To this day few interior designs are quite as artistic as that in the 164. A horizontal line motif compliments the exterior styling while a myriad of buttons and switches overwhelm the center console - not the most intuitive arrangement. The seats are superb, wrapping the buttocks, midsection and shoulders in supportive bolsters while extending the lower cushion far enough forward to cradle the legs to the knee joints. Rear seat room is also quite good and like the front, beautifully appointed. The trunk too is quite accommodating for this size of vehicle. Most luxury features were available including digital automatic temperature control, 8-way power adjustable front seats, a remote-control infrared security system and power sunroof, as well as power windows, door locks and side view mirrors of course.
While sitting in the 164 is a unique pleasure, driving one is truly sensational. Even by today's standards the midsize Alfa, especially in S trim, endows a driver with the confidence, if not the technique, of Giuseppe Farina or Juan Manuel Fangio - the first of which won the inaugural 1950 Formula 1 World Driver's Championship behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo 158/159 and the latter who took the 1951 championship. Like I said previously, Alfa has heritage its competitors can only dream of.
The 164 obliterates hairpin corners despite its stock 195/65R15 radials on alloy wheels - owners have found handling improvements by upgrading the wheel and tire package to 16-inch or even 17s. Acceleration too is commendable, complimented by one of the sweetest sounding mechanical symphonies ever composed. Blipping the throttle melds the sibilance of whirring timing chains and valves plus bass tone crescendos of a rasping stainless steel exhaust. The first cars to arrive in Canada in 1991 came with a 183 hp 3.0-L 16-valve DOHC V6 with 181 lb-ft of torque as the base engine. The S upgrade offered an additional 17-hp and 14 lb-ft of torque for a total of 200 hp and 195 lb-ft. The engines were upgraded in 1994 to produce 210-hp and 198 lb-ft of torque in the base car and 230-hp and 202 lb-ft of torque in the Quadrifoglio or 24-valve version.