Capri or Corvette?

[irocfan]

Always wanted a Capri - but ended up buying a Manta Coupe and for my money it was a better car.

In response to the OP I suspect that the 'Vette may be easier to live with and (oddly) cheaper to run for a number of years

[300bhp/ton]

Dusty964 said:

Dont take the P1ss- his smart is quicker than a TVR

Yes it was ON THAT ROAD WITH THOSE drivers. Only 1 brain cell prat would fail to understand such a simple concept.

[Garlick]

300bhp/ton said:

Yes it was ON THAT ROAD WITH THOSE drivers. Only 1 brain cell prat would fail to understand such a simple concept.

Are we finished now? Good.

Time for a lie down I'd suggest.

[Dave200]

300bhp/ton said:

Dusty964 said:

Dont take the P1ss- his smart is quicker than a TVR

Yes it was ON THAT ROAD WITH THOSE drivers. Only 1 brain cell prat would fail to understand such a simple concept.

Is it still a 'real' sportscar, in the same way that Pinocchio was a 'real' boy?

[LuS1fer]

Alfanatic said:

I remember the runout one where they compared a 2.8 limited edition of some sorts to a GTV6, both near the end of their production lives. That's where I got the unsophisticated from. It didn't equate to "not fun" or "crap", but rather meaning that the GTV felt more like a sophisticated, built for purpose sportscar in its balance, responses, capabilities and so on. The Capri's more humble origins and specification were obvious when the driver started leaning on it. They didn't conclude that this made the Capri less likeable, just a different kind of experience. A bit more muscle car rather than Alps mountain pass weapon.

So no, definitely not meant as "bottom of the pile", though I can imagine it could be dismissed as "crap handling" by someone looking for a surgical scalpel to dissect a b-road as opposed to someone looking for a drift king capable of lapping roundabouts comfortably on full opposite lock, something the short wheelbase and LSD free GTV6 is a bit rubbish at.

The Capri is definitely the better tool for exploring the world of opposite lock.

I pored over that CAR head to head test and in almost every department, the GTV6 was better. At the end of the test, they chose the Capri. Go figure. never did understand it although as the owner of an Alfetta 2000 with THAT recalcitrant rear-mounted gearbox, I had some sympathy with the verdict.

[Super Slo Mo]

standardman said:

Price of spares is creeping up and some spares are getting rare and expensive.

Buy the best you can, a mildly played with 1600 (Not sufficient to worry insurance) will be a fun different car. Correctly setup will turn in excess of 40 to the gallon on a run.

I had a 1600 in the early 90's. It probably wasn't all that well set up as it understeered like a pig, you couldn't get the backend out at all, the front would just wash out, although being a hamfisted 18 year old probably had something to do with it. That and the cheapo part worn tyres I fitted (student budget.....)

Oh, it was dog slow and returned no more than 24 mpg either. So again, probably wasn't set up properly, although it passed it's MOT easily enough. The Fiat UNO 70S that replaced it was like a rocket ship in comparison.

I'd love another capri though.

[k-ink]

Bacon Is Proof said:

But the USA is just a subsidiary of the British Empire, so where does that leave you?

That is certainly opening a can of worms.

Most Americans still assume they are independant. I think our Queen might have something to say about that

[s m]

Alfanatic said:

So no, definitely not meant as "bottom of the pile", though I can imagine it could be dismissed as "crap handling" by someone looking for a surgical scalpel to dissect a b-road as opposed to someone looking for a drift king capable of lapping roundabouts comfortably on full opposite lock, something the short wheelbase and LSD free GTV6 is a bit rubbish at.

The Capri is definitely the better tool for exploring the world of opposite lock.

Fair comment I gues although if you want the sharpest handling you'd probably go for something Lotus/Caterham shaped and forego sports coupes like the Alfa and Ford.

Interestingly, the Capri wheelbase is only 6" longer than the Alfa, not massively more........and as it's only 6" longer overall than the Alfa, proportionately the same

[s m]

s m said:

swerni said:

And yet the capri has crap handling,

If it's the 2.8 he mentioned in the OP, rather contrary to your view, they were quite well praised in the press of the time for their predictable handling.

Here's the summary page from the Autocar test of the 2.8i back in 81

[s m]

LuS1fer said:

Alfanatic said:

I remember the runout one where they compared a 2.8 limited edition of some sorts to a GTV6, both near the end of their production lives. That's where I got the unsophisticated from. It didn't equate to "not fun" or "crap", but rather meaning that the GTV felt more like a sophisticated, built for purpose sportscar in its balance, responses, capabilities and so on. The Capri's more humble origins and specification were obvious when the driver started leaning on it. They didn't conclude that this made the Capri less likeable, just a different kind of experience. A bit more muscle car rather than Alps mountain pass weapon.

So no, definitely not meant as "bottom of the pile", though I can imagine it could be dismissed as "crap handling" by someone looking for a surgical scalpel to dissect a b-road as opposed to someone looking for a drift king capable of lapping roundabouts comfortably on full opposite lock, something the short wheelbase and LSD free GTV6 is a bit rubbish at.

The Capri is definitely the better tool for exploring the world of opposite lock.

I pored over that CAR head to head test and in almost every department, the GTV6 was better. At the end of the test, they chose the Capri. Go figure. never did understand it although as the owner of an Alfetta 2000 with THAT recalcitrant rear-mounted gearbox, I had some sympathy with the verdict.

Here's another article the Alfa GTV6 and Capri if you like reading old stuff - Roger Bell drives both

[Alfanatic]

s m said:

Here's another article the Alfa GTV6 and Capri if you like reading old stuff - Roger Bell drives both

Thanks!

Pic a response:

Reasoned response:
Ah well, that paints a different picture, particularly about the steering where I expected the Alfa to shine more in comparison, but then I guess the heavy steering always added to the appeal to me and I'd forgotten about the overservoed brakes on the GTV6, they feel completely different to the pre facelift GTVs that I drove a lot more. I've underestimated the Capri. I've got the old comparative tests I have somewhere, I'll scan and post them as well. I know it was never a walkover for the Alfa and it's thread relevant because of the Capri content.

PH response:
That doesn't support my viewpoint at all. You must have photoshopped it. Anyway I'm off to google Roger Bell to find some obscure fact he got wrong once so I can discredit him

[s m]

Alfanatic said:

Thanks!

Pic a response:

Reasoned response:
Ah well, that paints a different picture, particularly about the steering where I expected the Alfa to shine more in comparison, but then I guess the heavy steering always added to the appeal to me and I'd forgotten about the overservoed brakes on the GTV6, they feel completely different to the pre facelift GTVs that I drove a lot more. I've underestimated the Capri. I've got the old comparative tests I have somewhere, I'll scan and post them as well. I know it was never a walkover for the Alfa and it's thread relevant because of the Capri content.

PH response:
That doesn't support my viewpoint at all. You must have photoshopped it. Anyway I'm off to google Roger Bell to find some obscure fact he got wrong once so I can discredit him

- I just thought it woudl be interesting for any old car fans in general.

Anyway, quite agree , the 2.8 Capri wasn't a scalpel type of car and didn't have the chassis technology that was found on the Alfa but I think SVE did a half-decent job on it. I can scan the Exmoor test tonight ......( it was just about 8 pages though so I ran out of time last night )

Anyone remember historic racer, Willie Green, talking to Autocar about why he used an old Capri 2.8 ( albeit with the Cosworth 24v V6 ) as a fun car for the 'Ring and other tracks?

[s m]

Here's John Watson ( used to drive in F1 ) driving a Capri 2.8

Capri 2.8 on Circuit

[s m]

Here's VBH from 5th Gear trying to give an old Capri 2.8 away!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrLmM8bZTZA

[anonymous-user]

Loving the old article. A time where cars were drawn by hand and pages were filled with text rather than journo's sunglasses and boutique watches

This has got me thinking about a 2.8i now. A mate used to have one when we were young which elevated him to godlike status and provided shagging on tap. It was heavy on fuel though and I remember that it took about 99% of his income to put fuel in. Whenever we went out for a blast we all chipped in, it was like our own neighbourhood uber taxi really.

[mat777]

yonex said:

elevated him to godlike status and provided shagging on tap

Say no more!

• goes off to scour classifieds for a capri*

[LuS1fer]

mat777 said:

Say no more!

• goes off to scour classifieds for a Capri*

OK...but don't be too disappointed when this parks next to you and you are left shagless.

Edited by LuS1fer on Thursday 19th April 11:57

[chris7676]

LuS1fer said:

OK...but don't be too disappointed when this parks next to you and you are left shagless.

Edited by LuS1fer on Thursday 19th April 11:57

[ukzz4iroc]

You would get abused for driving the Corvette and stereotyped. You will get interest and love in the Capri.

If you don't care then that's cool. If you do take heed.

[300bhp/ton]

ukzz4iroc said:

You would get abused for driving the Corvette and stereotyped. You will get interest and love in the Capri.

If you don't care then that's cool. If you do take heed.

Does it actually happen in real life though? Certain cars take stick on PH especially and the internet in general. But out there away from a PC it's quite different in reality.