Buying a car for $ 300: madness?

Recently an acquaintance bought a Lancia Thema 1987 onwards $ 300. The question "why?" To give a clear answer could not. I wonder whether there is any sense in buying such a car?

The famous English autojournalists James May recently admitted that most of his work he likes to go on to finish his life vehicles: "The older I become, and the longer the Top Gear, the more I like to ride on this trash. Jaguar XK - great car, but Audi 65 pounds makes me ride in a fit of idiotic happiness ».

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One way or another, but now we have a new hero - a sedan Lancia Thema, under the hood is 101-horsepower 2.5 TD. The machine, released back in 1987, on the go. Ten years later, Lancia arrived in Belarus, where all that time she had one owner. But the last five years Thema lived on the fence of the garage cooperative.

 - Once I offered the owner of the Lancia to sell it to someone else, but it is worth, takes place - says Ivan. - Then he walked around the car and he decided to buy. Persuaded of the owner, and now this "hot Italian" for only 300 dollars, my! In technology, I understand, so pretty soon bring it in order.



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Unfortunately, the car for $ 300 is far from ideal: rusting body, sagging rear springs and faded paint. But there is reason for optimism: the car starts and runs, the new owner has extensive experience in maintenance and repair of motor vehicles, in addition to the optics and the car has some body parts.



The car starts with the body, so with him and begin our examination. In some places, by the way, there is still "native" paint, but confused traces of blow to the back of the body and poorly digested thresholds. Rear right door was a rotten, as well as the rear wings with the boot lid.



Nevertheless, the state of the bottom yet reassuring: frank holes were noticed - clean, trouble spots brew.



Thresholds in rust with them, too, need to do something. New car owner Ivan with welding machine on you, so the body works will be carried out on their own - the solution of this issue will not ruin.



Also included in the price of the car is absolutely integral hood, three doors and the trunk lid! In the market b / Parts only one of these body parts can cost $ 300, and then the whole machine. But the work of Ivan enough. Clean and make the problem areas of the body; doors, bonnet, boot lid replaced completely repaint the car - and the problem will be solved with the body. Considering that the preparation for painting will be made by the owner, repainting the machine will not take a lot of money.



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Over the years the interior of the car was battered - after all 342,000 km on the odometer. But given the amount of the purchase interior admired even today: there are two placards systems technical state control, electric windows, electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, central locking. And almost all of it works! The creators of the car does not save money - materials for upholstery to choose a quality, even now, they look pretty well.



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Many Thema installed climate control or air conditioning that is controlled by electric drives. But "our" car air conditioners, alas, no. Some elements of the salon owner had removed for repair.



But on the ceiling, two ceiling light: one fixed and the second direction of the light can be adjusted in any direction.



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Turn on the radio - from the back of the left wing is elegantly leaves the antenna. However, during a photo shoot, she broke down, refusing to return to the scene.



For second-row passengers a happy hunting ground - a very spacious interior. The rear seat armrest with soft and comfortable, although for a long time already asked the cleaners. But the front and all should be re-alter.



I am glad the presence of "native" rear curtain stele. Wheel Covers also in place.



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On the question of the originality of the car: the car is fully complete, although some elements of the decor yet lie in the garage and the trunk.



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Although Thema five years stood literally under the fence and under the hood has poorudovali mouse, the machine starts and rides! It is noteworthy that after five years of inactivity, she started up the first time.



The key is to start - wakes Lancia, we're going to check the car on track. And here it is felt business class - the machine even after years of riding very comfortable. Conveniently located at the wheel allows a wide range of settings and driver's seat height adjustment of the steering column provided on all Lancia Thema. Steering is equipped with a hydraulic booster, which, incidentally, works. With the dynamics of dispersal is OK, but not with the brakes: the car slows down reluctantly. The brake system has been bled, but, according to the owner, you must still repair the calipers. By the way, all the brakes are disc.

Shock absorbers in good condition, the machine is not swinging, no smudges. Although, of course, the suspension should be sure to inspect - heard slight tapping. In the car, there is a problem with the cooling system: the fan does not work - most likely a problem in the coolant sensor.

Lancia Thema after buying a couple of kilometers traveled, the technical condition of the engine and the chassis is too early to judge.

Total

Car E-Class 1987 onwards with some body parts purchased for only $ 300. Additional expenses at the moment is just $ 12 - the cost of the timing belt, set the owner himself. How many more need of investments is still unknown. But there is a strong feeling that a bit: repair works will be carried out on their own, some parts already have. So if such a car to repair yourself, the point in buying it there. Winter Ivan hold in the garage - and possibly in the spring on the streets of Minsk will be beautiful, although elderly, "Italian."



Background

Lancia Thema Lancia was produced by the Italian company in the years 1984-1994. There were produced 336,476 sedans and 21,096 wagons. Thema - the fruit of a joint project of Fiat and Saab. In addition to this model, the project showed the world the car Fiat Croma, Alfa Romeo 164 and Saab 9000. All these cars are built on a unified platform, so many of their components are interchangeable.

Despite the relatively high prices for his time, Thema competed with Volvo 700 Series, BMW 5 Series and other popular representatives of this class. In fact, we can say that the appearance of Thema stopped all the rumors about Lancia as the danger of life in the accident and quickly rusting car. Thema popularity due to the high build quality, superb comfort and advanced for its time technical solutions.

The most powerful version Lancia Thema was equipped with 8-cylinder power unit from Ferrari 308 Quattrovalvole of 2, 9 liters and a maximum output of 205 hp! This car, of course, the bright red color, was called Lancia Thema 8.32, where the numerical model designation means the number of cylinders and valves, respectively. "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" was first presented to the public display at the auto show in Turin in 1986.

The cost of the new Lancia Thema in 1994 started from 38.837 DM per car 115 hp and from 44.385 DM for the model output 152 hp

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