Bit of advice to a potential Lancia Intergrale buyer

[jimmyslr]

The 'grale is one of those cars I've always wanted to own. When I see them they make me smile. I haven't driven one as yet and have not been trawling he websites for years so your advice would be helpful. I did look back 6 months on this site to see what was said and to get a flavour. Here are a few questions:

- Evo 2 vs Evo 1: they seem almost identical, but the Evo 2 commanding several grand more (often). I know last of breed, special editions etc all add to price, but am I wrong in thinking that they are dynamically and specification-wise almost the same?

- Is runing cost of £2,000 a year sensible to budget for?

- I have heard all the urban myths re breaking down all the time. In reality, if I get a good one, is it going to let me down regularly on a long trip? Is it happy doing the 3 mile trip to the station sometimes and also the 200 mile motorway jaunt for work? Give me an idea re breakdowns per annum! This will absolutely not be a daily runner for me.

- Is "original spec" the way forward or are there very well recognised mods that should not worry me. I am familiar with other marques where the newbie worries about tweaks, but all the old hands know that X and Y should always be done.

- Where to source a good car (that does not need substantial work doing to it)? I saw Walkers, Whalleys (do they sell cars themselves or jus provide a forum?), Zagato (saw some not so good comments, but their stock looks good), Perfomance Legends (heard comments re their non-grales before)... Any I'm missing? As a newbie, I think a specialist might be the place for me to start even if it costs me a few grand more.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

James

Edited by jimmyslr on Sunday 2nd March 20:47

[jacobyte]

jimmyslr said:

- Evo 2 vs Evo 1

Evo2 has 16" wheels, highback seats, smaller turbo, twin coil pack, catalyser, aircon, colour-coded roof gutters, and arguably better build quality on the shell (plus a few other details).

jimmyslr said:

- Is runing cost of £2,000 a year sensible to budget for?

1.5-3K generally.

jimmyslr said:

- I have heard all the urban myths re breaking down all the time.

Urban myth. They are usually as reliable as anything, as long as you keep on top of things.

jimmyslr said:

- Is "original spec" the way forward or are there very well recognised mods that should not worry me.

Do you want it original, or modified? Neither is "better", but either way, get as much history as possible, as some mods are well done, and some are bodged.

jimmyslr said:

- Where to source a good car (that does not need substantial work doing to it)?

Kannku usually have tip top cars, but the rule of thumb is not the seller, it is the car. You will find some real sheds, and some mutton dressed as lamb. If you're half interested in a car, get it professionally and independently inspected. If the seller is unhappy for you to do that, then think twice about that car.

Oh, and pop over to the Delphi Evocorner forum to see the handbagging sessions. They're great.

[DrTre]

Although it begins a while ago much of the advice on this thread still stands.
Aside from that I echo the above.
I'm kinda taken with the one on here, recently resprayed..just from looks, I know nothing about the car itself...

Edited by DrTre on Monday 3rd March 09:55

[DJC]

£2k is about right.

I would always prefer a car standard.

I would personally always go for an EVO I. One of the reasons Im really rather fond of my Verde Yorke is because it has damn nr all the EVO 2 stuff - the colour coded guttering is the only thing I think it is is missing and I much prefer the big turbo

They are reliable. I use mine as a daily commuting car to work and I also use it to do the 400 mile round trip upto Brum and back at weekends to see my wife and her family. The key really is try and run them several times a week, just use them regularly and they will work so much better. They dont appreciate being garage queens. My car came from Kannku and yes they do look good

Not sure what else to say really. Keep an eye out for windscreen rust and ask owners about them. Damn 100% of the cars get the rust at somept in their lives and most honest owners will tell you when/if the car got their bout and what they did to rectify it. It is an Italian supercar, it does require money being spent on it, be more wary of owners who dont spend than those who do!

[pano amo]

Always over-estimate the running costs. Remember you are buying a car thats probably going to be around 15 years old, has been driven hard and yes is Italian. So you should expect problems. How big they are depends on how they have been treated. However, I'd echo comments that they are reliable but only if they have been loved. Mine never gave broke down on me. But that was because a) I choose well when buying and b) I always kept an eye on the car and maintained it proactively, fixing and replacing anything that might start to cause issues.
A lot of car nuts have an integrale on their to-own list and rightly so. Its a fabulous car. To me, its not been bettered. But there are so many tired and thrashed examples out there. Be careful which one you choose.

Edited by pano amo on Monday 3rd March 10:28

[jimmyslr]

Thanks chaps. My problem might be driving the thing that often as I have too little time for too many cars and also commute by train. Never mind; I'm sure that can be overcome. I take the point on maintenance and am confident I have never knowingly underspent on any of my cars! The reliability comments are helpful too.

A top nick (and possibly special edition) Evo 1 is sounding an interesting proposition. I'll have a look at Kannku now... Looks like a phone call job as no cars on web site.

james

[pano amo]

Jimmy, mine was a weekend car (driveway jewellery)as I commute by train also so I only tarted about in it mainly at weekends but I always made sure I took it out a couple of evenings a week for about half hour. I think some people garage them up for winter but these guys know exactly what they are doing and how to make sure the cars work again when the summer comes. Actually, the best driving in an integrale is on cold crisp winter mornings because of the cold-air loving turbos! You definitely noticed a slack-off in performance in summer time.
Evo 1 Vs Evo 2? Well any evo 2 owner is going to sing its praises which is half the reason the prices are so different!!
When buying I just wanted a clean well kept Evo and I ended up an Evo 1. (the hardcore Evo )

[DJC]

jimmyslr said:

Thanks chaps. My problem might be driving the thing that often as I have too little time for too many cars and also commute by train. Never mind; I'm sure that can be overcome. I take the point on maintenance and am confident I have never knowingly underspent on any of my cars! The reliability comments are helpful too.

A top nick (and possibly special edition) Evo 1 is sounding an interesting proposition. I'll have a look at Kannku now... Looks like a phone call job as no cars on web site.

james

Drop me an email James. Ive a top nick ex Kannku special edition Evo 1 that has just had a winter pampering and some real life bills paid from someone who runs their car during the week and long distance at weekends.

[pano amo]

Did I see that down at TNI a couple of weeks back? Nice car. Made me want one again.

[DJC]

pano amo said:

Did I see that down at TNI a couple of weeks back? Nice car. Made me want one again.

My car? If it was a Verde Yorke you saw then yes it was. wifey and I went away to Budapest for our honeymoon at last and I came back to a mint 'Grale...twas almost like a wedding pressie to myself

[Maranellohouse]

I'm doing something wrong. I've had 5 Grale's and none have cost me more than £300 a year to run. Ok I do all my own servicing but I still have to buy the bits. And the mate only charges me £300 for a belt change when it's needed.

My main cost on my current one is the petrol bills because of it being tuned it's averaging around 20mpg.

[Dave80s]

£300 in parts sounds reasonable. It is the labour that makes it expensive.

My advice to the OP? Spell Integrale correctly or you will get slaughtered!

[Maranellohouse]

Dave80s said:

My advice to the OP? Spell Integrale correctly or you will get slaughtered!

Well here, he's not alone, it's also spelt with a small i