RE: Lancia Thema 8.32: PH Ad Break

[DeuxCentCinq]

Matt Bird said:

I know you won't believe me but it was spellchecked. I have no idea how it got through. Thanks for pointing it out, should be addressed now (furiously checks copy again and again and again!).


Matt

If, indeed, PH articles are spellchecked before publication, whoever does it needs to be given a stern talking to. And a dictionary.

[Mr Tidy]

For some reason I always fancied a Lancia Thema, but it's probably just as well I never found enough brave pills!
Saying that it was the Turbo i.e. I wanted which was nearly as fast iirc but probably less frightening on the maintenance front.
I somehow doubt there are many left now.

[crostonian]

I owned one about 8 years ago, here's another excuse to share some pics;




To be honest I never really gelled with it, yes the engine was fabulous and the interior was a nice place to be and the Ferrari link was cool but at the same time I had an Alfa 164 Cloverleaf 24V which wiped the floor with it in most respects. Glad I ticked it off the bucket list, just need a Maserati 430 to complete the trio!

[Leins]

Bonefish Blues said:

Leins said:

Was the Thema really "dowdy"? I quite liked them, especially in facelift Turbo ie-form

Sexier than her brethren, that's for sure (as in Saab & Fiat)

I'd quite like a 9000 Carlsson too though

[belleair302]

Looked like a full fat Volvo, very iffy brakes and torque steer and I believe the Lancia but was not so well engineered. Sadly one to let rust away. Now an old school Quattroporte would be of interest.

[firebird350]

crostonian said:

I owned one about 8 years ago, here's another excuse to share some pics;




To be honest I never really gelled with it, yes the engine was fabulous and the interior was a nice place to be and the Ferrari link was cool but at the same time I had an Alfa 164 Cloverleaf 24V which wiped the floor with it in most respects. Glad I ticked it off the bucket list, just need a Maserati 430 to complete the trio!

Interesting comments as I've run an Alfa 164 Cloverleaf (the 230 BHP 24V version) as a daily driver for the past twelve years but, at one point, was tempted to switch to a Thema 8.32 because of its exotic rarity and supposedly similar performance.

However, a couple of knowledgeable people advised against such a move, saying the Cloverleaf was a better car. So I stuck with it! The 164 has now covered 191,000 miles on its original engine but I'd hazard a guess and say that the 8.32 engine (used and maintained properly) is just as pedigree a motor (if not more so perhaps) as the Busso V6 and would probably go that distance as well. Would love to put that theory to the test!

[aarondbs]

crostonian said:

I owned one about 8 years ago, here's another excuse to share some pics;




To be honest I never really gelled with it, yes the engine was fabulous and the interior was a nice place to be and the Ferrari link was cool but at the same time I had an Alfa 164 Cloverleaf 24V which wiped the floor with it in most respects. Glad I ticked it off the bucket list, just need a Maserati 430 to complete the trio!

Well that post has just saved me tens of thousands of £s. Ive had an Alfa 164 24v Cloverleaf, which I loved, cherished and spent many £s getting right. I always liked these but now I have no need of one..

[B'stard Child]

s m said:

NotNormal said:

Everyday is a school day, never knew the rear spoiler was an active jobbie

Quite a bit of deja voux with their video editing though

Surpassed only by the Omega EVO 500 spoiler

Not many petrol heads know about that car

[iloveboost]

crostonian said:

I owned one about 8 years ago, here's another excuse to share some pics;




To be honest I never really gelled with it, yes the engine was fabulous and the interior was a nice place to be and the Ferrari link was cool but at the same time I had an Alfa 164 Cloverleaf 24V which wiped the floor with it in most respects. Glad I ticked it off the bucket list, just need a Maserati 430 to complete the trio!

I guess the noise, and rarity, is why people buy them. I mean it's 0-100km/h is 6.8s, for a 2.9 V8! Next to that, a V6 Alfa Romeo is a smart choice!

[VladD]

I had a 2.0 16v i.e. in Champagne gold back in the late 90s. I loved that car. My Dad had previously had a pre-facelift turbo as a company car. He let me drive it once and, as my car at the time was a 1.8 Marina, the performance to me felt quite spectacular. The best part was that most people didn't know what the hell it was.

[P4ROT]

alexpa said:

P4ROT said:

Want one of these so bad.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C570274 - "These 8.32 engines are known to be one of the strongest ever fitted to any Lancia" (not sure whether this is a compliment?)

Has anyone on here driven one (stupid question), are they actually any good?

Perhaps better to find a driven runner.

What's the guess to recommission lightly assuming no issues-on a Lancia that's stood still for a decade..? £10k? or with issues hmm, multiply by 2 or 3?

Well he says it just needs a machine polish

[P4ROT]

crostonian said:

I owned one about 8 years ago, here's another excuse to share some pics;




To be honest I never really gelled with it, yes the engine was fabulous and the interior was a nice place to be and the Ferrari link was cool but at the same time I had an Alfa 164 Cloverleaf 24V which wiped the floor with it in most respects. Glad I ticked it off the bucket list, just need a Maserati 430 to complete the trio!

Not usually partial to a turquoise car, but that's lovely.

[daytona365]

I certainly wouldn't say no to one as a classic curio, but surely your getting all the expense and complication of a Ferrari engine with hardly any of the benefits........Heck it's not even that fast by todays standards, and the torque steer must be atrocious.

[fostrike]

Lancia Thema was a big hit in Italy, but a similar price the Maserati biturbo was astonishing.

[s m]

B'stard Child said:

s m said:

NotNormal said:

Everyday is a school day, never knew the rear spoiler was an active jobbie

Quite a bit of deja voux with their video editing though

Surpassed only by the Omega EVO 500 spoiler

Not many petrol heads know about that car

I've followed Dave's round Combe

[B'stard Child]

s m said:

B'stard Child said:

s m said:

NotNormal said:

Everyday is a school day, never knew the rear spoiler was an active jobbie

Quite a bit of deja voux with their video editing though

Surpassed only by the Omega EVO 500 spoiler

Not many petrol heads know about that car

I've followed Dave's round Combe

I replaced the timing chains and tensioners on his car (that was just in the nick of time)

[Motorrad]

daytona365 said:

I certainly wouldn't say no to one as a classic curio, but surely your getting all the expense and complication of a Ferrari engine with hardly any of the benefits........Heck it's not even that fast by todays standards, and the torque steer must be atrocious.

Inspired by the 'ad break' I took a look at you tube. It seems some of those horses have escaped from the corral.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVMBu_kjr1I

192 bhp left in the very nice low KM car in the video. Shame to think it would be matched if not beaten by a fair to middling diseasal crap mobile.

[canucklehead]

was always a fascinating oddball.

i wonder how 'active' that spoiler will be on a car you find today?

[Alfa159Ti]

firebird350 said:

Interesting comments as I've run an Alfa 164 Cloverleaf (the 230 BHP 24V version) as a daily driver for the past twelve years but, at one point, was tempted to switch to a Thema 8.32 because of its exotic rarity and supposedly similar performance.

However, a couple of knowledgeable people advised against such a move, saying the Cloverleaf was a better car. So I stuck with it! The 164 has now covered 191,000 miles on its original engine but I'd hazard a guess and say that the 8.32 engine (used and maintained properly) is just as pedigree a motor (if not more so perhaps) as the Busso V6 and would probably go that distance as well. Would love to put that theory to the test!

Nice to hear someone else is also caretaking one of the rapidly dwindling Bussos and that it has seen good use. 191k? Bravo!

Once they get under your skin it feels more like an responsibility than a choice.

[DeuxCentCinq]

Still says "Lanica".

This is embarrassing.