By Guilherme Marques
The Thema’s charms take a while to shine through, but when they do, they can be very appealing.
And, in a way, intimidating.
I am a ‘Lancista’. There, I said it – there is no turning back. I love Lancias. When I wrote on these pages about the new Ypsilon, I mentioned the greatest Lancias of all time, including the Stratos, the Integrale, etc, to say Lancia has an incredible past and that its history is probably what is keeping the brand alive, although in a completely different reality to the one it once knew.
I have a friend who says buying a Lancia is the easiest way to happily lose money. First, because it is going to break down; second, because if you want to sell it the value is gone; third, because if you want to keep it, parts will be very expensive – if you can find them.
Around town the Thema feels too big – not unlike an E-Class or a 5 Series – and I would strongly recommend you to keep an Ypsilon in the garage as a city runabout and use the Thema for long journeys, where its qualities shine brighter.
At the end of my time with it, the Thema had won me over and I felt sorry I had to let it go. Always a left field choice in a segment dominated by the premium three from Germany, the Lancia Thema can be seen as a serious rival for its German counterparts if you want something different, something original which says more about you than a ‘simple’ Mercedes, BMW or Audi. Because when you spend €62,000 in a Lancia, you do not do it lightly.
Last, but definitely not least, I am absolutely sure that if Coppola was to direct The Godfather for the modern times, this would be Marlon Brando’s car. It just oozes a mafia-style aggression I cannot get my head around. Why I like it even more because of it remains to be understood.
