Thinking of getting a Ford Capri.. am I insane?

[bouncer_the_dog]

Still would like a Capri though. I'll probably wait until I live somewhere with a garage..and have actually driven one and survived. Are there any dodgy 80's cars I have overlooked that may fit the bill? I may be going to look at a Scirocco in Swindon now..it just gets better

 

[cybertect]

If you are looking for a Rocco, keep your eyes peeled on the Scirocco Register.

I'll usually suggest later 1.8 DX injection engine model: GTX or an '89 onward Scala Injection (there was a limited edition carburettor Scala from 87 and 88).

There are a lot of ads on eBay and Autotrader for GTIIs which have a 1.8 EX engine with a Pierburg carburettor - 95 HP vs 112 HP for the DX. Still quite fun to drive (I had one before my Scala) though if you're thinking of modifying the engine for more power, you're definitely better off starting with an injection model.

FWIW, I have a few other Scirocco resources and links on my web site

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/scirocco/

I highly recommend Dr. Dub's site for an overview of the various Mk2s.

If you need any other help, drop me a line

 

[Farmer Giles]

Its all about the Tickford or RS.

 

[longdog]

The only Capri worth having:

I'd never even heard of that

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

that's not the original capri though this is

ford consul capri...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Capri

not to be confused with the mercury capri...

or the later revamped 1990's
which was main a mazda by this point...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Capri

 

[Wilson]

Still would like a Capri though. I'll probably wait until I live somewhere with a garage..and have actually driven one and survived. Are there any dodgy 80's cars I have overlooked that may fit the bill? I may be going to look at a Scirocco in Swindon now..it just gets better

£200
youre probably going to have to spend a little bit on it but at the price it aint bad

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

don't do it a £200 vw is going to have problems big problems.. usually big electrical problems... usually big electrical problems costing around £1000 or so...

tbh if you want summit for £2000 and it's gonna be classic and rear wheel drive...

http://tinyurl.com/2uwwqu

though with that one i'd pay the starting price and spend the rest on a gear box repair or replacement... (around £150 will get you a recon gear box ...)

 

[Griff]

tbh if you want summit for £2000 and it's gonna be classic and rear wheel drive...

I'd lean in favour of a decent Bug & a set of BRMs for £2000, not so 'Nurse Gladys Emanuelle'.

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

I'd lean in favour of a decent Bug & a set of BRMs for £2000, not so 'Nurse Gladys Emanuelle'.

maybe it looks that way but you forget front torsion bar suspension (ie same as still in use by current f1 cars) live rear dedion axel with lsd (as still in use in the caterham sevens) no weight and the engine was made as the a++ unit until 1998 when the tookt he last rover 100's (metros to you and i) off the road the 1098 engine will happily be replaced with any of the a++ engines and my one of these is still technically a modified morris minor...

 

[ICB]

bugs and minors may be rwd and classics but they're slow and twee

 

[geminisnake]

You'd turn down a 351 V8 Falcon with a 6-71 blower?
Are you mad?

Bearing in mind I live in NE Scotland (and don't have a garage), where it does rain quite a bit the supercharger would get wet A LOT

And it spoils the look of the bonnet imo thus making polishing awkward, and vast expanses of black HAVE to be shiny

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

why do people who own caterhams always look like this?

 

[Griff]

why do people who own caterhams always look like this?

Probably the same reason that people who drive Morgans always look like people who drive Morgans.

 

[Badgers]

The votes have it my friend

 

[spanglechick]

you want a classic, stylish motor - real pull, chance to soup it up, lots of enthusiasts and dedicated garages / spares places - i'd go for a mini.

beetles are all so old. you can get a decent eighties cooper for your money, i bet.

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

why do people who own caterhams always look like this?

no diea mines a lotus however and i certainly don't look like that...

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

you want a classic, stylish motor - real pull, chance to soup it up, lots of enthusiasts and dedicated garages / spares places - i'd go for a mini.

beetles are all so old. you can get a decent eighties cooper for your money, i bet.

erm minis are as old as beetles... and there's no such thing as a decent mini there ahs never been one made... period..

 

[spanglechick]

erm minis are as old as beetles... and there's no such thing as a decent mini there ahs never been one made... period..

but the newest old-model mini is considerably younger than the newest old-model beetle.

they stopped making minis in 2000, whereas beetles stopped production by 1978 (apart from in mexico - but mexican imports have their own problems).

As for the weird comment, i doubt you'd find many impartial mechanics or petrol-heads to agree with you. i suppose it might be true if your definition of "decent" fell into what the americans call a "muscle car", but in terms of reliability, manoeuvreability, accelleration and the fun you have driving the fuckers (my criteria for a decent car), minis, especially coopers, rate pretty well.

 

[ICB]

but the newest old-model mini is considerably younger than the newest old-model beetle.

they stopped making minis in 2000, whereas beetles stopped production by 1978 (apart from in mexico - but mexican imports have their own problems).

As for the weird comment, i doubt you'd find many impartial mechanics or petrol-heads to agree with you. i suppose it might be true if your definition of "decent" fell into what the americans call a "muscle car", but in terms of reliability, manoeuvreability, accelleration and the fun you have driving the fuckers (my criteria for a decent car), minis, especially coopers, rate pretty well.

word

my mum's partner's brother makes titanium engine components for the mini 7 race series and I went to watch them at Castle Coombe, they were kicking the shit out of the Porsches on lap times.

(I know the Coombe is short and tight but all the same.)