Would you buy an Integrale?

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Discussion

anonymous-user

55 months

Thursday 20th April 2023
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I haven't seen another in person in order to make a comparison, but everything works as it should inc. the air con.

Crucially though; no rust or stress cracks. The brakes are being looked at next week as I think the osf is binding a little as it pulls to one side, and the brand new Timing Control Valve seems to have forgotten the one job it had to do. If you get the revs above 2k while driving they tend to sit there in neutral, unless you give the throttle a decent blip and they settle at 1k again.

I am wondering if this could be related to the battery as that is getting weak and the voltage to the TCV might be causing it to play up?

Harris_I

3,228 posts

260 months

Friday 21st April 2023
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DrBrule said:
1/3 of the interior build quality of a modern car?

You got a good one then.
Haha. My AC switch keeps sticking (needs a bit of a technique). The steering column stalk has been replaced once already (left indicator stalk jammed) and still isn't perfect (self-cancellation has a mind of its own). One of the grab handles snapped off (luckily hardly noticeable). The dash does like to squeak and vibrate but best to drown it out with the engine. The door cards warped severely in the Dubai heat but I had them bent back and screwed into place.

Despite this I actually love the spartan interior. Recaros are spot on for my shape and I love the design. The dials are unreadable at night but there is a sort of retro 70s/ fighter plane vibe which is unique. The Momo steering is timeless and absolutely perfect. Just needs to be brought a touch closer to the body with a boss which makes the driving position perfect for me. Thin pillars mean visibility is far better than modern cars. Just don't crash...

daviekiwi

Original Poster:

165 posts

206 months

Sunday 23rd April 2023
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I think you have to drive them a few times to get it.
Part of the charm is the flaw's. Turbo lag, interior creaks and rattles and Lhd add to the occasion.
It's a change from dullness of new car's?

JuiceTerry

123 posts

93 months

Tuesday 25th April 2023
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Saw one last week, it pulled up next to me at traffic lights, just a fantastic thing.

anonymous-user

55 months

Friday 28th April 2023
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JuiceTerry said:
Saw one last week, it pulled up next to me at traffic lights, just a fantastic thing.
If this happened in Norfolk and the car was black it was probably me.

I've had somebody jump out of their car in a queue of traffic and knock on the window with a big thumbs up as I've sat at a red light. I do like that it provokes that sort of reaction, it's nice to see people properly excited over something. I'd probably do the same in fairness.

Rob 131 Sport

2,535 posts

53 months

Saturday 29th April 2023
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Why did it take so many years for people to work out what sheer brilliance these cars are.

This can be applied to other Italian Sports saloons /hatchbacks/coupes from the 70’s and 80’s.

Baldy881

1,333 posts

178 months

Thursday 11th May 2023
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DrBrule said:
it's actually a creaky old Italian shopping car that is now outclassed (at typical driving speeds) by anything else on the road bar a mobility scooter.
Quite a harsh statement that I think hehe

Can't disagree with the creaks and rattles and sometimes it does piss me off in slow moving traffic, but on the open road where concentration is elsewhere, I find my car (chipped 16V) stands its ground rather well against much more modern tackle.

anonymous-user

55 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
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Baldy881 said:
Can't disagree with the creaks and rattles and sometimes it does piss me off in slow moving traffic, but on the open road where concentration is elsewhere, I find my car (chipped 16V) stands its ground rather well against much more modern tackle.
It's a reflection on my driving style really; my confidence & ability stop right at the point the integrale starts to show it's true colours.

daviekiwi

Original Poster:

165 posts

206 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
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If you want a quality interior buy an Audi, They are a nice place to be but very dull to drive, even Rs models.
The integrale has the steering feel of an ant the Audi is probably more on the hippo scale.

mallygreen

243 posts

191 months

Wednesday 14th June 2023
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daviekiwi said:
If you want a quality interior buy an Audi, They are a nice place to be but very dull to drive, even Rs models.
The integrale has the steering feel of an ant the Audi is probably more on the hippo scale.
Yes would 100% agree with all that.



mallygreen

243 posts

191 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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Great trip over the Lecht & Glenshee today, roads not too busy.






Stick Legs

4,931 posts

166 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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Never owned but driven a few.

HF Turbo.
8v Integrale.
16v Integrale.

They don’t compare to regular hot hatches in terms of feel. Even the ‘lowly’ HF Turbo feels special.

The heritage, the styling, the quirky driving position.

It all makes it far more of an event than anything else.

Something special there, a germ of the same magic that Ferrari and Lamborghini have.

I have never driven a later EVO, but can’t think they are any worse!

The best bit is that anyone who sees it knows you are an enthusiast, not just a show off.

Stick Legs

4,931 posts

166 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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DrBrule said:
it's actually a creaky old Italian shopping car that is now outclassed (at typical driving speeds) by anything else on the road bar a mobility scooter.
Tesla Model 3 is faster than a Ferrari 288 GTO.

But that kind of misses the point.

Baldy881

1,333 posts

178 months

Monday 3rd July 2023
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Covered a few miles in mine over the weekend, thoroughly enjoyed them all.

I dropped my son off at a party on Saturday in it and one of the other dads was keen to talk about the car having never seen one. I probably gushed far too much information at him hehe but the thing is, I made the point that even after 14 years of ownership I still, every time I use it, stop somewhere and take pictures. I guess that says it all for me. I never tire of looking at it and just thinking what a car love




daviekiwi

Original Poster:

165 posts

206 months

Saturday 15th July 2023
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Baldy881 said:
Covered a few miles in mine over the weekend, thoroughly enjoyed them all.

I dropped my son off at a party on Saturday in it and one of the other dads was keen to talk about the car having never seen one. I probably gushed far too much information at him hehe but the thing is, I made the point that even after 14 years of ownership I still, every time I use it, stop somewhere and take pictures. I guess that says it all for me. I never tire of looking at it and just thinking what a car love

Lovely looking integrale you have there!
I would agree, every time I take mine out it's like an event, it's brimming with charm.
And the people you meet because of car adds to ownership experience?

daviekiwi

Original Poster:

165 posts

206 months

Saturday 15th July 2023
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mallygreen said:
Great trip over the Lecht & Glenshee today, roads not too busy.





Great pics Mally! As always the car looks amazing.


Fessia fancier

1,019 posts

184 months

Monday 4th September 2023
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So, I think this was my first integrale, it was E398GMY. Now restored by Richard Hammond's The Smallest Cog, and offered for auction on Saturday.

An 8v in bordeaux. At the time, it was a rocket ship, lots of fond memories of that car and the only car I have owned twice - sold to a friend and then bought it back. I expected it to be scrapped many years ago, it was in good nick when i had it the first time but at the end of my second stint it was very tatty.

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27998/lot/245/1989...

JustinCredible

101 posts

108 months

Monday 4th September 2023
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Fessia fancier said:
So, I think this was my first integrale, it was E398GMY. Now restored by Richard Hammond's The Smallest Cog, and offered for auction on Saturday.

An 8v in bordeaux. At the time, it was a rocket ship, lots of fond memories of that car and the only car I have owned twice - sold to a friend and then bought it back. I expected it to be scrapped many years ago, it was in good nick when i had it the first time but at the end of my second stint it was very tatty.

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27998/lot/245/1989...
That is spectacular

daviekiwi

Original Poster:

165 posts

206 months

Saturday 9th September 2023
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JustinCredible said:
Fessia fancier said:
So, I think this was my first integrale, it was E398GMY. Now restored by Richard Hammond's The Smallest Cog, and offered for auction on Saturday.

An 8v in bordeaux. At the time, it was a rocket ship, lots of fond memories of that car and the only car I have owned twice - sold to a friend and then bought it back. I expected it to be scrapped many years ago, it was in good nick when i had it the first time but at the end of my second stint it was very tatty.

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27998/lot/245/1989...
That is spectacular
Seen this bourdeaux red 8v sold for £41,400 including fee's.
It's a lovely colour though, and has a nice nose down stance to it?
Under bonnet pics didn't look the best.
8 valve's are now probably rarer than Evo's?

Fessia fancier

1,019 posts

184 months

Sunday 10th September 2023
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Yes it was slightly lowered in my time (before I had it)
A high price but no doubt partly because of the Hammond and TV link . Good 8vs are very rare now