Advice on getting a Capri

[hugh_]

I currently have an Escort and to cut a long story short, I'm getting bored of it!

I'm considering getting a Capri, with the idea that it will be an introduction to car maintainance and fun motoring at the same time. Apologies in advance for the long string of questions that follows:

- Realistically is it suitable as an everyday car; I need some boot and the ability of fit a towbar, I dont need creature comforts.

- Mechanically what are these cars like to work on? I have relatively little experience of working on the oily bits of cars but am technically minded and adept with tools.

- Are parts easily available?

- Is insuring it going to be a problem for a 19/20 y.o.?


Given that I won't get more than £1500 for my car, and allowing some money for tools etc, will about £1000 get me something decent (there seem to be a reasonable number around this price range)? If not, could spending less (and the rest on parts) be do-able?

Any other comments or things you think I've overlooked would be greatly appreciated.

Hugh

[paolow]

hugh_ said:

I currently have an Escort and to cut a long story short, I'm getting bored of it! I'm considering getting a Capri, with the idea that it will be an introduction to car maintainance and fun motoring at the same time. Apologies in advance for the long string of questions that follows: - Realistically is it suitable as an everyday car; I need some boot and the ability of fit a towbar, I dont need creature comforts.

Yep! the boots pretty big but relaitvely shallow though. I have seen them with towbars too so im sure if you look around youll find one that suits

hugh_ said:

- Mechanically what are these cars like to work on? I have relatively little experience of working on the oily bits of cars but am technically minded and adept with tools.

Piece of piss. all you need is a 13mm spanner and a phillips and youre all set. seriously - ive never had a car as easy as a capri to work on. stacks of room in and around the engine but the one bugbear will be rust seizing bolts etc in place so get handy with a grinder for anything mechanical. having said that - its only happened a couple of times to me so dont be scared off!

hugh_ said:

- Are parts easily available?

yep - either through CCI (capri club international) tickover.co.uk who are very good at what they do or through motor factors. plugs are a quid, lead set 12 quid, clutch 45 quid etc etc

hugh_ said:

- Is insuring it going to be a problem for a 19/20 y.o.?

go to footman james or osborne and sons - they both do classic policies. makes a BIG difference - also - i think with footman, joining CCI gets you an ins discount but check that.

hugh_ said:

Given that I won't get more than £1500 for my car, and allowing some money for tools etc, will about £1000 get me something decent (there seem to be a reasonable number around this price range)? If not, could spending less (and the rest on parts) be do-able?

depends on what you are looking for. if i were you id get a solid car (easily inside 1k) and then buy whatever else you fancy for it on ebay as and when it turns up. id go for a
rust free body as possible and build from a solid base rather than get one thats a bit scrappy

hugh_ said:

Any other comments or things you think I've overlooked would be greatly appreciated. Hugh

if you havent then go drive one! they arent the best handling machines around and the 1.6 is slow. the 2.0 can offer fair performance but because you can throw it around and its predictable in its inability to hold onto the road its a real laugh to drive. running costs are buttons and you wont lose money on it if you look after it. if you do a lot of miles it can be hard on the wrists and lower back (i used to do deliveries in one) its not all that easy to park (compared to modern power steering equipped cars). they lack creature comforts and youll get consistent problems with it running cold in the winter and hot in the summer if its not been maintained. that said theyre top cars and potentially a really good choice for you as you get zero depreciation, cheap classic
car insurance and an easy car to work on for when you want to play with your spanners. if you want - post a message again and ill tell you what to look for when buying one.

HTH

Paolo



>> Edited by paolow on Saturday 4th February 21:30

[hugh_]

Cheers Paolow thanks really helpful. Am I right in saying its better to buy on condition rather than age and mileage with cars like this? Anything I should look out for in particular, what critical areas suffer from rust etc?

Thanks

Hugh

editted for speeling

>> Edited by hugh_ on Saturday 4th February 21:48

[Simonelite501]

If they are all like my MK2 1300 auto (extremely slow but at the time I thought Oh so cool!) the front of the front wings around the headlights will be a major problem, mine rusted right out. Great cars though.

>> Edited by Simonelite501 on Saturday 4th February 21:59

[Simonelite501]

Probably worth a look before you shell out any green backs www.tickfordportal.co.uk/capriclub/page6.html

[Twin Turbo]

Spot on advice so far.

Cool cars, VERY cool cars.

And, is it me, or is there at least one Capri thread a week in General Gassing? I'm finding it very difficult to stop shopping for another

[paolow]

hugh_ said:

Cheers Paolow thanks really helpful. Am I right in saying its better to buy on condition rather than age and mileage with cars like this? Anything I should look out for in particular, what critical areas suffer from rust etc? Thanks Hugh editted for speeling >> Edited by hugh_ on Saturday 4th February 21:48

definitely buy on condition. with the age of capris mileage is almost irrelevant. the link below is very good so i wont repeat too much but, assuming you are buying a mk3 capri there are a couple of areas id emphasise. dont bother looking for a rust free capri because you wont find one. areas to check for are the leading edge of the bonned, around the headlights, between the front valance and the wings, the upper corners of the wings, the qtr panels behind the rear wheels and the rear wheel arches more generally. These are all cosmetic and if you can live with scabs then not a problem. pattern front wings are avaiable but can require fettling to fit. bonnets can be replaced (but weigh a ton so get some mates to help!) or use fibreglass replacements. MOT fail rust wil include front strut tops (easy to check - beware of filler) rear leaf spring hangers, front crossmember and the fronts of the footwells - the drivers side especially - tho this can be fixed pretty cheaply with welded plate. the pinto engine is strong but if its got a carb thats not a weber you need to budget for changing it for a 32/36 off of ebay or a scrapper. radiators become inefficient so make sure it doesnt overheat or leak. similarly, the heater motor is a well documented issue and is a real pain in the arse to fix. if they try the "its just a blown fuse or something" line be wary. interior heater matrixes silt up too so dont be too fazed if it doesnt blow more than tepid air. check that its not leaking though - dont just feel the carpet - thats not enough - ive known capris that feel dry but have wringing wet underlay from leaks. if youre suspicious - go to town on it - its not too much hassle to lift the carpet. the pinto engine is strong and capable but suffers from valve stem seal wear which is evident as blue smoke on startup. its pretty easy to fix though (or just leave it as is - one of my capris smoked like a bastard but only on starting and frankly i didnt really care. smoke on the move is indicative of more serious wear however so be careful. Having said that though the engines are ten a penny and ive had an engine out and
on the deck with zero prep inside 3 hours so even if it DOES turn out to be toast its an easy fix. Erm, aside from that check the usual old car stuff, make sure it starts easily and pulls cleanly. check tyres for condition and evidence of poor tracking on the fronts - factor in rebushing the front suspension at some point - the old bushes will be knackered and dont often get changed. check you are happy with the brakes because even on a good car they can be shocking.
thats it i think - good luck though - theyre good cars and they are still the only cars that ive had that i havent managed to kill no matter how hard i cane them. ive driven home
with no oil, had a radiator burst and keep going and the list goes on. oh yeah - check for
clutch judder but thats it i think!
whew!

[hugh_]

Simonelite501 said:

Probably worth a look before you shell out any green backs www.tickfordportal.co.uk/capriclub/page6.html

Thanks for that, some very interesting points in there, especially the wings being welded on! Part of the aim of this car would be to do everything myself, I've seen MIG welders at £80, is this the type I'd need for that, if not is it possible to hire the right type? (I would practise on other things first!)

paolow said:

lots!

Thanks again for letting me tap your knowledge on this, I'll try and get a drive in one in the near future and take it from there. This idea is rapidly become very attractive indeed .

Cheers
Hugh

[Gompo]

hugh_ said:

- Is insuring it going to be a problem for a 19/20 y.o.? Hugh

I agree with most things being said, but dont expect insurance to be cheap. People go on about Classic policies being a lot cheaper, but they dont make all that much difference while you're still young.

..You should get a nice 2.0 for your money btw.

[The Bee]

The 2 litre Capri is on balance the best overall Capri to buy, you get reasonable performance and reasonable mpg. Insurance shouldn't be a lot different from the 1.6 although the smaller engine is noticeably slower than the 2 litre. However, once you try the 2.8 you wouldn't want to go back to a smaller engine, its a joy to own and drive, and with power steering. Insurance would jump up a bit though as does mpg but hey, the smile factor says it all!

If I was looking for a daily capri driver I would still be looking for as late as possible. Some of the laser models were owned by enthusiasts (after all Ford only continued to make them for the british enthusiast market during the mid 80's) and consequently there are still some original unmolested examples out there, for excellent prices. Rust is a problem though. This has been covered already but a particularly weak area are the metal straps holding the petrol tank up, these can break too easily!

Also remember that many Capri parts were shared with other Ford models at the time so your spare parts availability is much greater.

Best of luck in your search.

[hugh_]

The Bee said:

The 2 litre Capri is on balance the best overall Capri to buy, you get reasonable performance and reasonable mpg. Insurance shouldn't be a lot different from the 1.6 although the smaller engine is noticeably slower than the 2 litre. However, once you try the 2.8 you wouldn't want to go back to a smaller engine, its a joy to own and drive, and with power steering. Insurance would jump up a bit though as does mpg but hey, the smile factor says it all! If I was looking for a daily capri driver I would still be looking for as late as possible. Some of the laser models were owned by enthusiasts (after all Ford only continued to make them for the british enthusiast market during the mid 80's) and consequently there are still some original unmolested examples out there, for excellent prices. Rust is a problem though. This has been covered already but a particularly weak area are the metal straps holding the petrol tank up, these can break too easily! Also remember that many Capri parts were shared with other Ford models at the time so your spare parts availability is much greater. Best of luck in your search.

Thanks Martin. I spoke to my insurers today and there is no change in premium from my 1.6 Escort to a 2.0 Laser; which is great.

I am in a bit of a quandry over whether I should get one, though.

I definitely want one. But Im not sure whether I should potentially be putting constraints on my time that might affect my degree.
Doing my own servicing won't be a problem because I'm not doing enough mileage where if it ends up waiting a week it will matter. But if it breaks down and I need to fix it it might take time away from uni work.

And that is the crux of the problem, I'm not sure I want to put what is essentially a hobby before something as important as my degree, which I only get 1 stab at!

I spoke to my Dad, himself a bit of a car nut and he think I should wait until I've finished uni.

So, to help me decide what is the right course of action, 1 last (for the time being) question: if I get a mechanically reasonable one how reliable can I expect it to be? (editted to add: I know this will obviously vary between cars, but generally speaking)

Thanks for listening & sorry I'm being vague but head and heart and contradicting one another!

Hugh




>> Edited by hugh_ on Monday 6th February 23:12

[hugh_]

I forgot to give my views & opinions on about engine options. For various reasons I think the 2.0 is the one to go for:
- 1.6 is too slow
- 2.8 is injection so harder to work on
- 6 cylinder engines cost more to work on (more plugs, bigger gaskets etc.)
- insurance would be more (I'm a student)
- It's my first RWD drive, I'd probably bend a 2.8 round a tree.

Think thats all of them! The 2.0 fits the bill perfectly though

Editted to add: I forgot something again, doh! What fuel consumption can I expect to get during general driving and on the motorway with a 2.0?


>> Edited by hugh_ on Monday 6th February 23:24

[The Bee]

I agree, the two litre would be your better option. If you get a Laser, you get 5 speed, on motorways this should get you 32 ish mpg, although it never really drops much below 25 however hard you push it.

Capri's are very simple cars, especially in the 1.6 or 2.0 options. There are a couple on ebay now with low mileage worth considering, but as someone mentioned earlier, perhaps the most important thing to consider is bodywork.

Your Dad's advice is good advice, and it may well be best to wait, but having said that, get yourself a decent 2.0 Laser and it can be just as reliable and cheap to run as any modern day runabout. Be patient and don't just buy the first one you see because you want one. I have had 2 lasers, one was crap the other fantastic and lasted for years. I sold it to our club secretary who used it for 2 years for motorway driving and proved to be extremely reliable.

Best of luck.

Martin

[Twin Turbo]

In 75000 miles, the only breakdown in my 1.6 Laser was when the radiator went.

I didn't cover that many miles in my two 2.8s, but they never let me down either.

Very tough and reliable cars.

[hugh_]

The Bee said:

If you get a Laser, you get 5 speed, on motorways this should get you 32 ish mpg, although it never really drops much below 25 however hard you push it.

Thats not so bad, considering I get about 25 from the Escort around uni (I dont like going up hills slowly, so dont), and high 30's on a run, 35 if towing.

The Bee said:

a decent 2.0 Laser and it can be just as reliable and cheap to run as any modern day runabout... I have had 2 lasers, one was crap the other fantastic and lasted for years. I sold it to our club secretary who used it for 2 years for motorway driving and proved to be extremely reliable.

Twin Turbo said:

In 75000 miles, the only breakdown in my 1.6 Laser was when the radiator went. I didn't cover that many miles in my two 2.8s, but they never let me down either. Very tough and reliable cars.

if it were just me making the decision that would have sold it too me! I would still rather do this with the backing of my parents though (as they are helping me through uni etc etc.); so I'll try and persuade them

[Wacky Racer]

I had four new Capris between 1976 and 79, two 1600 Pintos, one 2000 Pinto and a V6 "Essex" 3 Litre "S".

Don't be put off by the 1600 engine, imo, they are fine, I covered 150,000 miles with not one problem but all Pintos suffer from premature camshaft wear if the oil and filter are not changed reguarly, as the oil spray bar becomes blocked, however a new camshaft kit is fairly cheap and easily fitted by any competent home mechanic....

Watch for the dreaded rust though.., but use your eyes and common sense, and don't rush into anything and you should be OK...

Towbars no problem.

If you buy wisely you should be able to almost get your money back in two or three years.....

[hugh_]

Good Good, having re-explained my plans to my Dad and having pointed him in the direction of this thread I have the green light if I deal with it (which was my intention anyway). So I will start looking seriously for a 2.0 Laser

[Kinky]

There's a 5 litre V8 Capri on ebay at the moment.



Don't fancy your insurance quote on that!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ford-capri-5-0-v8_W0QQitemZ460

K

[hugh_]

Id spotted that, not sure I'm too keen on the possibility of anything heavy in the boot demolishing the NOS either, as it going to the used as an everyday day

[hugh_]

I'm going to go and get some tools this afternoon (probably halfords pro ones), is everything on the Capri metric?