Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

that sucks - keyless ? what brand?

Amazing

Nice, always liked the design of them, can't be many left now.

And in the not many left Fiat theme. Saw this Fiat Chroma CHT which how many left says has only 3 left registered, the rest just good for straining pasta now.

Also spotted as clean a Panda 4x4 Sisley as you'll ever see, a Jenson convertible and a 60 year old Ford Corsair.

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reminds me - i wonder how many of those Chroma based Lancias with the Ferrari engine are left?

Can't recall the name of them right now.

Lancia Thema? There was one on my street in Berlin this spring, not Ferrari engined though. Think it had french numbers.
Looked quite good condition wise.
Very nice cars.

Thema 8.32, quite a few that weren't crashed

The engine wasn't really Ferrari, it was Ducati built and had a different crank. Though as a guess the Ferrari service intervals tho the Thema turbo had a 30k km service interval.

The inlets are sort after for putting the real Ferrari engine in to other wierd and wonderfuls. There is one going in to a Lancia Fulvia!

EDIT : Also they weren't very quick, Thema turbos with a few cheap mods were as quick if not quicker.

that's the one!

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-spottedykywt/lancia-thema-8-32--spotted/47392

Thought I had posted photos of that croma before. Mainly how rare of a croma it is.

Also they weren't very quick

yes, lots of engine for 215 BHP - i'd guess the Skoda that i have now would be quicker.

(obvs a lot changed in 30 years so not a fair comparison, but still...)

Yeah turbo charged twin cam is a great engine. But the engine was only the Mondial/Dino engine and 215bhp in a lightweight two seater is different to a bigger heavier executive car with lots of heavy extras.

Either the the head of the Ferrari family or Agnelli had one as there every day car.

Thanks mate. Yeah 68 plate keyless c-class Merc.

Got a valuation from insurance today which is ok (not it's real value but within "I can't do any more of this" tolerance). Now the real pain begins

That Sisley looks like lots of fun.

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Used the Forester as my work car yesterday and today, oh boy, so, so fun. I can't wait to lower it (a little, no slam!) and get rid of the body roll, it actually handles pretty well but I'm sure dropping it a couple of inches will make it feel like it's on rails.

I'm getting used to the brakes but I would like to upgrade them as much as I can without breaking the bank. Lines, pads and rotors will have to do and should do the trick, no? From the factory it was rated at 240bhp, I'm sure it's lost a few horses along the way but it still kicks like a mule, I would like a bit more confidence in the stopping department.

Gold rims are between seller and middle man at the moment, they'll soon be here, hope they fit. Then tyres, still mulling over that decision. And then I need to figure out if I'm gonna go all out and put BC coilovers in or just lower it with the suspension off an early 00s WRX, apparently this is the common, 'inexpensive' fix. Any advice greatly appreciated. 🙏🏼🙃

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Saw this 2wd version in Rome last week, amused me as the archetypal Italian city car

Every panel dented check
Front bumper rubbing on tyre check
Parked in tiny space check (quite neatly though)

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love both those Fiats dude. especially the Panda

The MK1 panda 4x4 with the 965cc engine and better 4x4 system. The MK2 got the 999 fire engine and poor gearing. Consumed more fuel than the lancia Y10 and fiat unos with the same engine. Think there was increased corrosion resistance/galvanized but not in a good way. Same as the Tipo.

Sisley was just bull bars, inclinometer, roof bars and stickers. All the 4x4 had the same steel wheels as the Y10.

The MK1 was a fav around the farm in Italy.

I’d do fluid and whatever the recommended upgrade pads are (if the rotors are in spec) and see what it feels like. You can then fire the money gun at some APs.

As cool as the OG Panda 4x4 is, paying £30k or whatever for an old car that probably rusts when you sneeze near it makes it a bit less cool.

Fluid has been done, that did help a bit but it still needs a bit more help. I'm sure sporty pads will be a good next step. I've got a bit of vibration when I brake at higher speeds so rotors also would be good. And while we're there brake lines. Probably not so cheap all in.

What’s the usual upgrade route for your car when it comes to brakes?

Amongst the Fozzerati? Bigger wheels for bigger rotors and Brembos. I won't be doing this. I might spray my calipers pink. Not a euph.

But that will make it go faster and thus much harder to stop.

What size rotors can go under the wheels which are on the way?

I'm on 16s but I'm not gonna get new calipers, I'll have to be content with upgraded bits for what I've got and hope that feels better.

I just remembered the mechanic said there may be a servo issue so will have to investigate that too.

Depending on rotor size/inner wheel barrel dimensions you can potentially space the existing calipers out to accommodate larger rotors. But you’d likely get more immediately apparent results by going to more aggressive pads.

Way back a company called Godspeed did a brake upgrade for the Impreza, new disks, Ferrodo pads, lines and fluid.... All fitting under the OEM WRX wheels.

Worked really well as the OEM callipers are nice. I guess the company is defunct now.