at 100 000 km on the clock. This car was imported from Italy with broken gearbox bell, so we replaced it, then putted the new clutch and after that it was like new. The car was like new, gearbox was very expensive to fix in Italy so the car stayed in place most of the time until it was sold. Here where I am from it was around 600 Euro to fix it. Variator was ok on this car as well, no electrical problems, everything was working perfectly, I sold it because it was slower than my previous 146 2.0 TS, and it was way too soft for my taste because it was Turismo without any sport pack. Other than that I did not like that 1.8 Twin Spark, it does not have counter-balancing shafts so the engine is not as smooth as 2.0 one. The only problem with this car was its oil consumption, it was little bit higher than what I used to with 146, but it was somewhat normal for Twin Spark, just I did not like to take oil with me when I travel, and I travel a lot. I still have 159 JTDm, which I bought over 6 years a go, this car now has 215 000 km on the clock and it still runs great. No electrical problems, everything works in the cabin, every switch, every light, no problems what so ever. The quality of this car is right there with Germans, Audi and BMW, interior is great, finishing is good, no rattling, no squeaks, it is like Audi but much prettier, and with much better handling and driving dynamics. I like to travel with my family so we make few thousand kilometers trip in our Alfas every year. Two years a go we traveled 4500 kilometers with this 159 through Italy, last year 4000 kilometers through Turkey, three years a go we were in Greece and drove for 3500 kilometers, and so on. The only problem with this car was last year in Turkey where we replaced our clutch. When on vacation the clutch suddenly broke, and we need to replace it. It was already replaced 2 years a go, and that clutch was 50 000 kilometers old, however it was a bad part so we needed to replace it again. No one knows what happened, but it was Valeo which is not very popular here, but I could not find Luk and this happened. It was not original clutch that came with 159, but a replacement that I bought form a Valeo dealer here. My experience is not an axiom of course, but for me Alfa Romeo is as reliable as any other car on the planet. There is few reason for this, one of them is the fact that I have really good mechanic who loves Alfas and he knows how to maintain them. Other reason is how I drive and the fact that I am technically literate, also I know what not to do with the car, and when to maintain which part. Also I know some people with their VW's, Audi's and other German cars that say:" Oh, I never put a single Euro in my car, it still drives well", and then I try their cars, oh it is hard to describe that disaster. Everything is broken, seats, suspension bushes, switches, air-condition, steering, engine noise, driving those cars is like a bad dream, but they still brag about how reliable they are. I could drive my Alfas the same way, they will still work, but I do not want to. This is the reason I can drive anywhere on the planet with my cars without fear. As for you wanting an Alfa, well you know what they say about it: The life is too short to drive a boring car. :)
It started as a motoring program out of local tv in Birmingham in the sixties. Think Longbridge, at the time the largest car plant in Europe. Morphed a number of times.
No they didn't, but they should've. I think it would give the NSX a challenge. IMO the 88-89 Si Preludes have the best engines of all model years of Prelude. Making it with VTEC would make it a badass engine.
@@richardhammer187 The new civic is a grower I kind of like it now I'm used to the design. I think it was a bit radical at first and had to get over the shock of that back end especially the Type R it's still a bit too much I think. But I'd still buy one because it's a Honda Civic ☺️
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@@woooster17 steve berry the token regional accent with the weird smile. Who remembers the autistic guy on jeremy kyle years ago bears a striking resemblance to him.
All tv presenters were soo well spoken in the 90’s.
Such a weird feeling seeing these cars presented as new when we see them as dinosaurs now
I knowwwww
They should be in a museum now
Richard NZ Gaping?
You could say the same about Clarkson
The video is from 1997
The 156 still looks beautiful today! Shame most of them have fallen to bits.
Italian cars had a reputation of dissolving like an Alka-Seltzer over here. ha ha.
Listen closely enough when it rains and you could probably hear them fizzing.
I still have an Alfa 156 GTA 3.2 running. She’s a beast.
sold a 33 with 245.000Km... never got a problem.... the alfa with problem were the SUD with russian iron... gone to rust in no time.
The 1997 Honda Type R is a very nice car.
As a former owner of this generation Integra. I can sadly say, I had the exact (albeit perhaps more visceral) reaction to seeing this.
I’ll never understand why European motor journalists judge large luxury cars by handling and performance... That’s why they’ve all become non existent in American manufactures, land yachts get bashed for being what they were designed to be, disconnected from the road, soft and plush, and gentle. Go ride in a Cadillac brougham and compare it to today’s Cadillacs, we’ve stepped backwards in comfort and ride quality... Now it’s all about cornering and speed, even in large luxury cars... makes no sense.
Agreed. It’s all about speed now. Sad really. I want to feel the corner and move in with it, who cares if I can only hit 60 or 70 on the highway!
@@jimmy5391 It's possible to have ultra plush suspension and still do well over 70... Look at any modern Rolls Royce, Bentley, 7-Series BMW, S-Class Mercedes, Audi A8. None of those are slow cars, and all of them ride like a cloud. Those cars survived because of their high price tag, and the people who buy them typically already have a sports car in their garage and don't need a 4,000+lbs car with tight suspension.
It's because roads around here are far more involved and windy so a car thats fast and nice to drive is kind of praised above anything.
Comfy cars don't really handle so journalists at least here in the UK slate them.
@@1Reddd I know what your're saying, I'm talking about a 70's caddy or a mercury with the long hoods. Everybody in the 70's had them. They drove slow and are entirely made of metal, but their beasts and you feel every corner like butter
@@jimmy5391 Oh yeah, they felt commanding and prestigious. Wish that would make a comeback.
You can tell ford owned Aston Martin. The V8 volante has the same steering wheel as my Lincoln town car haha
Haha, you’re right. The same steering wheel as all of the Panther platform Ford cars like my parents 1992 Ford Crown Victoria. The rest of the interior is gorgeous and bespoke (from what I can see here) at least.
True British heritage!
That is because steering wheels with integrated airbags are expensive to design.
Ford are tossers who don't understand how important a unique steering wheel is to a brand -that's how they managed to trash jaguar, land rover and volvo.
By all mean share parts the customer can't see but don't try to stick generic parts where its noticeable over luxury brands.
Idiots. I'm glad their on the way out now.
@@Rover200Power any I presume mandatory in the US at the time as opposed to optional extra in the UK
Clarkson, Needell and Wilson - when TG was variety filled and good!!
Good old days before all the bullshit and pratfalls
Blimey the 90s were cool....kids wanted cars not phones!
Take me back this generation is bullshit
I was born in a wrong generation
Porco dio se hai ragione
ts.exotics 458 me too mate, me too
I was born in 2006. The worst for a car enthusiast
Run a Northstar v8 with no water? Those things blow head gaskets like Jeremy hates America
Thats a feature. So when the coolant inevitably leaks out the head gasket blows in order to let the oil to move to the coolant passages so you only have to fill one fluid
That Aston Martin V8 Volante is gorgeous.
LOL at how the Cadillac Northstar engine turned out to be a leaky nightmare for most owners.
I had the P11 1.6 Primera and it was a fantastic car, extremely reliable and very good to drive. traded it for a new Hyundai in 2019. kind of regret it financially since the Primera was still going strong and with the lockdowns it would have been even more worth keeping.
Mmm, a beautiful and super reliable Primera P11 in the beginning, still own one, hassle free motoring...!
12:28 - Michelle Newman - 'I spent many happy hours fiddling and faffing'....I had alternative thoughts when she said that.
What's with the steering wheel in that Volante? It looks EXACTLY like the wheel in a 1990 Ford Taurus. Not exactly a flattering comparison.
The segways and editing of old top gear is unsurpassed
Basically yes, it didnt need things like spark plugs until 100k miles. However of course it still required fluid changes etc as normal...my Dad bought one and it was superb!
Quieten Wilson, where did he go he was brilliant!!!
Fifth gear...
And driver guidance programs and narration on other TV programs. He was really good on TG.
Bet ulrika would have been creeped out at his comment if in the unlikely event she was watching. Oh wait she went for another skinny lizard like receding pencil necked gentleman in sven. Common language i guess.
A first generation S40 T4. 😍 I own a ‘03 and it’s a fun car!
I guess a last of line as the newer one came out in 04 so all problems ironed out.
even in 1997 and Jezza has been spitting at American cars left and right!
VTec just kicked in, mate
Aston Martin: Why is there slime all over this Volante? We`ve had Quentin Wilson filming a piece for BBC`s Top Gear.
Lol that ford crown victoria steering wheel on that aston martin! Hahaha
Those presenters were really good.
I love the Seville STS!! It was way better than
De Ville or Fleetwood and helped bring Cadillac into the 21st century.
That Aston volante has got a steering wheel from a crown vic , funny that
I really wanted to like the big Deville, Seville, and Eldorado from the 90's/early 00's. Great looking cars IMO, great power, drove nice(contrary to what Clarkson says), very quiet and posh ride. Its just GM stuck all their engineering flunkies over at Cadillac, we all know about the Northstar headgasket issues, but then you stick this engine in transversely where you can't work on it. Then there are a million other daft problems like electronic struts, a $10 part in the transmission that fails and requires you to pull the tranny, not to mention how all the trim bits break, warp or fall off after a few years. You'd think that for the Cadillac premium they'd spec some nicer interior bits that don't break, but nope.
Interesting that Tiff mentioned having a 6 speed manual here (or the lack thereof), thought that was a relativity recent addition to mainstream cars, seems I'm wrong!
Honda definitely weren't the only manufacturer changing cam profiles. Mivec anyone? My 94 car has it with quad cam
Jeremy and the 911 will never age
Jeremy has aged thou
the 911 just turned unattractive
It's only been 20 years, but it's been a hard 20 years on Clarkson.
I wish to look that good after that amount of chems and babes.
0:01 my favourite primera ever built
[ GTA5 GLITCHER ] my 1999 Nissan Primera was just after this, had it almost 11 years and it is awesome.
Iain McLaughlan I had a 98 saloon with spoiler and 17” alloys thing was a beaut I loved it
Why did you get rid of it? Please don’t say the road tax was expensive.
Does anyone remember the bluebird turbo
@@iainmclaughlan1557 lol no sadly I went trough a faze of buying and selling and upgrading but what I wouldn’t do for it back
The GS as a big Corolla? Mate it has the 2JZ-GTE, rear wheel drive, and shares more parts with the SC and IS than a Corolla. C'mon now
The aristo has a gte, A gs has a ge. Big difference
N1sm0 __ Yes hideous and tacky like all Japanese cars
Good old days..
Will Poundstone: you're wrong. The Taurus wasn't "the Mondeo's American cousin". The two cars had nothing to do with each other, including the platforms they were sitting on. Not to mention, the Taurus was a size bigger than the Mondeo. The Mondeo's American equal would be the Contour. The two were basically identical.
Can't forget the Mercury Mystique!
I believe the Mondeo's American cousin was the Contour, as far as being platform-mates. If you're talking market segment (e.g. larger family saloon) then you'd definitely be right.
firehawk400 actually one of two cousins, we had the Ford Contour and the Mercury Mystique
no belly more hair must be the 70s😂
Oh I was worried, but don't worry guys, they'll repeat the number JUST FOR US at the end of the programme!
they never made the prelude type r :(
Love that aston volante
I'm still waiting for the end of the program to repeat the number just for me. Quentin, are you fucking with me?
I'd say those Alfa 156s have stood the test of time the best in terms of looks over everything shown , seems to be the case with Italian cars, forward vision
Except the alfa 155 as mentioned in this clip. And the 145. And that awful nissan collab. The mito looks a bit shit too. But yeah, you know.
They can just as often be awful . The facelifts never seem to work . The 159 was even fitter I think
@@herrfister1477 BUT if you got a drive with the 155 Q4, you will give a shit to the looks... :)
It’s the days before “vtec kicked in yo”
Can anyone tell me why that integra race car has that bucket seat?
Check out that sweet P10 Primera!
I like the 155
Interesting, 155 was angular but it was good looking, and with great proportions.
Look at that Audi, horror.
Me too, spoiler and a dark colour. Fit
Had to be the wide body version though.
Whats the Song from min 10 on?
Lenny kravitz , can't remember song sorry, should be one of his more popular ones on Spotify or whatever
Nice cars back in days new shows and new cars are shit and ugly. Old is gold
Tiff was one of the stigs
That V8 Volante has the same steering wheel as every shitty Ford pick up and land yacht from the 90s....
Ford cost cutting at it's finest.
Always liked that shape of A4
B5? I had an early one with a venerable but smooth 2.6. Actually chose it after a 156 2.0ts i went to look at sold on the day. Bankrupted me but it felt so solid. Was only 19 couldnt get insured on a 406 coupe v6. Most people my age at that time who were not rich kids ran finaced clio 1.2 billabongs new c2s or outright owned something old they modded. Like an old corsa or fiesta. That audi gave me 18 months of expensive but relaxing motoring. Had beautiful leather and quattro bits like wheels and skirts but no ac 😳 windy rear windows and was basic af but it just felt class from the door thunks to the relaxing waftability. Wasnt fast only 150bhp but it felt a cut above. Everything was so nicely damped and finished inside. Got a new 307 after which was loaded for the day, auto lights foldy mirrors and climate control on an 03 but was tinny by comparison.
crappy northstar engine STAY AWAY FROM NORTHSTAR AT ALL COST !
7:07 and it totaly grenade itself around the 100 000 miles mark sending the hole car far beyond economical repaire
This shows how car reviewers have no clue on what they're talking about. Calling A gs300 with a 2jz a big Corolla! And calling the North Star v8 a good engine! Meanwhile hating on the ls1 corvette seriously wtf
Nobody really knew about Northstar headgasket problems back in 1997, these cars were still at most 4 years old back then. And when its running right, it is a sweethart of an engine.
It's a European view of the cars. The GS300 wants to be a luxury sedan, but in Europe that is a tough market to compete in. The Lexus brand has no value in Europe and they see it as a disguised Toyota with a markup. It's not technically a corolla, it's a Toyota in the eyes of Europeans and the corolla is used as an example and because they have similar looking headlights (that's why they had a shot zooming in on those headlights). They praised the North Star engine for being innovative and the problems with the engine weren't known back then, they crapped on the corvette for the disappointing handling and the overall plasticy build quality. They did not critique the LS1 engine, which is really good. Not everything anybody says is just straight forward what they mean, especially in media there is a lot of symbolism to convey the actual message.
D. Vuijk
Stop being intelligent and reasonable!
You’ll break TH-cam!
Nah just steve berry being an utter cretin. TG know better remember the original LS they knew.
The gs300 is anything but a corolla wth is he talking about. I understand the connection and resemblance between a ES300 and a Camry or a IS to a corolla, but the GS is a full sized luxury sedan and it’s rear wheel drive how is it at all corolla
He was always the weak link utter irritating tosser. Slung in there to appease the working northern contingent. Token regional accent.
And could they have been more wrong about the Honda’s styling?
And no. And I mean yes.
Blast from the past !
1:20 that steering wheel is from a 1992 Ford Taurus (You british have never heard of the Taurus, so I'll tell you, it was the Ford Mondeo's American counterpart
Wow that V8 Volante with a manual transmission is just wonderful. I miss the days when you were allowed to enjoy new cars.
Ja unlike now ven it iz verboten. Get a grip!
@@herrfister1477 somehow i understood that weak attempt at english. It's not prohibited but manufacturers sure as fuck are trying hard to make cars as soulless and as boring as possible.
@@cvtt3194 it seems like many people just care about the 0-100 times. thats why automatics. And of course co2
Is he seriously telling the truth @7.07 that caddy service intervals every 100k lol!!
Min 1:15 a 130000dls aston with a econoline ford sterling wheel
Такая Порше 911 выглядит современно и в 2019 г.
2:25
And now cost 100k with low mileage
A young Clarkson.. He was probably about 37 here 😂
@-TheManInDboX - he's 59 now a year older than me.. So 37 ish 😂
Someone told me that everyone is 37 eventually, unless you die before then. Strange really, the way one number comes after the previous number.
Clarkson was born old. Fact
7:59 that car didn't even go over well in the US
"no one else does it" Nissan NEOVVL
BMW vanos, Toyota vvti, etc.
Michelle Newman= Alan Partridge in a skirt.
When look now at those old BMW's and Audi's you see that 156 interior quality is not really there, but it still looks and drives better than both, especially that horrible Audi.
The thing is, no one really cares for handling, while design is mainly subjective thing, also Audi looks nice today. That is why Alfa Romeo will eventually disappear, they are great at things that almost no one cares for, things that can not be explained with numbers and measures, things not possible to touch and comprehend easily.
If there is one thing that makes BMW great, it is the fact that they managed to put some of those things into their cars and still sell well.
People would like to own an Alfa. But reliability is a concern and Alfa has a bad track record. Badly made cars
@@dumyjobby How many Alfas you had, which ones, and for how long?
@@BojanBojovic never had one tho when I will afford a Giulia gtv6 I'll have one. I lived in northern Italy and I know many people who have Alfas. Engines are usually very reliable but electronics and especially suspension repair is very expensive and rust proof wasn't good either. Good looking and fun to drive but I never heard anyone calling them even remotely reliable. A few passionate enthusiasts are willing to accept all the challenges that come with owning a Alfa but the larger audience just doesn't want to be bothered. Myself I would loved to have one for daily use but after all the problems I saw my friends having, ( usually small problems, a sensor malfunction, a door not closing and other minor things but after having issues like this as frequently as once a month ,one after a year or 2 gets fed up with it).
@@dumyjobby I have over 500 000 kilometers in my 3 Alfas so far, I owned the first 146 TI for 6 years, second 156 1.8 TS for two years, and now I have 159 JTDm for more than 6 years. All 3 cars were purchased used, 146 with 74 000 km on the clock, 156 with 60 000 km, and 159 with 100 000 km on the clock, only 146 was from Germany while 156 and 159 were imported from Italy.
I sold 146 TI with 200 000 km on the clock, no major problems except suspension bushes which are somewhat standard problem on Italian cars from 90's and 2000's. Interior was good enough but not the same quality as some German rivals, all switches were working well, all lights, no electric problems. Variator was good except few seconds of rattling after start during winter months. I really enjoyed this car, it was fast and the handling was great, not expensive to operate, and for me really reliable.
Then I bought 156 1.8 TS and sold it after just two years at 100 000 km on the clock. This car was imported from Italy with broken gearbox bell, so we replaced it, then putted the new clutch and after that it was like new. The car was like new, gearbox was very expensive to fix in Italy so the car stayed in place most of the time until it was sold. Here where I am from it was around 600 Euro to fix it. Variator was ok on this car as well, no electrical problems, everything was working perfectly, I sold it because it was slower than my previous 146 2.0 TS, and it was way too soft for my taste because it was Turismo without any sport pack. Other than that I did not like that 1.8 Twin Spark, it does not have counter-balancing shafts so the engine is not as smooth as 2.0 one. The only problem with this car was its oil consumption, it was little bit higher than what I used to with 146, but it was somewhat normal for Twin Spark, just I did not like to take oil with me when I travel, and I travel a lot.
I still have 159 JTDm, which I bought over 6 years a go, this car now has 215 000 km on the clock and it still runs great. No electrical problems, everything works in the cabin, every switch, every light, no problems what so ever.
The quality of this car is right there with Germans, Audi and BMW, interior is great, finishing is good, no rattling, no squeaks, it is like Audi but much prettier, and with much better handling and driving dynamics.
I like to travel with my family so we make few thousand kilometers trip in our Alfas every year. Two years a go we traveled 4500 kilometers with this 159 through Italy, last year 4000 kilometers through Turkey, three years a go we were in Greece and drove for 3500 kilometers, and so on. The only problem with this car was last year in Turkey where we replaced our clutch. When on vacation the clutch suddenly broke, and we need to replace it. It was already replaced 2 years a go, and that clutch was 50 000 kilometers old, however it was a bad part so we needed to replace it again. No one knows what happened, but it was Valeo which is not very popular here, but I could not find Luk and this happened. It was not original clutch that came with 159, but a replacement that I bought form a Valeo dealer here.
My experience is not an axiom of course, but for me Alfa Romeo is as reliable as any other car on the planet. There is few reason for this, one of them is the fact that I have really good mechanic who loves Alfas and he knows how to maintain them. Other reason is how I drive and the fact that I am technically literate, also I know what not to do with the car, and when to maintain which part.
Also I know some people with their VW's, Audi's and other German cars that say:" Oh, I never put a single Euro in my car, it still drives well", and then I try their cars, oh it is hard to describe that disaster. Everything is broken, seats, suspension bushes, switches, air-condition, steering, engine noise, driving those cars is like a bad dream, but they still brag about how reliable they are. I could drive my Alfas the same way, they will still work, but I do not want to. This is the reason I can drive anywhere on the planet with my cars without fear.
As for you wanting an Alfa, well you know what they say about it: The life is too short to drive a boring car. :)
Alfa 155 is one of the most beautiful cars, women!
155 is nicer than the 156 .... in my opinion
Not really, but still great car.
Porsche has been making the same car for decades.
Porsche 911 is a sexy car.
Alfa 156!
Wow thanks.
1997 .. I didn't speak a word in English back then, but strangely top gear existed already 😂
It started as a motoring program out of local tv in Birmingham in the sixties. Think Longbridge, at the time the largest car plant in Europe. Morphed a number of times.
No they didn't, but they should've. I think it would give the NSX a challenge. IMO the 88-89 Si Preludes have the best engines of all model years of Prelude. Making it with VTEC would make it a badass engine.
Ahh when Aston Martin made cars for proper money, not rich you tubers and rappers.
What's wrong with someone like PewDiePie or Markiplier buying one
Cos you tube didnt exist?? In fact the internet barely did.
Spoilt by seeing Steve Berry again
fasthracing yep. Didn’t care for him back then and time hasn’t been kind...
Yep. So points of view would get no complaints about lack of northerners and clipped bbc tones. Times were a changin.
Type R!!!
Damn i miss my ITR DC2!
a rockey ship woth over 190hp...my audi A6 has 300hp v8 engine
Weight & price.
any owner of an Alfa with a twinspark engine probably dreads having to change the spark plugs
I have an Alfa romeo gtv (916) 2 liter twinspark, it runs great and with new generation spark plugs iridium it is superb
Clarkson hates the 911.
oh Honda where have you gone?
Is it just me or does the new civic look like a dog's dinner that's been puked up
@@marcusphoenixish Hammond and Clarkson summed up the Civic recently, as a "car they (Honda) couldn't stop designing".
@@richardhammer187 The new civic is a grower I kind of like it now I'm used to the design. I think it was a bit radical at first and had to get over the shock of that back end especially the Type R it's still a bit too much I think. But I'd still buy one because it's a Honda Civic ☺️
please reboot the Integra!!!!
Alfa 156 filmed in Portugal
Incredible if true.
@@herrfister1477 first part near the sea is in Guincho, close to Cascais and my home. Next is Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Lisbon.
jigrodrigues
I’d like to visit cascais when corona is gone. I hear good things. Estoril too.
jigrodrigues
I’m sure it’s beautiful.
155 is far better looking than the 156.
What!
155 was better looking. Sorry.
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Wow this is cheesy
Facts not a stand up
Clarkson has always been anti American on their vehicles.
0-60 in 6.7? my 92 non-vtec does that much
I dont think so.
No, it does not.
Holy doo-dad, cars back then were so freakin ugly.
Huh? SUV's?
tiff is so dull
Sophistafunk Significantly less annoying than Steve Berry!
@@woooster17 steve berry the token regional accent with the weird smile. Who remembers the autistic guy on jeremy kyle years ago bears a striking resemblance to him.
Chris Berry!!!!🤢