Capri or Corvette?

[Pedmeister]

GroundEffect said:

mat777 said:

In a couple of year's time when I get my first few paycheques I will have around 5K to get a car that I will want for everyday driving in all weathers. I want it to be a multi-cylinder (ie. >4) FR coupe with controllable tail happiness but dont want anything dull and modern - it has to be a modern classic and easy to do my own work and servicing on. It also has to make a good noise! I understand insurance will be somewhat more than I currently pay for a 30yr old Land Rover but it still has to be affordable for a 22/23 yr old graduate salary

For 5k I could have either an ok Capri 2.8 V6 (British, more economical, right hand drive, easy to get parts for but very rust prone) or an early C4 corvette (More stylish, fab 80s LCD dash, v8 that sounds like Thor gargling hammers, properly head turning and much quicker than a Capri, with a rot free plastic body).

Thoughts either way?

The Capri isn't British, it's European. Designed jointly between Dunton and Merckenich.

In addition to the Capri not being British, nor is it a rot box. Granted, the British built MK1/2 Capris can have problems with tin worm- no more so than ANY other late 60's/70's car. The MK3 Capris were built in Cologne & Genk, to higher standards. If you look after them, ie apply some waxoyl to known weak spots, they are far from problematic. EG My car is 28 years old & retains ALL of it's orginal body panels, arches etc and it has never seen a tub of Isopon P38, or a welders torch

[s m]

J4CKO said:

s m said:

It was legible when I posted it ( top of pg 6 )

Here's a bit of Advert nostalgia from '84

I used that very photo as a basis for an art project at school, the Injection was my object of desire, until the 3 door Cosworth arrived in 86 that is.

The dealerships had some great full-sized pics/ads for those as well

[RV8]

s m said:

LuS1fer said:

RV8 said:

True but it's the two doors that are fetching daft money in relative comparison, as you correctly point out the mexico was always desirable but over the last 15 years even lowly 1100 Mk1's (which were never desirable or expensive) are commanding good money now in 2 door form. Just like the mini 'cooper' recipe where you take basic 998 City fit some sportpack arches, stripes, minilights and four spots on the front and are able to flog it for the same sort of money genuine coopers once were going for, a bog standard escort mk1 with some rally arches bogged on, a roll cage and mexico stripes will sell for daft money. Everyone wants the real deal but most cannot afford it.
Perhaps the biggest way to extract as much money as possible from an aging but solid 2 door with no rally credentials - find a decent cosworth engine and whack that in there and do it well yourself and walk away with £10k.

From memory, I seem to recall that the Ford Escort Mk II Popular (2 doors were deemed the cheapo as well as sporty versions then of course) had a headline on the road price of either £1199 0r £1299 and that wasn't that long after my parents paid £6300 for a 3 bed semi which would probably be worth around £200k now.

Mid 70s ( '75 ) the RS1800 was being sold at £2990

Quite. But you see they weren't going for that in the early 90's mate, which is when it would have been best to buy them. Capri's, cortina Mk1's, the lot. I'm slightly bemused that you thought my hypothetical business plan would be to buy them from new to make a profit......

[s m]

RV8 said:

s m said:

LuS1fer said:

RV8 said:

True but it's the two doors that are fetching daft money in relative comparison, as you correctly point out the mexico was always desirable but over the last 15 years even lowly 1100 Mk1's (which were never desirable or expensive) are commanding good money now in 2 door form. Just like the mini 'cooper' recipe where you take basic 998 City fit some sportpack arches, stripes, minilights and four spots on the front and are able to flog it for the same sort of money genuine coopers once were going for, a bog standard escort mk1 with some rally arches bogged on, a roll cage and mexico stripes will sell for daft money. Everyone wants the real deal but most cannot afford it.
Perhaps the biggest way to extract as much money as possible from an aging but solid 2 door with no rally credentials - find a decent cosworth engine and whack that in there and do it well yourself and walk away with £10k.

From memory, I seem to recall that the Ford Escort Mk II Popular (2 doors were deemed the cheapo as well as sporty versions then of course) had a headline on the road price of either £1199 0r £1299 and that wasn't that long after my parents paid £6300 for a 3 bed semi which would probably be worth around £200k now.

Mid 70s ( '75 ) the RS1800 was being sold at £2990

Quite. But you see they weren't going for that in the early 90's mate, which is when it would have been best to buy them. Capri's, cortina Mk1's, the lot. I'm slightly bemused that you thought my hypothetical business plan would be to buy them from new to make a profit......

Not really bemused, I was just filling in some prices from new for the poster I replied to

I know that RS1800s were fetching more than new only 10 years after........whilst you could get no end of cheap Mk2 2-doors for less than £300 ....I know because I bought one or two

[mattdaniels]

I had a 2.8 injection special. In Paris Blue. Fecking loved that car. Absolutely loved it. £5 a pop for pepperpots with tyres on, a nice sunny day at Bentwaters...absolute heaven. All that was missing was a wall of carboard boxes and the theme from The Professionals playing on the tape player.

[s m]

J4CKO said:

s m said:

It was legible when I posted it ( top of pg 6 )

Here's a bit of Advert nostalgia from '84

I used that very photo as a basis for an art project at school, the Injection was my object of desire, until the 3 door Cosworth arrived in 86 that is.

Here's one of the earlier ads

[s m]

mattdaniels said:

I had a 2.8 injection special. In Paris Blue. Fecking loved that car. Absolutely loved it. £5 a pop for pepperpots with tyres on, a nice sunny day at Bentwaters...absolute heaven. All that was missing was a wall of carboard boxes and the theme from The Professionals playing on the tape player.

I remember picking up a copy of the mag test of those when they came out, one late autumn morning

[RV8]

s m said:

RV8 said:

s m said:

LuS1fer said:

RV8 said:

True but it's the two doors that are fetching daft money in relative comparison, as you correctly point out the mexico was always desirable but over the last 15 years even lowly 1100 Mk1's (which were never desirable or expensive) are commanding good money now in 2 door form. Just like the mini 'cooper' recipe where you take basic 998 City fit some sportpack arches, stripes, minilights and four spots on the front and are able to flog it for the same sort of money genuine coopers once were going for, a bog standard escort mk1 with some rally arches bogged on, a roll cage and mexico stripes will sell for daft money. Everyone wants the real deal but most cannot afford it.
Perhaps the biggest way to extract as much money as possible from an aging but solid 2 door with no rally credentials - find a decent cosworth engine and whack that in there and do it well yourself and walk away with £10k.

From memory, I seem to recall that the Ford Escort Mk II Popular (2 doors were deemed the cheapo as well as sporty versions then of course) had a headline on the road price of either £1199 0r £1299 and that wasn't that long after my parents paid £6300 for a 3 bed semi which would probably be worth around £200k now.

Mid 70s ( '75 ) the RS1800 was being sold at £2990

Quite. But you see they weren't going for that in the early 90's mate, which is when it would have been best to buy them. Capri's, cortina Mk1's, the lot. I'm slightly bemused that you thought my hypothetical business plan would be to buy them from new to make a profit......

Not really bemused, I was just filling in some prices from new for the poster I replied to

I know that RS1800s were fetching more than new only 10 years after........whilst you could get no end of cheap Mk2 2-doors for less than £300 ....I know because I bought one or two

Yes sorry the point wasn't aimed at you, I didn't make that clear. You did the right thing picking them up cheap, wish I would have been quicker to recognize this. Like I've said the RS, Harrier, Mexico etc are all desirable but the boggo 2 doors are commanding good money and represented the best investment in terms of initial outlay years back. Not sure why it's the two doors that are so desired, perhaps the rally look people are after, but I've even seen the back doors welded up on 4 door cars, which gives a very unbalanced look to the vehicle, such is the desire to have a 2 door.

[s m]

RV8 said:

s m said:

RV8 said:

s m said:

LuS1fer said:

RV8 said:

True but it's the two doors that are fetching daft money in relative comparison, as you correctly point out the mexico was always desirable but over the last 15 years even lowly 1100 Mk1's (which were never desirable or expensive) are commanding good money now in 2 door form. Just like the mini 'cooper' recipe where you take basic 998 City fit some sportpack arches, stripes, minilights and four spots on the front and are able to flog it for the same sort of money genuine coopers once were going for, a bog standard escort mk1 with some rally arches bogged on, a roll cage and mexico stripes will sell for daft money. Everyone wants the real deal but most cannot afford it.
Perhaps the biggest way to extract as much money as possible from an aging but solid 2 door with no rally credentials - find a decent cosworth engine and whack that in there and do it well yourself and walk away with £10k.

From memory, I seem to recall that the Ford Escort Mk II Popular (2 doors were deemed the cheapo as well as sporty versions then of course) had a headline on the road price of either £1199 0r £1299 and that wasn't that long after my parents paid £6300 for a 3 bed semi which would probably be worth around £200k now.

Mid 70s ( '75 ) the RS1800 was being sold at £2990

Quite. But you see they weren't going for that in the early 90's mate, which is when it would have been best to buy them. Capri's, cortina Mk1's, the lot. I'm slightly bemused that you thought my hypothetical business plan would be to buy them from new to make a profit......

Not really bemused, I was just filling in some prices from new for the poster I replied to

I know that RS1800s were fetching more than new only 10 years after........whilst you could get no end of cheap Mk2 2-doors for less than £300 ....I know because I bought one or two

Yes sorry the point wasn't aimed at you, I didn't make that clear. You did the right thing picking them up cheap, wish I would have been quicker to recognize this. Like I've said the RS, Harrier, Mexico etc are all desirable but the boggo 2 doors are commanding good money and represented the best investment in terms of initial outlay years back. Not sure why it's the two doors that are so desired, perhaps the rally look people are after, but I've even seen the back doors welded up on 4 door cars, which gives a very unbalanced look to the vehicle, such is the desire to have a 2 door.

I guess people will always prefer the 2-door versions especially when the sporty models were usually based on the 2-door versions ( although Australia had 4-door RS versions ). Paid £300 for a decent enough Mk2 1.3 in 86 just to use as a winter country lanes fun car. They were cheap cars back then.

No such worries with the Capri though - just the engine choice rather than number of doors

[Pedmeister]

swerni said:

Pedmeister said:

Thank you for your patronising reposte. You confuse contesting & challenging inaccurate comments with being upset- more fool you to jump to such a banal conclusion. Have a 'nice' day......

And now your doing it again.

People have differing opinions and experiences, it doesn't makes us wrong.

Ps I'm having a lovely one thanks

Ever heard of 'Bataris Box?'- Behaviour Breeds Behaviour. Your innane post was patronising and based on your own incorrect assumptions. You accused me of being, "defensive." No, I merely challenged some incorrect/inaccurate points and offered an alternative opinion. IE I challenged the use of the term, "crap handling," by highlighting the fact that the motoring press praised the car for possessing good road manners. Others have actually taken the trouble to produce some of these articles which highlight the fact the car won praise for it's road manners. So that makes me, "defensive," does it? Reckon not. Do not patronise me and accuse me of being "childish," for simply proffering a contrary opinion- it makes you look foolish, VERY arrogant and intolerant of others.

[LuS1fer]

Come on, now, play nicely:

[Pedmeister]

LuS1fer said:

Come on, now, play nicely:

ROFL! Erm......Got anymore of those photo's??

[s m]

RV8 said:

Yes sorry the point wasn't aimed at you, I didn't make that clear. You did the right thing picking them up cheap, wish I would have been quicker to recognize this. Like I've said the RS, Harrier, Mexico etc are all desirable but the boggo 2 doors are commanding good money and represented the best investment in terms of initial outlay years back. Not sure why it's the two doors that are so desired, perhaps the rally look people are after, but I've even seen the back doors welded up on 4 door cars, which gives a very unbalanced look to the vehicle, such is the desire to have a 2 door.

Here's one for you

1600 Sport

[irocfan]

can't do this with a 'Vette though...

[chris7676]

irocfan said:

can't do this with a 'Vette though...

No, the Vette doesn't look like a CarAVan

[k-ink]

^

That did not help the Capri's case at all

[s m]

irocfan said:

can't do this with a 'Vette though...

That's a strange trailer

I prefer to think of old V6 ones being chased hard by Celicas round Bathurst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SkFSz8evVc

[irocfan]

k-ink said:

^

That did not help the Capri's case at all

<grin>

[rowanxx]

It's been two years, OP, what did you get?

[ChemicalChaos]

rowanxx said:

It's been two years, OP, what did you get?

Christ, this is a bit of a blast from the past.

Unfortunately, this thread was written whilst I was still studying away optimistically for my first degree and only had a year left. Since then, I've repeated a year, given up and started another degree - with at least 2 years left now after this one finishes. As such, I haven't bought anything yet, but have sadly watched the boat sail pricewise on both cars a lot sooner than predicted in this thread!
(oh, and to cap it off - my Land Rover that I was driving back then started to fall apart, so I blew the 5k on a newer Land rover as I need at least one working 4x4 in my fleet at all times)