Capri or Corvette?

Author
Discussion

Dusty964

6,919 posts

189 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Dusty964 said:
A complete waste of a thread, but it does give us some classic quotes-

The Vette, well ok it's old too. But it was completely new in the early/mid 80's. And it built and designed in a totally different manner to the Capri. In fact modern Corvettes follow a very similar construction method as the C4 still.

This means the C4 is a far superior car in every respect.


......and there is the gospel according to st 300
eh? so what's your problem?
Just the usual spouting of ste.

Earlier, i believe you may have said-

'better is a pretty naff way of describing something. Better in what way?'

Yet just a fewposts on, you base the entire debate around the construction method used in the Corvette (the C4 is superior in EVERY RESPECT because its built the same way as a newer corvette).


So, this makes it superior in every respect?????


Just a snippet of the turd that you spout 300, and- to be blunt- all of your contributions take much the same form.



Alfanatic

9,339 posts

218 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
I have a suspicion you may be comparing the high end of the Capri market to the low end of the Corvette market.

Anyhow to me the Capri is always going to lose to the '80s GTV6, especially in your price bracket. The Corvette is a lot more tempting, so my choice from your original options is the corvette if a good one really is that price and the running costs are too.

Pedmeister

1,083 posts

215 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
Alfanatic said:
I have a suspicion you may be comparing the high end of the Capri market to the low end of the Corvette market.

Anyhow to me the Capri is always going to lose to the '80s GTV6, especially in your price bracket. The Corvette is a lot more tempting, so my choice from your original options is the corvette if a good one really is that price and the running costs are too.
If you can find a 1980's GTV6! Now they were rot boxes!! Glorious engine, poor driving position, irksome gear change. Flawed diamond.

k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
Pedmeister, I enjoyed reading your post. Very informative. I always love it when people keep an old car and go about making it as good as it can be. Great stuff! I have always had a soft spot for these as my Dad had a brand new 2.8i cool

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
Dusty964 said:
Just the usual spouting of ste.
And you are going to back this up how?

Or do you disagree?

We could examine some evidence if you like...

Dusty964 said:
Earlier, i believe you may have said-

'better is a pretty naff way of describing something. Better in what way?'

Yet just a fewposts on, you base the entire debate around the construction method used in the Corvette (the C4 is superior in EVERY RESPECT because its built the same way as a newer corvette).
To which I never used the word 'better'. I did this deliberately.

Superior - and I'm quite happy to examine this further, but left it open to see if the op was wanting such information.

Let me know if you want more and we'll see if we can dig up something substantive for you.

Dusty964 said:
So, this makes it superior in every respect?????
It's stronger, more durable, less likely to rust, produces more grip, more power, is more tunable, is faster, is better specced.

Can you actually claim/name a single aspect of the Capri that is superior in design or construction?


Dusty964 said:
Just a snippet of the turd that you spout 300, and- to be blunt- all of your contributions take much the same form.
Yet all you've contributed is to belittle and name call. How grown up of you. rolleyes

k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
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ps

I'd love a capri with a V8 conversion!

Pedmeister

1,083 posts

215 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
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k-ink said:
Pedmeister, I enjoyed reading your post. Very informative. I always love it when people keep an old car and go about making it as good as it can be. Great stuff! I have always had a soft spot for these as my Dad had a brand new 2.8i cool
Cheers mate! Thanks for the positive feedback! Getting positive feedback makes all the effort worthwhile. I show the car during the summer and it's always great to receive positive comments from people. I have learnt to accept that there is no such thing as a quick fuel stop at a petrol station! Everyman & his dog wants to have a chat! smile

Edited by Pedmeister on Tuesday 17th April 14:31

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
mat777 said:
Thanks for the sensible replies people. I'd just like to point out that I'm not trolling, I just like planning things in advance and daydreaming various scenarios in my head!

To answer one of the first questions, I would p[refer a Corvette but I realise that in some aspects a Capri might be considered a more sensible option, hence why I couldnt choose. I'd really love a Bandit trans am but they are out of my budget, and was once advised a Capri would be infinitely better than a T/A. but its not american though, and a Corvette is!
I too like planning things, so no worries from me there.

Price wise, well Capri's are taking their time about it, but they are starting to move up a bit now. Although arguably still behind the MK1/2 Escorts. I think buying a tidy one at the right money would make for a good investment.

C4 Vettes are right at the bottom of their depreciation curve IMO, maybe a grand or so less and I suspect they'll stay at this price for a few years until C3's pick up the pace and C5's drop a bit more. This makes them very stable and a safe bet, although I suspect you won't likely win big on one anytime soon, not for 20 years or so. But you shouldn't really lose anything either.

Not sure who told you what about Capri's and Trans Am's, but I suspect it was total BS.

I think the biggest difference is between your choices is the Capri is practical as a 4 seater and has loads of charm. The Vette is a whole performance league higher and a more specialised vehicle, but just as capable as being used daily.

LHD might be an issue, personally I don't find it a problem, but you can never tell until you've had a proper go in one for a few days.

Oh BTW - The Capri is American - really!!!

Here's a 1973 Mercury Capri


But remember this sat below the Mustang/Camaro/Firebird market (and wasn't really hugely successful). Whereas the Corvette sat above the Mustang/Camaro/Firebird market.


In today's money it'd be a bit like comparing a Celica 190 and a C6 Corvette.

Bacon Is Proof

5,740 posts

230 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
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They sold the Capri in SA with the 302 V8.

Pedmeister

1,083 posts

215 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
mat777 said:
Thanks for the sensible replies people. I'd just like to point out that I'm not trolling, I just like planning things in advance and daydreaming various scenarios in my head!

To answer one of the first questions, I would p[refer a Corvette but I realise that in some aspects a Capri might be considered a more sensible option, hence why I couldnt choose. I'd really love a Bandit trans am but they are out of my budget, and was once advised a Capri would be infinitely better than a T/A. but its not american though, and a Corvette is!
I too like planning things, so no worries from me there.

Price wise, well Capri's are taking their time about it, but they are starting to move up a bit now. Although arguably still behind the MK1/2 Escorts. I think buying a tidy one at the right money would make for a good investment.

C4 Vettes are right at the bottom of their depreciation curve IMO, maybe a grand or so less and I suspect they'll stay at this price for a few years until C3's pick up the pace and C5's drop a bit more. This makes them very stable and a safe bet, although I suspect you won't likely win big on one anytime soon, not for 20 years or so. But you shouldn't really lose anything either.

Not sure who told you what about Capri's and Trans Am's, but I suspect it was total BS.

I think the biggest difference is between your choices is the Capri is practical as a 4 seater and has loads of charm. The Vette is a whole performance league higher and a more specialised vehicle, but just as capable as being used daily.

LHD might be an issue, personally I don't find it a problem, but you can never tell until you've had a proper go in one for a few days.

Oh BTW - The Capri is American - really!!!

Here's a 1973 Mercury Capri


But remember this sat below the Mustang/Camaro/Firebird market (and wasn't really hugely successful). Whereas the Corvette sat above the Mustang/Camaro/Firebird market.


In today's money it'd be a bit like comparing a Celica 190 and a C6 Corvette.
Erm no actually, the Capri is NOT American. It was designed in Europe, to European specifications & tastes by European design engineers. Europe was the primary market for the Capri-not the US.

standardman

424 posts

167 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
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.

Faust66

2,028 posts

164 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
k-ink said:
Pedmeister, I enjoyed reading your post. Very informative. I always love it when people keep an old car and go about making it as good as it can be. Great stuff! I have always had a soft spot for these as my Dad had a brand new 2.8i cool
Indeed.

Pedmesister, your car sounds VERY nice. I had a modded 2.8 a few years back (not to the same level as yours, mind) and there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss that car... wet roundabouts are fun in my Amazon and Sierra XR but not compared to the grin factor of a powerful Capri!

OP: Capri every time over the 'vette. They're just too big (and brash IMO) for British roads. You've been given some good Capri advice so far regarding what to look for when buying one, but I'll still add the following:

RUST. They're not as bad as you might imagine but - as always - it's always easier & cheaper to fix mechanicals on a classic than it is to sort out the dreaded tin worm. To improve the driving experience the best mod I made was a pair of Wilwood 4 pot calipers - the standard brakes are only OK at best, but upgrading them is pretty much essential. Oh, and the sound of that 2.8 lump through a big bore exhaust is divine. Mine used to set off car alarms as I drove past... I used to coast into my road if it was late at night to avoid pissing of my neighbours too much. biglaugh

72 mph in second and 96 in third? Yes please!

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
Pedmeister said:
Erm no actually, the Capri is NOT American. It was designed in Europe, to European specifications & tastes by European design engineers. Europe was the primary market for the Capri-not the US.
Not this again FFS. I couldn't give a smegging chuff what market it was designed for. Ford is 100% American!!! And the fact they sold the car over kinda shows it wasn't only destined for Europe.

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
Faust66 said:
Oh, and the sound of that 2.8 lump through a big bore exhaust is divine.
The Janspeed manifolds and systems sounded good without being too loud ( although my 2.8 was in a Sierra 4i )

k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
Pedmeister said:
I have learnt to accept that there is no such thing as a quick fuel stop at a petrol station! Everyman & his dog wants to have a chat! smile
The only car I ever had this with was my old V12 XJS. Same thing - people wanted to chat. I guess they assume your an ok guy as you're in an interesting classic. I miss that aspect of ownership actually.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
Faust66 said:
OP: Capri every time over the 'vette. They're just too big (and brash IMO) for British roads. You've been given some good Capri advice so far regarding what to look for when buying one, but I'll still add the following:
Big??

Capri C4 Vette Ford Focus ST
Width 67" 70.7" 72.4"
Length 171.3" 178.5" 171.7"


Guess a Focus is too big too biggrin

Pedmeister

1,083 posts

215 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
doogz said:
Pedmeister said:
Erm no actually, the Capri is NOT American. It was designed in Europe, to European specifications & tastes by European design engineers. Europe was the primary market for the Capri-not the US.
This guy seems to be correct, the Capri, as we're discussing here, i.e. not the Consul Capri, was designed by 'Ford of Europe GmbH' a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company
The Capri was definitely designed in Europe. One of the design engineers was a guy called Claude Lobo, who was a young guy at the time. He still works in design and is immensely proud of his involvement in the design of the Capri. He keeps a large picture of a 2.8i Special in lacquer red hung on his office wall.

The US spec Mercury Capris had different engines. They never received the 3 litre Essex engines, they had 2.3 & 2.6 V6 carb fed engines, which offered pedestrian performance given the anti-smog kit on them.

The finest Mk1 Capri was the RS2600 Capri. It was a 2,600cc Cologne engine fitted with Kugelfischer fuel injection. It produced 150 Bhp- which was considerable poke in 1974. It was also Ford of Europe's first car fitted with fuel injection. 0-60 in 7.2 seconds and a top end of 126 mph- which was serious performance in the 1970's. They were not sold in the UK, although a handful have been brought over to the UK. I know a guy who owns one.

Faust66

2,028 posts

164 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
s m said:
Faust66 said:
Oh, and the sound of that 2.8 lump through a big bore exhaust is divine.
The Janspeed manifolds and systems sounded good without being too loud ( although my 2.8 was in a Sierra 4i )
My 2.8 Capri had Janspeed manifolds and system when I got it - I quite liked the 'burble' it made so stuck with it for a couple of years until it was ready for replacement. I went for a CCI system with 3 inch chrome tailpipes (based on an Ashley system IIRC) mated to the JS tubular manifolds and it sounded LOUD... People always used to assume I'd dropped a V8 in due to the noise.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
doogz said:
100% American. Except the car was designed by Ford of Europe. Based in Germany somewhere.
biggrin

300 in 'another ruined thread' shocker.

Faust66

2,028 posts

164 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Faust66 said:
OP: Capri every time over the 'vette. They're just too big (and brash IMO) for British roads. You've been given some good Capri advice so far regarding what to look for when buying one, but I'll still add the following:
Big??

Capri C4 Vette Ford Focus ST
Width 67" 70.7" 72.4"
Length 171.3" 178.5" 171.7"


Guess a Focus is too big too biggrin
I stand corrected.

The 'vette's always seem massive to me - just goes to show what your personal preception can do!