Integrale
- Thread starter GransportFan1
- Start date
Paco
New Member
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My grale was fun in a slightly mental way but it did break down and it encouraged you to drive like a total loon. Our first born had just arrived and I thought it would be a good family hatch back with sporty credentials, WRONG!!!! I also bought it at auction from a deceased estate for £3500 so had hoped to make a couple of quid when I eventually sold it. Eventually was within 6 weeks in the end!!!
It handled like nothing else I'd driven but that just meant epic cornering speeds, and that just meant it had to be dangerous before it was fun (on the roads around here). It was also not really quick enough when you wanted to overtake stuff at say 50+ mph, I had a memorable journey back from Winchester in convoy with an Evo VI and I kept up through the bends although I suspect neither car was being stretched, had a fanastic four wheel slide around a big roundabout (at big speed) before failing to keep up with him on an A road because he had the power to overtake safely.
Caught up in Salisbury and he commented on what a wise choice of family car I had - we both had kiddy seats strapped in.
Of greatest concern was the abysmal build quality, despite the butch looks they are absurdly fragile in the event of an accident, even a light front end bump usually kinks the roof apparently, and the doors were so flimsy they reminded me of my GTi - Citroen Visa GTi. Not a good memory.
In the six weeks I had a fuel pump fail and various other minor annoyances, I certainly couldn't rely on it like I could my (much older and higher mileage) Lancer turbo (evo zero). Eventually self preservation and good offer over ruled my heart and I sold it.
Picked up a one owner 900 T16 Aero that I bought with the profit from the Evo, an afternoon's work and a new exhaust and it had the same power output as the grale but you could get a wardrobe in the back. It never quite handled like a grale though!!!
It handled like nothing else I'd driven but that just meant epic cornering speeds, and that just meant it had to be dangerous before it was fun (on the roads around here). It was also not really quick enough when you wanted to overtake stuff at say 50+ mph, I had a memorable journey back from Winchester in convoy with an Evo VI and I kept up through the bends although I suspect neither car was being stretched, had a fanastic four wheel slide around a big roundabout (at big speed) before failing to keep up with him on an A road because he had the power to overtake safely.
Caught up in Salisbury and he commented on what a wise choice of family car I had - we both had kiddy seats strapped in.
Of greatest concern was the abysmal build quality, despite the butch looks they are absurdly fragile in the event of an accident, even a light front end bump usually kinks the roof apparently, and the doors were so flimsy they reminded me of my GTi - Citroen Visa GTi. Not a good memory.
In the six weeks I had a fuel pump fail and various other minor annoyances, I certainly couldn't rely on it like I could my (much older and higher mileage) Lancer turbo (evo zero). Eventually self preservation and good offer over ruled my heart and I sold it.
Picked up a one owner 900 T16 Aero that I bought with the profit from the Evo, an afternoon's work and a new exhaust and it had the same power output as the grale but you could get a wardrobe in the back. It never quite handled like a grale though!!!
Last edited:
GransportFan1
Member
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i too would add one to the collection, along with an 037 and Sratos, perfect for the odd trip to sainsburys.
stradaman
New Member
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- 376
Yep, I had an early 16V Integrale, with the later Evo Bonnet, and optional adjustable rear wing. Awesome car. I need to find a pic of it.
Engine bay was very, very tight, and pipes everywhere! Mine, had a problem at low speeds, of lack of power. Driven a few, and most did the same. Eventually, traced mine, to a tiny vacuum pipe, buried, right under the manifold. Replaced, and low punch restored, and the slingshot, of that car, would eat an Evo VI in straight line, or corners! I also adjusted the boost, so it max was now 1.5psi. Yes it had an overboost, but that only went to abaout 1.2psi, as standard.
To this day, i fully regret selling it. Must of been an idiot, but had too many cars [seven, yes seven!]. You do get used to the LHD. Infact, i felt it made the car feel even more special. And there is no car on the planet, that is more satisfying to drive across the Moors at speed. A great Icon, and greatly missed.
Today, been looking on various sites, at Integrales. Very tempted to buy one, but, and its a big but, the prices, and condition of cars, vary tremendously. because a car is at £20k, means nothing. Who has owned it? Did they cool the engine off, after a run, or just turn the engine off? So many rebuilds, are down to cooked oil, or lack of lube changes!
Integrales are complicated cars, that need specialist care, often. Unfortunately, like Fiat Coupe 20vt's, they are now in the wrong hands, so its buyer beware!
Just to say, about the build quality. The Delta, was a 70's design, and so, it does not have today's rigid build design, with crumple zones, and side protection. But, the car was built with quite thick metal in places. Doors were heavy, and always closed with a nice thud. Reason the doors start to sound clangy is, because the chassis has gone weak, from hard driving. Chassis needs to be rewelded, or even seam welded, to put the strength back in. Try jacking a 10 year old car up, and try to close the door. Door, I bet, will not shut. This will tell you, the chassis has gone 'loose'.
Andy.
Engine bay was very, very tight, and pipes everywhere! Mine, had a problem at low speeds, of lack of power. Driven a few, and most did the same. Eventually, traced mine, to a tiny vacuum pipe, buried, right under the manifold. Replaced, and low punch restored, and the slingshot, of that car, would eat an Evo VI in straight line, or corners! I also adjusted the boost, so it max was now 1.5psi. Yes it had an overboost, but that only went to abaout 1.2psi, as standard.
To this day, i fully regret selling it. Must of been an idiot, but had too many cars [seven, yes seven!]. You do get used to the LHD. Infact, i felt it made the car feel even more special. And there is no car on the planet, that is more satisfying to drive across the Moors at speed. A great Icon, and greatly missed.
Today, been looking on various sites, at Integrales. Very tempted to buy one, but, and its a big but, the prices, and condition of cars, vary tremendously. because a car is at £20k, means nothing. Who has owned it? Did they cool the engine off, after a run, or just turn the engine off? So many rebuilds, are down to cooked oil, or lack of lube changes!
Integrales are complicated cars, that need specialist care, often. Unfortunately, like Fiat Coupe 20vt's, they are now in the wrong hands, so its buyer beware!
Just to say, about the build quality. The Delta, was a 70's design, and so, it does not have today's rigid build design, with crumple zones, and side protection. But, the car was built with quite thick metal in places. Doors were heavy, and always closed with a nice thud. Reason the doors start to sound clangy is, because the chassis has gone weak, from hard driving. Chassis needs to be rewelded, or even seam welded, to put the strength back in. Try jacking a 10 year old car up, and try to close the door. Door, I bet, will not shut. This will tell you, the chassis has gone 'loose'.
Andy.
stradaman
New Member
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- 376
Yes, I knew Simon, who worked at Richard Thorne. He also looked after the racing Morgans, amongst many Italian car!
Andy.
mjheathcote
Centenary Club
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I always fancied one, expecially after having several other Lancia's in the late 80's/early 90's, including a Y10 Turbo for 3 years!
The thing that put me off was spares availability, Lancia left the UK just after I sold my Y10 Turbo (for an Alfa Romeo 33 Permanent 4).
Today, compared to the Maserati, I can imagine they will feel slow. I quick calc indicates a 4200/GS to have 50% more power to weight than a standard Evo.
Cheers
The thing that put me off was spares availability, Lancia left the UK just after I sold my Y10 Turbo (for an Alfa Romeo 33 Permanent 4).
Today, compared to the Maserati, I can imagine they will feel slow. I quick calc indicates a 4200/GS to have 50% more power to weight than a standard Evo.
Cheers
stradaman
New Member
- Messages
- 376
Its not power that accelerates a car, but Torque. And you cannot really beat cubic capacity. but A turbo car can have excellent Torque, And the mid range of the Lancia Rev range, Is excellent. But weight obviously plays a major part in it!
0-60 is meaningless. I would like to see 50-70, and 70-90 mph, to see how both cars accelerate.
Andy
0-60 is meaningless. I would like to see 50-70, and 70-90 mph, to see how both cars accelerate.
Andy
stradaman
New Member
- Messages
- 376
And, if you take your Grale to Specialist's, Walkers Garage, they will reset the suspension, for better handling. But then, the car will feel a little nervous, but in right hands, a lot faster, through bends! As standard, they are set-up for understeer. Reset, more oversteer, and a blast! At same time, stick a stage 1 chip into the ecu, and then, the Grale, will be biting at the heels of a 4200!
Andy.
Andy.