Discussion
I thought about these cars for a few years but didn't have a garage space. Then the opportunity came in 2019, when the planets aligned...I had a space and there was a nice Prisma for sale.
We didn't use it much for the first few years, but last year we did 2000 miles around the northwest Highlands in a week, and it convinced me that a 1000kg '80's saloon can be a LOT of fun.
Peppy 1.6 engine, skinny 165 section tyres, four wheel drifts through constant radius bends...plus economy and a large boot for bottles of Talisker etc. What's not to like?
We didn't use it much for the first few years, but last year we did 2000 miles around the northwest Highlands in a week, and it convinced me that a 1000kg '80's saloon can be a LOT of fun.
Peppy 1.6 engine, skinny 165 section tyres, four wheel drifts through constant radius bends...plus economy and a large boot for bottles of Talisker etc. What's not to like?
carinaman said:
Interesting. Someone I knew looked at one in the last century and the one they considered was quite corroded.
I really like Giugiaro's work but I don't think I'll find it as interesting as your old 166.
I consider it at least as left-field as the 166. In fact I was called a, 'weirdo' for owning one by somebody quite influential in the Italian car world, which was strangely satisfying.I really like Giugiaro's work but I don't think I'll find it as interesting as your old 166.
I very much like the straight-cut simple lines from Giugiaro. The 166 of course is a much better built and more advanced car, more expensive everything and top-notch 1990's. However, the Prisma for me is a perfect throwback to 1980's, a small saloon, but stands alone in it's style, even though, yes, it is a 'Delta with a boot'.
It's surprisingly comfortably sprung, probably more so than a standard 166. The main differences apart from build quality and tech., is the Prisma is a small saloon, 1000kg light with peppy 1.6 engine, typical Italian market car and it consistently outsold the Delta in Italy. The 166 is bigger, heavier, 3.0 24v..very capable, better all-round, BUT, for my lifestyle now we aren't carting teenage kids across Europe. I said to my wife last year, we would take the Prisma to Scotland, if we liked it then we would sell the 166, and that's what happened. Timing belt for 24v V6= £1k, Prisma= £200. Mpg 166 =mid-20, Prisma= mid-40.
I would have kept both, but the 166 stood outside under a cover sulking for too long periods, it deserved a better custodian, which it now has, so I have no regrets really.
Jhonno said:
Nice like it! More pics/info!
Thank you.It's a last of line version, so comes with 1.6 fuel injected twin cam lampredi with Lancia cylinder head tweaks= 108 bhp. Weighs in at 995kg.
Very softly sprung...known as the Gentleman's Delta...sounds dodgy these days, but yeah, for middle-aged people. However, it's surprisingly capable. I have my wife with me when we tour so can't really push too hard, however we built up quite some speed on the Gairloch loop in 2023 without her really noticing as the constant radius bends on that road can just be leant into gently, we kept 60mph through most of the corners with a nice 4 wheel drift.
daqinggregg said:
^ ^ ^ what he said, plus need more plus more information.
Thanks for the interest.We are currently touring in Spain (best roads I ever found in Europe, except maybe North West Highlands, Genargentu in Sardinia comes close, but the scenery in Spain tops it).
We shared the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry with a Delta Integrale, a totally different beast, but common as muck these days in comparison 😉
It's a, 'cheap' top of the range car. Much cheaper when new than the 316i or 318i series BMW. The, "Symbol" it came withwith sun-roof, alcantara upholstery, metallic paint with pin-stripe and actually better performance than the BMWs. However, like the Deltas they liked to come apart at the seams and rot around the windscreens...add to that Italian electronics and you have a great combination for chucking them away, which is what happened.
Now this is my kind of motor. I love a small saloon, and I love 80s Italian cars. Had a FIAT Regata myself back in the day, similar size and concept of car, i.e. C-Segment saloon. Mine was an absolute poverty spec 1.3 with a 4-speed gearbox, but blimey was it a lovely, lively little thing to drive. Got me and some mates from central England to Gibraltar and back, twice, amongst other adventures. One of the only cars out of the 37 I've owned that I genuinely still miss.
I remember going to buy a clapped out Volvo 360 a bit over 25 years ago, the seller already had a replacement car on his driveway, a lovely shiny silver Lancia Prisma. I was most envious of his classy new motor, the lucky ducky.
Keep the photos and info flowing please OP, this has really brightened up my day.
I remember going to buy a clapped out Volvo 360 a bit over 25 years ago, the seller already had a replacement car on his driveway, a lovely shiny silver Lancia Prisma. I was most envious of his classy new motor, the lucky ducky.
Keep the photos and info flowing please OP, this has really brightened up my day.
TheDoggingFather said:
Prisma, Delta with a boot? No?
I've not seen one in, probably 25 years, definitely need more pics.
Yes, from 1982-1989.I've not seen one in, probably 25 years, definitely need more pics.
Options were 1.3 1.6 and top range 2.0 integrale. However the Prisma Integrale, as opposed to the Delta Integrale was designed for snowy mountain roads and came with locking diff and no turbo, 115hp I believe. The 1.6 has slightly better straight-line performance due to less weight and 108hp.
Nice large boot with folding rear seats, actually more practical than our 166.
Pictures from Friday in Cantabria, Spain.
RustyMX5 said:
My father had one of those and it was one of the best cars he ever owned. With a set of up-rated dampers and a gas flowed head it flew along and handled very well. He loved it.
Exactly, it's very well balanced. The engine is not as powerful as the 2.0 in my 1977 Alfa Spider, but much sweeter at high revs. The car is more refined overall than the 105 Alfa, but arguably handles better, although the Alfa is rwd which gives options on the throttle to help turn the car for early turn in. For fun driving it's difficult to choose between them. The Prisma is busy at 70mph though as 5th gear is a straight gear, whereas the Alfa 5th is an overdrive gear, but for peppy twisty up and down roads the close ratio 'box is very well set up for the 1.6 lampredi.
courty said:
The 166 is bigger, heavier, 3.0 24v..very capable, better all-round, BUT, for my lifestyle now we aren't carting teenage kids across Europe. I said to my wife last year, we would take the Prisma to Scotland, if we liked it then we would sell the 166, and that's what happened. Timing belt for 24v V6= £1k, Prisma= £200. Mpg 166 =mid-20, Prisma= mid-40.
I would have kept both, but the 166 stood outside under a cover sulking for too long periods, it deserved a better custodian, which it now has, so I have no regrets really.
I like your reasoning for the change and I like it that the 166 has gone to a good home. I have a family cast off that's not very well suited to my needs, it's as juicy as a Busso. I'd have liked your 166 but in reality it would be another possession I don't have a need for. I liked the horseshoe wheels and the LSD.I would have kept both, but the 166 stood outside under a cover sulking for too long periods, it deserved a better custodian, which it now has, so I have no regrets really.
The Croma was a Tipo Quattro (Type Four) shared platform with the Lancia Thema, SAAB 9000 and Alfa 164.
The Prisma has a bit of a Lancia family look from that time that it shared with the Thema.
I'd put money on the Thema being another Giugiaro design. I think the original SAAB 9000 before the facelift was.
The Prisma has a bit of a Lancia family look from that time that it shared with the Thema.
I'd put money on the Thema being another Giugiaro design. I think the original SAAB 9000 before the facelift was.
Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 5th June 18:25
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