Lancia Integrale
Discussion
I had one for three years. A red evo1 and I loved it. But I decided to move on. Thankfully I got a really good price for it but then again I did spend a LOT of money maintaining it. Someone said to me a good while back that it is as expensive to run an Integrale as it is to run a Ferrari 355. Perhaps someone else can comment on that. All I know is running an integrale and keeping it in good health is expensive. My biggest worry was always the bodywork. Theres no getting away from the fact its getting on a bit and its Italian! If I was to have kept mine, I would have looked to getting it totally stripped, get some proper welding done and getting the body treated and bringing it back from there.
Would I go back? I'd love to but circumstances now don't allow for it. My real concern about buying again is whats left out there. I reckon nearly all the good integrales are now with people who wont be selling up, the real enthusiasts. Of course, there will be one or two that come up every so often that will be good but for the most part, whats floating around out there is not great at all!
Also the integrale is on every petrolheads hit list so it is a car that can have a lot of owners. People get their fix, perhaps on the cheap, and then move it on. Next guy buys it, rags it, finds out it needs work and on it goes.
In a nutshell, I wouldnt touch another integrale, no matter what the advert says unless I had a real integrale expert look it over and got it inspected in every nook and cranny. And how many journeys will you have to make to find a good one? The guy who bought of me had seen a lot, up and down the country.
Sorry for sounding a bit negative. Actually, I'm being straight up. On the positive side, it is without doubt the best car I have ever owned (and I've owned some good ones!). When its all warmed up and on song, its an unbelievable car to drive and you really do feel you can do anything in it. And I think you can. Damn, just thinking about some of the drives I have had in it makes me want it again!
I think back to some of the b road driving I did and the incredible pace I made. It just grips and grips, you never feel you will loose it.
I've got a 147 gta now which (and this might be controversial!) is IMO the spiritual successor to the integrale. Its very unique, very very Italian and has huge character. Yes it wont handle like an integrale but the same vibe runs through a gta that is in the integrale.
The GTA is a fab car but its not cheap to run either. But cheaper than an integrale.
Would I go back? I'd love to but circumstances now don't allow for it. My real concern about buying again is whats left out there. I reckon nearly all the good integrales are now with people who wont be selling up, the real enthusiasts. Of course, there will be one or two that come up every so often that will be good but for the most part, whats floating around out there is not great at all!
Also the integrale is on every petrolheads hit list so it is a car that can have a lot of owners. People get their fix, perhaps on the cheap, and then move it on. Next guy buys it, rags it, finds out it needs work and on it goes.
In a nutshell, I wouldnt touch another integrale, no matter what the advert says unless I had a real integrale expert look it over and got it inspected in every nook and cranny. And how many journeys will you have to make to find a good one? The guy who bought of me had seen a lot, up and down the country.
Sorry for sounding a bit negative. Actually, I'm being straight up. On the positive side, it is without doubt the best car I have ever owned (and I've owned some good ones!). When its all warmed up and on song, its an unbelievable car to drive and you really do feel you can do anything in it. And I think you can. Damn, just thinking about some of the drives I have had in it makes me want it again!
I think back to some of the b road driving I did and the incredible pace I made. It just grips and grips, you never feel you will loose it.
I've got a 147 gta now which (and this might be controversial!) is IMO the spiritual successor to the integrale. Its very unique, very very Italian and has huge character. Yes it wont handle like an integrale but the same vibe runs through a gta that is in the integrale.
The GTA is a fab car but its not cheap to run either. But cheaper than an integrale.
As expensive to maintain as a 355, without the stigma of having to own one... 
Seriously though, they are not that expensive to keep in tip top condition.. Its getting it there that could be expensive..
A couple of the specialists i know have said that they are seeing fewer and fewer crap cars these days.. Many have been scrapped or parted out...
There is a lot of rubbish written about integrales.. Get over to evo corner for the true picture...
Seriously though, they are not that expensive to keep in tip top condition.. Its getting it there that could be expensive..
A couple of the specialists i know have said that they are seeing fewer and fewer crap cars these days.. Many have been scrapped or parted out...
There is a lot of rubbish written about integrales.. Get over to evo corner for the true picture...
Badges and mudflaps will be the 1st job !
My mate has just bought a 98 355, paid 6x what I paid for the EVO 1 (and it wasn't a 'cheap' 355). I reckon I have a lot of wad to go at before I get anywhere near 355 expenditure.
Interim running costs simply do not compare:
eg
355 cam belt = £1800, Evo £300 etc.
Both are a potential liability to own, but the Integrale is perhaps a more affordable liability ? I accept the challenge with my eyes open.
I reckon I have found a good one and hope to meet some of you at events ?
Which are the 'must do' events for 2008 ? When & where ?
My mate has just bought a 98 355, paid 6x what I paid for the EVO 1 (and it wasn't a 'cheap' 355). I reckon I have a lot of wad to go at before I get anywhere near 355 expenditure.
Interim running costs simply do not compare:
eg
355 cam belt = £1800, Evo £300 etc.
Both are a potential liability to own, but the Integrale is perhaps a more affordable liability ? I accept the challenge with my eyes open.
I reckon I have found a good one and hope to meet some of you at events ?
Which are the 'must do' events for 2008 ? When & where ?
Setch993 said:
Both are a potential liability to own, but the Integrale is perhaps a more affordable liability ? I accept the challenge with my eyes open.
Exactly the right attitude.. FYI you can still buy a brand new crate engine from Fiat for this side of £3500.. Imagine what the same would cost for the 355... 
Dont try and drift a 'Grale!!!!!
The buggers just stick and stick and stick. Just knock a bit of speed off before your corner, nudge the wheel to line the car up, then flick the wheel into the apex and keep your throttle foot steady till you have kissed the apex, then nail it. If you are really on 10/10s you might have to tweak your wrists for a bit of opposite to correct on the exit, but anything less than that and you will still come flying out the corner with maximum speed and passengers asking wtf just happened and how the hell you arent all in the hedge.
Its great fun
The buggers just stick and stick and stick. Just knock a bit of speed off before your corner, nudge the wheel to line the car up, then flick the wheel into the apex and keep your throttle foot steady till you have kissed the apex, then nail it. If you are really on 10/10s you might have to tweak your wrists for a bit of opposite to correct on the exit, but anything less than that and you will still come flying out the corner with maximum speed and passengers asking wtf just happened and how the hell you arent all in the hedge.
Its great fun
There was only one place I could always make my integrale drift and I think that was because the exit of that roundabout was a bit oily! I've had some real frighteners in that car because it never looses grip so you go quicker and quicker than you push it too far and before you know it, you are in a hairy situation at very high speed. Yet everytime I was able to recover and that was down to the response of the integrale than my ability. The very last time I drifted, my mate behind me saw it and he said see that Evo drift waaay over the road from behind was the coolest thing he ever saw
Damn, damn, damn I miss it.
Agree with the comment above about it costing a lot to get it up to scratch. I think once you are there, the bills will level off.
And by the way, the Evo was the most reliable car I ever had. Never broke down or failed to start or give trouble. Every penny I spent was to make it better or to preventative work.
So if I was to go back, I would love to get a dealer edition in candy red.
DO you guys think that integrales are too highly priced? I cant quite decide. For their age, they are expensive. But at the same time, integrales are proper legends.
Damn, damn, damn I miss it.
Agree with the comment above about it costing a lot to get it up to scratch. I think once you are there, the bills will level off.
And by the way, the Evo was the most reliable car I ever had. Never broke down or failed to start or give trouble. Every penny I spent was to make it better or to preventative work.
So if I was to go back, I would love to get a dealer edition in candy red.
DO you guys think that integrales are too highly priced? I cant quite decide. For their age, they are expensive. But at the same time, integrales are proper legends.
Maybe compared to less iconic/exotic cars they are expensive, but then when you look at the prices of e30 m3's...
And I believe the lancia to be more car for the money.
However, it doesn't all have to be mega expensive. I recently paid under 5k for my pukker sub 50k mile 16v Im sure flat out an evo may have the edge, but mine is lighter and its still an integrale and I love it!
And I believe the lancia to be more car for the money.However, it doesn't all have to be mega expensive. I recently paid under 5k for my pukker sub 50k mile 16v
Im sure flat out an evo may have the edge, but mine is lighter and its still an integrale and I love it!The dealer stuff is pricey, but we all know that and certain punters will pay their prices for the top dollar machines.
Those of us private punters with the more rarified EVO's, the late special editions, etc all tend to stick them in the £10-12k region so I dont think anybody is either inflating or dragging the market down too much. That is the same price range as a 968CS and I regard them as comparable cars, so I think that price is bang on. Less hairy Grales go for £5-10k depending on condition, etc and you tend to to see similar cars bunch together in price, so I think all in the 'Grale market is remarkably consistent.
Those of us private punters with the more rarified EVO's, the late special editions, etc all tend to stick them in the £10-12k region so I dont think anybody is either inflating or dragging the market down too much. That is the same price range as a 968CS and I regard them as comparable cars, so I think that price is bang on. Less hairy Grales go for £5-10k depending on condition, etc and you tend to to see similar cars bunch together in price, so I think all in the 'Grale market is remarkably consistent.
DJC said:
Dont try and drift a 'Grale!!!!!
Agreed, they don't really 'drift', but I find mine very responsive to trail / left foot braking. Especially if you are going downhill!They do generally understeer / stay neutral on the power and it took me a long time to unlearn that fact when I got let loose in a Gallardo. They tighten the line on the power so you can chuck it in and commit if there is sufficient room. Just awesome! The again, it wasn't my car.
Anyway - you're right. Keep it neat in the 'grale!
Setch993 said:
I have taken the Integrale plunge and purchased this:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/327960.htm
End to end history, acceptable mods, excellent seller, superb car.
I collect on Friday.
Good work mate, enjoy!http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/327960.htm
End to end history, acceptable mods, excellent seller, superb car.
I collect on Friday.
Psimpson7 said:
Its not that difficult to drift them guys!!
Pete
Getting to grips now, I become happier the more I look at it, cupid has bitten hard.
Havn't driven it yet, still sourcing insurance. No doubt I will be 'head over heels in love' once driven.
It allegedly has an EVO Engineering chip fitted, which I need to establish 1st before progressing insurance.
So far, no chip = £215 Classic car ins, with chip = £439 Classic car ins.
Being a CB points and SU carb man; I am mustering confidence to remove the ECU and its cover, to have a look for markings on the chip.
To prevent me inflicting electrical damage on my newest toy, any extra tips designed to boost my confidence wouldn't go amiss (I have downloaded the 'how to sheet' from Evocorner).
Havn't driven it yet, still sourcing insurance. No doubt I will be 'head over heels in love' once driven.
It allegedly has an EVO Engineering chip fitted, which I need to establish 1st before progressing insurance.
So far, no chip = £215 Classic car ins, with chip = £439 Classic car ins.
Being a CB points and SU carb man; I am mustering confidence to remove the ECU and its cover, to have a look for markings on the chip.
To prevent me inflicting electrical damage on my newest toy, any extra tips designed to boost my confidence wouldn't go amiss (I have downloaded the 'how to sheet' from Evocorner).
daytona600 said:
Who did you use for insurance?
BTW Evolution Engineering chips are pretty good - I have one in my Evo 2.
HiBTW Evolution Engineering chips are pretty good - I have one in my Evo 2.
That was Flux who quoted without knowledge of which chip, power hike etc.
I need to confirm and get back to them + get other quotes.
Is the BTW Evolution Engineering chip the same supplier as 'EVO engineering' ?
I suspect mine is an early version (without dash control). Suggested power hike 210 to 260 bhp. Does that seem about right ?
Setch993 said:
daytona600 said:
Who did you use for insurance?
BTW Evolution Engineering chips are pretty good - I have one in my Evo 2.
HiBTW Evolution Engineering chips are pretty good - I have one in my Evo 2.
That was Flux who quoted without knowledge of which chip, power hike etc.
I need to confirm and get back to them + get other quotes.
Is the BTW Evolution Engineering chip the same supplier as 'EVO engineering' ?
I suspect mine is an early version (without dash control). Suggested power hike 210 to 260 bhp. Does that seem about right ?
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