Delta Integrale - any good?!?
Discussion
I've owned, er, five or so Integrales over the years from 16vs to Evo Cats. Driven a couple of Audis and they didn't really do it for me but it's horses for courses.
All the examples i've had have been totally reliable but they've always had a bunch of niggling 50-100 pound jobs that needed doing to make them perfect.
In terms of buying one now, the majority will be European imports and a big proportion are clocked and anything of Italian origin is likely to have had a faked history. I lived in Italy when the exchange rate was lower in the late 90s and Brit dealers were hoovering up any old dogs by the hundred and tarting them up for the UK.
Lots of them have accident damage and many will have fallen into the hands of skint owners since then.
Prices don't vary much for dogs or minters so take the time to drive as many as you can and look for reassuring evidence of wodges of bills and long term ownership. Once you've driven a few you'll instantly notice a humungous difference between a nice example and a shed and every single one I've driven has felt different in its own way.
They do require a sympathetic mechanic so make sure to look for the garages mentioned eariler on any invoices as your average garage or other Lancia specialist is not gonna do an Integrale any favours (I know from some hideously expensive experiences).
But if you find a sound one it'll be one of the highlights of your driving life.
All the examples i've had have been totally reliable but they've always had a bunch of niggling 50-100 pound jobs that needed doing to make them perfect.
In terms of buying one now, the majority will be European imports and a big proportion are clocked and anything of Italian origin is likely to have had a faked history. I lived in Italy when the exchange rate was lower in the late 90s and Brit dealers were hoovering up any old dogs by the hundred and tarting them up for the UK.
Lots of them have accident damage and many will have fallen into the hands of skint owners since then.
Prices don't vary much for dogs or minters so take the time to drive as many as you can and look for reassuring evidence of wodges of bills and long term ownership. Once you've driven a few you'll instantly notice a humungous difference between a nice example and a shed and every single one I've driven has felt different in its own way.
They do require a sympathetic mechanic so make sure to look for the garages mentioned eariler on any invoices as your average garage or other Lancia specialist is not gonna do an Integrale any favours (I know from some hideously expensive experiences).
But if you find a sound one it'll be one of the highlights of your driving life.
Great car but bloody expensive to run, I had one for a couple of years, typically cost £1000 per service, eats tyres for a living, but made you smile every time you drove it hard, rain or shine. Running costs offset by lack of depreciation, having driven 30K miles in two and half years, then traded it in without loosing a penny.
You only live once, so buy one and enjoy it!
You only live once, so buy one and enjoy it!
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