Alfa 75 TS v's Lanca Thema 2.0 ie

[Robert060379]

My Beta is becoming a long term project and my Fiat Coupe is gathering dust due to working to much. My nephews are getting too big for the back seat so I'm after a sensible four door saloon for the road that can be fun on the track. I've seen two potentials. A Alfa 75 Twin Spark (164 V6 conversion maybe later?) and a Thema 2.0 (H200 turbo). What do you guys think?

[Chris71]

Alfa 75 for the dab of oppo potential definitely.

[RicksAlfas]

75.
But why not get the V6 to start with rather than trying to fit a FWD version from a 164 in later?

[nc107]

Different cars really. The Alfa will be more fun to drive, but the Thema more relaxing. The Thema will have more room and be better equipped but the Alfa more special to sit in (for which in my experience read more uncomfortable )

The Alfa will be more tunable, but as a base option the Thema will be much faster.

The Thema makes a great A and M road car, but don't expect to be able to hustle it like an 75. And don't expect a 75 to be as refined and relaxing on a long journey as a Thema.

Pays your money and takes your choice.

[Robert060379]

Here are my options I have already considered. Alfa 155 awesome (wide body) looking car, wrong wheel drive, would have to be post 96 to get the best engine but then the Cat' would get in the way of future developement. Alfa 164 big heavy expensive to insure and run. Marea 20V (Bravo HGT with a boot) and Alfa 156 , too new, stangers would keep getting in the back thinking it was a mini-cab, and £500 cam belt change (20V!!!!!). Fiat Croma basket case or way out of budget. Delta Hf hot hatch, goes bang if it gets too hot.

The 75 I've seen is a bright red twin spark with the 80's shoulder pad arches.
The Thema is an H200 with a mad body kit and a complete car for spares (says it all really).

If I could afford a V6 I would get one but for now the twin spark would make an excellent platform to work from and with a 3.0 V6 from a 164 would be awesome. The front engine rear gearbox set up sounds ideal for hanging the arse out. The Thema is basically the same as the Fiat Croma but has the limited edition appeal. Both cars look like dtm rejects and sound brilliant. Either way my Fiat Coupe and/or the Beta Coupe will have to go to make room (the neighbours already have issues).

[arguti]

Out of the cars you mention, I think the easiest to live with on a day to day basis will be the 155 - also will probably be the easiest to sort out mechanically as the 75/Alfetta series whilst ideal 50/50 weight balance will be older, have more rust and mechanically more expensive to prepare properly for the track.

I own a 2L 75, 3L GTV6, 2L 155, a bertone coupe and now also 155Q4 (my new project)- the 155 is my daily driver and the bertone will be the track toy.

I have always preferred the true Alfas (prior to Fiat takeover) and steered well away from the 155 but it really grows on you and takes relatively little money to properly sort out. They are cheap as chips at present whereas a properly sorted 75 will cost much more.

Having said all that, the kids love the Bertone the most!!

For 155s, head to the nutters on www.alfa155.org

Here you go is you want Alfa's version of the Integrale, a true Q car: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1994-ALFA-ROMEO-155-Q4-CLOVE...


You really need to speak to www.alexjupemotorsport.co.uk of you are interested in costing a 75. He had a very well sorted 3L 75 for just under 3K last month which is probably what you need to pay for a fully sorted one. Yes you can pick up a 75 for a few hundred squid but they soon start costing if they have been neglected.

If you want a sorted Dedra Turbo, speak to the head mechanic at NJS services who is selling his, NJS specialises in Alfa/Lancias- see other threads on this forum; tel [phone]. the car was on pistonheads about a month ago.

Edited by arguti on Wednesday 23 September 11:02

Edited by arguti on Wednesday 23 September 11:04

[funwithrevs]

Couple of things strike me there...

ISTR my 164 2.0 Super was the same weight as the equivalent 155 (give or take).

Getting the V6 engine out of a 164 is really not a good idea any more as they are old and parts are hard to come by. You are looking for 156GTA 3.2, 166 3.0 or GTV 3.0 ideally.

A 75 is never a cheap option, it is a project/hobby in itself. Lancia Thema can't be far off these days.

I think what you are looking for is actually an Alfa 146ti. Cheap 4 door fun, so you can just treat it as transport and get on with getting that Beta back on the road rather than ending up with another project to distract you

[Robert060379]

Good points about the newer 3.2 engine and too many projects. The 75 is on carandclassic.com for about £600 and the Thema is in Norwich call Andrew on 01603 881249. It is actually two Themas a rusty H200 and a solid ie with full leather, just a matter of swapping bits over. I was originally going to use the Thema as an engine donour for my Beta but that's when I started thinking sensibly (well sensible four door saloons anyway). Buy them before I do.

[fluffnik]

75

The Alfetta transaxle chassis of which the 75 was the last flowering is a gem.

[Robert060379]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C97012/

It's even better than I thought. Pay day tomorrow.

[funwithrevs]

So it hasn't run for 7 years? Any idea what state the engine is in?

You can get a pair of 155's for that money

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1215256.htm

[Robert060379]

Hense the 164 V6 conversion. Looks tidy enough. The 155 is a very nice car but you need a post 96 one for the best engines and the cat will get in the way of future developement and they are wrong wheel drive. The 164 V6 should have the same bell housing patern as the 75 according to the kit car boys the transaxle with the V6 is used in several cars when the body work goes and can easilly take the extra torque.

[Robert060379]

funwithrevs said:

So it hasn't run for 7 years? Any idea what state the engine is in?

You can get a pair of 155's for that money

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1215256.htm

Anyone else thinking.......

Twin engine four wheel drive? Would make the Q4 look silly and the parts you don't use would pay for half the project (grinding disks at least). Would look good in next years PPC £999 Challenge.

[Robert060379]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C109996/


I'm so tempted by this, does anyone want to buy a Lancia Beta Coupe?

[Pooh]

I wouldn't dismiss the 155 just because its fwd, I had a widebody 2.5 V6 and it was brilliant fun, the handling was superb and very throttle adjustable, I have fond memories of sliding it round Knockhill on opposite lock.

[shouldbworking]

Robert060379 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C109996/


I'm so tempted by this, does anyone want to buy a Lancia Beta Coupe?

Whilst the 155 is by no means a bad car, I would much sooner have a 75, my reasoning being along the lines of the 75 is a proper last of an era car - rwd, eager engine, marmite looks where the 155 is a bit of a compromise (q4 excepted). As a last consideration, think about the 155s electrics - alfa electrics hadnt gotten to any sensible level at that point - and just check out the amount of electrickery switches.

[Pooh]

shouldbworking said:

As a last consideration, think about the 155s electrics - alfa electrics hadnt gotten to any sensible level at that point - and just check out the amount of electrickery switches.

Sorry but that is rubbish, I did 80k miles in my 155 and the only electrical faults I had were an intermittent fault with the crankshaft position sensor and a faulty airflow meter(both Bosch parts), the quality of switch gear etc was very good.

[shouldbworking]

Pooh said:

shouldbworking said:

As a last consideration, think about the 155s electrics - alfa electrics hadnt gotten to any sensible level at that point - and just check out the amount of electrickery switches.

Sorry but that is rubbish, I did 80k miles in my 155 and the only electrical faults I had were an intermittent fault with the crankshaft position sensor and a faulty airflow meter(both Bosch parts), the quality of switch gear etc was very good.

Glad to hear it - I do admit im only going by alfas made at the same time and the pure quantity of switchgear in the 155

[Robert060379]

I had a go in a twin spark 155, thought it was a bit slow but had the Fiat equal weight drive shafts so launching the old bus out of corners was no problem, the V6 is one of the best sounding engines ever made on full chat but I've just had a four figure insurance quote because the 155 isn't considered a classic yet. The 75 weighs in at £340-ish fully comp. Pity it's red there was a siver one on Ebay but it was a complete shed. I've prety much decided on the 75 just need to make room on my driveway (get the Beta and Fiat Coupes finished and sold).

[Pooh]

I am sure the 75 will be fun, especially if you manage to fit a 250 bhp 3.2 GTA V6 into it.