Continuing our search for family-friendly enthusiast cars with an automatic transmission, it didn’t take a lot of looking to find an Alfa 164. Many were sold in the United States, particularly in the coastal cities, and while it’s more of an expert-level car, it’s got the appeal of that amazing Busso six-cylinder, which can’t be stifled by the automatic. In fact, the interesting thing about the automatic on the 164 is it does seem to be set up to hold gears and downshift a bit more than your average automatic of the period. While the Pininfarina design of the 164L is beautiful, the six shiny intake runners are a kind of mechanical beauty you can share with anyone in the family. Just look away long enough for them to roll their eyes at you. Check out this 1991 Alfa Romeo 164L for sale for $2950 in San Mateo, CA.
Posts Tagged ‘sedan’
Alfamatic – 1991 Alfa Romeo 164L
October 3, 2015Automatic for the People – 1983 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel
October 2, 2015Ask most people in our corner of internet-land, and you’ll find they love manual transmission cars, won’t buy anything without a speck of rust, and only if there’s a financial upside. But as we all know, the rules of physics (and the other practical aspects of life) don’t apply there – it’s like building a a dream garage, where factors like budget, your family, and the commute don’t come into the discussion. But if you can accept that real life is a consideration, and if you want to be able to use your classic car more than four times a year – you know, for those two annual shows, a club drive, and the one time you can convince the family they want to ride in a noisy old car that smells of vinyl, burnt oil, and exhaust (the holy trinity!) – then maybe it’s worth compromising on the dream a little to engage some of the most important people in your life in the hobby and still be able to engage in it yourself. And that’s where we come to a great, family friendly classic – the W123 series of Mercedes sedans. Check out this 1983 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel for sale for $3900 in Walnut Creek, CA.
Turbo-Berline – 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo
October 1, 2015Even though many manufacturers have been forced out of the US market, that doesn’t necessarily mean they weren’t making good product. The Peugeot 505 is a good case in point – a well-proportioned sedan, comfortable seating and good handling, and in the Turbo, a 160hp 2.1 liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It’s even rear-wheel-drive. So why didn’t it do well here? There’s a whole Harvard business case on that one – okay, maybe not – but the short story is you get a super-depreciated car that should be a pretty decent ride, and if it’s not, well, you only skipped one month’s pay to get it. Right? So check out this 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo for sale for $1800 in Puyallup, WA.


