While Europeans are spoilt for choice when it comes to used Alfa Romeos, here in the upper side of North America, our options are mostly limited to rusted Spiders and beat up 164s.
So, when a different model pops up on our radar, we pay attention, as we did when we found this Canadian 1993 Alfa Romeo 155 Q4 with only 38,409 miles listed for sale on eBay.
Now, for Europeans, the 155 may have been a superb racer as the Supertouring-homologated GTA and the V6 TI for the DTM, but for regular consumers looking for a compact executive sedan, it was as an inferior product wearing a luxury badge.
Designed as a replacement for the RWD 75 that was sold in North America as the Milano, the 155 was the first compact executive model made under the ownership of Fiat, which based it on a front-wheel drive platform, hugely disappointing Alfa fans.
Not that the 1980’s 75 was anything special itself in the design department with its odd styling choices, but at least it had some kind of character; the 155 was as bland as a bowl of oatmeal. The only thing it had over the 75 was the better overall quality and lack of mind-baffling ergonomics – i.e. the electric window controls on the roof console.
One version of the 155 that stood out from the rest was the 155 Q4, which was supposed to be to Alfa what the Integrale was to Lancia. You see, Fiat’s brainiacs fitted the Q4 with a de-tuned version of the Lancia Intgegrale 16v’s rally-bred 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivering 190PS (187hp) paired to the same four-wheel drive system. The Q4 was fairly fast with acceptable handling, but at the end of the day, it was no four-door Integrale.
Still, some may find it interesting enough to enter the auction at $11,899 and get the car for…$11,900. Finding parts is a different story, while being that it’s under 25 years old, we’re not sure if you can easily import it to the States.
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