Why This 24 Year Old Said NO To German Cars, and Bought an Alfa Romeo 155 V6

[@cafe405]

Jay Emm on Alfas, and I'm fine with that.

[@The_BenboBaggins]

I think many people nowadays realise that the mid-90s to mid-00s was peak car - they were big enough without the 21st century bloating. Powerful enough without being silly (not needed with the lighter proportions). Refined enough while maintaining a decent amount of reliability. A proper driving experience without all the intrusive aids and distractions.

[@lukezi3952]

No.

[@The_BenboBaggins]

Yes.

[@anastassiosperakis2869]

Not Alfas. Not any Alfas. Even if you know to fully fix them yourself. They sure are not worth the pain. But if you are a masochist, then maybe these are the cars for you.

[@lukezi3952]

@@The_BenboBaggins -horribly unreliable -ugly -old -slow -cheap -cheaply built -disgusting interiors

[@matthewwatt2295]

For 'normal' people it's worth saying just how much safer the frame of any modern car is compared with 20-30 years ago - these days you'll survive much worse crashes than anyone would expect in the 90s. Doesn't stop me lusting after a mid-90s s***box though 😁

[@howardlake6178]

I had a 155 for 19 years. A wide body. One of the first 2.0 Twin Spark Fiats in 1995. As luck would have it, they fitted the old steering rack! Later I had a 147 2.0 with quick rack. And…my 155 had a N--LAP number plate. It’s still alive locally and I want it back. 💚🤍❤

[@martinclapton2724]

The young man who bought this has got class. Well done.

[@rdf6205]

My first car at age 18 in 1986 was a BMW 316. A gift from my Dad. It was dull, soulless, slow and mediocre. I sold it after 9 months and moved to Alfa. For 20 years I bought nothing else, always Alfa. I loved them, they had class, sounded great and never let me down. I had 33 1.7, 75 Twin Spark, 155 Silverstone, 164 Twin Spark, 166 3.0 V6. Most importantly, they weren't yet another boring German calculator. Thereafter I moved to Jaguar and Range Rover where I remain a loyal customer to this day. I still love Alfas.

[@martinboulden4388]

The guy deserves a medal for being individual and having the balls to be Uber Cool !

[@paulhayes2189]

The alfa 155 was savage...compared to.your audi a4, Ford mondeo, Nissan primera, and cavalier....Great engines and looked great....love it

[@conordoyle3156]

still miss my 155.......my favourite car ive ever owned

[@paul1978g]

I fondly remember seeing the 155 attacking places like Thruxton alongside the Mondeo, Accord and Laguna. Nice to see someone still driving one on the roads, I can't think of the last time I saw one in the wild.

[@andrewcarter5481]

Thanks for taking the time to drive my 155, reverse lights have fixed themselves, think they just wanted to be sewn on camrea 😆 alfa things 🤣

[@MrAndreCoutinho]

You have a great and rare specimen, take care of her!

[@cxnall1303]

Didn't expect to see your car on here bud haha

[@g.w.customcreations3534]

Excellent choice lad. 👌🏻 very nice indeed.

[@TK42138]

Good choice. It looks and sounds great.

[@NightfallDrives]

Such a cool car. If you might enjoy starring in a driving video on it, give me a shout 😎

[@nielscopier761]

Jay Emm The 155 was a big succes in the Netherlands we got hole production series to the Netherlands. A friend of my does have a Wide Body 2.0 16V Q4 Turbo there are only 130 cars made in the world! Japan got a Zagato version the Ti-Z. The Alfa 155 in the Netherlands was a lot cheaper then an Audi or a Mercedes back then. You got a full spec 2.0 Twinspark with a 150 BHP or a base Audi BMW E36 316. The 155 is a great car and a real Alfa Romeo 🇮🇹❤️

[@chrisloukes424]

I had a 155 2.0 16V Twin Spark (1995) and a 75 2.0 Twin Spark (1989) ....preferred the 75. But neither was a patch on my Alfetta GTV 2.0. That felt like something special - and drove better than its younger siblings. Happy days!

[@paulisaaksohn9179]

Looks, feels, sounds, drives a lot more natural and genuine than most cars they been churning out in the past 20 years or so. No stupid engine beauty covers, no useless bells and whistles, which just act as distractions, no easy-to-smear touch screens and other nonsense. Pure style, performance and emotion. This last one is something all of the modern wheels are missing. Period.

[@meetmeat24hrfitness70]

i spent entire weekend in asseto just going round nordschleife in 155 ti

[@patricktortolano6271]

I was 27 when I bought one of the last 155’s new in August 97. It was a 1.8 four pot and like most people commenting on here my mates couldn’t understand why I’d bought it rather than something German. They soon changed their minds after being in it. One friend even bought a Q4 on the strength of how well mine drove. It’s one of the few cars I’ve owned that I still REALLY miss.

[@hexgraphica]

Before I could get to know what DTM was, as a small kid I loved the 155 as the main car of Kommissar Rex TV show. Every evening before dinner I watched that glossy black menacing wedge escort the austro Italian detective throughout his investigations

[@nickzourb190]

Really miss my 1992 1.8 Alfa 155 . Bought it second hand when the car was 26 years old and I was 23... Plenty of issues, but I still miss it. For people criticising the fwd, it was a car that handled so great in the twisties.. Truly underrated car..

[@AlexLopez-pk3ix]

That intake manifold runners on that busso engine are beautiful great design

[@ehsanmemarzadeh4537]

The 155 is a genius car. I own one as my first car. 1996 2.0 16v. It's a blu armonico one with nice 17inch ronal wheels. Everywhere I go I get the looks and people come up to me. It works very well as a daily too! Just keep care of it as every week something small breaks. As an 18 year old it can get expensive. But totally worth It!

[@AAYMF]

what a strange coincidence. two hours ago I was watching the old top gear where the trio took three alfas for a few challenges ♥️♥️♥️

[@earlofsmeg]

I had 155 and had nothing but of lots fun with it. And surprisingly, I had no problems with it. This one looks good. 👍

[@richardsheil5289]

Me too. No problems

[@johnshaw359]

My uncle had a V6, the best car he ever had he said. Great cars.

[@clivenaylor]

I had J plate Lancia Dedra 2000 ie turbo in black. Wish I could find another.

[@James-ld2jc]

Really good looking car in that dark blue. Good review of a car I'd forgotten about

[@nojustno7530]

JayEmm and an old Alfa is a must watch by presumption.

[@laurencepiccolo8420]

Love this, I'm also 24 but have it's predecessor, the 75 V6. It's a great car to drive and was my way to get a busso engine in something affordable. Despite being 35 years old it has a great turn of pace and eats up motorways comfortable sitting in the right hand lane, but is so much fun on a country lane, and narrow too which helps

[@studiocalder818]

Great baby, the 75. A car for lovers of beautiful mechanics and beautiful driving P.S. I always found a link between the 75 as a car and the same aged' Ducati motorcycles

[@laurencepiccolo8420]

@@studiocalder818 yeah the balance of the car is great, the only sacrifice was them putting the gearbox in the back, for me shifting gear isn't quite as smooth as a result, but you definitely get used to it

[@pereldh5741]

Alfa 75 was an uncompromised engineering dream, the 155 an engineering nightmare. Luckily, Fiat had some great engineers so the 155 actually turned out ok, especially the facelift (”widebody”) with the new 16V.

[@studiocalder818]

@@pereldh5741 The 155 was based on a Tempra. One of the few cases where the facelift was an improvement: the "widebody" looks like a different more attractive car

[@pereldh5741]

@@studiocalder818 Yeah or rather the Tipo, which on Tempra/155/Dedra was based. (So was 156/145/147/GT). JayEmm seem to have missed this fact. Greatest facelift in history(?) Alfa 166 Mk2.

[@FOXHOUND4143]

MORE ALFAS PLEASE. THIS IS WHAT WE WANT!

[@AlexLopez-pk3ix]

IDC that it has as much power as a Honda b16 of the time from a V6 it sounds amazing and looks very retro 90's the busso engine reminds me of a racing engine

[@mmrahman82]

Absolutely love the design of the Alfa 155 and those wide body arches 👌

[@NightfallDrives]

Something a bit different, a bit shouty and in dark blue with grey wheels? The dream 👌😉

[@bvc100]

Ah... one of my dream cars

[@richardcobern6287]

Wanted one at the nineties but ended up with a 164

[@longtailgt]

I'd like to give Andy a medal for the very tasteful exterior mods he has done! LOVE the wide bodykit, the rear wing, the DTM-style exhaust and that he didn't replace the factory Speedline wheels! I love this as much, if not more than the fact he chose a 155 over any of the other mainstream alternatives. This is definitely something I'd have done if I could afford it and if the 155 was sold in my country.

[@andrewcarter5481]

🙏🙏🙏

[@aggie3344]

Another great video. I’ve met the owner Andy n seen this 155 in the flesh what a top man he is n the 155 is stunning it’s a credit to him

[@PriestOfAuril]

Good call, I had a 156 2.5 when I was 22. Biggest regret having to sell that

[@_TrueDesire_]

0:48 what? The 156 GTA was bonkers when released!

[@davideloi9176]

I love this car. If i had enough money i would buy one tomorrow.

[@Archman155]

been waiting for someone to do a 155 video as long as i can remember, thank you! i think they look great tbh the wedge styling aged very well. my dad used to own a 1996 super with the silverstone lifted spoiler, along with lots of other bits like zender sideskirts and BTCC style front headlights which i think improve the car. it also had the 20VT engine from a coupe along with the brakes and some other bits, like this one. we've been to italy and back, nurburgring etc and the worst thing that broke on either of those trips was a very cheap, original sensor. if it werent for that car i wouldnt be interested in cars at all

[@k_hristov27]

That description reminds me of Seb's former car.

[@Archman155]

@@k_hristov27wow your actually right lol im surprised you recognised it just from the description

[@k_hristov27]

@@Archman155 haha, it's been a very distinctive car, I was quite sure for it. Can tell you, when he was selling it, I felt the pain, even from 2000 miles away :(

[@eze8970]

Thanks J, iconic car! 🙏🙏

[@peacepraiser]

"a houndred and sixty six HP" sounds a lot like: eight houndred and sixty six HP for a non native english person. I needed to rewind a few times :)

[@richardsheil5289]

And me , and I'm a native speaker.

[@alanconner9335]

Yeah he said 866hp 😮

[@simonh870]

Very rare car now. One to keep.

[@marinosimons1928]

I used to run à 1993 155 v6, for about 10 years. I loved the car, I sold it because i'd bought an Alfa montreal. Still have great memories about that 155 though. I should have kept it. Great to see one here😊

[@leostreat3573]

If he found a set of seats and door cards it'd make the car peachy . I was driving honda preludes at 24 , cheap fun cars . But this is far more interesting and rare .

[@kevinmcg6747]

Every two weeks I used to drive from Bristol to Scotland and I’d turn up at the hire car unit in Bristol and get the usual Vectra Diesel. One day however I got the keys to a red 155 2ltrs twin spark. I thought great a petrol car to cost me a fortune, then I revved the engine and thought ‘wait a minute’. Had a brilliant drive using all the gears and taking a lot of country road options once in Scotland. Always had a soft spot for them since that weekend.

[@noonehere1793]

Everyone needs to own ONE ALFA, preferably with the magenta marelli prince of darkness electrics and the obligatory rust holes.

[@15DEAN1995]

That car in looks alone is a stunner but the sound is top tier from the old school Alfa busso v6

[@pk93cov]

Choice of car yes choice of mods I'm not so sure

[@MLC...]

I can relate to this story. I fell in love with the 155 when I was 19 or 20 years old. Seeing them in touring car racing in Germany and Britain made me really want one. But they were new then and I could not afford one. I tried to convince my father to buy one, but no, it was BMW E36 and E46. So when I was 27 years old I bought a used widebody 2.0 Super TS 16v. Fell in love with that car. Today I am 50 years old and that 155 is still part of my life, along with 3 older classic Alfa Romeos. That wedge shape has a connection with the 75 and 116 Giulietta which I love. For me, the 155 is the most modern Alfa I will ever want. Just love them, such a pity they are so extremely rare here in South Africa.

[@studiocalder818]

Great. Interesting the connection between 155 WB and the 75 TS

[@gerhard6105]

Very nice story. I am also 50 and have an Alfa 33 1.5IE and a GTV6 2.5i. My first car was a 33 1.3 and after that i always have a GTV6. So, i still have one and all parts triple. The standard GTV6 exhaust sound is the best together with their seats (for models after 1983). Regards from Belgium.

[@MLC...]

@@gerhard6105 I agree, a late model GTV6 is a very desirable model. Love those taller seats and that long dash. They sound fantastic too.

[@Flint_Westwood]

Ah, yes. The 155 V6. A car I once owned and enjoyed immensely. Even back in the 90's it used to receive many positive comments. Mine was Alfa Rosso, was lowered and had white 17" 6 spoke alloys. It really did look and sound the business. My mates all thought I'd lost my mind when I first got it but now always maintain it was the best car i ever owned. Fantastic and unique. Great video as always 👍

[@raypurchase801]

Everything which Jezza, Hamster and the Captain ever said about Alfas is absolutely true. Nobody can be a true petrolhead until they've owned an Alfa. Motorists need to experience the joy of their Alfa breaking down on a motorway at night in the rain. Got an Alfa myself. I've spent more hours fixing it that I've spent driving it.

[@TheAmishSasquatch]

FINALLY!! I just bought my '97 155 2.0 16v T.S (geez that's a mouthful), last year. They were never offered here in the US. My car came from Japan, where it was sold new. I love owning such an icon of touring car racing

[@JairoMoret-p7z]

Wow, where and how did you buy it?

[@Rusty_Red_Fox]

I owned a 155 silverstone (the model that spoiler was fitted to) it was a fantastic car, I absolutely loved it, unfortunately I owed my father some money so gave him the car he still has it but it hasn’t been on the road for years, it’s the only Alfa I’ve owned and I’d love another one.

[@mikeypv6]

Everything about this car is perfect to me 😍😎

[@aust8273]

Loved watching the BTCC in the 90s and these looked awesome around the track. Thanks Jay emm

[@jamonesbaratoskim8039]

Very nice, I would love to see a GTV6 next

[@Zero_Ninety]

For the full Alfa 155 experience you need to go to Scotland and barrel roll it.

[@PurveyorOfEmetophili]

"And...Oh! Oh! Off... It's Tarquini!"

[@robinclaidlaw]

I was there!! That was even more startling in person!

[@DermotCarroll]

really nice car! i did big mileage in one during the 90s ... averaaging about 2000 miles a week in Ireland!! when really pressing on, the tail would snap and try to come around .... solved with aa cement bag at the back of the boot. the lights were awful .... especially with come road dirt on them, and i didn't like the tipo sourced wipers! cost of running was not cheap ... but the smiles per mile were defnitely there!!

[@Zlin0035]

there is currently one for sale on cars and classic, its a 2ltr for about £3k, if I had the money i'd snap it up instantly even if I have to travel 400 miles to get it.

[@studiocalder818]

Bravo 👍🏻

[@MrAndreCoutinho]

The wide body kit makes this car looks far far better than the regular skinny body. Sadly in my country the 2.5 v6 is extremely rare and the 2.0 TS has become quite expensive for no reason besides social media bringing back the old BTCC and DTM versions to life, that engine noise is like music and people want them, no matter if it’s a skinny body with 4cyl engine. Crazy.

[@e28forever30]

I totally understand the attraction of driving an old car that isn’t really that fast with a glorious 6 cylinder engine note. This Alfa looks amazing, very nice mods. I enjoy my E28 525i just as much with its 150 horsepower, the noise the M30 makes is just very satisfying, although I must admit the Busso sounds better!

[@gareth2928]

That was my favourite! Really want a Q4 but like rocking horse***t! Thanks for reviewing a forgotten classic!!

[@laskos02]

Love the 155

[@kasimirdenhertog3516]

Nice bodykit, looks very OEM! The spoiler ruins it a bit for me, and I agree it would've been nice if the interior was something like black leather. But hey, it's still on the road and being taken care of. Kudos to the owner! 👍

[@Matthew-ll9ke]

I believe the wing is only a slight exaggeration of the item that came with the Silverstone edition, effectively the BTCC wing

[@georgemorris8967]

The spoiler is OEM and part of the silverstone package with extenders added, the extenders came in the boot from the dealers so they could be homologated for the BTCC car!

[@paulhayes2189]

Spoiler is horrible. In fact the 155 looks best without even the small sport Spoiler

[@kasimirdenhertog3516]

@@paulhayes2189 I agree, due to the wedge shape it already has a tall back-end, the spoiler exaggerates this even more. Overall, I still have feeling the 155 is too narrow. Typical case of a great concept design but then having to deal with a limiting floorplan. Much like the Montreal, where due to the engine/drivetrain the actual car came out too high and narrow.

[@LeeWoolley-i3s]

To add, back in the early 2000s I chose to drive a Fiat Tipo Sedicivalvole (16v) with the n/a lampredi engine. Unconventional yes, but I loved that car and kept it for 5 years and it got me into a run of 156s 147s and 166s in later years. Some of which with the lovely busso v6. Wish I had garaged it now as it reminds me a little of the 155 in looks and "underdog" status. Never saw another even back then! 😂

[@paologuglielmetti4088]

Reject modernity, embrace an old Alfa

[@jumpferjoy1st]

Always time for a Busso.

[@Salubrious101]

I had one of these in racing green over 22 years ago, the most maintenance sensitive car I've ever owned, I miss it to this day, terrible electrics though it blew fuses and the odd bulb every few months.

[@fioled73]

Have a soft spot for Alphas as my first car was a 156. The salesman knew what he was doing as he chucked me the keys to the V version for a test drive, sadly my finances only strecthed to the 2 litre version. Great car to own, despite its frequent visits to the dealership to be fixed, and other 156 owners would wave to each other!

[@ChaosphereIX]

I miss my 2.5 V6 "Francesca" every day. She was super rare, one of only a handfull JDM Special Editions left. That engine and engaging suspension made every drive special. I am glad the issue of FWD vs RWD is brought up...so many dismiss these Alfas due to their drivetrain. A mistake, the chassis is very good and the limits are very high.

[@vaughandavey4553]

I might be missing something here but how can an Alfa be JDM?

[@ChaosphereIX]

@@vaughandavey4553 It was a special Japanese market only model. Never sold anywhere else in the world. I consider that JDM.

[@pistonburner6448]

But it in fact *_is_* front wheel drive, has a terrible front-heavy weight distribution, corrupted and feel-less steering, horrible balance and endless understeer.

[@pistonburner6448]

But it in fact *_is_* front wheel drive, has a terrible front-heavy weight distribution, corrupted and feel-less steering, horrible balance and endless understeer.

[@vaughandavey4553]

@@ChaosphereIX It never occurred to me that an Italian manufacturer would make a Japan only model so you are dead right - it is a JDM model. Please accept my apologies.

[@seinsmeld13]

Nice ride mate.

[@DYNANiK]

Very nice Bodykit

[@Zero_Ninety]

Always wanted one of these. Well, since 1994 anyway.

[@life_on_cars]

Impressive how many videos you knock out. Very consistent 👏

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thankyou!

[@janstaes2172]

great vid, alfa even had a zagato kit for the 155. these are near impossible to find now.

[@leostreat3573]

Loving your work James 🤩.

[@martinlagrange8821]

I have had three over the years - the 155 V6 is an overpowered Delta Integrale, and is literally like a four-wheeled motorbike...and the rear windows were all manual, in all of them !

[@MeganeMondeoMX5]

Dream car, always wanted one of these.

[@Google_Is_Evil]

The factory brakes are fine if you make sure the rear brake balance valve is functional and properly adjusted. Every pimply faced youth and wannabe that lowered their 155 found out the whole roll center and geometry is now off and the car is about as bouncy as the inflatable castle your neighbors rented for their kids birthday. After replacing the anti roll bars with a couple that would not look out of place on your average garbage truck, the car now turned into a roller skate without grip and the "tuning" was complete. The interior is what it is, the facelift made no discernable difference. Some different fabrics was basically all that differed. The seats were mediocre, the seating position was "italian standard ape" with not enough distance to the pedals, too much distance to the steering wheel and the lumbar support tends to break inside the drivers chair, all together forcing you to slouch over to drive the vehicle and make you tired just on a trip to the neighborhood off license. All cars had the same width, until the facelift, when they were... exactly as wide but came with 5mm wheel spacers and slightly differently shaped fenders and bumpers that gave the illusion that the body was actually wider. The Q4 was the one that came from the start with the grill that all the facelift ones came with later on. The fan not functioning is a known problem, the bearings wear, then the resistor for the climate control burns out and after replacing only the resistor that will immediately burn down again because the bearings are worn and the fan draws too much power, many owners decided to drill a hole in their interior to put a direct switch to the fan in, instead of fixing the problem by replacing the motor to the fan and buying another resistor.

[@katywalker8322]

We had 2 155s, both 2L 16V TS models. Both were good cars in objective terms. Reliable, massive boot, not bad on fuel, comfortable seats, quick enough, etc. Rust wasn't really too much of a major issue. It even towed pretty well. Down side was needing to change the cam belt around 36k. Weird bit was the speedo which over read noticeably (against GPS). Except after long journies on a hot day when it became dead accurate! 2nd one was replaced with a 156 2L TS. 156 had less comfortable seats and smaller boot but was a nicer car to drive.

[@jamesdecross1035]

That is a nice car, although I agree... it's not a Nova. Undo the mods. and it'd be spectacular.

[@Mathias-RetroFutureTech]

In my eyes this has to have the perfect sedan size and looks.. Absolutely iconic!

[@JUDEEDWARD]

I had a black Twinspark one, can't remember whether it was a 1.8 or a 2.0 but it was great fun and looked mean as anything :-)

[@lancelogan]

I bought my first car when I was 17. It was a 1991 red Alfa Romeo 33 QV-16. Now, 25 years later I have a Giulia Veloce Q4. I think it's my Alfa number 7.

[@stewarthughes551]

Omg I had one of these 20 years ago absolutely loved it!!! Terrible electrics lol

[@Fozzy9344]

One word... Busso... Nuff said :)

[@Tinker2006]

Great video, from memory the kit was not available on the V6, and in the UK we got the 1,8 Silverstone - the exhaust on that particular model is a bit too much, as is the suspension, because they are usually more "fun" and confortable - also you could get leather in the V6 - But it is another great video on a now classic Alfa

[@mikufan1812]

I'm 18 years old and loveclassic cars and to be a owner of any Alfa Romeo, but they lefted Brazil in begin 2000s so the only ones left are too much expensive and no spare parts

[@RobinCapper]

Love your everyday, oddball, but attainable, car reviews

[@douglasfaichnie]

Thank you JayEmm and Andy! I LOVE the 155. And I’m a 911 nut!

[@chriscomparescars4416]

Haha you should have mentioned autotrader at the beginning lol...surely most people's first action is to see what's available right?! 😁 Great vid, nice car!

[@danielhillier7417]

Saw this at a car show or meet very recently. Looked good.

[@sickjohnson]

Brings back fond memories of Grand Torismo Jay!

[@drewsimpson5967]

I had two 155's, both bought at about 6 months old. First was a red 1.8 8 valve wide body, which I traded in for a silver 2.0 16v, shortly after the 156 was launched. Both bought at the right price. I didn't have a lot of bother with either of them but what attention they needed, the dealer made heavy weather of. Good job the cars sold themselves to the right customer, as the salesman an absolute cheeseball.

[@dontbenosey1]

The 155 was a good car. A bit different even in its day. Nice to drive and the 1.8 and 2.0TS were great on fuel and still went well.

[@benzinapaul7416]

wide body 2 litre 16V is ultimate 155

[@jobsmi4]

Agree, I had one. Fantastic car!!

[@WGanesha]

Bellissima ❤💪🇮🇹

[@waynewayne2472]

I loved my 155. Gutted I like in a country now that I couldnt have one as a bit of weekend fun.

[@keithvers569]

This looks very similar to the 33 cloverleaf

[@MrRoyck10]

The chap who owns this car is cooler than polar’s bear’s claws, anybody who enjoys analog soulful driving should look towards classic, the era of automotive pop and bang lacks mechanical soul, hence they mask it with speed with fake noise. This car is organic , different and it’s an Alfa a compulsory acquisition for any petrol head.

[@donkee011]

I always found front wheel drive cars, with rear spoiler, amusing.

[@robinclaidlaw]

Why? The two things are unrelated. Rear spoilers are supposed to reduce rear lift at speed, it doesn’t really matter which end is driven, it’s never a good thing if a car develops a tendency to oversteer at high speed. Regardless of drive layout, Traction is only ever going to be an issue at low speeds unless you have huge HUGE power, and the spoiler is only going to do anything at high speeds at which you’ll never have a traction issue under acceleration. 🤷‍♂️

[@ChaosphereIX]

Useful at high speed no matter what the wheels driven. Just ask 1994 BTCC :)