Alfa Romeo 164 1991-95

     Notes: This car has been described as a "poor man's Ferrari with two more doors."  It is an Italian sports sedan for the budget-minded, which does not mean that it is cheap, just less expensive than most comparable cars.  Though its top speed is not especially high, acceleration to this speed is quick.  Less than 130 were sold in the US, but many more were sold in Europe, and a few were sold in other countries in the world.  There are many luxuries in the 164, but many of them are known for poor quality, such as the seat heaters, quality of leather seats, and stereo; this, along with the engine, is where Alfa Romeo cut costs to keep the price down.  The car is not really set up for tall people; the interior can be cramped for them, and the steering wheel obscures many of the instruments for the tall.  The 164 also requires a great deal of user maintenance to keep operating properly, as well as premium fuel.  Handling is absolutely superb, and you can do many unorthodox maneuvers and tight turns in the 164 that you wouldn't even think of doing in other cars.

Alfa Romeo Spider 1990-95

     Notes: This is another inexpensive Italian sports car, this time in the form of a sports coupe.  It is very fun to drive, but has a reputation as being a "hanger queen:" a car that is in the shop for repairs and tuning very often.  It has a very small interior; there is no back seat, only a cargo space, and the front seats are not meant for tall or large people, and even people of average height for the American male will find it somewhat cramped.  In addition to the monthly repairs or tuning, the Spider takes considerable operator maintenance, as well as premium fuel.  The Spider is also very low-slung; in addition to the difficulty of climbing in and out, this means that off-roading with the Spider is not advisable.  The Spider comes in a standard sports coupe version and a convertible called the Veloce.  Handling is superb, but power is somewhat lacking.