As the DD Alfa 156 has been making interesting and potentially expensive noises under the bonnet and we've got a trip to Switzerland coming up, I need another car that seats four (well, three) and holds their luggage. Which rules out the 911 and obviously the Elise. So it is/was emergency car shopping time.
After looking at a bunch of overdescribed and overpriced heaps, we stumbled over a reasonably decent Lancia Delta Integrale. Two owners from new, engineer owner who rather looked after it properly than pay someone to screw up the job, overall reasonable condition - not mint, but not grotty either - so after some uhmming and ahhing, I emailed the guy an offer. Slightly less than what he wanted, but a reasonable offer. And I didn't hear anything back.
So this evening we went to see an E36 coupe. Ann loved it, I was concerned about a rattle from the engine and some interesting deposits on the oil filler cap. Not headgasket mayo, but more like "all original right down to the factory oil" type deposits. Gut feeling said no to that one but Ann really like it, I did think it drove pretty much OK so on the way back we kind of decided that something like this would be the way forward.
Only to find an email accepting my offer on the Integrale when we got home. Time for the "Err, honey, would you terribly mind..." speech.
Her reaction was simply - "I like the E36 better but I know you really like the Lancia so go and buy that one".
I think I'm in love all over again 
. Even though I probably have to buy her an E36 coupe in the US at some point if I can find one in the right colour/gearbox combination.
Post pics or I call a hoax, and mate let me know if you ever want to sell it
aussiesmg wrote:
Post pics or I call a hoax, and mate let me know if you ever want to sell it
She sounds pretty happy, why would she leave?
oldsaw
HalfDork
10/15/09 6:14 p.m.
914Driver wrote:
aussiesmg wrote:
Post pics or I call a hoax, and mate let me know if you ever want to sell it
She sounds pretty happy, why would she leave?
A E36 coupe could be a good bargaining chip.........
It was during a newer car search for my wife that the logical progression of 323i-328i-M3 ocurred during the e36 phase. This lead to my obsessive 6 month search for the right M3 and subsequent de-modification and sale of my supercharged ep3 Civic.
At the expense of her car search. She was quite understanding. Followed me back to DC from the Philly suburbs in the Civic so I could get the M3 home in one trip.
I went full-court-press directly thereafter and found her a really nice low miles, silver over black Audi A4 2.8 V6 Quattro 5 speed for about $8k, which she loves. Then I did the worlds best detailing job on her '97 Civic EX coupe which sold to the first caller at asking price which was about 1/2 the Audi.
In a previous life in the motorcycle biz and as a motorcycle racer I'd meet guys all the time whose "wives would kill them..." which makes me a little sad. People gotta be happy to be together, and being with someone who objects to something thats a fundamental part of your DNA? I can't see that as a way to live.
Congrats on a cool car and a cool wife. I'm in the know on the e36 tip. PM me if you're ever seriously looking and have questions.
aussiesmg wrote:
Post pics or I call a hoax, and mate let me know if you ever want to sell it
I haven't exchanged money for Integrale yet, that's still a few days away. I'm sure that once I got it home and cleaned it, I'll post pictures of the car (not the wife) in the Reader's Ride section...
If we really, really like it we'll probably consider waiting out the five years and ship it over to the US under the 25 year waiver, but that's all up in the air at the moment.
My girlfriend won't let me get rid of the Celica. I'm not sure if that frustrates me or makes me love her more.
Of course, she really just likes it because it's pretty, but that's besides the point.
Sounds like a keeper!
Though I had other expectations with the thread title...
aussiesmg wrote:
Post pics or I call a hoax, and mate let me know if you ever want to sell it
Call a hoax then :
Taken on the long way back from a visit to a very impressive museum - couple of pictures are up over on the Classic Motorsports forum.
so jealous. Of both the wife and the car.
If I live in Europe I will drive one of those, I promise.
Heh. You might want to get a reliable car as well - finding parts for these is a bit of a nightmare these days as Lancia is more or less washing their hands of them. I'm just finding out how bad a nightmare as I need a couple of parts for it before the next long trip...
