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PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
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The Lancia Beta HPE: Italian Style, Russian Steel And American Recession Pricing!

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scroggzilla raids again
11/16/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
The Alfa, once you've dropped $60-70k on it, could be worth up to $20 grand and will be the object of someone's desire. The Lancia, while not as bad as some would lead you to believe, will NEVER be worth $20k no matter how much you spend on it and no one but a hardcore Lancisti will want it. Therefore, Lancia. #beta
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ragtopdodge
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?

Build the Alfa! #beta
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ragtopdodge
11/15/09

@ragtopdodge: V8 transplant #beta
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ragtopdodge
11/15/09

@ragtopdodge: inside #beta
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Murilee Martin
11/15/09

@ragtopdodge: Whoa, nice swap. Got more info on this car? #beta
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
11/15/09

@ragtopdodge: That is stone, cold beautiful. #beta
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High Speed Indeed
11/16/09

@ragtopdodge: Sexiest car I've seen in a while. #beta
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bobdobbs
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
I've owned several examples of both these vehicles. The Beta is pure over-packed Italian front-wheel-drive engine bay hell. The GTV is a walk in the park, expecially after you convert to carbs. #beta
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My X-type is too a real Jaguar
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
It is times like this I am glad I don't have a tow vehicle, 34 hour round trip to Providence and an Alfa owner I would be. Registration paperwork would be no problem in GA. #beta
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Novaload promoted this comment

Alfisted
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
I refuse to choose - both reside on my favorite ring of Hell. #beta
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
Both would be great projects. But the Lancia would be the harder project, and fewer people care about Lancias. The Lancia's body isn't near as sexy as the Alfa's, either. So it's an easy call.

But they are both big bumpered, emissions strangled Italian iron and aluminum, so everyone's a winner here. #beta
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Muscles Marinara
11/15/09

@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet: Actually, I don't really think the 2000 GTV was that emissions-strangled. For the 71 model year they actually increased the HP total up to 130, which is not bad considering the car still weighs about 300lbs less than a Honda Civic. And the Lancia's FWD. Ugh. #beta
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monsterajr
11/16/09

@Muscles Marinara: I agree. I'd argue that aside from the inclusion of the Spica FI vs. Dual Webers there is no emissions. The 75 or 76 on Spiders have power strangling emissions. and depending upon which alfisti you speak to, the stock Spica in top tune is a better driver than an equal Carb'd car. I loved my dual webers on my 72' but my 73' reliability and ease of starting sold me on the Spica. #beta
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wkiernan
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
Wait a second, am I supposed to vote for the one that's the most Hellish, or the one I'd prefer to attempt to fix myself?

I love the Lancia marque, but the Alfa GTV is one of those perfect cars, like the 96 Monte Carlo or the DS or the El Camino or the 2002 or the NA Miata. If I won the lottery I would rather buy a GTV than a Lamborghini.

Trying to fix either one of the basket cases above would be a fit punishment for the crimes of Sisyphus, but I suspect that parts for the Lancia would be even more inaccessible than parts for the Alfa. So for the Hell of it, it's the Beta, but for my $1250 it would have to be the GTV. #beta
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SeanKHotay
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
If only the Lancia was a Scorpion, it might have a PCH chance in, uh, PCH against the oil-less, unknown titled, passenger windowless, 20-year-dusted, rusted-in-all-the-Alfa-places GTV.... #beta
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Novaload
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
I'm having trouble voting because I'm intrigued by the Cutlass with the potato for a gas cap.
Also, I know nothing about Italian cars, except that they are pretty and diabolically unreliable, and hence expensive. I'll go with the Alfa, though, because it looks more like its heritage and less, as with the Lancia, like an old Sentra or Stanza. Or Cressida. You know what I mean.

Because PCH is all about the suffering, and why suffer for what looks like an econobox?
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Edited by Novaload at 11/15/09 10:47 AM Novaload was starred Novaload was unstarred

Alfisted
11/15/09

@Novaload: Growing up in Seattle, before it was cool, we used to tell outsiders that the weather was awful, the economy poor, the area was the last bastion of west coast rednecks and the traffic terrible. All in the hope that nobody would come.

This is the same logic that drives those in the know to tell the world how bad these affordable Italians are - so that they will remain affordable. The truth is, they are remarkably easy to wrench on (by modern standards) and incredibly rewarding to drive. #beta
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Novaload
11/15/09

@Alfisted: Well, now you've ruined it, though, haven't you? #beta
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Armand
11/15/09

@Alfisted: Dude, don't tell them! I still haven't scraped together the money for a 1750 Berlina! #beta
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ChazzyD
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
Wait, so I'm supposed to vote on the kind of project car that I would rather have. That would be the Alfa for sure. If I'm supposed to vote for the one that would be the most hellish to restore, that would be the Lancia, hands down (relays?, who needs relays?). #beta
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X-Zambian
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
I have actually owned a GTV from this era, and loved it until it finally oxidised to bits. The engine was still good though. Lovely twin 40's, that exhaust note...
Been there, done that, so.
The Lancia. Utter hell. Bodywork consisting of iron oxide held in flying formation by paint, an engine that has likely had the cam belt break, (ouch, tinkle, tinkle - sounds of broken valves)..
No contest really. The Lancia is PCH, without a doubt.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet promoted this comment Edited by X-Zambian at 11/15/09 10:53 AM X-Zambian was starred X-Zambian was unstarred

CaptMatt15 loves the Zoom-Zoom
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
I voted Alfa - Its exactly the car I want to buy for my own Project Car Hell deal.... I just can't buy this one right now haha #beta
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Novaload promoted this comment

CptSevere
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
The Alfa, most definitely. I'm still kicking myself that I didn't buy one when I was stationed in Italy years ago. Nice cars.

Yeah, the title issue is scary, and, living in the Southwest I don't have much practice repairing the ravages of the dreaded tinworm. Plus, it would be a cross-country roadtrip with the motorhome and trailer to get it. That would be fun, but would cost a fortune. The whole thing would be ill-advised, but that's PCH for you. Hell yeah, where do I sign? #beta
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If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?
I'll go for the Lancia, because I'm absolutely shocked that any still exist. #beta
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Vintage Racer - with V-12 goodness
11/15/09

In reply to PCH, Italian Coupe For About A Grand Edition: Lancia Beta or Alfa Romeo GTV?

I know enough people to help me with the Alfa ... gotta go there... #beta
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