80's Duo: Audi Coupe GT and Kawasaki GPZ900R
Discussion
I have done quite a few readers cars posts now for all the cars I have owned, but this time I thought I would combine it all into the one thread now I have two new additions. I have always been a massive fan of older cars, in particular Fords and Audi's. When I was a kid my dad had a Sierra Sapphire 2.0 GLSi which I loved, followed by a B3 Audi 90. These really got me addicted to cars of that generation!
I passed my car test in November 2008, and was really looking forward to my first car. I spent ages looking on internet sites and magazines for anything that really took my fancy. At this point I was working at Woolworths, which went bankrupt over Christmas time of that year so out the window went the idea of a car at that point! I needed cheap wheels, my dad is a biker so he suggested I buy a cheapo bike and get myself CBT'd. So here came the first vehicle!
Managed to get a very good deal on a 2001 Yamaha SR125, which done me for a year whilst I saved up for a car. However the motorbike bug had really got me, I needed a faster bike! So after passing my bike license:
My first "big" bike, a 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500S. Unfortunately due to my age at the time I took it, I couldn't do a DAS course. So I had to suffer with a 33 bhp restriction for the first two years which was horrible. However when the day came to remove the restrictors, on went a set of Delkevic twin pipes- It sounded fantastic!
A year after I bought the GPZ, after a surprise snowstorm caught me out on my work commute, I realised I needed a car, I am not ashamed to admit I am a fair weather biker! So after browsing ebay one night I saw this for sale locally and had to go for it.
My first car, a 1989 Volkswagen Jetta TX. It was a one owner from new, low mileage example which was really tidy. I still miss it and would gladly own one again. New job and a (slight) payrise meant I had itchy feet to go look for something else, a fast Ford. I still remember the first time I ever saw one of these, parked on a side street near my uncles house, ever since then I NEEDED to own one.
And here it is, a 1986 Ford Capri 2.8 Injection Special. I absolutely loved this car, it was in really good condition and was my pride and joy. It needed quite a bit of engine work though, it was running very poorly. 6 new injectors, a complete top end rebuild and a full Janspeed exhaust system sorted that out! The sound...
However it (eventually) dawned on me that running a 2.8 Capri as a daily driver wouldn't exactly be the cheapest method of transport. Hindsight kicked in and I realised I shouldn't have sold the Jetta. Desperation set in which is what I am using to justify my next purchase..
£290 worth of 1993 K10 Micra. The automotive equivalent to a cockroach. I really did not like this car at all, however it was incredibly reliable and it needed no maintenance whatsoever. I lasted all of three months with it before I changed.
A 1991 Sierra Laser. Being the bottom spec 1.8 CVH model it isn't what you call fast! However for the past three years of ownership it has been faultlessly reliable and has taken me all across the country, I have really enjoyed owning it.
I had to sell the motorbike to afford the Capri and after several summers without a motorbike I was having serious withdrawal symptoms! Plus the Capri was hardly being used, so a decision was made to sell. I still really miss that car however a new toy took it's place.
The dream bike for me, a Kawasaki GPZ900R. It is an early bike, being a 1985 model which was sat around for a while and ended up on an E plate. The speed is addictive, I can see how this bike was a game changer when it was released!
After three years of owning the Sierra, the itch of an Audi really started to appear. Alongside the Capri, my other aspirational car is an Audi quattro. However my pockets aren't deep enough for one of them, however I bought the next best thing..
A 1987 Coupe GT. I still have the smile on my face. Being the GT model it is just FWD, however it still has the 2.2 5 cylinder soundtrack! It does need some work, mainly bodywork on the arches so it is a project car for me. Plus the exhaust is nowhere near loud enough! Safe to say I am very happy with my 80's duo, who needs modern cars anyway?
I passed my car test in November 2008, and was really looking forward to my first car. I spent ages looking on internet sites and magazines for anything that really took my fancy. At this point I was working at Woolworths, which went bankrupt over Christmas time of that year so out the window went the idea of a car at that point! I needed cheap wheels, my dad is a biker so he suggested I buy a cheapo bike and get myself CBT'd. So here came the first vehicle!
Managed to get a very good deal on a 2001 Yamaha SR125, which done me for a year whilst I saved up for a car. However the motorbike bug had really got me, I needed a faster bike! So after passing my bike license:
My first "big" bike, a 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500S. Unfortunately due to my age at the time I took it, I couldn't do a DAS course. So I had to suffer with a 33 bhp restriction for the first two years which was horrible. However when the day came to remove the restrictors, on went a set of Delkevic twin pipes- It sounded fantastic!
A year after I bought the GPZ, after a surprise snowstorm caught me out on my work commute, I realised I needed a car, I am not ashamed to admit I am a fair weather biker! So after browsing ebay one night I saw this for sale locally and had to go for it.
My first car, a 1989 Volkswagen Jetta TX. It was a one owner from new, low mileage example which was really tidy. I still miss it and would gladly own one again. New job and a (slight) payrise meant I had itchy feet to go look for something else, a fast Ford. I still remember the first time I ever saw one of these, parked on a side street near my uncles house, ever since then I NEEDED to own one.
And here it is, a 1986 Ford Capri 2.8 Injection Special. I absolutely loved this car, it was in really good condition and was my pride and joy. It needed quite a bit of engine work though, it was running very poorly. 6 new injectors, a complete top end rebuild and a full Janspeed exhaust system sorted that out! The sound...
However it (eventually) dawned on me that running a 2.8 Capri as a daily driver wouldn't exactly be the cheapest method of transport. Hindsight kicked in and I realised I shouldn't have sold the Jetta. Desperation set in which is what I am using to justify my next purchase..
£290 worth of 1993 K10 Micra. The automotive equivalent to a cockroach. I really did not like this car at all, however it was incredibly reliable and it needed no maintenance whatsoever. I lasted all of three months with it before I changed.
A 1991 Sierra Laser. Being the bottom spec 1.8 CVH model it isn't what you call fast! However for the past three years of ownership it has been faultlessly reliable and has taken me all across the country, I have really enjoyed owning it.
I had to sell the motorbike to afford the Capri and after several summers without a motorbike I was having serious withdrawal symptoms! Plus the Capri was hardly being used, so a decision was made to sell. I still really miss that car however a new toy took it's place.
The dream bike for me, a Kawasaki GPZ900R. It is an early bike, being a 1985 model which was sat around for a while and ended up on an E plate. The speed is addictive, I can see how this bike was a game changer when it was released! After three years of owning the Sierra, the itch of an Audi really started to appear. Alongside the Capri, my other aspirational car is an Audi quattro. However my pockets aren't deep enough for one of them, however I bought the next best thing..
A 1987 Coupe GT. I still have the smile on my face. Being the GT model it is just FWD, however it still has the 2.2 5 cylinder soundtrack! It does need some work, mainly bodywork on the arches so it is a project car for me. Plus the exhaust is nowhere near loud enough! Safe to say I am very happy with my 80's duo, who needs modern cars anyway?
Interesting choices - love the look of your Capri!
Shame you didn't keep it - they are worth silly money now! I had two 2.8 Injections back in the 80s so have fond memories.
Then in 1993 I bought a 1991 Sierra Sapphire GLSi which I had for 4 years, but it was such a PITA I haven't had a Ford since and probably never will (unless I can get a V8 Mustang GT)!
Never been a fan of Audis as they are so nose heavy, but I can see the appeal of a throbby 5 cylinder.
Bike-wise your Kawasaki is fantastic - I never got into stuff with fairings, the last one I had was a KH500 being a long-time 2 stroke fan.
But 80s stuff is great as there was so much variety back then - enjoy yours!
Shame you didn't keep it - they are worth silly money now! I had two 2.8 Injections back in the 80s so have fond memories.
Then in 1993 I bought a 1991 Sierra Sapphire GLSi which I had for 4 years, but it was such a PITA I haven't had a Ford since and probably never will (unless I can get a V8 Mustang GT)!
Never been a fan of Audis as they are so nose heavy, but I can see the appeal of a throbby 5 cylinder.
Bike-wise your Kawasaki is fantastic - I never got into stuff with fairings, the last one I had was a KH500 being a long-time 2 stroke fan.
But 80s stuff is great as there was so much variety back then - enjoy yours!
I stopped riding bikes years ago, but used to have an old Z650 back in the day, along with various RD 250 / 400 & 350 / 500LC's. I also had a few Audi Coupe and really loved the sound and look of them. My best buy was a Tornado red 2.2, which needed nothing but new brake pads, for a mere £130! Your Capri looked great too. Do you know where it is now?
Thanks for the comments, I wont refer to a 500cc as a big bike now!
I sold the Capri in March this year to a very nice chap who took it down to somewhere in Essex. I do really miss it, I would love a 3.0S but the prices have gone up so much, I pretty much doubled my money when I sold the Capri! Even with the Sierra I shall get significantly more for it than I paid for it- the benefits of the old Ford scene tax!
I wish I paid £130 for mine- what a bargain!
I sold the Capri in March this year to a very nice chap who took it down to somewhere in Essex. I do really miss it, I would love a 3.0S but the prices have gone up so much, I pretty much doubled my money when I sold the Capri! Even with the Sierra I shall get significantly more for it than I paid for it- the benefits of the old Ford scene tax!
I wish I paid £130 for mine- what a bargain!
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