The 5 Greatest Alfa Romeos From The Last 30 Years

We're hoping the incoming Giulia will finally pull Alfa out of the doldrums, but let's not forget, even over the last 30 patchy years for the company, it's put out some brilliant - if flawed - performance cars. Here are a few of our favourites
The 5 Greatest Alfa Romeos From The Last 30 Years

1. 75 QV

Via Wikimedia Commons
Via Wikimedia Commons

The old 75 ticks a hell of a lot of boxes for the enthusiast driver. It’s rear-wheel drive, has a near-50/50 weight distribution thanks in part to a transaxle gearbox, and came with a range of zingy engines.

The Turbo Evoluzione homologation special deserves honourable mention, but for us, our ideal 75 would be one of the more powerful 3.0-litre V6 examples, preferably a QV.

2. 155 Q4

The 5 Greatest Alfa Romeos From The Last 30 Years

What followed the 75 was - for many - a bit of a disappointment. The 155 was the first Alfa produced after the company was taken over by Fiat, and as a result it was built using a bunch of parts from the lesser Italian manufacturer, all on a platform shared with the Fiat Tempra and Lancia Dedra/Delta.

However, not all were front-wheel drive. The Q4 arrived in 1994, using the drivetrain from the Lancia Delta Integrale and putting out 190bhp to all four wheels. So, if you want what’s essentially a Lancia Delta Integrale saloon with an Alfa badge, here’s your car.

3. 147 GTA

The 5 Greatest Alfa Romeos From The Last 30 Years

If you wanted an Alfa GTA in the mid noughties, you had two choices: the 156 GTA or the 147 GTA. Both were gorgeous, both had the same incredible ‘Busso’ 3.2-litre, 247bhp V6, and neither were particularly known for their handling prowess. So why is the 147 here and not the 156? I can give you two reasons.

Firstly, the 147 wore its go-faster bits a lot more successfully than the 156, and secondly, it was bombastically powerful in its class when launched. the 156’s 247bhp output looked nothing special when you had the M3 of the day punting out well over 300, but a C-segment hot hatchback with that much power? It seemed mad at the time, particularly when the Mk4 VW Golf R32 could only muster 230bhp. And the R32 had four-wheel drive to tame the poke, whereas Alfa didn’t even bother with a limited-slip differential in the front-wheel drive 147.

This makes it a boisterous little so-and-so when it comes to power delivery, but if you fancy buying one, the good news is many examples have since been fitted with a ‘Q2’ LSD. And if they haven’t, it’s a relatively cheap fit.

4. 8C Competizione/Spider

The 5 Greatest Alfa Romeos From The Last 30 Years

It’s with some reluctance that I’m including the 8C. And that reluctance stems from the fact that it’s a bit of a stretch to call it an Alfa Romeo. Oh sure, if has the right badge on the nose and that trademark triangular grille, but it’s made mostly from bits of Maserati, with a pinch of Ferrari. The Maserati built the damn thing too, and if you’re one of the 1000 people that bought one (500 coupes, 500 roadsters), you’ll drive straight past your local Alfa dealer and go to one with a big trident outside when it’s time for a service.

But, if you’re going to raid a parts bin, Maserati’s is a damn good choice, and unless you’re a bit weird, surely you have to consider this to be one of the prettiest cars produced in recent years, particularly the Spider version. Sounds damn good too, thanks to the same 4.7-litre V8 which eventually ended up in the Maserati Gran Turismo.

4C

The 5 Greatest Alfa Romeos From The Last 30 Years

Ah, the 4C. Is there another car right now which divides the opinion of the world’s motoring press quite so much? Probably not, we’d wager. Our consensus in the CT office is to give it a cautious thumbs up. And it’s a tentative we dig this because there’s a lot wrong with the 4C: the interior is terrible, it’s uncomfortable, doesn’t sound particularly nice and is unnecessarily tricky to drive quickly.

It’s a car that has the ability to win you over despite its faults, however, and is a much better embodiment of what an Alfa Romeo should be than its Mito and Giulietta stablemates. We certainly hope the Giulia QV is a much more cohesive package, but until that comes along, the 4C is a good stop gap for hot Alfas.

What’s your favourite fast Alfa of the last 30 years?

Comments

Themis Giampouranis

159?

12/08/2015 - 17:31 |
2 | 0

I personally think the 156 is better. It had the busso v6, the 159 doesn’t. The 159 lacks a bit of Alfa DNA in my opnion.

12/08/2015 - 17:36 |
0 | 0

We’re focusing on hotter Alfas here, and the 159 never spawned a proper performance version. Would still love to own a 159 V6 Ti though…

12/08/2015 - 17:46 |
10 | 0
Anonymous

Although it’s a shame that it isn’t a true Alfa, i think the Brera is one of the most beautiful cars they have ever designed. I mean look at that ass. Shame it doesn’t have the awesome Busso v6.

12/08/2015 - 17:39 |
30 | 0
Matt Robinson
Matt Robinson

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Do love the look of the Brera. I remember when there was talk of a Maserati V8-powered GTA version (and the same for the 159), shame neither ever materialised…

12/08/2015 - 17:51 |
30 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Yes, Brera. Would love to have one with 3.2 V6

12/08/2015 - 18:33 |
4 | 0
Prta

one is daly 1.8 ts and the other will be 2.0 16v turbo with Q4 :D
i’m doing it right?

12/08/2015 - 17:57 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

145 qv

12/08/2015 - 17:57 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Oh ywah!

12/09/2015 - 00:12 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

MiTo QV ?

12/08/2015 - 18:07 |
6 | 2
That Guy Who Drives a Skoda

The 166 V6?? One of clarksons all time favorite cars

12/08/2015 - 18:09 |
0 | 0
Lorenzo Silvi

If there weren’t stupid laws for the first year of driving license here in Italy, I had probably bought an Alfa 75 as my first car

12/08/2015 - 18:11 |
2 | 0

That would’ve been an excellent choice sir

12/08/2015 - 19:22 |
2 | 0
tunnelvision

156 GTA. Flawed, yes, but… Busso V6. But with some suspension modifications and the Q2 differential fitted, it transforms the car.
Also, look at it! Remember the 156 was launched around ‘97. Would you ever think this shape is already over 15 years old?

12/08/2015 - 18:14 |
80 | 2

Gorgeous. I prefer the wagon though.

12/08/2015 - 19:16 |
2 | 0

I love the name of that engine.. Busso V6. Mmmhh

12/08/2015 - 19:39 |
26 | 0

I love the 156 (I own one), but would be a better car if it was RWD.

12/09/2015 - 12:47 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Unfortunately, we here in the U.S. only get to have 1 of the 5 cars listed without having the trouble importing one and making it street legal

12/08/2015 - 18:41 |
0 | 0
FunkFace

Giulia ?

12/08/2015 - 18:47 |
38 | 4

‘from the last 30 years’

12/08/2015 - 19:16 |
24 | 0

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