RE: SOTW: Lancia Thema V6
Discussion
On my recent pilgrimage to Bologna/Modena/Maranello I had several rides in Lancias driven by insane Italian cabbies and saw several other recent models. A re-entry into the UK market would be a definite bonus. Better looking machines than much of the stuff currently available here, inside and out.
Rusty-C said:
Chris Goffey is a motoring Alan Partridge, isn't he?'Not my words, William - the words of Top Gear magazine...'
fay66 said:
SVX said:
I had a 1989 2.0 litre SE spec car with very low mileage, bought for shed money. Although I was a member of the Lancisti, I really enjoyed that car, and I did 30k in it with only oil changes, before giving it away as I needed an auto to handle the M40/A40 into West London everyday.
Here is mine, sorry for the ropey image, it was taken on a mobile:
I think that the phase IIs were much better looking than the phase I cars, the phase III turbo LS being the cream of the crop, better in many ways than the Ferrari engined 8.32...
Love you're Thema, but slight correction the bottom photo is a series 3, ls versions were all series 3's.Here is mine, sorry for the ropey image, it was taken on a mobile:
I think that the phase IIs were much better looking than the phase I cars, the phase III turbo LS being the cream of the crop, better in many ways than the Ferrari engined 8.32...
The Mad Jock said:
Must be getting old and sad to know such things but the engine isn't in any way related to the Alfa V6, nor indeed designed by the Italians; it is French!!! Someone will confirm it I suppose but it's either a PSA unit or a Renault, 90% certain it was Renault and came with their Auto gearbox. The 2.0 versions were Fiat/Lancia and the V8 8.32 (8 cylinders/32 valves) was a Ferrari based engine.
Definitely French/Swedish as I pointed out in an earlier post. Its the PRV as in Peugeot/Renault/Volvo V6 - think it was used in the 604, Renault 30/25 and Volvo 264/760. Lancia adopted it for export markets where people wanted an autobox and couldn't get their heads round 4 cylinder power in an exec car (remember the Gamma?)The Alfa 164 12V V6 was used in Series 2/3 Themas instead, detuned to about 180bhp, not sure if these were all Autos too, lots of these seem to be in Switzerland. As an aside Alfa used the 8 valve Lampredi 4 cylinder turbo engine in the 164 for a couple of years before bringing out the turbo version of the 2 litre Busso V6.
N Dentressangle said:
Rusty-C said:
Chris Goffey is a motoring Alan Partridge, isn't he?
'Not my words, William - the words of Top Gear magazine...'
Now the 'cool' cars are slowly coming into reach. As a kid, I feasted on a diet of one Metro City (rubbish, horrible noise), one Uno 1.1 'Fire' (lunched its gearbox at 20k) and 2 Tipos (the diesel had a turbo gauge!), only pausing for breath with an 800 Vitesse Sport, which work gave him when he was clocking loads of miles.
I loved it - 0-60 in 7.3s and on to 141mph - I still remember him letting me have a shot - the front lifted at least half a foot at Vmax acceleration... I pulled in to see the rubber I'd put down, nearly grounding it in a ditch. The first first day he got it I ran down the battery playing with all the electrics, the old-man was not a happy bunny... He's never had a 'good' car after that, to this day I've never understood why...
I think I'm one of the few people on this forum who is actually qualified to make a valid comment on this SOTW. I have owned Lancia Themas since 1996 and currently drive a LHD 1990 Thema series 2 v6 Auto with 110k miles on the clock.
Contrary to all the pub experts, the car has faultless reliability and I've never had to do anything other than the routine maintenance of oil, filter and coolant changes.
The car lives outside all year and is absolutely rust free as you can see in the picture. Oh, and if you want to find a rusty make of cars look at any Honda from the mid 90's or better still lets take a look at Mercedes who's cars have been turning into crispy brown flakes faster than any Beta ever may have.
Sure 150 bhp from a 2.8 is not much, but it is fundamentally a PRV Volvo engine so not something that Lancia designed. However, look at the Torque figures 225Nm at 3500rpm and the flat torque curve. It's not a classic engine, but the power delivery is super smooth and a perfect match to the seamless changes of the Auto box.
So to all the critics I would say, try driving a Lancia before criticising it. After that, you might just understand why the Lancia Motor Club is one of the largest car clubs in the UK.
Contrary to all the pub experts, the car has faultless reliability and I've never had to do anything other than the routine maintenance of oil, filter and coolant changes.
The car lives outside all year and is absolutely rust free as you can see in the picture. Oh, and if you want to find a rusty make of cars look at any Honda from the mid 90's or better still lets take a look at Mercedes who's cars have been turning into crispy brown flakes faster than any Beta ever may have.
Sure 150 bhp from a 2.8 is not much, but it is fundamentally a PRV Volvo engine so not something that Lancia designed. However, look at the Torque figures 225Nm at 3500rpm and the flat torque curve. It's not a classic engine, but the power delivery is super smooth and a perfect match to the seamless changes of the Auto box.
So to all the critics I would say, try driving a Lancia before criticising it. After that, you might just understand why the Lancia Motor Club is one of the largest car clubs in the UK.
Edited by AngleGrinder on Sunday 12th September 22:48
Edited by AngleGrinder on Sunday 12th September 22:48
One of my best cars ever was a Series 3 Thema V6 LX, which basically had all the kit and Looks from the 8.32 (without the badges), was only marginally slower (with 177 HP from the modified (for culture) Alfa V^) and sounded glorious - I had a lot of unhappy BMW owners having to leave the fast lane in Germay then and they were even more surprised once I changed up - electronic dupesnion setup was really good, too
Sold it to a collector when I did have to give up my garage, which makes me hope it's somehow still around
In the 80s/early 90s Lancias were what Audis are now - the more stylish option (ok lets not talk about the build quality here) although my Thema was pretty faultless - only let me down once when some w:xxx;er filled in sandy petrol
Sold it to a collector when I did have to give up my garage, which makes me hope it's somehow still around
In the 80s/early 90s Lancias were what Audis are now - the more stylish option (ok lets not talk about the build quality here) although my Thema was pretty faultless - only let me down once when some w:xxx;er filled in sandy petrol
Nice one Cramorra, the Series 3 V6 LX is definitely the one to go for. Nicest interior of almost any Saloon car this side of a Bentley price tag.
Looking back at last weeks SOTW, Rusty-C was waxing lyrical about a Merc W-123. Comparing the 2 commentaries shows once again how the rose-tinted visor drops everytime a Merc appears on the SOTW.
Regarding the looks of the Merc they are:
"simplistic lines and nothing more pretentious than optional metallic paint and a three-pointed star on its bonnet."
The Thema is called:
"Flat-nosed and angry-faced, it looks like it's had one too many bad experiences in a boxing ring"
The 1984 Mercedes is eulogised for its build quality, but no questions are asked about why the car has had so many replacement panels fitted...
"new front wings, driver's door and rear wheelarches"
The unrestored 1988 Lancia has some surface rust on one rear wheel arch, a section of the front wheel arch lip and a corner of the rear screen, but it is described as:
"tatty exterior hints at this Thema reaching its twilight years"
So why does a Merc merit such adulation from the PH forums. Maybe more people should read what Merc owners say about their cars on the Mercedes forums, now this is a real eye opener and just the tip of the iceberg!!!
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t...
Looking back at last weeks SOTW, Rusty-C was waxing lyrical about a Merc W-123. Comparing the 2 commentaries shows once again how the rose-tinted visor drops everytime a Merc appears on the SOTW.
Regarding the looks of the Merc they are:
"simplistic lines and nothing more pretentious than optional metallic paint and a three-pointed star on its bonnet."
The Thema is called:
"Flat-nosed and angry-faced, it looks like it's had one too many bad experiences in a boxing ring"
The 1984 Mercedes is eulogised for its build quality, but no questions are asked about why the car has had so many replacement panels fitted...
"new front wings, driver's door and rear wheelarches"
The unrestored 1988 Lancia has some surface rust on one rear wheel arch, a section of the front wheel arch lip and a corner of the rear screen, but it is described as:
"tatty exterior hints at this Thema reaching its twilight years"
So why does a Merc merit such adulation from the PH forums. Maybe more people should read what Merc owners say about their cars on the Mercedes forums, now this is a real eye opener and just the tip of the iceberg!!!
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t...
AngleGrinder said:
Nice one Cramorra, the Series 3 V6 LX is definitely the one to go for. Nicest interior of almost any Saloon car this side of a Bentley price tag.
Looking back at last weeks SOTW, Rusty-C was waxing lyrical about a Merc W-123. Comparing the 2 commentaries shows once again how the rose-tinted visor drops everytime a Merc appears on the SOTW.
Regarding the looks of the Merc they are:
"simplistic lines and nothing more pretentious than optional metallic paint and a three-pointed star on its bonnet."
The Thema is called:
"Flat-nosed and angry-faced, it looks like it's had one too many bad experiences in a boxing ring"
The 1984 Mercedes is eulogised for its build quality, but no questions are asked about why the car has had so many replacement panels fitted...
"new front wings, driver's door and rear wheelarches"
The unrestored 1988 Lancia has some surface rust on one rear wheel arch, a section of the front wheel arch lip and a corner of the rear screen, but it is described as:
"tatty exterior hints at this Thema reaching its twilight years"
So why does a Merc merit such adulation from the PH forums. Maybe more people should read what Merc owners say about their cars on the Mercedes forums, now this is a real eye opener and just the tip of the iceberg!!!
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t...
Well, we've all got our motoring preconceptions... But, in my defence, I'd never choose a car I didn't like for SOTW. I suppose i inferred that the Lancia was ugly, but i really meant brutally good looking - i did say it bore a passing resemblance to the Intergrale, and I'm sure you'll agree - that looks the nuts!Looking back at last weeks SOTW, Rusty-C was waxing lyrical about a Merc W-123. Comparing the 2 commentaries shows once again how the rose-tinted visor drops everytime a Merc appears on the SOTW.
Regarding the looks of the Merc they are:
"simplistic lines and nothing more pretentious than optional metallic paint and a three-pointed star on its bonnet."
The Thema is called:
"Flat-nosed and angry-faced, it looks like it's had one too many bad experiences in a boxing ring"
The 1984 Mercedes is eulogised for its build quality, but no questions are asked about why the car has had so many replacement panels fitted...
"new front wings, driver's door and rear wheelarches"
The unrestored 1988 Lancia has some surface rust on one rear wheel arch, a section of the front wheel arch lip and a corner of the rear screen, but it is described as:
"tatty exterior hints at this Thema reaching its twilight years"
So why does a Merc merit such adulation from the PH forums. Maybe more people should read what Merc owners say about their cars on the Mercedes forums, now this is a real eye opener and just the tip of the iceberg!!!
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t...
Emubiker said:
dylan0451 said:
148hp and 177lb/ft? from a 2.9 v6?! how old were these engines?!
Again....same as the xr4s had. So I'd probably say not that bad for the times. Also the capri's weren't that powerfull either.BMW 3.0 as in 7 series 180 hp.....
dinkel said:
MG511 said:
dinkel said:
The Honda Legend is most probably the most underestimated car in this category . . . The Honda V6 is sublime and BMW smooth.
That's not a Legend, it's an Accord!
cramorra said:
One of my best cars ever was a Series 3 Thema V6 LX . . .
In the 80s/early 90s Lancias were what Audis are now . . .
. . . Thema was pretty faultless . . .
One should not neglect a car as such and the Lancias were pretty vunerable in that aspect.In the 80s/early 90s Lancias were what Audis are now . . .
. . . Thema was pretty faultless . . .
It's impossible to run a car like that on a showstring. A properly run and maintained car can bu such a joy!
dinkel said:
cramorra said:
One of my best cars ever was a Series 3 Thema V6 LX . . .
In the 80s/early 90s Lancias were what Audis are now . . .
. . . Thema was pretty faultless . . .
One should not neglect a car as such and the Lancias were pretty vunerable in that aspect.In the 80s/early 90s Lancias were what Audis are now . . .
. . . Thema was pretty faultless . . .
It's impossible to run a car like that on a showstring. A properly run and maintained car can bu such a joy!
A lot of people (then and now) alas think if they can by a "cheap" high perfomance car they can run it like the hot hatch they had before - this largely accounts to the unreliabilty attributed to Italian Sports Cars, TVRs, some other old brits, etc...
Stu - B said:
Had a Lancia Thema V6 for 20K miles. Faultless reliability apart from an electric seat switch. Brakes were pretty rubbish also. Generally loved it.
Brakes reminded me of that good old Ferrari (or was it Bugatti)- quote: "I build my cars for driving and nor for breaking..... 
I think the car was engineered for the 2 l injection with 120 or the first soft turbo with 150 hp, then mid nineties a lot of safty and electronic stuff moved in togehter with weightier, more powerful engines, wheel upgraded to 16 inch but without different brakes - if I remember my brakes were stopping alright, but prone to fading and eating pads like hell (and discs as well...) - but I was never slow...
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