1988 Lancia Delta HF Turbo review from UK and Ireland
"Manic turbocharged Italian tin box"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Water temperature sensor failed giving false reading to ECU and causing the engine to overfuel and run very rich; black smoke from exhaust when on-throttle, poor performance. Cost £20 to replace. Very common in HF turbos and Integrales.
Front wheel bearing replaced.
3rd gear synchro weak.
Rear suspension turret top-mount needed replaced.
Rear brake caliper seized; again, a common Delta problem.
General comments?
Excellent Lancia twin-cam engine with Garrett turbocharging. 140 bhp as standard, with factory-fitted overboost triggered by throttle-rate, giving an extra 20 lbft or so of torque when overtaking.
Excellent unassisted steering. Good feedback, weighting and feel.
Build quality poor, bodywork virtually dissolved after being kept outside for a year. Rust on door bottoms, wheel arches.
Overall though, an excellent, rapid hot hatch. Great fun to drive, and cheaper than an Integrale! Much more reliable than I thought it was going to be.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 injected Twin-Cam turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 9/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 88000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 110000 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Scirocco |
| Date of Entry | 20th December, 2004 |