Non-XM content alert! 1991 Fiat Croma 2.0T i.e. in Tampa, Florida

[entirelyturbo]

So I decided the best solution to my problems with my 32-year-old French car was to buy a 34-year-old Italian car!

May I present my newest acquisition as of yesterday evening... my 1991 Fiat Croma 2.0T i.e.!







It arrived in port in the USA a little over a week ago, and was finally delivered to me in Tampa, Florida last night!

I hear Type Four Cromas are even more scarce than XMs at this point, even in Europe, and I am fully convinced this is one of the nicest condition Type Four Cromas left on planet Earth. I have also been personally told by a well-known car collector that it's the first Croma that he knows of to make it stateside.

It has 53k kms on it, which makes it the second lowest mileage of any vehicle I own (including my 2017 Mustang!).

It has an audible issue with a belt, I suspect it has a bad bearing in a timing belt idler pulley or tensioner pulley, so I will be driving it very sparingly until I get that sorted out... and I have to do all the official paperwork on it still anyway.

But I'm very excited to add it to my little collection, and I though you'd all enjoy it as well!

Bonus picture with my XM

[Dieselman]

What are you like..?
You are certainly being individual with your classic car selections.
It's fitting you have a FIAT to go with the Citroen, the two companies have long time been "brothers in arms", sharing technology and components.

I've not had any experience with the Croma, but we had a Tipo DGT for a number of years, which was generally a good car, reliable and incredibly well packaged...small on the outside, huge on the inside.
My bosses had a pair of Thema turbo's.

It will be interesting to read your thoughts about the Xm v's the Croma. I suspect you will find the Croma dynamically lacking, but the engine will be a real gem...you need to get friendly with the local Police...

I see the fuel injection is Bosch LE-jetronic.

The best way to find a noise is using an engine stethoscope. Our Tipo developed a noise where it sounded like a rod was about to escape the crank-case.
A poke around revealed a noisy alternator nose bearing...fixed for £5.
Modern lightweight engines really do transfer noise.

[Degens]

Maybe you like this: comparison of Croma with Mercedes, Audi and CX:

[Dieselman]

That video is a bit tame...
Nothing to do with Croma's, but if one is looking for a job on the Grand Tour.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3bkrCU3E ... ture=share

[Degens]

Nice one!

[endorfin]

The interior dash reminds me of a B-reg Fiat Regatta I had, my 2nd ever car, when I was 17. I was blown away by the digital heater controls back then.

It drove so oddly thought that I'm convinced that it was a cut & shut....or maybe that's just how Fiats drive!