Delta Hunting...

[MikeyRules]

Hi Guys,

 

New to the forum and looking to get into a Delta after having driven a few of them with their 'proper' badges on in Italy.   I must say I really like the quirky styling and both the 1.6 diesel and 1.4ma went really well. Shame they've discontinued them in the UK already!!

 

I think I want a 1.4 MultiAir SR looking at the spec's, possibly with Nav!?  It seems slightly better than the 1.6 diesel, but happy to be told otherwise.

 

I've got a long history of Alfa ownership so know the Fiat brand well, but have never owned a Lancia/Chrysler before. Is there anything in particular I should be looking out for other the usual condition and history checks?

 

Thanks

 

Mike

[Nello]

Hi Mike and welcome. Check out the other posts/threads and other areas like the Fiat Forum. I'm a Auto-Italia-phile as well and owned several old school Lancias amongst others. The Delta mechically is basically a Bravo so there is no real Chrysler experience to deal with other than the dealer themselves...... When we were looking for ours I found I knew more about them than they did! Mines a 1.4 MultiAir which I went for due to price/spec though I did prefer a petrol. I easily get 40MPG around town and 45+ on a run. Theres not many about so many on the market are ex Demo's /Fiat/Chrysler fleet. As such make sure you have dealer stamps - the usual kind of thing. In this day and age they are not like the Fiat group cars of old! Look at other posts on here - seems to be a few owners with corrosion on the Blackened door pillars and window trims - check those. Also lift the boot lid and check any missing paint where the rubber stops meet the bodywork have not caused any corrosion.

The MultiAir is a decent unit - economy and performance. The Delta is not really a true drivers car as such. I find its fairly stiffly sprung and the ride does suffer a little as a result. The long wheelbase does also mean handling is not the most pin sharp but its the styling for me that forgives all else...............

I've also fully rebadged mine correctly! 

Hope you find a good one.

Edited November 1, 2014 by Nello

[MikeyRules]

Hi Nello, thank you for the welcome and info much appreciated fella! (Y)

 

It seems a bit quiet in here, but I guess low volume sales translates to low volume forumites?   Is there any other forums/FB pages with info/support?

 

I must admit I love the quirky looks of the Delta, and liked it as soon as I saw it in Italy a year or two before it was available in Blighty. Having had 10 Alfas and a love affair with all things Italian I don't think I could ever drive a Germanic barge or Ford.

 

Thanks for the tips re the rust. I can't believe this is a problem already!? Is it a removable piece of trim on the B pillar or something? I would have thought the shells would have been double dipped (pardon the pun) to stop any corrosion?  

 

I can't seem to find any info regarding the tuning of the MultiAir to eek out some more power either? What it like to live with on a daily basis? I'm used to the 1750tbi Alfa engine which is sublime albeit very thirsty, and have tuned pretty much every diesel I've ever owned.

[Nello]

Yes very low numbers around Mike and for those that are - they are a bit of a marmite car - love or loath the styling. The only other places on the web with interest are a thread on the Fiat Forum within the Bravo section (as mentioned they are mechanically the same). Theres also a Lancia Motor Club Facebook page and my car gained some interest there after I posted of few photos of it fully Lancia badged. The Lancia club do have a forum with a MK.3 Delta section in but you have to be a member to post and I think £50 is a bit excessive! There is one chap on the FB page who imported a LHD Delta pre the UK Chrysler cars and there is another LHD 'Lancia' one on Autotrader but I think my car is the only RHD in the country correctly badged as a Lancia. 

I've always liked to be a bit different hence the Italian car interest having had a load of Alfas' Fiats and Lancias..........

I think the 1.4 MultiAir puts out 140BHP - cruises all day on the Motorway. Alot more impressive than the 1.4 that was in our old Brava!

Diesels get the most benefit from re-maps etc. The Deltas' Multijet is the stock Fiat unit so will be quite tuneable.

Ours is the family workhorse so very happy with it - It needed to be OK for the wife after we sold her previous Sedici and she is happy enough (though its a much bigger car - But she has now seen the upcoming 500X!). 

The City steering works very well in the Delta - That system was pretty pointless in earlier Fiats as it hardly had any effect but makes a big difference.

As mentioned its not a massive drivers car with little steering feedback but the standard mode steering feel is quite weightly probably due to the long wheelbase (stretched Bravo chassis).

And you will get stopped and asked about it! Have never known what seemably is an everyday family motor cause so much attention - Fiat really missed a trick as its probably the Lancia badges but I'm always getting asked about it - including one chap who I observed stopping his car deliberately to get out and look around the car........

Edited November 2, 2014 by Nello

[MikeyRules]

Thanks again for the info fella!

 

Well today I went to see a 1.4MA SR Sat Nav spec in white with 24k on the clock on a 12 plate. I thought it was quite a good deal price wise @ £8300... but there was a few things that put me off.

 

The front tyres had been replaced and were brand new, however they were some unheard of Chinese brand, the near side front headlight had quite a bit of condensation in it, and the rear lights also seemed to have condensation but just around the outside edges? I couldn't work out whether this was inside the lense or if the light unit had a lip that sat on top of the rear wing? If the later then it might not be a problem.

 

There was also some stone chipping to the leading edge of the roof where it meets the windscreen. The design of the roofline means that there is a channel with a lip sticking up running across the car which is obviously good at catching stones that have been flicked up off the road.

 

Lastly I just wasn't sure about an all white coloured car...  If the roof had been gloss black perhaps to break it up a little then maybe...

[Nello]

Mines on 17" wheels and TBH I was pleasantly suprised to see Goodyears about £175 a pair even at 225's!

The rear light edges do collect water on the outside edges but the fronts should be sealed.

New front light units are expensive so good idea to check/avoid.

Ours is white but with the Matt black roof which looks great / unusual and I think makes it look expensive.

We paid less than that at the start of the year so keep hunting!

[stuartmunn]

Hi

 

I'm also going to be buying a Delta probably wait until December for mine. I'm looking for an automatic which makes it more difficult for me!

 

I've driven a couple already and I think its very nice car to drive. I've only tried the diesel, but I have driven a Giullietta with the 1.4 Multiair and its a cracking engine.

 

I think £8300 is expensive... if you do an autotrader search you should be able to get one for less. In fact if you do a search on Arnold Clarks website you will see 3 Deltas at a lot less than the 8300 you mentioned and the one in Ayr has only done 7K miles.

 

 

I went to try out the Delta Automatic in Dundee, but was told it was sold an no longer on the premises... only to be phoned 2 days later to say that it hadnt sold and was I interested? as I had  already wasted one day down in Dundee I'll get one from someone else...

[MikeyRules]

Mines on 17" wheels and TBH I was pleasantly suprised to see Goodyears about £175 a pair even at 225's!

The rear light edges do collect water on the outside edges but the fronts should be sealed.

New front light units are expensive so good idea to check/avoid.

Ours is white but with the Matt black roof which looks great / unusual and I think makes it look expensive.

We paid less than that at the start of the year so keep hunting!

Ah good to know about the rear lights, I thought that was probably the case! I couldn't check properly as the car was still in the preparation area and was nose to tail and jammed in... plus my 3 year old was getting bored

 

Yeah agree about the black roof making a huge difference... would ideally like the dark grey or secondly black if possible. I'll keep looking... either that or I'll buy another 159 ti Sportwagon!

[MikeyRules]

 

I think £8300 is expensive... if you do an autotrader search you should be able to get one for less. In fact if you do a search on Arnold Clarks website you will see 3 Deltas at a lot less than the 8300 you mentioned and the one in Ayr has only done 7K miles.

 

 

I went to try out the Delta Automatic in Dundee, but was told it was sold an no longer on the premises... only to be phoned 2 days later to say that it hadnt sold and was I interested? as I had  already wasted one day down in Dundee I'll get one from someone else...

Ah I think you're missing a small but important detail though...I'm only interested in an SR (with Nav) or Limited spec with low miles so none of those are applicable...The other specs are too 'low rent' especially after coming out of an Alfa with Pelle Frau leather and brushed aluminium dash where all the clocks face the driver lol 

 

I'm sure something will come up soon, so I'll just have keep watching all the sites! There' only 18 cars available in the UK at present, with lots bad colours... i.e plain white, silver and beige!

 

I wouldn't buy a car from Arnold Clarke if it was the last place in earth! They are biggest sharks in the industry... as the saying goes... I'd rather cut my head off and sh*t down the hole!

 

I'm sure you'll find the right one like me... it's just a matter of time!

[stuartmunn]

Agree about Arnold Clark ... they have got a monopoly here I think.

 

You want to go for the Delta Limited then ... its got a lovely interior.

 

Personally I dont see the point in having Sat Nav fitted in a car... I can use my phone or we have a Tomtom that is good enough.

 

When I get one I'll probably re-badge it to a Lancia... I have fond memories of my Montecarlo Spyder and an original Delta

[MikeyRules]

Yeah I would really like a limited, but have set a max budget of 8 grand so probably not realistic of me if I want a low mileage example. I guess that's why I've started looking at the SR's as at least they're part leather which lifts the interior.

 

The reason for wanting integrated Sat Nav is that it enhances a rather bland dashboard, and having to keep removing a portable one stuck to you wind is a pain plus takes up the power socket too. Then there's the security aspect. If a scroat sees a suction cup holder in the windscreen, they know your Nav is somewhere stashed in the car too.

I do have a good Garmin for emergencies but usually only use it in hire cars abroad. The problem I have with using my phones Nav is that it kills the battery really quickly, and even if it's plugged in I usually get a warning saying the charge rate is less than that of consumption. So again the phones battery runs down quickly. 

 

Yeah me too on the rebadge front! (Sorry Chrysler owners   )

 

Ah Lancia Montecarlo Spyder now you're talking! I love love love those little cars! They are a baby Ferrari, and are one of my favourite Lancia! If you have owned one and an original Delta I'm a jealous guy and you obviously have great taste too!

[Nello]

I did want the Sat Nav Mike as well but couldn't wait......

They only sold about 60 or so Limited in total in the UK so you need to be patient.

The Limited was 'replaced' for the final few months by the MOMO S version which also includes SatNav, colour-coded sill and front and rear edges - a blackened tailgate and darkened 17" Alloys which are actually the ones fitted to the Bravo T-Jet/150BHP Diesel.

Very nice but again very few and they are the most expensive ones on the market as the final few UK cars......

 

If anyone needs advice on a Grille change - I'm yer man!

Edited November 6, 2014 by Nello

[MikeyRules]

Yeah I've seen the Momo S version with the matt black grill etc... Nice spec too! The versions in Italy have full glass roofs with the front sections opening, and lots of toys too like Bose with Sub and dab radio! Shame we always get left out!

 

If I don't change my mind and get another Alfa, I'll defo be up for changing the badges/grill etc. so may have to call upon your expertise!

[Nello]

Funnily enough we used to have a 159 Sportwagon - a Lusso - but a Ti was the other car on the list if we hadn't bought the Delta.......

[MikeyRules]

My Alfa addiction so far has included: Alfa Sud 1.5 green cloverleaf, S3 Spider, 939 Brera, 939 Spider, 15ti Saloon, GT, 159ti Sportwagon, 156 Sport (Twice) and 147 twinnie  and to be fair I'd have any of them again!

 

But the Delta might be an itch I have to scratch as we're downsizing our fleet and trying to reduce running costs, so either the 1.6 diseasel or 1.4MA fit the bill really well.

[stuartmunn]

Alfa Giullieta 1980s version. Alfa 33, Alfa 155 Wide body, 159ti Sportwagon. GT 3.2V6 --- 11 Points on Licence ... Fiat Doblo !

[MikeyRules]

You've owned some great cars there Stuart! No guesses for which Busso awarded the points then!

 

I still love the proper Alfa's ) i.e. pre fiat ownership and rear wheel drive!

[Rossocorsa]

Given your previous history I think you would find the delta a little disappointing, it is ok but only in terms of value for money it is sadly lacking compared to older Italians on the driving front. I reckon you ought to be able to get a limited for about £9k if you are patient enough, the interior ambience is so much better that it would be worth the wait and small extra expense plus you get the benefit of just about enough power with the 2.0 diesel. Disadvantage is no sliding rear seat as you get the much nicer heavily upholstered executive rear seat. Most that I have seen are pretty much standard spec although most have heated seats (essential with leather) and 18 inch wheels both of which were extras. I saw one for sale a while back with the glass roof,magic parking, hid lights essentially the full works so they do exist here was also one in hard black paint.

I should also add that if you have only driven deltas in lhd you might be a bit shocked by the driving position as the RHD conversion is poor, takes some getting used to tbh.

Edited November 9, 2014 by Rossocorsa

[MikeyRules]

Thanks fella there's some good advice there! Yes you're right...I've only driven the LHD Delta's in Italy so really do need to find one to test!

 

The sale of my Discovery fell through as the guy couldn't get the finance in the end, so I've slowed down my search... Probably just as well as there isn't any Delta's for sale at the moment.

 

The 2.0ltr diesel probably would be my preferred choice as I can remove the DPF and EGR then map it, whereas the 1.4ma is only mildly tuneable.

[Rossocorsa]

Thanks fella there's some good advice there! Yes you're right...I've only driven the LHD Delta's in Italy so really do need to find one to test!

 

The sale of my Discovery fell through as the guy couldn't get the finance in the end, so I've slowed down my search... Probably just as well as there isn't any Delta's for sale at the moment.

 

The 2.0ltr diesel probably would be my preferred choice as I can remove the DPF and EGR then map it, whereas the 1.4ma is only mildly tuneable.

I think it is not advisable to remove the dpf the legal restrictions on doing this are getting tighter all the time, my car always regens perfectly I don't find it an issue but I do drive it properly in that I never run in too high a gear to 'save' fuel this means basically minimum of 40 for 4th, 50 for 5th, 60 for 6th. Been tempted about remap or box but not sure due to dpf, insurance and tbh it performs well enough for most situations but maybe I'm getting too old.

[MikeyRules]

Ha-ha never say die lol!

 

Yes I'm fully aware of the new MOT regs regarding DPF/EGR etc... I have a company that I use that builds and installs EGR emulators and DPF's which will still show as active on diagnostics, so are completely MOT test proof...

 

I know what you're saying regarding driving style and regens, but regardless both EGR and dpf's are a really bad idea and poorly executed by a mislead government and hand tied car manufacturers. Inlet manifolds and swirl flaps get choked up and eventually fail, egr's are now classed as a 'consumable' part they fail that often and if a DPF fails it can be up to 2k to replace... Then there's the power loss and extra fuel consumption these components sap.

 

Breathing the same gases twice and building up soot in a box to then heat up and melt out of the back of the car is both inefficient and really bad for the engine in the long run. I've been tuning diesels for nearly 10 years and had some amazing results, and no failing components  in 80,000 plus miles per car so far.

 

I don't think I could live with a standard car anymore...

[Rossocorsa]

Ha-ha never say die lol!

 

Yes I'm fully aware of the new MOT regs regarding DPF/EGR etc... I have a company that I use that builds and installs EGR emulators and DPF's which will still show as active on diagnostics, so are completely MOT test proof...

 

I know what you're saying regarding driving style and regens, but regardless both EGR and dpf's are a really bad idea and poorly executed by a mislead government and hand tied car manufacturers. Inlet manifolds and swirl flaps get choked up and eventually fail, egr's are now classed as a 'consumable' part they fail that often and if a DPF fails it can be up to 2k to replace... Then there's the power loss and extra fuel consumption these components sap.

 

Breathing the same gases twice and building up soot in a box to then heat up and melt out of the back of the car is both inefficient and really bad for the engine in the long run. I've been tuning diesels for nearly 10 years and had some amazing results, and no failing components  in 80,000 plus miles per car so far.

 

I don't think I could live with a standard car anymore...

Not disagreeing all I'm saying is at the moment my engine seems to work fine I think the biggest horror stories on dpf are for early applications and/or bad driving style but I may yet live to regret that comment! I agree EGR are an issue I've removed them on older cars it seems that they are too integrated into modern ones to be able to do much without further intervention to software which I don't personally want to get involved with

[MikeyRules]

Fair enough fella... horses for courses and all of that

 

Well my search continues as the market seems fairly stagnant at the moment with nothing new coming up for sale...

[MikeyRules]

Well I've found a grey SR to see which is local to me, so going to try and get to see it early this week. It's only the 1.6 diesel so will be interested to see how this copes and what it drives like.

 

http://www.chromemotors.co.uk/used-cars/chrysler-delta-macclesfield-201411269255525

 

What do you guys think on first glance?

[Rossocorsa]

Looks quite nice shame it doesn't have nav. I do think the 1.6 will be a bit steady if you must have diesel I think you should hold out for a limited in the lower powered versions I think I'd go for the petrol multiair but try it and see what it's like

[Nello]

SR spec is pretty decent Mikey if you cannot afford / wait around for a Limited spec. Has most of the toys though as per Rosso - I would've liked the Sat-Nav.....

I also love the duo-tone painted Black roof which ours has. Makes them stand out from the crowd even more - appears exclusive etc.

Duo paint also seems to change the effect of the shape of the car as well.