Lancia Beta Volumex
Discussion
GC8 said:
Why do so many PH members "want to throw a few thousand at one" but cant because they "don't have a garage"? Stop posting such waffle and rubbish!
I agree. I don't have a garage. These cars are not nearly as rust prone as the pub bores and Top Gear drones who have never even seen one say. There is such a thing as waxoyl, also paint, and posh outdoor covers, and so on. More shopping ideas:
Yahooks! Look at this paintjob.
Good points: appears to be a Beta Saloon in a barn in Cornwall.
Bad points: appears to be a Beta Saloon in a barn in Cornwall.
http://www.carandcla....uk/car/C455996
PS: been on sale since 1847, apparently, with the asking price steadily dropping.
Yahooks! Look at this paintjob.
Good points: appears to be a Beta Saloon in a barn in Cornwall.
Bad points: appears to be a Beta Saloon in a barn in Cornwall.
http://www.carandcla....uk/car/C455996
PS: been on sale since 1847, apparently, with the asking price steadily dropping.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 31st March 22:46
I know, but I didn't name the thread!
IIRC, the HPE was always just the HPE, and never had a Beta badge (EDIT: I'm wrong, early ones had a Beta character on the tailgate. At the end of the production run in 83/84 the Beta name was dropped from the Coupe too, presumably because of all the ferrous oxide faffage with the earlier cars and associated market damage. The Coupe was latterly sold as the Lancia Coupe.
IIRC, the HPE was always just the HPE, and never had a Beta badge (EDIT: I'm wrong, early ones had a Beta character on the tailgate. At the end of the production run in 83/84 the Beta name was dropped from the Coupe too, presumably because of all the ferrous oxide faffage with the earlier cars and associated market damage. The Coupe was latterly sold as the Lancia Coupe.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 1st April 06:31
Breadvan72 said:
GC8 said:
Why do so many PH members "want to throw a few thousand at one" but cant because they "don't have a garage"? Stop posting such waffle and rubbish!
I agree. I don't have a garage. These cars are not nearly as rust prone as the pub bores and Top Gear drones who have never even seen one say. There is such a thing as waxoyl, also paint, and posh outdoor covers, and so on. MarshPhantom said:
GC8 said:
Why do so many PH members "want to throw a few thousand at one" but cant because they "don't have a garage"? Stop posting such waffle and rubbish!
There is a decent looking Coupe on sale at present. Any that has survived this long and has an MoT is likely to be a good one, whether original or restored. The rotters have died or are at death's door.
My car, first sold a few months before the Beta era ended, still has its original six year anti rust guarantee document in its file, and had wheelarch liners from new. It has had welding in two places that I can tell. It has minor rust at screen base and sunroof margins. Its floor and sills are solid, its wings, bonnet and tailgate good.
Based on my experience with a Spyder, I can say that the normally aspirated and carburated 2000 has plenty of pep and zip, and arguably sounds better than the Volumex, although it naturally runs out of puff before the blown version does. Fuel injection adds smoothness and a bit of power and economy (not that you buy these cars to save gas). The five speed is a decent box, and the brakes are well up to modern standards. The grip and handling are very fine. The cars have decent crashworthiness but are light, and you can see out of them.
My car, first sold a few months before the Beta era ended, still has its original six year anti rust guarantee document in its file, and had wheelarch liners from new. It has had welding in two places that I can tell. It has minor rust at screen base and sunroof margins. Its floor and sills are solid, its wings, bonnet and tailgate good.
Based on my experience with a Spyder, I can say that the normally aspirated and carburated 2000 has plenty of pep and zip, and arguably sounds better than the Volumex, although it naturally runs out of puff before the blown version does. Fuel injection adds smoothness and a bit of power and economy (not that you buy these cars to save gas). The five speed is a decent box, and the brakes are well up to modern standards. The grip and handling are very fine. The cars have decent crashworthiness but are light, and you can see out of them.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 1st April 19:39
What sort of figures would you estimate? I think that I saw about 22-26mpg in both HPEs. Low for the 1.6l but it was revvy and I was always in a hurry. The VX was less inclined to rev and was particularly torquey, so I managed comparatively better figures.
I cant remember what mile per gallon figures Jeremy managed for this 944 Turbo, but I am struggling to better 16mpg! Its the combination of city driving with the occasional thrap across Baslow moor...
With regards to rust: both of my HPEs showed signs on the A pillars and across the leading edge of the roof. No structural corrosion for either, but this was a niggle on the HPE that they didn't solve
I cant remember what mile per gallon figures Jeremy managed for this 944 Turbo, but I am struggling to better 16mpg! Its the combination of city driving with the occasional thrap across Baslow moor...
With regards to rust: both of my HPEs showed signs on the A pillars and across the leading edge of the roof. No structural corrosion for either, but this was a niggle on the HPE that they didn't solve
I am more worried by the base of the B Pillars on mine. If funds permit, a full respray will be happening this year or next. I may go gunmetal, or stay red. I can't decide. I have one worn seat, but may just have found a replacement. The Zegna cloth is attractive, but a bit too soft to wear as well as it might.
MPG? 24-28 ish, up to 32 on a cruise. 22 on a right old hoon.
MPG? 24-28 ish, up to 32 on a cruise. 22 on a right old hoon.
Breadvan72 said:
I am more worried by the base of the B Pillars on mine. If funds permit, a full respray will be happening this year or next. I may go gunmetal, or stay red. I can't decide. I have one worn seat, but may just have found a replacement. The Zegna cloth is attractive, but a bit too soft to wear as well as it might.
MPG? 24-28 ish, up to 32 on a cruise. 22 on a right old hoon.
Unfortunately the seat cloth tends to go, as well as the foam inside. Our IE seats produce plenty of dust, even after being vacced. I have wondered what interesting seats might fit in, but I think the relatively petite shape of the beta and the requirement for folding seats restricts, especially in the coupe.MPG? 24-28 ish, up to 32 on a cruise. 22 on a right old hoon.
The VX Coupe Recaros are very comfortable and supportive, but the cloth is even worse than standard in terms of wear and the seat construction is pretty flimsy too.
I'm undecided on whether a Beta should have leather or not. Maybe alcantara...
Also. Those MPG figures sound better than my 156 V6. Just.
Breadvan72 said:
My everyday "sensible" car is a 156 V6 Sportwagon. I have decided to keep it as (a) it is ace, (b) it is currently worth about 10p, and (c) I can see it being regarded as a classic in a decade or so.
You have impeccable taste!They are pretty good at being sensible, bar the MPG, as long as you keep an eye on a few things. Mines showing its 130k pretty well, though I have just had to tidy up after water has got in in the spare wheel well and one of the rear foot wells. Worth checking under the soundproofing if you have a bit of spare time. Otherwise, with good servicing there really isn't much to go wrong. The rest of the body is galvanised, and seems to hold up better than most similar cars of the vintage.
).Fair dos, I hate smileys.
V6 156s: Fabulous cars, really, aren't they? I recently gave mine the first really close visual attention that it has received in several years of rough treatment. It seems pretty fine all over, with no sign of rusting. Thanks for the tip re the possible water ingress. I will check. The Momo seats and door cards are almost like new, after 81,000 miles.
The car cost me some money last year as the alternator failed, and I had to do the usual front suspension bushes, as you do, and I replaced some vile Wong Bong Ditchfinders that my brother had put on the car when he borrowed it for a year, fitting some spiffy Michelins instead. This year I hope the car will cost me nowt ish, bar fuel, tax, and insurance.
V6 156s: Fabulous cars, really, aren't they? I recently gave mine the first really close visual attention that it has received in several years of rough treatment. It seems pretty fine all over, with no sign of rusting. Thanks for the tip re the possible water ingress. I will check. The Momo seats and door cards are almost like new, after 81,000 miles.
The car cost me some money last year as the alternator failed, and I had to do the usual front suspension bushes, as you do, and I replaced some vile Wong Bong Ditchfinders that my brother had put on the car when he borrowed it for a year, fitting some spiffy Michelins instead. This year I hope the car will cost me nowt ish, bar fuel, tax, and insurance.
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