Thema buying advice needed!

[Hamish]

Folks,
Wasn't sure where to post this one - so it ended here :wink:
Some help needed :!: I'm thinking about looking at a late ('94) Thema 16 valve which has come up for sale locally to me (not a turbo, presumably an LX :!: ).
Apart from the fact it will need a major service (belts etc) :roll: I've been told the central locking is playing up and that there are a couple of 'crunchy' bits - albeit minor ones - on the rear arches. Typical Lancia :?: :!:
Apart from that 8) , anyone got practical suggestions on what I should be looking for on the car before buying :?: Anything 'peculiar' to the Thema :?: Anything I should really be worried about :?:
Not really a car I had considered before, but I need to make my Laguna 'repsectable' for selling and to do that I'm in need of a run-around to keep me mobile during the winter - ofcourse 'she who must be obeyed' doesn't approve :x but right now I don't care :twisted: I fancy another Lancia and if it has to be a Thema then so be it :!:

[CorseChris]

Hi Hamish,

Best advice I can give is to buy mine!! :)

Corrosion wise, I'd say; Subframes are a potential issue (both ffront & rear ones had rotted out on the old Mk1 turbo I had). Brake lines. Roof corners and wheel arches.

Electrics of course.

Mechanically the most annoying stuff seems to relate to rear brakes most of the time. Handbrake cables need to be in good order or the rear claipers will play up, but this is common to almost all FIAT groups cars from way back when, right up to today, so I'm pretty sure you'll know all about that one.

Front wishbone bushes (normally the rear bush), rear trailing arm bushes, bent rear subframe and/or radius arms due to idiots putting jacks in the wrong place (same as the 164 really).

Gear change link shaft can crack, so if it feels a bit 'woolly' left to right, it's likely that. Not hard to repair, just a pain to get the shaft out so you can weld it.

Motors are pretty reliable I think.

I'd say nothing you aren't familiar with from your Beta ownership!

Cheers