To put it in short the Lancia Integrale is a very dynamic and well behaved car in all but the most extreme driving conditions. It cannot compare, of course, with cars much younger such as the Subaru Impreza Turbo or the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution which are much more posed and stable to limits well beyond those of the Lancia but keep in mind the the Delta was conceived at least a decade earlier. Additionally its Italian breed and charm make it a companion of choice for the car loving enthusiast.

Everyday life with a Lancia Delta Integrale

You must really love these cars in order to pass on the problems they introduce to your driver's life. Integrales are so well behaved and dynamic on the road that they make you forget all the problems they bring along (much like most other Italian cars of the same era).

You must put up with intermittent and unexplainable electrical problems. One that makes me laugh (sometimes) is the windshield wipers being inoperative when it rains (they work fine though in dry weather). Another interesting marvel I have experienced with them is the fuel being cut-off in hot weather. Lancia "explained" this by saying that the Swiss fuel is so volatile it starts boiling in the tank when the weather is hot. This results in air bubbles getting into the fuel circuit which, in turn, cuts-off ?! When this happens the engine stops and it usually takes an hour or two before the darn thing starts again. Then there's the rust problem (but you must really not take care of the chassis for rust to appear), then the delicate engine, then the sublte smell of gear box oil, then....Most of the engine brittleness problems were solved on the Evoluzione II version with a more advanced ECU, better sensors to detect engine knock and the like. Note that the Evoluzione II was built under license by a contractor company, Maggiora in Chivasso near Turin, not Lancia, thus sorting out most of the electrical and finishing quality problems. Production of the Delta Integrale ceased in 1994 and all Maggiora facilities where used to build the Fiat Barchetta.

If you own a Delta Integrale or you are thinking about buying one drop by the Evo Corner discussion forum for more information on the various versions of the Lancia Delta Integrale at: Delphi

If you're in the market for a Delta Integrale, especially the Evoluzione II Cat a.k.a. Evoluzione III, but any model will do,  you should have no second thoughts. There are quite a few available all over Europe at decent prices, but you must be aware of the slight inconveniences mentioned above. You have been warned, the Lancia Delta Integrale is not a "normal" everyday car. It's a joy toy and it requires love. And above all it has a few advantages over other cars in its class: a unique pedigree and its Italian breed which no other contender in that market will ever have.

Read more about 4WD turbo charged cars technical background here and about their dynamics here.

Checkout the Lancia pictures here and here. Don't forget to take a look at my cars pictures here and here.