Faults:

Many warning lights on: most of the time it's fixed by cleaning the connections.

Airbag error.

Electric parking brake (EPB) error is sometimes related to a transmission failure.

For versions with automatic transmission like mine, there are certain problems to be aware of, such as solenoids burning out and the transmission jerking when the oil is bad or it's used excessively in the city, as the transmission reaches very high temperatures.

The oil change must be done properly. The manufacturer recommends every 70,000 km, but it's better to do it every 50,000 km, and if you do a lot of city driving, change it even sooner.

General Comments:

It is by far the most comfortable and luxurious car I have ever owned. Having driven Audis, BMWs and Mercedes, I can say that none of them had the excellent ride of the Thesis.

Debatable design, but in my opinion superior to its predecessor, the Kappa, as well as to its successor, the new Thema (which is nothing more than a Chrysler 300 with the Lancia logo). In my view, it is a sedan with a lot of equipment, high technology, high safety, and a very distinctive aesthetic.

The front features an imposing chrome grille in the shape of the brand's scudetto and rhomboid headlights positioned at the ends of the front fenders, just above triangular chrome headlight washers. The side profile is distinguished by the subtle wheel arch sculpting and the chrome finish on the window frames, door handles, and the longitudinal strip that runs the length of the car.

Upon entering the cabin, we find high-quality materials everywhere: mahogany wood trim with an open-pore finish on the dashboard and doors, perforated magnesium in the center console, polished magnesium on the center console, Alcantara/leather on the seats, and leather on the steering wheel, gearshift, and lower part of the dashboard. The sheer number of switches and buttons distributed throughout the interior is striking.

The Thesis's instrumentation consists of two large gauges displaying the speedometer and tachometer with a three-dimensional effect and "floating" needles. These gauges are flanked in the center by two TFT screens and flanked by two smaller gauges showing fuel level and coolant temperature. A multifunctional display in the center console integrates the audio system and navigation system.

The engine is the Alfa Romeo 3.2 V6 Busso, very powerful and with great acceleration, but it guzzles gas like a tank of gas—it has to have some downside. I would have preferred the diesel version, but I'm satisfied nonetheless. It's an expensive car, and anyone who buys it should be aware of that.

The suspension—independent on both axles—was a multi-link type with numerous aluminum components. It featured anti-roll bars, coil springs, and underbody air deflectors made up of three plastic pieces positioned perpendicular to the direction of travel.

The braking system with four ventilated discs is more than efficient.

Even the base Executive trim level boasts exceptional equipment: eight airbags, bi-xenon headlights, power windows, tri-zone climate control, volumetric alarm, mixed fabric/leather upholstery, automatic parking brake, automatic headlights, rain sensor, radio with CD player, ESP, ABS, EBD, and TCS. All of excellent quality.

Regarding its dynamic behavior, on winding roads and highways it offers good stability and comfort, with precise steering and a very soft suspension that effectively absorbed bumps and potholes. On the other hand, this softness results in significant body roll when cornering at speed, although it doesn't affect the car's trajectory. Furthermore, it's not agile on slower roads, struggling to turn into corners, and if the pace was pushed, the ESP was overly intrusive.

I sold the car almost five years ago, but I can say that, despite some mechanical issues and high maintenance costs, it was undoubtedly one of the best cars I ever owned. Truly a premium car.

Faults:

A few things:

- "Ghost" breakdowns. For a while, two small alarms (airbag and power steering) were annoying, but they were eventually fixed by replacing the dashboard (luckily under warranty).

- Faulty navigation reader (according to the repairer, they're made of methacrylate and all last between 5 and 7 years). 200 euros. If they were glass, they'd last forever...

- Broken engine mount tie rod.

- Broken windshield washer motor.

- Broken turbo hose.

- Fuel leak from an injector. All it took was a tightening.

- Alternator replacement (I installed a repair one: 700 euros, with official warranty).

Maintenance (these aren't negative things, but I'll describe them here anyway):

1 set of tires.

1 set of brake pads.

1 set of glow plugs.

2 sets of windshield wiper blades.

General Comments:

I admit I've always liked large cars. In fact, before this one, I owned a Ford Explorer for almost 15 years. The Thesis far exceeded my expectations. It's a car that, in its launch year, was ahead of its time, with a level of comfort and convenience that few cars offer even today. It's very pleasant to drive; despite being a huge car, it parks as easily as a small one (well, living in rural Belgium, traffic isn't a problem, but it's still suitable for large cities). It's been manufactured for almost 20 years, but when you look at it, it seems like a car made just a year ago. The years go by, and its modernity remains intact.

In about a month, it will be the 8th anniversary of the purchase of my Lancia Thesis. It's an Emblema Comfortronic with an Alfa Romeo 3.2 Busso engine and automatic transmission. It had a mere 23,000 km on the clock when I acquired it. The price wasn't cheap (20,000 euros), but the car's condition (9 years old, purchased from an official dealership, meticulously maintained due to its ownership, and a 1-year premium warranty) made my decision. At that time, the car had only recently been discontinued (since January), and it could now be found for 15 or 18,000 euros, but in different conditions.

I use the car daily, have made several trips (one of them 4,000 km), and so far it's holding up perfectly. Today it has 124.000 km. The engine maintains its power, although I notice more vibration at idle. The oil level doesn't reach the minimum when I change it.

In the city, it's a bit of a guzzler (12 l/100 km), but on the highway, it uses about 7 l/100 km.

The exterior appearance of the body is practically the same as when I bought it, with the pearlescent paint finish intact, much better than any high-end car of the same age. The sound system is fantastic and has also held up. The climate control works perfectly. The "Poltrona Frau" leather upholstery is excellent, barely showing wear and remains extremely comfortable.

The balance is clearly positive. I just returned from Warsaw (1,302 km) and it was a trip (like all others) without any incidents. We traveled comfortably (four people), with a quiet ride and safety. Fuel consumption was moderate, at 7.5 l/100 km.

In my opinion, it's still a great car, and I recommend buying it (as long as it's a good one) to anyone. Furthermore, its styling, initially controversial, is improving with age.