Here's Why The Lancia Delta Integrale Evo II Took A Month To Review Correctly 

"I'm driving this car like a right nobber, because that's what it wants" lol. That has to be one of your best quotes ever.

Great video! I owned the Delta Intergrale and prior to that the HF Turbo. Both were fun cars but what stood out about the Intergrale was its ability to stick to tight bends at speed which made it rapid. No wonder it won the World Rally Championship 6 times in a row. A record that has never been beaten.

Hah the brakes on my EVO II tried to put me into a hedge once as well. The discs warp readily. Still loved it to bits though. No way I could ever afford to buy one now sadly. Ah the 90's how I miss thee. I still reckon it's probably one the fastest A to B cars on a slightly dodgy back road you can buy.

I was lucky enough to have one of these when they were new. I also competed in a MK2 Group 4 Escort. The Integrale covered ground so quickly, braked so well with the standard Ferrari brakes and was so good around the corners, that I crashed the Escort next time I competed in it. Good summary. It doesn’t shout what it can do, but has so much ability when you dig deep.

One think that this review got very well (that I rarely see on other Integrale reviews) is how well the cars transforms as you keep pushing it. I mean yeah.... on a public road it can be a lazy machine when you are on a relaxed drive.... and then take it on an empty B-road and push it hard and it becomes a striking different animal. And what stroke me most is when I took mine (I own a 1989 16V Integrale) on a track day for the first time 3 years after I bought it and pushed it even harder it became even more brilliant. It could do thinks that I’d never imagine. I felt that I discovered yet another level of the car that I didn’t know it existed. It was a fantastic experience

Drive it like you stole it, works for most Italian cars. I've had Alfa's and they're the same. Nothing special at city speeds, but oh boy do they deliver when you give it the beans. Let it warm up, find some good bends and put on your hoonhat . That's when they shine.

My mate had a plain old mortals Delta in the late 80's early 90's. I think it had a 1.3 engine, but despite that it was an absolute hoot on the back roads. The suspension and cornering were incredible. One evening we took a ride out to see some pals and just before our destination there's this 90 degree right hand bend, tight as anything, and he says to me at the last minute "hold on, watch this!". I was pinned to the passenger side door window uttering obscenities, but that car took the corner (don't remember the speed, but too fast) like it was on rails and completed planted. If I'd tried that in my dad's sierra I'd be having it dragged out of the field on its roof. I'd love a ride in an Integrale.

A totally and utterly brilliant, stunning machine and yet another fantastic review!😍

I was born in 1988 and the Lancia Delta Integrale was my first favourite car. I even had bed linen with Integrales in Martini Racing livery. Also there was a red Integrale in my neighbourhood and I was amazed whenever I saw it parked on the street. I knew every car brand, but some cars were very special and I recognized this pretty early.

Always had a soft spot for these, the fat square arches and goofy spoiler are iconic.

Loved the Anchorman reference "20% of the time it works every time" hahahaha

Great review, as an Integrale owner I've spent half of the video waiting for you to thrash it around and understand what it's all about which you obviously did. Well done sir!

Another brilliant review James, this channel and your content really is going from strength to strength. I think this sort of stuff is easily good enough to be broadcast on the TV.

As ever a totally honest review. I'm one of the lucky ones I have an Integrale and its one of the most frustrating cars I have ever owned but today I took it for a drive and it reminded me why I love it so much!

I remember when I had my 8 valve Integrale the guy who used to work on it told me the more you put into driving them the more you get out of them. The Japanese stuff that came along were easier to drive fast but I still surprised more than a few of them

That thing going round them bends from the outside looks absolutely stunning, for me as good as any Ferrari etc etc

I like it, that engine ended up in the first Fiat Coupe Turbo but was replaced by the awesome 5 cylinder 20VT- I'm surprised no one has offered you a drive in one yet. I'd also love to see a review on a Volvo C30 T5 and a Brabus ForFour first gen. Surely one day i'll get a least one of these ;).

Great review. Takes me back to my Alfa 33 SuperVerde and maximum warp. Italians know how to make cars...and break your heart at the same time

I’m glad you enjoyed it in the end simply because if I ever win the lottery one of these is in my dream garage

My Evo2 was the ultimate head turner in town, slightly lowered on coilovers and on 17's. Out on the B roads it brought out the devil in me and after spirited driving I would pull up trembling with adrenaline. It gripped in the turns like nothing else. Insane. Privileged to have owned my dream car for a couple of years. I miss it of course, but not all the bills.

Quite possibly the best Integrale review...... In the world. You owned that Jay, really enjoyed it and the latest videos have been some of your best. Thanks, Matt.

I really like your channel mate. The quality of and pedigree of the cars you test is perfect

Standard Evo 2 came in three colours. Red, blue and white. Standard Evo 1 came in red, white, blue, green, metallic red and black. Mix of both versions had special editions.

Brilliant review as usual mate! Stunning car aswell! Unbelievable how pricey they are these days though😳

Very insightful. Good job communicating the car's capabilities and the requirements for extracting those capabilities.

I posted one of these on my Instagram about a month ago and had about 10 people DM asking me if it was a Golf, still a car that is not known about but still epic

The hyde like transformation is to be expected from the basis of a grp A champion. And experience has shown this type of car works BETTER in the wet

Fantastic review. Thank you. The Integrale was not exported to many countries, presumably because Lancia could not keep up with the demand. I had to contend with the HF Turbo and thoroughly enjoyed it when on the North South highways in Malaysia. Its not surprising the prices are so high due to its rarity. Lancia needs to reintroduce a new Delta very much like Alfa Romeo’s new Giulia.

Every aspect of this video just sums up why I subscribed - phenomenal

The dealer edition did make a lot of sense, just like my dad a car dealer in those years appreciated these cars and back in the days pre internet most special cars as this Lancia and early M's and Cosworths where sold to people in motorsport and the automotive world

Got to see a Martini Racing livery model version at a local C&C 2 years ago. Funny thing that day...I was wearing a Blipshift shirt with the very same car on it😎

I've lusted after one of these ever since the 8v model came out in 88.had 3 hf turbos and loved Em I've driven 2 grales and makes me want one even more but the prices are crazy

One of your best reviews. They are getting more and more polished. I think the length of the video is also better than the shorter ones where you wished for me (eg vantage v12 manual)

Try to do a review on the new Peugeots, they've been looking great lately

An update as to why the road cars can be disappointing:The late brake show with Jonny in Holland visits MCC to drive the Maturo rally restomod Integrale.

God I love this gorgeous beauty! I saw a blue one overtake me on the highway the other day. 😍

Oh I do love your reviews brother🤗 I have watched every single one since you began..........well apart from the EV ones 😂😂

I managed 6 miles to the gallon when I had one back in the 90s. Cool cars all of them 8v 16v and evo.

"Good all rounder" is not a phrase often uttered when driving/riding Italian sports machinery,their bikes are the same,they only really work brilliantly when used as intended.✌👍

I had a 1988 8valve which I loved but it was so unreliable! The wheel rims were soft and on back order so replacements were desperately slow coming thru & prevented using it. I had water in the boot from leaking seals which were never fixed. The fuel pump failed within 2500 miles. Plus a complete new dashboard was required when some knobs fell off! After 6 months, I sold it to a pal who was really keen to have it but he had an engine bay fire shortly after & the insurance payout was at a loss. Maybe later ones are better sorted!

Why I got a subaru STI - could not afford one of these integrales and wanted a warranty....the current US STI in 2020 is brilliant for the same reasons. (geting wider, smaller, lighter wheels....) Great video - nicely built.

FE springs ruin the car, try one on standard springs. But you should have loved the steering, it should be razor sharp and millimeter accurate.

You didn't compare its performance with modern cars. That tells me that it's fun, even by today's standards, which is high praise indeed for a classic.

I’ve had an evo 1for 18 years and it’s like a mistress Only used on the weekend Looks good, does what it’s supposed to, gets lots of attention all round and will cost you plenty Wouldn’t change it for the world

A loved lemon i remember well was my 1.5. Besides some other minor fixes i had to replace the Engine and later it went on fire. Still, there are some worth while driving memories.

I used to own two Delta Integrale and one EVO I. I still love the looks of the car but its performance in street configuration doesn't come close to the Lancia rally cars of that era or to modern sports cars. If you want to own one nowadays, you'd better service it yourself since there is always something to work on and good workshops specialized on Deltas are rare. If you up the power to 350 HP the car becomes an utter joy to drive, don't forget to upgrade the breaks and the suspension as well. If you then change the transmission to a shorter one, fun on b roads never ends. But in essence the car is not worth the money it goes for today, you'd be better off buying a Lotus Elise if you seek pure driving pleasure or maybe the new Toyota GR Yaris.

One of my favorite of all time

My old boss had an Integrale in LHD (I think they only came in LHD). The dealer used to constantly borrow it for shows and demonstrations. It was special even back in 1993. They’d trailer it away and leave him any car of his choice for several days. He always let us drive his cars as he wasn’t precious about them so as a 21 year old I got to drive quite a few special cars. He eventually decided he couldn’t live with it (or rather he was 46 years old and it was a bit too young for him if truth be told). He replaced it with a 1996 Mercedes AMG C36 and then properly replaced it with a Subaru Impreza Turbo Terzo.

Ok - i've been waiting 2 months to hear what was so wrong, but ultimately, very fair comments. Having owned my first Evo I from '96, and having an Evo II (GG) now this is what i know. 15" wheels are the best. I ruined my Evo I by going up to 16" wheels (which are standard on the Evo II) after an altercation with some traffic 'calming' chicane in Wimbledon that i actually couldn't go through at 50 - who knew! I disagree about the gearbox - it's great. What's not is the shift, so put the quick-shift kit on, as it's transformative. Standard Exhaust is also improved with something a bit more liberating (for power and sound), but little in it really. My Evo II has a rear strut brace also (found on the final edition as standard i believe), and to be honest the jury is out on that as to whether it brings anything to the party - just makes the feel at the rear it little less progressive when 'on it'. Other than that, all i can say is leave everything else as standard, and it's pure joy.

Imagine...you are in the mid 80ies and you have to build a winning rally car. All you have is a normal, boxy family hatchback. And then some...geniuses? madmen? car lovers? all fo it...turn it in a dragon, spitting fire and with blood on his teeth... 6 WRC in a row, and they were not racing alone...the other car builders were not joking, but theyhad to wait Lancia to quit to began winning. Even when the Integrale was tragically outdated, she was a hard pray. Oh, these Italians... Yes, transmission is rubbish, the rear haych leaks, inner plastics sucks....but she is still wonderful. Lancia (real Lancia...) we miss you so much.... Ps very nice video. Greetings from Italy.

Had an opportunity to buy one of these or an E30 M3 Evo back in the late 90's when the money was reasonable. Didn't do it, squandered the cash and kicked myself ever since. C'est la vie

what a BRILLIANT review

Spare parts Situation improved. Fiat produces bumpers again for example, or 3D printed and milled parts will keep the Delta alive.

beautiful car this. i have lots of its scale models. one of my hero cars of all time.

I have owned my lord blu evo 2 since 2003.... Mine is on standard suspension and is a European spec car. I'm amazed you say the steering gives no feedback..... I have always found the steering to be one of it's best bits. Also the gearchange I have always found acceptable especially compared to my Alfasud Sprint.... I do agree that they aren't on paper worth the huge money they are these days.... but considering there were only 2500 evo 2 cars built and the American market opening up as the cars hit 25 years old, the demand has pushed the price up rightly or wrongly. Black is not a standard evo2 colour..(lt was available to special order).. but white is...along with blue(as mine is) and red as you say. Parts supply is a lot better than it was in the mid 2000s... Martini 5 and 6 and Verde York are actually EVO1.... Personally I love my car and cannot think of another I would change it for....although I will admit the attention it gets I don't really like.... people taking photos while driving when they should be focusing in what they are doing..... if they end up in my boot.... "sorry but I was taking a photo" won't go down well....

Bought a three year old one in 1996 from the specialists in Bishops Storford it looked fab. That is the only positive thing I can say about it - three turbos, two clutches, one radiator in 18 months and bits falling off inside (roof lining, switches and handles and outside (grille). Also really really slow if under 4500 revs... so much so that on twisty back roads you had to keep slipping the clutch and rowing the gearbox to keep up with others in less exotic steers!

Seems like this would be a great candidate for a resto mod, sort the brakes, gear change and suspension, make 400 bhp and ta dah!

This was the car we never wanted to end up with when playing Top trumps

Hi James, great film, thank you. Only in a small way can I relate to your experience. In 1993 I had a new tipo sedicivalvole, with the same engine minus the turbocharger. Up to 4000 rpm, nothing, then it would come alive. So to have fun you had to fully commit. Clutch was heavy and gear box hard work. However fond memories. Glad you are keeping well. Best wishes mark

My absolutely dream car

The delta intergrale IS the hatchback quattro. Awesome car. Wonder what it would be like with a Quattro grille and lights

Magical car stunning looks👍

A bloke I used to know ran a little one car garage out of an industrial unit. He was a good mechanic, honest cheap work. One day someone brought him a Delta HF Integrale for him to fix, a water pump I believe needed replacing. 8 hrs later it was done. Not long after this man gave up his little business. I blame the Delta.

Nice review of a complex car. I had an 1988 8v in black back in 1998 for couple years. Had to sell for an everyday car. Only 5k to buy then as well.

There's a new Lancia delta expected to be launched in 2023, lets wait and see how good it is. It's looks ok, but I've seen some concept designs based on the original Evo 2 which are just amazing.

This and the 1990 Nissan 300zx tt would be the only 2 cars i would want in my garage. Awesome review as usual.

This and Cossie are two getaway cars 😎

were around 40k mark last year, 60-70 this year.... jesus

Wonderful review of an amazing car, rather flawed but amazing

I could have bought a white Martini wrc5 edition with the license plate WRC6 for £8000 and but didn't. I still feel sick about that, not money wise with what it could be worth but for the drives that I never did.

Oh wow the 1979 delta looks awesome

Nowadays the closest thing to this on the market is a Toyota Yaris, who would have thought that a few years ago?

The difference between the Evo1 and Evo2 is far more comprehensive than the mentions here. Even wider flares, longer travel suspension, even more hood bulge, revised brakes...

You need to drive an earlier well sorted standard pre Evo 2.0 16v example, they don't look as extreme, but are better more nimble and less compromised as road cars.

If Ferrari ever made a hatchback...Back in the 90s I had an Evo 1 then and Evo 2. The 1 was better with the bigger turbo. Raced an 8valve I happened across down through Swiss Cottage via Finchley Road to Marleybone rd one summers evening, a peak experience at insane speeds for urban driving, while the roads of London were still the wild west and effectively unpoliced. Would be in jail these days.

It has 30 years old. Even Toyotas and Hondas with 15 years has a lot of problems, imagine an italian hot hatch. Lol, I just remembered one funny thing: the Rolls Royce used in Brazil for events has a GM radiator, because the original one doesn't cool enough.

The Top Gear effect. They reviewed it on Top Gear and almost overnight the prices shot up

Would love one,very cool cars think I would see if there was a RHD Conversion tho IMO.a old mate of mine had a HF Turbo many moons ago and that was a belter of a car

Blah blah blah, I hate it but I love it, then end! Great video mate.

Very nice review. BTW, to pronounce Lancia, think of "lunch"... lunch-ee-a

Having had one of these with 400bhp, I can honestly say they are the Jean Alesi of cars. Good, but when wound up, brilliant.

Cat wait for the Evo 6! The most 'rally' looking Evo!

I would love to have one... it has character, soul, it is on the Earth to make you smile. And the reason why they are fiercely expensive and only appreciating in price is because the Generation Xers who lusted after them when watching rallies in the 80s now want them today as a grown up. They are what an E type is to a Baby Boomer to the later generations

Sorry but you’ve got you history wrong. The HF4WD was the 1st car Lancia entered in to rallying after group B died. It then became the Integrale then next year.

I love this motor, but "most striking Italian car"?? Not the _Countach?_

Still miss mine so much

Its always been an amazing car.

James, I agree with you. While the Delta is a cool car and I'm sure exciting to approach, it's the Delta/Ritmo floorpan and steering which generally makes it a dulled experience compared to a well set-up french 90s hot hatch. I respect those who wish to spend high money for one but I believe thousands were made (20,000 ?) so they're not exactly rare. For anything above £30k I would say that a Noble M12 is a far better car to drive and now its looks have matured beautifully. Not a practical car but a memorable one.

Still my dream car.

So witch continental tires did they put on it exactly?

Thanks, JM!

Its a rallified version of a (quite nasty) cheap italian econobox. Built to win world rally championships to the specs of a team that knew only that: how to win championships. So your findings of the car only coming alive at speed seems quite in line with what it was designed for.

love it!! ps what is a sul - eeka?

Great looking car with character !

I havent seen a 205 gti on the channel I think, are you shying away from them? It´s a bit of a talked about car already, but I think your thoughts on it would be nice to hear.

Old mate of mine had an HF Turbo which he let me drive a while back, Didn't like it at all - vague feeling to the gearchange, crap brakes, an interior that felt like it'd been built with the same type of plastic you buy cheap house plants in - wasn't impressed at all.

Brilliant review

It only takes one bad part to ruin a car. So yea, that's the risk in reviewing old cars it's hard to know when what you're reviewing is accurate, even if well maintained.

Great actor analogy.

On paper it’s a dedra 2.0 I.e or Turbo we didn’t get UK as a 4x4. The dedra great car but couple grand so Integrale worth 50-80k. On looks yes. On punch finesse surely not