My wife owns an Alfa 164, and it was/still is our first "big family sedan". We compared a lot of cars on the market, and at the time an equivalent 5 series BMW was well out of our price range, a 3 series was too small, the 75/Milano in automatic was something I never wanted to consider (my wife prefers auto). Test driving a Mercedes Benz 190E was the most defining "walk away, no run!" from a car yard experience I've ever had. In the end we bought a 1990 12V 3L 164 with reasonable maintenance history, fairly decent paint work, and a clean interior. In the end we felt we both got a lot of car for the $5kAus that we handed over.
Having said that, it has had its frustration, but it is now 18+ years old and so maintenance is just part of the deal. I estimate I've spent another $7k on various work including replacing oil seals everywhere, and machining the heads. It used to stall while idling at low revs which was finally traced back to a faulty ignition lead and coil. The seat switches do not work very often, and the climate control system continuesly ticks (so doesn't really control climate at all). I'm continuesly fixing little things (fuel line leak just last night!), but when I drive it, I remind myself that it is so much more interesting than the usual common Aussie Ford Falcon or Comodore. I once heard someone say "driving the 164 makes you feel like a successful Italian industrialist" - I think that sums it up because the 164 feels very planted on the road with a lot of presence. Travelling at 100km/hr, dropping back to 3rd to overtake someone and before you know it you are doing 135km/hr+. That V6 is a jewel!
