RE: SOTW: Vauxhall Cavalier Sports Hatch
Discussion
I agree, not what I expected to see on here OllieC said:
Faust66 said:
Interesting SOTW... doesn't really float my boat, but I can certainly appreciate it.
Why is it that past or current every owners of these cars/Manta's feels the need to add the phrase 'way better than a Capri'? Trying to justify your purchase to yourself perhaps?
I have driven both Manta's and Capri's and sorry, but to me the Ford wins every time. Yep, the Capri is far from perfect, but I'd buy one tomorrow if I had the cash!
I havent driven a manta / cav sports hatch myself, but been in a few as a passenger..Why is it that past or current every owners of these cars/Manta's feels the need to add the phrase 'way better than a Capri'? Trying to justify your purchase to yourself perhaps?
I have driven both Manta's and Capri's and sorry, but to me the Ford wins every time. Yep, the Capri is far from perfect, but I'd buy one tomorrow if I had the cash!
'cooking' capris L, GL etc handle terribly in my experience, but I believe that the more sporting 2 litre S models are at least as good as the manta, even with cart springs
Engine wise theres not a lot in it either, the CIH is hardly any better than the pinto imho, but both are easily tuneable to 150 ish hp for relitively low cost. terrible economy once you start with the twin carbs etc though
people are very quick to knock the capri (and the manta as well to a lesser degree in fairness) but both cars usually received good press at the time, especially the more sporting examples of each.
What I've never understood is when Capri detractors moan on about cart springs: I was under the impression that the whole point of such cars was to enjoy a bit of 'sideways action' (easy tiger) and the old leaf sprung rear helped with this - especially the single leaf jobs.
Decent set of polybushes, single leaf springs, uprated dampers and some quality tyres - a well sorted Capri can be a lot of fun!
Don't get me wrong here, I'm no Manta hater (don't say that after a few pints!) I just think the Capri is the better car.
Hmm, should be more enthusiastic about this than I am, I think it being an Auto puts me off, as it only has 100 bhp I recond and old fashioned slow witted three speed slusher would rob it of some of its enjoyment.
That said, some memories, my dad used to buy and sell cars in the seventies and eighties, well still does sometimes but quite a few went through back then usually bog spec bread and butter stuff like Viva's, Marina's and Escort's, i.e. the 1.3 Pop Plus end of things, occasionally something a little more interesting would appear and one of these did, same colour as well, remember being quite taken with it aged about 8 or 9 and hoping he would keep it but he didnt, it went to someone at work, I remember him cleaning it with "Gunk" and it being in the garage with this strange aroma eminating, quite pleasant (not when fresh and undiluted, but a whiff when its subsided a bit) so a waft of Gunk takes me back to that car, seemed pretty classy back then with all that chrome.
I had a Manta GTE in about 91,92 which was the same car essentially but with a bodykit, my mate bought a 1.8S Manta "Berlinetta" in Silver which I really liked, seemed pretty perky for a 1.8 with 90 bhp, the GTE had 20 bhp more and was faster but no that much, the 1.8 had a relatively modern Vauxhall OHC engine, like in Astras of the time but the GTE had a Jurassic Era 2.0 Iron Block lump that was very heavy and had done service in Bedford CF vans before being dropped into the Manta GTE where they slapped some fuel injection on. Really Opel should have got the 2.0 from the Cavalier SRi as it was obvious the car was tooled up ready for it as it was the same family as the 1.8, a 130 bhp Manta with the nice light, revvy 2.0 instead of the old lump it got, wasnt a bad engine but it wasnt that great either, liked the way when you revved it the whole car rocked and it made a nice powerful noise, think it was the old school viscous fan, the interior very looked dated in 1990 but now I guess its Retro rather than just old.
The Manta never felt as much fun as a Capri, the GTE was more of a competitor for the 2.0 Lazer than the Injection, they never really had an answer to the 2.8i, except for the Monza which was a class up from the Manta/Capri, a 3.0 Monza engined Manta could have been good but again, another big, heavy engine like the 2.0 only worse, the GTE tended to Understeer more than Oversteer anyway, the 1.8 despite not being as low felt more alive, plus the GTE was under braked, tiny unvented disks that had a habit of fading and one locking, not a bad car but not a great one either, I will take a Capri instead.
That said, some memories, my dad used to buy and sell cars in the seventies and eighties, well still does sometimes but quite a few went through back then usually bog spec bread and butter stuff like Viva's, Marina's and Escort's, i.e. the 1.3 Pop Plus end of things, occasionally something a little more interesting would appear and one of these did, same colour as well, remember being quite taken with it aged about 8 or 9 and hoping he would keep it but he didnt, it went to someone at work, I remember him cleaning it with "Gunk" and it being in the garage with this strange aroma eminating, quite pleasant (not when fresh and undiluted, but a whiff when its subsided a bit) so a waft of Gunk takes me back to that car, seemed pretty classy back then with all that chrome.
I had a Manta GTE in about 91,92 which was the same car essentially but with a bodykit, my mate bought a 1.8S Manta "Berlinetta" in Silver which I really liked, seemed pretty perky for a 1.8 with 90 bhp, the GTE had 20 bhp more and was faster but no that much, the 1.8 had a relatively modern Vauxhall OHC engine, like in Astras of the time but the GTE had a Jurassic Era 2.0 Iron Block lump that was very heavy and had done service in Bedford CF vans before being dropped into the Manta GTE where they slapped some fuel injection on. Really Opel should have got the 2.0 from the Cavalier SRi as it was obvious the car was tooled up ready for it as it was the same family as the 1.8, a 130 bhp Manta with the nice light, revvy 2.0 instead of the old lump it got, wasnt a bad engine but it wasnt that great either, liked the way when you revved it the whole car rocked and it made a nice powerful noise, think it was the old school viscous fan, the interior very looked dated in 1990 but now I guess its Retro rather than just old.
The Manta never felt as much fun as a Capri, the GTE was more of a competitor for the 2.0 Lazer than the Injection, they never really had an answer to the 2.8i, except for the Monza which was a class up from the Manta/Capri, a 3.0 Monza engined Manta could have been good but again, another big, heavy engine like the 2.0 only worse, the GTE tended to Understeer more than Oversteer anyway, the 1.8 despite not being as low felt more alive, plus the GTE was under braked, tiny unvented disks that had a habit of fading and one locking, not a bad car but not a great one either, I will take a Capri instead.
I had an Opel Ascona of around the same vintage with similar coloured seats - they are a bugger to keep clean!
I then moved onto a Manta GTE coupe, body shape was exactly as this but had some summary Irmscher bits bolted on. I seem to remember giving some beans at the very first round about after picking it up and found myself heading right back in the direction of the dealers.......
I then moved onto a Manta GTE coupe, body shape was exactly as this but had some summary Irmscher bits bolted on. I seem to remember giving some beans at the very first round about after picking it up and found myself heading right back in the direction of the dealers.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIFUsqAbbrI
Do you think Ari Vatenan could have driven a Capri in the same manner?
Do you think Ari Vatenan could have driven a Capri in the same manner?
Malam said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIFUsqAbbrI
Do you think Ari Vatenan could have driven a Capri in the same manner?
1m43s. Do you think Ari Vatenan could have driven a Capri in the same manner?
That is all.Malam said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIFUsqAbbrI
Do you think Ari Vatenan could have driven a Capri in the same manner?
Clips like that give me goose bumps. Stunning.Do you think Ari Vatenan could have driven a Capri in the same manner?
Strangely attractive. Much more so than a Capri! However, be warned, my brother had the Opel Manta equivalent and described it as an absolute money pit. Fuel consumption of the auto is likely to be pretty poor and reliability might not be so good. Spares might be hard to find these days too.
On the plus side, most jobs on one of these would easily done by a half competent DIYer. And it does look good. If the body is in good shape and you can get the right set of wheels it would probably be a cool looking cheap runabout.
But honesty shed, there's got to be more interesting kit around for a grand.
On the plus side, most jobs on one of these would easily done by a half competent DIYer. And it does look good. If the body is in good shape and you can get the right set of wheels it would probably be a cool looking cheap runabout.
But honesty shed, there's got to be more interesting kit around for a grand.
Malam said:
I've never been a fan of the hatch, although they're strarting to look better as the years go by...
Here's my old GT/E Exclusive Coupe. A late '88 F Plate which was practically mint and standard apart from the Blydenstein head, 400 mirrors & Bilsteins...
I miss it
That's lovely Malam - mine was an A-reg GTE coupe in white - prefer the wheels on yours though. Had a 2.2 and then went to 2.4. Would've liked the i200 gearset after driving the Steve Thompson demoHere's my old GT/E Exclusive Coupe. A late '88 F Plate which was practically mint and standard apart from the Blydenstein head, 400 mirrors & Bilsteins...
I miss it
When I was a t college (oddly enough in the aforementioned Hull)a lad on our course, Ibahim Abukeiba where are you now) had a green manta GT-J that was a cool as while we were plugging away in clapped out vivas and escorts, that he was only too keen to lend out, to anyone who asked. Put a fiver's worth of 4 star in it, rag it to Bridlington and back, and give him it back, none the wiser. I do remember him swapping it at the dealers when the radio stopped woring in the one he had. WAY too much money for a student !
I used to have a blue 2litre ’78 Cavalier Coupe GLS. Bought from my uncle in Luton. Apparently it used to be a press car. He had it for 10 years, then I put 40k miles on it. Pillarless 2 door. Brillant for tall drivers.
MOT guys were always amazed at what good nick it was it, but the rear diff whined and I stupidly sold it instead of fixing it.
Digressing, but it’s been compared on this thread – I then bought an ‘84 2.8 Capri, which was great fun. Looked stock, but each time I took it too a garage I got a sharp intake of breath “Oh, these aren’t standards breaks… air filter.. manifold” Halfords wouldn’t even touch it as it didn’t have a standard ump plug”? It flew though!
Next up was an ’86 2.0 Manta GTE. Bought it from a mechanic who had it from new. I put the obligatory big bore and manifold, KnN and lowered springs n shocks on it. Did the equivalent (on a private road…) of London to Glasgow in, cough, 4 and a half hours early one moring.
Great cars.
An OK shed, with potential, but the coupe had better lines.
MOT guys were always amazed at what good nick it was it, but the rear diff whined and I stupidly sold it instead of fixing it.
Digressing, but it’s been compared on this thread – I then bought an ‘84 2.8 Capri, which was great fun. Looked stock, but each time I took it too a garage I got a sharp intake of breath “Oh, these aren’t standards breaks… air filter.. manifold” Halfords wouldn’t even touch it as it didn’t have a standard ump plug”? It flew though!
Next up was an ’86 2.0 Manta GTE. Bought it from a mechanic who had it from new. I put the obligatory big bore and manifold, KnN and lowered springs n shocks on it. Did the equivalent (on a private road…) of London to Glasgow in, cough, 4 and a half hours early one moring.
Great cars.
An OK shed, with potential, but the coupe had better lines.
Garlick said:
If I could find some period steel wheels, I'd happily run this as a daily smoker
Riggers (finally) you're getting the hang of this. Let's celebrate with a tea......white no sugar for me. Ta
I reckon it probably still has its original Rostyle wheels underneath the wheel trims.Riggers (finally) you're getting the hang of this. Let's celebrate with a tea......white no sugar for me. Ta
It is an interesting shed of the week. I have no desire to own it, but if I saw it out on the road I would pay it plenty of attention.
OzzyR1 said:
That's pretty nasty.
I used to really want a Manta when I passed my test ended up with a Metro GTI as the insurance was about half for some reason.
Looking back I had a lucky escape.
Ha, a Manta was far superior to a Metro I used to really want a Manta when I passed my test ended up with a Metro GTI as the insurance was about half for some reason.
Looking back I had a lucky escape.
Double wishbone front suspension for good front end grip
Live axle rear with no weight over it for poor traction
Oversteer ........ wheeeeeeeeeee
Also, with huge drum brakes at the back, the handbrake could actually lock both rear wheels easily (unlike most modern RWD cars with their tiny drums in the disk hub) and it was easy to spin 180° such that it became my prefered turning method
I had three GTE's
Faust66 said:
I was under the impression that the whole point of such cars was to enjoy a bit of 'sideways action' (easy tiger) and the old leaf sprung rear helped with this - especially the single leaf jobs.
Problem is with the leaf springs, they tend to be more unpredictable than the coil/trailing arms and panhard rod of the manta.Edited by Gary C on Friday 19th August 12:47
Edited by Gary C on Friday 19th August 12:49
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