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Detroit, 7:41 PM
Sat Nov 7
5 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/19/09
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10/18/09
Or still be typical italian cars and still break down all the time and require massive, hugely expensive, repairs by distraught shade-tree mechanics. #alfaromeo
10/18/09
The US never got the Lancia Thema or FIAT Chroma version of this chassis. If the Lancia Thema was available, that would have been my choice over the SAAB. Even more so for the V8 Ferrari powered version of the Lancia Thema 8.32 #alfaromeo
10/18/09
10/18/09
That is correct, the Lancia 8.32 does not have a flat crank so it does not sound like a Ferrari. The Lancia folks were after smooth, quiet power with a broad torque curve. If the Lancia folks wanted a flat crank V8, they could have easily done so, as with every design, designers choose what the contents are to meet their design goals. There is a lot more to the Lancia 8.32 than just the engine. Main problem with this Lancia and other FWD cars with this much power, is torque steer.
BTW, there are a few Lancia MonteCarlos with this Ferrari V8 in place of the FIAT/Lancia 4 pot twin cam. #alfaromeo
10/19/09
10/19/09
9000T does indeed have torque steer. How do I know, it's been my daily driver since the early 90's. The drive shafts are similar in length, not 100% equal length, how do I know, I have replaced and rebuilt them more than once. #alfaromeo
10/18/09
10/18/09
But the reliability (or lack thereof) makes 164 ownership a lot less tempting. #alfaromeo
10/18/09
10/18/09
Should've. #alfaromeo
10/18/09
This was one of the "Type Four" cars (Lancia Thema, Fiat Croma, Saab 9000, and the 164), all sharing a same basic platform in the interest of saving costs. The Alfa was the last to appear and also the best-looking of the bunch. Alfa has never had much success with big luxury sedans, but the 164 was as close as they got. #alfaromeo
10/18/09
But from the 4 brothers or cousins, for me, the Lancia Thema still remains the most special. The Thema turbo 16v had so much grunt that it would make a kind of FWD burnout if you pressed first or second too hard :)
Amazing for the young kid I once was. #alfaromeo
10/18/09
10/18/09
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10/18/09
10/18/09
I had a long time crush on the 164 (especially the Q) but glove-soft leather and polished headers aside, they're kind of awful. The back seats are tighter than a second-gen Probe, which is bizzarre considering how huge the Saab 9000 is. And while I love the look of the dashboard-cum-NASA launch panel, it's a horrible, horrible layout for a real car.
Still, in black or silver? That design holds up as well as anything built that decade, notchy character lines and all. #alfaromeo
10/19/09
10/19/09
Of course, they're still waiting for Alfa's return! 8C doesn't count. #alfaromeo