RE: Lancia Thema 8.32: PH Ad Break
Discussion
DeuxCentCinq said:
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.Matt
Motorrad said:
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.
Alfa159Ti said:
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! 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!
Once they get under your skin it feels more like an responsibility than a choice.
However, like the best Italian mistresses, 'she' got under my skin and twelve years of loyalty on my part proves that point, I guess. I never see another one (Italian Car Days apart).
Regarding the perceived running costs of a Lancia Thema 8.32, I happened to start totting up the accrued running costs of my Cloverleaf sometime last year but I quit after reaching twice my 'guestimate' with quite a stack of invoices yet to be factored in!!
Three radiators to date (although the car was nine years old when I bought it and I got clobbered almost straightaway), four cambelt/tensioner changes (and they're really expensive on a 24V four-cam) including an enforced change due to a failed water pump. Then there have been innumerable suspension parts replaced, heater matrix, that 'microscopic rear subframe, gearbox rebuild (by choice, that one) etc etc.
I reckon the 'Leaf and the 8.32 might be closer in running costs than people would think but then again, both are manufacturer flagship models so they've each thrown the best they can at them.
The Busso V6 is simply stellar to drive behind and to listen to and I'm sure the 8.32 provides a comparable soundtrack too but the 164 Cloverleaf is probably one of the best-handling large FWD cars ever made (it really does have a truly pedigree chassis beneath those looks) and it's a superbly-sharp and faithful steer. I reckon that's where it aces the Thema Ferrari. I think its sleeker looks help too.
Photo for those who may be unsure (or who've forgotten what one looks as it's been so many years since they last saw one!) what car we're talking about here.
There is one of these beasts for sale in Japan...dash and interior look in a bad way, probably been left in land of the rising sun for too long. £6k plus shipping back to the UK, could be worth it in the long run. Hard to beat a decent well kept Busso, I have a 3.2 and a 3.0 version, prefer the 3.0 for smoothness.
I have owned an 8.32 for the past 6 years and have driven to Italy from home (Northern Ireland) three times with the family. It's a 3,600 mile round trip and it has never missed a beat! It is used regularly and other than routine servicing there has been no reliability issues. I bought it with 38,000 miles on it now there is 74,000 and of the many Alfa's and Lancia's I have been lucky enough to own, it an the 1980's GTV6 ( I have run one as my everyday car this year) are my favourites. The Thema Icaused quite a stir parked outside the Ferrari Musem and was pictured in Car mag (Sept 13 I think).
Travelling through Europe 4 up and a boot full of wine the torque of the engine always impressed along with the sound track. As an insurance policy I bought a new spare engine for it, it looks so nice almost thought about putting it in the living room with a glass top on it!
Have a 164 3.0 24V which is also a fantastic car but very different, in my humble opinion the 164 is more sporting in nature and a hoot on a back road. The 8.32 soothes the soul and 164 stirs it. I have told my kids when I die I want taken to the grave in it!
Great to see it getting some positive press - the weight sensitive rear headrests and retracting rear spoiler are lovely details.
Travelling through Europe 4 up and a boot full of wine the torque of the engine always impressed along with the sound track. As an insurance policy I bought a new spare engine for it, it looks so nice almost thought about putting it in the living room with a glass top on it!
Have a 164 3.0 24V which is also a fantastic car but very different, in my humble opinion the 164 is more sporting in nature and a hoot on a back road. The 8.32 soothes the soul and 164 stirs it. I have told my kids when I die I want taken to the grave in it!
Great to see it getting some positive press - the weight sensitive rear headrests and retracting rear spoiler are lovely details.
phalfalan said:
I have owned an 8.32 for the past 6 years and have driven to Italy from home (Northern Ireland) three times with the family. It's a 3,600 mile round trip and it has never missed a beat! It is used regularly and other than routine servicing there has been no reliability issues. I bought it with 38,000 miles on it now there is 74,000 and of the many Alfa's and Lancia's I have been lucky enough to own, it an the 1980's GTV6 ( I have run one as my everyday car this year) are my favourites. The Thema Icaused quite a stir parked outside the Ferrari Musem and was pictured in Car mag (Sept 13 I think).
Travelling through Europe 4 up and a boot full of wine the torque of the engine always impressed along with the sound track. As an insurance policy I bought a new spare engine for it, it looks so nice almost thought about putting it in the living room with a glass top on it!
Have a 164 3.0 24V which is also a fantastic car but very different, in my humble opinion the 164 is more sporting in nature and a hoot on a back road. The 8.32 soothes the soul and 164 stirs it. I have told my kids when I die I want taken to the grave in it!
Great to see it getting some positive press - the weight sensitive rear headrests and retracting rear spoiler are lovely details.
"The 8.32 soothes the soul and 164 stirs it." Eloquently put, Sir! I envy your long-term experience of these two fine machines.Travelling through Europe 4 up and a boot full of wine the torque of the engine always impressed along with the sound track. As an insurance policy I bought a new spare engine for it, it looks so nice almost thought about putting it in the living room with a glass top on it!
Have a 164 3.0 24V which is also a fantastic car but very different, in my humble opinion the 164 is more sporting in nature and a hoot on a back road. The 8.32 soothes the soul and 164 stirs it. I have told my kids when I die I want taken to the grave in it!
Great to see it getting some positive press - the weight sensitive rear headrests and retracting rear spoiler are lovely details.
DeuxCentCinq said:
selym said:
So, what do you think of the car?
Do you really want to know, or are you just being facetious?Back to the car; ok, it is nothing special using today's performance benchmarks but is shows the kind of bravery by two manufacturers all too uncommon these days. I've not seen one on the road for years, and would relish a look around one again some day.
A couple more pics of my old 8.32;
Mine was quite a rare colour, the yellow stripe and gold anodized window surrounds with the blue thermaglass gave it a unique look. When they were launched there was only the BMW E28 M5 to compare it with, they were £37500 in the UK, when the 16V Turbo was around £20k, no wonder they didn't sell!
Mine was quite a rare colour, the yellow stripe and gold anodized window surrounds with the blue thermaglass gave it a unique look. When they were launched there was only the BMW E28 M5 to compare it with, they were £37500 in the UK, when the 16V Turbo was around £20k, no wonder they didn't sell!
I've owned two Thema turbos (one of them a very special one with an alleged 230bhp) and they were wonderful cars! Proper "old school" turbos where a favourite of mine was if I let a friend drive one I would get them to get into 2nd gear, put their foot just halfway down at around 1,500rpm and then watch their face as it hit 3,000ish and all hell broke loose! I don't know the figures but it always felt as though over about a 500rpm increase, with no extra throttle applied, the power output more or less doubled. The downside was you had to watch that didn't happen halfway round a wet roundabout. I also once drove 125 miles through France in exactly one hour, in perfect comfort. But, sadly, the rust got too much for both of them in the end and I got sick of welding! Mechanically they gave very little trouble though.
I did drive an 8.32 once and, to be honest, it didn't really feel any faster but way more flexible. Easier to drive too because you didn't have to worry about whether the turbo was on boost or not.
I did drive an 8.32 once and, to be honest, it didn't really feel any faster but way more flexible. Easier to drive too because you didn't have to worry about whether the turbo was on boost or not.
Leins said:
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)
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 spoilerQuite a bit of deja voux with their video editing though
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