Hello,

Because it's probably very rare in the UK, I'd like to present my "everyday" car - Lancia Delta 1,9mjeTT.

It's a mid-2010 1.9 twin turbo diesel, Platino trim (second highest after Executive, very very rare and was probably bought only by Italian government) "Bicolore" roof (matt gray rails + double glass roof), 18in wheels, navigation, and with beige "Poltrona Frau" leather interior.



If you're not interested in the story, scroll down as the rest of the images are the end

A year and a half ago I've managed to persuade my wife to change our reliable but tired Alfa Romeo 156 1.9jtd 8v sedan for something newer and roomier (we've become parents in the meantime).
Initially, we (mostly I) had our mind set on 3-4y old Alfa 159 station wagon, but after trying a few I've been disapponited with it (or the ones we've tried):
- the interior is nice, but cramped, especially the rear seats (low roof and short legroom), although the boot was pretty big (I have a feeling they should have moved the rear bench lower and 10cm back at the expense of boot),
- 2.4mjet and petrols were out of the equation as we needed something frugal,
- the "sensible" engine choice was 1.9mjet 8v 120ps ("alive" low end but a bit underpowered in heavy 159) or 1.9mjet 16v 150ps (adequate power but lazy low rev response),
- newer 2.0mjet were nowhere to be found, or waaay over budget for a decent specced one (no cloth seats or manual A/C please),
- generally solid and surefooted drive, but a bit ponderous and inert...

Out of curiosity, we tried one Lancia Delta, and were impressed with roominess, practicality (big boot, rear bench slided back-forth 15cm) and "solid" feel of a, technically, lower segment car. Afterwards, we've driven a pair of 1.6mjet-s (120hp manual and "Dualogic" automatic) and a 1.4tjet 150hp petrol, and then we stumbled upon this "loaded" 1.9 twin turbo for a great price.
The car was in mint condition, high milage (135.000km = 85.000mi) but without a scratch, good maintenance... I've brought my friend mechanic to check it (ECU scan, suspension inspection, paint thickness tests etc...) and he was speechless. I was really afraid of the twin turbo setup, but after 2-3 days of unsuccessful Google searching for problems and horror stories about it, we've bought it!

The low price was probably due to cambelt service scheduled at 140.000km, so I've had it changed with all filter and liqiuds at the beginning of 2015. We've covered 16kkm / 10k miles since, trouble free.

The engine is great, it's practically lag-free, when driven quick it gives impression of lacking the advertised 190hp, because it's got really linear delivery and wide power band (pulls practically the same from 1,5k to 5k rpm, no marked pull around 2-2,5k as most of modern I4 diesels), BUT then you look down to speed and realize you're 10-20mi faster than imagined. Gearbox's not goood (more on that later) so the sprint from standstill is not much fun, but in-gear response and acceleration is fantastic. The sound is nothing special, typical well isolated I4 diesel, a bit clattery when cold.

Handling is OK, electrical servo with not much feel, but light and precise. Relatively long wheelbase so pretty stable, quite a bit of roll when pushed but not too much understeer, although I didn't "hoon it" many times. Although heavier and down on max power, because of responsive engine I think it would be able to keep pace with stock Coupe 20vt on a B-road, both driven at 8/10.
Car does 1/3 milage in town, 1/3 B-road and 1/3 motorway, I'm no Stig but neither Captain Slow, and average consumption is 7lt/100km (40mpg) real (the BC lies/shows 5-15%percent lower consumption). It does real 50-55mpg on open road.
This winter I've changed the battery, as the installed one was under recommended capacity, and I've bought a set of second hand original 16in alloys and put winter tyres on them (looks humble on them, so no pictures

We're really happy with the car, although there are a few minuses:
- not very comfortable - the strange part is I don't think the suspension is to blame, not too firm or crashy, BUT the seats are too hard, as if they don't dampen anything... on long journeys they don't leave you tired or back-sore, bit it feels like you sit ontop a tabouret... really annoying, as they're the upscale "Poltrona Frau" (italian upmarket furniture producer) version, but are 10X worse than "Momo" leather seats we had in Alfa, or Coupe "Recaros".
- occasionaly, the DPF is annoying me... in the beginning it regenerated 2x per full tank (we do many city miles), but I've changed the oil to C3 (low ash) spec, even if Lancia/Fiat does't require one (?), and it dropped to 1x per full tank. The annoying part is ECU decides to start regeneration at the most inconvenient moment - eq. after a 50-100miles of A and B-road driving, it starts to regenerate at a crossroad 500m from destination??? Also, looking at BC, it bumps up the consumption 10% per regeneration.
- stereo is rubbish - it goes loud, but always feels tiny and hollow. Aftermarket 12y old Alpine unit with 16y old stock speakers in my Coupe sounds as audiophile grade gear compared to this. Apparently there was a Bose upgraded system, but I fear it would ba a real pain to buy complete second hand system and put it in...
AND THE WORST :-)
- gearbox is crap - slow and imprecise, difficult shifting on winter mornings. My mechanic inspected and lubricated everything, but it's still barely satisfactory. It's a GM "F40" gearbox that's got quite bad reputation.

To end on a positive note, the headlights are excellent... it doesn't have HIDs, and I was initially not too keen on that, but I've been blown away by the quality of standard halogen lighting - it's really clear and bright, sharp cut-out, if there wasn't a yellowish tint one could mistake it for a HID. I've had a bulb blow a few months ago, it was Philips (no XtremeVision or similar markings so assume it was standard line), I've replaced both bulbs with Osram NB Plus and the lights have improved even more!

Now the pictures - they're from the original ad, as I was lazy to take some decent pictures (small baby so always in a hurry).













And one mine...

Thanks to Mr.barnacle for editing/setting right image links. I've edited the post adding one more afterwards.

The GM F40 gearbox is actually really strong, and apart from a clunky change is very good. The M32 is the one that causes the issues in the 159 1.9 Diesels.

It is a pity Alfa/Fiat didn't sell a version of that engine in the UK, as it sounds like a great unit.

Certainly an interesting and unique car you have there. They didn't sell all that well over here, partly because they were badges as Chryslers, and partly because the styling was a bit in your face compared to most other cars in the class.

Great cars Theres a core of Delta 3 Lancisti here in the UK - about 6-8 of us that have done the conversion. I think I was the first tbh and wrote a how-to guide for their forum.......... You would not believe how many comments I get about mine including at least two people I have watched stopping their cars to get out and ask and chat. The 'Chrysler' badged UK version sold in minimal numbers here - Fiat really missed a trick. Motormech looks after the oily bits/MoT for me and its rarer than a Lambo for peanuts. Ours is the 1.4 Fiat Multiair again........ We love it.

Quick update.

Still have the car, it's at 175.000km (40k in 3.xx years).
It's been almost trouble free (except the lousy gearbox, crap stereo, funny seats and infuriating DPF switch-on logic).

Two months ago, during a WOT motorway passing, it threw an check engine light, and went to limp mode a few seconds later. It felt like it had 40hp left. I first thought some induction pipe split or blew off, but it was a mainfold pressure that died. Bosch unit, about 80€, after the replacement the car's gone back to normal.

Then yesterday, the gearbox linkages froze. It's been really cold after the weekend, -10°C in the nights, and -5°C during the day, with violent winds (over 60knots). Day before, I parked the car on the street, and anticipating freezing cold, left it without the handbrake and in reverse. In the morning (-7°C) the car started fine, but the ring that "unlocks" the reverse wouldn't lower, and the lever could only be moved to reverse and neutral. I left the car running for 20min, and it unstuck. In the evening, I again parked without handbrake, this time left it in 1st gear. This morning, it would shift only 1st-neutral-2nd, couldn't be moved right or ring pulled to grab reverse. Again, after 15min of idle/fast 2k idle (to heat up), it loosened and unlocked other gears. Tonight, I left it with hanbrake ON, and in neutral, I'm curious what gears will I be able to access tomorrow...

I'll have to have the linkages replaced, my mechanic will be delighted. Probably my wallet too

This morning, it was -5°C and I could only select 3rd-neutral-4th (the car spent the night in neutral).
In the afternoon, it was -1°C, and all worked normal. The linkages must be full of moisture that freezes up...

Lovely Delta, we were considering it very seriously as substitute of our tired "TDI horse". The seats issue might be part of the Lancia dna I suspect, although my limited experience with the brand. My father in law has the lowest spec petrol Delta II and fully loaded diesel Libra, and the seats in the Delta are by far the ones to choose, the Libra's top-to-the-eye seats are indeed thorn-in-the-b**t.
As of the gearbox linkages why don't you try the lubrication trick from the HowTo section, and probably change the gearbox oil, solved the same problem with a vw Passat I had some 15 years ago.

Thank You for the advice, but I've searched the "How to" section, but can't find gearbox lubrication guide...

How strange, I was almost sure there was a good write-up posted...well, the method mainly consists of fitting of short plastic/rubber tube over the cable's metal end cap, hanging the cables, then pouring some thin oil in the plastic tube and just left them hanged until the oil finds its way down by the gravity.

Avtokrator you are thinking of the How to lubricant hand brake cable guide. The premise should be the same

Ok, thank You all!

Yep, you're right, but again yes, should work the same way😄