New Chrysler (Lancia) Delta

[ban1111]

test drove two Deltas today

a Delta SR multiair 140 in white with back roof
a Delta Limited multijet 165 in metallic dark blue

the multiair was slow and unresponsive, wouldn't produce full boost. basdly needs SPORT button, would probably be ok then
the multijet was quicker but ultimately unrewarding to drive

interior on anything but Limited NAV spec is cheap and tacky, even the Limited has BEIGE headlining and a pillars

not a drivers car, too many nannying driver aids
would suit an older person downsizing from a Mercedes though

unfortunately Fiat in their wisdom decided to make Alfa the sporting wing leaving Lancia as the luxury wing.sigh. Not one of Fiats best moves.

 

[JTD_Liam]

Shame the Delta experience wasn't better as it would've been good getting a long term comparison with a Bravo from a Bravo owner. That said the Delta does look a bit of a half arsed car. Almost like Fiat/Lancia couldn't really be bothered so just made a Bravo longer & more awkward looking, slapped a load of fake chrome on & had done.

I agree about the interior. The design works on the Bravo but simply adding a load of silver plastic on what's a 'luxury' (Chryslers words not mine) car, doesn't really cut it.

What suprises me is your experience of the engines. Isn't the 140 MultiAir an uprated 135 MA from the Punto/MiTo? They perform ok so i'm surprised the 140 wasn't better. Even more surprised about the Multijet. Were other aspects of the drive contributing to the poor view of it or would the engines still have stood out as being a bit underwhelming?

Strange how the Delta got better reviews than the Ypsilon in many articles, yet I've seen quite a few Ypsilons & only one Delta so the buying public must share your opinion of the Delta. Mind you, wouldn't be the first time the press got it wrong.

 

[Ulpian]

I drove the top of the range JTD a few months ago and found it very smart inside. Unfortunately the clutch was beyond heavy. In fact I have never driven a car with such a heavy clutch, and it made the car a miserable drive. The car had only done about 12000 miles as well.

Definitely not a luxurious driving experience.

 

[dragonwagon]

I did examine a relatively low spec example in a dealer showroom a few months back and felt somewhat underwhelmed. The Limited spec test drive car was significantly better specifed with nicer finish overall. That it drove like a Bravo was no surprise really - it is a long wheel base Bravo when all is said and done.
Like the styling though.

 

[RobW]

What suprises me is your experience of the engines. Isn't the 140 MultiAir an uprated 135 MA from the Punto/MiTo? They perform ok so i'm surprised the 140 wasn't better. Even more surprised about the Multijet. Were other aspects of the drive contributing to the poor view of it or would the engines still have stood out as being a bit underwhelming?

essentially the multiair 140 is missing the Sport button,(so wouldn't full boost and throttle response was lethargic, steering 'floppy') if you remapped it it would probably be ok but i think it is basically underpowered for the heavier chassis. 0-60 nearly 10 seconds...
also understeered and generally felt like a Bravo that was fully laden
the multiair 165 drove ok

 

[rossocorsa]

I have a chrysler delta limited and as a long term lancia enthusiast feel qualified to comment! The reason I bought it was not that directly I wanted an incognito lancia but that with the heavy depreciation it was a no brainer second hand a 2 litre with plenty of bells and whistles for the price of a similar age ford with 1.6 and cheap cloth seats. The external design is very striking much better in the metal than in pictures, I think that dark colours are best (ours is dark grey metallic with a gloss black roof) but chrysler in their wisdom seem to have imported a disproportionate number in white which doesn't show off the lines well at all. when on hols in Italy I only recall seeing them in elegant metallics never white. Inside it is very similar in the basic layout to a bravo which isn't a bad thing but doesn't really make it very distinctively lancia (or crappler sorry Chrysler) the cheaper variants have a silver finish to the sat nav and instrument pack which does look a bit cheap but the limited has them in piano black with a stitched leather dash covering, I think it is quite classy but others on this thread appear to differ. The seats in the limited are upholstered in very high quality soft poltrona Frau leather absolutely lovely, if you don't know who poltrona Frau are look them up! To drive it is fine handles pretty well and the 165 diesel is both reasonably quiet and economical whilst being adequately quick although for some bizarre reason you can't buy a new 165 here any more only a 120 or the 140 multiair both of which frankly don't appeal to me. Ride quality is a little jittery possibly partly due to it having the optional 18 inch wheels. The gear shift is very light and easy but not all that precise in feel. As a day to day car to be honest it's great although why anyone would ever have paid £26k for one new is beyond me, like many it seems ours is ex Fiat so I don't have to feel guilty that any private owner suffered well over 50% loss in under two years and just 10000 miles. It's not the most sporting car in the world but we also have an mx5 for sunny days and one day my beta volumex might be back on the road again. Perhaps it's that I've become an old fart (as someone sort of commented earlier) but honestly I do think its a nice car and one that really stands out from the crowd. Bit of a shame that the 190 twin turbo was never sold here those go like a proper rocket, my daughters boyfriend has one in left hand drive and with the right badges too.