Test Drive Alfa Romeo 166 2003 - 2007 Sedan
Two-liter minimum
Two liters of engine working volume for a business class sedan are considered a subsistence minimum. Yes, and then purely formally, for example, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Saab on the younger modifications of their models use turbines and superchargers; Bvarsza from BMW and smash at all, hiding under the hood version 520i 2.2-liter motor. But Alfa Romeo is all honest: 1970 atmospheric cubes, 150 horsepower. 
Two-liter business Alfa is also interesting because it is the only version of the model 166 supplied to the Russian market with a manual transmission. More powerful performances with six-cylinder power units are offered only with the Sportronic machine. Automatic advanced adaptive, with manual switching, but still automata. The device inevitably distortes those fair sensations that are given by the machine of the Italian brand. What we have been convinced during last year's Alfa Romeo 166 test performed 2.5 V6 24V. 
I again sit down in this car and again, I turn out to be fascinated by her sports aesthetics. There is nothing superfluous in the cabin, and all available is extremely functional and stylish. Contrast finish of the front panel and doors and the steel central console with a multicolor display create the impression that the car visited the hands of the interiorners of one of the tuning studies. Not only liked the gear lever, and if it is accurate, its knobs: this coarse, rough plastic is simply obliged to be replaced by polished aluminum. Fabric upholstery of seats on such a car also looks unnecessarily at least on the backs and embroidered the proud Alfa-Romeo, to the magnificence of Momo's splendor from beige skin 2.5-liter version of them far. 
Let's go back to the question of the day: is it enough of the one and a half hundred horses for the semi-trial mass? The first experiments with acceleration on a straight did not give an occasion to complain about the dynamics, but did the Alfa be created only for sprint race from the intersection to the intersection? It is no secret that the elements of Italian cars mountain serpentines. And 166th, for nothing that the size was released, no exception. She succeeds resolutely everything is purely entering the turn, to clearly register the arc on the verge of slipping and winning the outcomes of the outcomes. (It is the basic modification that is characterized by the most balanced chassis for example, the front of the 2.5-liter machine is already 100 kg harder, which provokes the development of insufficient turning.) All this feel the vestibular apparatus and left hand, because the right is chronically occupied by manipulations with the gearbox. It is worth a slightly mistaken with transmission and turnover and instead of gambling acceleration at the exit from the apex you get a boring smooth set of speed. The same thing, but in a less annoying form, repeats on a straight line: it is enough to drop the tachometer arrow below 3000, and Alfa begins to blend, losing seconds waiting for the return of the motor into combat speed. Still, despite the transmission row broken into six steps, the torque deficit on the nose was not possible.
However, Alfa Romeo is not only a stylish design, excellent handling and excellent dynamics. This is also the fascinating sound of the engine, which are beating factory technocompositors. It is necessary to hear this grumbling at idle, hear how it is replaced by a hoarse basic medium revolutions. But all this is a prelude. This delight comes a couple of seconds later, when the motor ceases to hide his voice, starting the symphony of the attacker of the fighter and sings the breathtaking song until it turns into an electronic revolution limiter. Down with the noise insulation of the engine compartment! Alfa Romeo 166 lives in a dangerous territory where German sports sedans are dominated. Maybe Alfa is not so founder and scrupulous in detail, but the meetings with a formidable opponent are not afraid. The machines with the emblem of the Cross and the Dragon occur from the kind of at least famous and at any time they are ready to post the German knights uncompromising the appearance, the energetic nature and the refinement of the manner. That's just for battle with the most powerful of the Teutons, two liters of the engine could not do.
The car is provided by Center-Sparz.
At the time of the test, the car is insured by ASK Trust.
Text: Leonid Klyuev
Photo: Roman Stunnin
A source: Magazine "Wheels" [№56 / 2002]
