So there we were curious as to the progress of our Adrian Flux competition winners and now we have two updates in a week! As the spring arrives, hopefully
both Matt
and John can enjoy their cars even more and let us know about their exploits.
This is the second instalment of John's adventure with his
Delta Integrale
, as he held out a little longer to purchase his perfect Lancia. He was also contributing some of his own money and so wanted to choose the very best car he could. And Delta Integrales aren't exactly something you stumble across every day...
You will see it's been a fascinating familiarisation period for John, and he's keen to enjoy the car even more once it's out of winter hibernation. We may even see the Integrale at a Sunday Service or two!
Thanks again to Adrian Flux for sponsoring the competition.
John writes: So, last time you heard from me I had just bought the car of my dreams, but how has the dream been panning out?! The predictable answer is of course exactly as expected - I love it!
Tucked up in anticipation of better weather
I weirdly still find just as much enjoyment going out to simply look at the car. There it sits, with its snarling looks, bulging bodywork, looking like it wants to be sitting at the start of a rally stage as opposed to a garage door outside a house.
With the awful weather we've been having I only got a few runs in the car to start appreciating its capabilities before taking her off the road for the worst of winter. One of the memorable runs was on a sunny afternoon to Brighton - country roads all the way, definitely where the car feels it's happiest.
On straight A-roads or dual carriageways it is still a fun car, don't get me wrong, but with turbo lag and relatively low gearing you can feel the car wanting to deviate off and find its rhythm on twisting narrow roads. I still sometimes have to pinch myself behind the wheel! To me seeing one used to be more exciting than clocking any supercar as they were so rare and you knew it must be owned by a true PHer. The fact that I'm now driving and owning one of these rare machines seems truly bizarre.
I spent the first couple of outings getting used to the car. There are squeaks and rattles, the ride is hard and there's lots of lag (surprisingly addictive!) but these just add to the experience.
The spoiler's going to 'full rally mode' soon!
The Integrale forces you to drive it with respect. I'm gradually finding its limits (the 4wd makes the car so planted and enables real trust), but it's a car with such pedigree and cult status that I find myself doing anything to protect it - be that hanging well back from the car in front to not get any spray or driving round car parks three times to find the most secure spot, which I'm sure my passengers enjoy...
The attention the Integrale gets on the road is incredible. People leaning out of their cars to give the thumbs up or scrambling for their phones to get a pic. My personal favourite was someone missing the traffic lights because he was too busy looking over every inch of the Integrale! It's a car that any enthusiast enjoys and makes me feel good seeing how it makes others happy too.
The first and only thing I've changed on the car so far is the number plate - this has been back to its standard position (I know it's not in the pics!)
There are a few things I'd like to get addressed in the near future, the first being the speedo. Whilst it all works the speedo is definitely out. I think it is over reading as at an indicated 30mph it literally feels like crawling, something the sat-nav confirmed!
The other things (that I need to do myself) are the headlights as there's a loose connection somewhere causing one of the bulbs come on and off when it fancies it. The other is the famous rear spoiler which is currently on its half-way setting but, judge me if you will, I want it up in full rally mode style! Hardly a bad list for an Italian car that's nearly 20 years old...
John's happy just ogling it for now
There's only one real bugbear I've found with the left-hand drive - ticket machines without a passenger! Doing a Benny Hill run around the car to grab the tickets isn't the most dignified of moves. I'm anxious about going through a toll booth on my own. Cue chucking coins through an open passenger window in the hope of reaching the bucket. If you find yourself in a long queue to go through the barriers, there's probably an Integrale at the front of the queue...
The car is currently locked in the garage, under its cover, wired up to its life support machine, AKA a trickle charger. She's started every week and run up to temperature and moved to free the brakes and move the tyres but I don't want her to see any road salt, rain, drizzle, snow - the list goes on. I've had it explained to me many a time that cars are surprisingly waterproof but I don't care - she's in such good condition that I'd rather the Integrale is kept in its current A1 condition. There is a reputation for rust that I'd rather never explore!
It might sound bizarre to some I know, it's a rally car built for all weather but to me it's a car that's perfect for a sunny weekend afternoon.
A1 condition and it'll be staying that way too
I'd thoroughly recommend Integrale ownership. No, they're not cheap but think of it as an investment, which it will be. It's one of those cars that feels like it has real personality, it makes you just want to go for a drive. Even when I'm at work I think 'I own an Integrale'. I don't even have to be driving it to get enjoyment from it!
I can't wait to get the covers off and head out to some shows come spring/summer. I was due to attend a Sunday Service at Goodwood late last year but completely forgot about family commitments I already had. I'll enjoy driving it even more having left it for a couple of months.
I look forward to showing the Integrale to as many PHers as possible. I'm hoping you're impressed with it as much as I am!