Fun
Car was badlyneglected motor wise and was completely reconditioned and parts were easily accessible
Otherwise no problems
Great availability of bits here in NZ.
Handles well with new shocks
Lovely to drive and few know what it is
Getting nicer to look at by the year.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th October, 2006
A future classic
Rear calipers needed replacement at 155,000 miles (not bad).
Cam belt snapped due to incompetent mechanics damaging a pulley (not the car's fault).
Intermittent setting on wipers stopped at 103K, but a replacement motor only cost £10 from Thema Consortium (www.lancia-tdc.co.uk).
Nothing else other than wear and tear on suspension bushes, but after 166K miles, you would expect that!!!
I've done 100,000 miles in my car, and it still looks as if it could be less than 3 years old. I love this car and have no desire to sell it. The car is great to drive at 95mph on motorways, and can still be hustled along country roads at similar speeds. The steering is perfectly weighted for my tastes, but drivers of Japanese executive cars may prefer something more assisted.
The interior style is one of the car's strongest points, with the Grey Alcantara and Dark Rosewood creating a really luxurious cabin that's always a pleasure to sit in. Be sure to put a cover on the driver's seat though, as the Alcantara can wear out otherwise.
Throttle response is crisp, steering precise, ride smooth, and the exhaust note makes you roll down the windows every time you are driving down a lane with brick walls. This car has character and charm, which is so often lacking in other cars these days.
People have for too long ignored Lancias because of "some bloke down the pub" who told them that they're unreliable and rusty. My advice is try to drive one, or speak to someone who has actually owned one. And as for the criticisms of unreliability, can I suggest you look at the Carsurvey comments for the VW Polo!!!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 4th January, 2006
Superb!
Seats start to wear badly.
Engine is completely revised.
The car is quick, comfortable and has an excellent design. A car of great standing!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th July, 2005
A fast, safe, luxury car that probably won't get stolen!
When I got the car the suspension had been lowered and a stainless exhaust system had been added. This I did not like. I had a non Turbo Thema previously (which caught fire because of the AA negligence) and found it to be quieter and smoother, thus the car is currently in the garage having the original exhaust and suspension put back on. Although I must admit the extra power development and sharp handling were fun for a while.
The vehicle is very complex to work on. For example to change the radiator it is at least a 4 hour job (if you can get a mechanic brave enough). The car has 4 radiators! (air con, engine cooling x 2, turbo oil cooler).
The interior is beautiful, the quality, comfort and driving pleasure is superb. On a long journey you arrive refreshed and awake.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 2nd June, 2002
Just to let everyone how I'm getting on with the car.
Well firstly I love it to bits with a passion, it's a beauty. Why do I love it well it's so fast, the engine makes the most beautiful sounds with a stunning grunt of turbo rasp! (same engine as the Integrale Evo - 205 BHP) Yummy!
Its very rare - apparently there are only 15 phase three Thema Turbos left on the road in the UK, and mine was one of the last, April 1994 L reg. And the colour, I just love it, midnight metallic blue with the greatest cream alcantara interior. I'm just out to check on it now before I go to bed... only messing :)
Thema Turbo LS - Feb 2003 Entry.
All is going well; I just had all of my brake lines changed at the cost of £500. It's a dual circuit braking system, and while driving one sunny day, both circuits failed; luckily I had predicted the problem and managed to stop the car safe!
Another common problem with the Thema is the rear bumper bows in the middle, so I am soon to have another bumper fitted (it was kindly donated to me from a Series 3 station wagon from Germany) - my previous Mk 3 Thema (which unfortunately caught fire) had the same problem.
Until my next entry - goodbye!
8th Jan 2006, 04:45
Absolutely true, especially the remarks about their reputation. All of this talk about Lancias and rust is basically down to a problem with the Betas in the 70's. A problem which, incidentally, Lancia owned up to and cured while Ford and Rover just kept churning out cars which rotted away, but never admitted to it.