RE: The final Ford Capri: Driven
Discussion
There is much love for the Capri and quite rightly so. Personally I only ever liked the Sporty or Luxury Versions, GT, GXL in the Mk1 and ‘S’ or Ghia in the Mk2 or Mk3. Plus of course the 2.8 Injection. The performance of my own Mk3 1.6S was woeful and I was never impressed by a number of 3.0 versions that I drove compared to my Mirafiori Sport.
To me the 2.8 Injection was realistically the only one to have by the mid 80’s onwards and by the early 90’s all Capris were seen as really downmarket.
I’m so glad that they have such a great following.
To me the 2.8 Injection was realistically the only one to have by the mid 80’s onwards and by the early 90’s all Capris were seen as really downmarket.
I’m so glad that they have such a great following.
I had a couple of 4 speed 2.8is in the 80s - the first was a 1982 in Strato Silver that I bought in 1984, but has no MOT history on the DVLA database. 
Then in 1988 I bought another in Caspian Blue over Strato Silver that someone on here spotted in a Scottish island around 2010, but that hasn't had an MOT since 2013 sadly.
I loved them regardless of the long bonnet issues at junctions, but then my BMW Z4 has similar issues.
Then in 1988 I bought another in Caspian Blue over Strato Silver that someone on here spotted in a Scottish island around 2010, but that hasn't had an MOT since 2013 sadly.
I loved them regardless of the long bonnet issues at junctions, but then my BMW Z4 has similar issues.
Early proof of Ford's inability to offer a mass produced sporty car which doesn't belong on a council estate.
That probably has been their target market so maybe inability is the wrong word.
Lots of people like them, I don't. I suppose the world would be a boring place if we liked the same thing.
Back when the Capri was launched it would have been disappointing not to be able to afford the extra for a 240Z but I suppose Ford have always been good at offering cars which are a bit crap but still attractive enough for the masses.
That probably has been their target market so maybe inability is the wrong word.
Lots of people like them, I don't. I suppose the world would be a boring place if we liked the same thing.
Back when the Capri was launched it would have been disappointing not to be able to afford the extra for a 240Z but I suppose Ford have always been good at offering cars which are a bit crap but still attractive enough for the masses.
Pistom said:
Early proof of Ford's inability to offer a mass produced sporty car which doesn't belong on a council estate.
That probably has been their target market so maybe inability is the wrong word.
Lots of people like them, I don't. I suppose the world would be a boring place if we liked the same thing.
Back when the Capri was launched it would have been disappointing not to be able to afford the extra for a 240Z but I suppose Ford have always been good at offering cars which are a bit crap but still attractive enough for the masses.
Yeah, it’s a bit unworthy for a Homo Superior like yourself.That probably has been their target market so maybe inability is the wrong word.
Lots of people like them, I don't. I suppose the world would be a boring place if we liked the same thing.
Back when the Capri was launched it would have been disappointing not to be able to afford the extra for a 240Z but I suppose Ford have always been good at offering cars which are a bit crap but still attractive enough for the masses.
My late Dad was the general manager of a Ford dealer in the late 70's and his 'company car' was more often than not a Capri which was a bit of a strange choice for a family of four. I remember going to the south of France on holiday in a green 3.0 Ghia, lord knows how we fitted everything in.
In the 80s he'd left that job but was still a Ford man and bought a blue 2.8i special which I really loved. I'll never forget the time we'd been on a family day out to a steam rally and as we were leaving the car park the huge grassy car park was just too tempting for the old man, next thing he's found an empty bit and we're doing donuts. I was loving it, Mum was telling him off but sort of laughing and my sister probably hoping none of her friends could see her.
We stopped when a motorcycle copper came along and started wagging his finger at us, mucking around on private land wasn't illegal in those days..
I bought a blue and silver 2.8i special a couple of years ago in a moment of nostalgia, it's not a great car in modern terms but it's got some charm about it, people seem to love it and always want to talk about it when they see it. Everyone (of a certain age) seems to have a Capri story in their life
In the 80s he'd left that job but was still a Ford man and bought a blue 2.8i special which I really loved. I'll never forget the time we'd been on a family day out to a steam rally and as we were leaving the car park the huge grassy car park was just too tempting for the old man, next thing he's found an empty bit and we're doing donuts. I was loving it, Mum was telling him off but sort of laughing and my sister probably hoping none of her friends could see her.
We stopped when a motorcycle copper came along and started wagging his finger at us, mucking around on private land wasn't illegal in those days..
I bought a blue and silver 2.8i special a couple of years ago in a moment of nostalgia, it's not a great car in modern terms but it's got some charm about it, people seem to love it and always want to talk about it when they see it. Everyone (of a certain age) seems to have a Capri story in their life
Pistom said:
Early proof of Ford's inability to offer a mass produced sporty car which doesn't belong on a council estate.
That probably has been their target market so maybe inability is the wrong word.
Lots of people like them, I don't. I suppose the world would be a boring place if we liked the same thing.
Back when the Capri was launched it would have been disappointing not to be able to afford the extra for a 240Z but I suppose Ford have always been good at offering cars which are a bit crap but still attractive enough for the masses.
Yes there were alternatives to the Capri, the Opel Manta / Cavalier Coupe / Sports Hatch being the obvious examples. There were also some great Italian alternatives like the Alfa GTV, Fiat 124 Sport Coupe and the Lancia Beta. My Dad actually owns a 124 Sport Coupe in the 1970’s. That probably has been their target market so maybe inability is the wrong word.
Lots of people like them, I don't. I suppose the world would be a boring place if we liked the same thing.
Back when the Capri was launched it would have been disappointing not to be able to afford the extra for a 240Z but I suppose Ford have always been good at offering cars which are a bit crap but still attractive enough for the masses.
Whilst I personally would rather own one of the Italian alternatives, the Capri was still a great car, providing of course IMHO it was the Luxury or Sporty Version and had the essential Rev Counter.
I didn’t get back then the 1.6 or
the 1.3 versions and still don’t now. I always felt at least a 2.0 would be the minimum sized engine. I thought I was being clever back in 1990 by getting a 1.6S with the increased engine power output from the standard 75BHP to 89BHP. I wasn’t and it was desperately underpowered
Driven both a 2.8 Capri and my own 1.8 Manta and a few GTE's
With the Ford, the power was broad and very useful but the issue was the handling. Wheel hop and a very skitish rear end made it a complete handful even in the dry, and quite difficuilt to press on when on a twisty road.
The Manta had a lot less power however the handling made up for that and was much easier to hang out at the ragid edge of grip and beyond.
Both cars though did suffer with lackluster brakes though too.
With the Ford, the power was broad and very useful but the issue was the handling. Wheel hop and a very skitish rear end made it a complete handful even in the dry, and quite difficuilt to press on when on a twisty road.
The Manta had a lot less power however the handling made up for that and was much easier to hang out at the ragid edge of grip and beyond.
Both cars though did suffer with lackluster brakes though too.
Sf_Manta said:
Driven both a 2.8 Capri and my own 1.8 Manta and a few GTE's
With the Ford, the power was broad and very useful but the issue was the handling. Wheel hop and a very skitish rear end made it a complete handful even in the dry, and quite difficuilt to press on when on a twisty road.
The Manta had a lot less power however the handling made up for that and was much easier to hang out at the ragid edge of grip and beyond.
Both cars though did suffer with lackluster brakes though too.
I suppose to get a true comparison between the Manta / Cavalier and the Capri, a good starting point would be the MK3 2.0S against say the 2.0 GLS Cavalier Sports Hatch. With the Ford, the power was broad and very useful but the issue was the handling. Wheel hop and a very skitish rear end made it a complete handful even in the dry, and quite difficuilt to press on when on a twisty road.
The Manta had a lot less power however the handling made up for that and was much easier to hang out at the ragid edge of grip and beyond.
Both cars though did suffer with lackluster brakes though too.
Let the debate commence.
Pistom said:
Early proof of Ford's inability to offer a mass produced sporty car which doesn't belong on a council estate.
And yet Princess Diana's sporty ford has just sold for three quarters of a million pounds with premium and will go from one collection to another.I guess the companies selling Mk1 and mk2 replicas for £100k plus and those individuals selling escorts and sierras for £50-120k are all targeting the more affluent council estates too...
You couldn't have made more of a bell end post if you'd have tried
liner33 said:
Had my first Capri at 19 followed but a few more 3.0l and finally a 2.8i 4 sp . Funny you mention the 350 and 370z as I have also owned both and also a R33 Skyline which aslo reminded me of the Capri .
Yes and my 370Z is an affordable way of getting a similar recipe to the Capri I reckon. I've lusted after the Capri since I was really young, and my Dad has had a couple of them over the years. I'd love one myself for sure. 
Rob 131 Sport said:
I didn’t get back then the 1.6 or the 1.3 versions and still don’t now. I always felt at least a 2.0 would be the minimum sized engine.
I thought I was being clever back in 1990 by getting a 1.6S with the increased engine power output from the standard 75BHP to 89BHP. I wasn’t and it was desperately underpowered
I remember my Mum's 1.6 Sierra being terribly slow as well. I've never really understood the bigger car/small engine combo. My Dad also had a 1.8 Sierra at one stage and that was painful performance wise too. the 1.3 versions and still don’t now. I always felt at least a 2.0 would be the minimum sized engine. I thought I was being clever back in 1990 by getting a 1.6S with the increased engine power output from the standard 75BHP to 89BHP. I wasn’t and it was desperately underpowered
hahaswisstoni said:
Pistom said:
Early proof of Ford's inability to offer a mass produced sporty car which doesn't belong on a council estate.
That probably has been their target market so maybe inability is the wrong word.
Lots of people like them, I don't. I suppose the world would be a boring place if we liked the same thing.
Back when the Capri was launched it would have been disappointing not to be able to afford the extra for a 240Z but I suppose Ford have always been good at offering cars which are a bit crap but still attractive enough for the masses.
Yeah, it’s a bit unworthy for a Homo Superior like yourself.That probably has been their target market so maybe inability is the wrong word.
Lots of people like them, I don't. I suppose the world would be a boring place if we liked the same thing.
Back when the Capri was launched it would have been disappointing not to be able to afford the extra for a 240Z but I suppose Ford have always been good at offering cars which are a bit crap but still attractive enough for the masses.
Never been without a Capri since 1981, and still doing my bit for the Capri's racing heritage 
Will be at Brands Hatch on the 18th September for 'Ford Power Live', lots of classic Fords on show, and Fords racing, including 4 races for the hugely popular 'Modified Fords Series', in which I will be racing, along with Cosworth's, and Escorts etc.
Will be at Brands Hatch on the 18th September for 'Ford Power Live', lots of classic Fords on show, and Fords racing, including 4 races for the hugely popular 'Modified Fords Series', in which I will be racing, along with Cosworth's, and Escorts etc.
What The Deuces said:
Pistom said:
Early proof of Ford's inability to offer a mass produced sporty car which doesn't belong on a council estate.
And yet Princess Diana's sporty ford has just sold for three quarters of a million pounds with premium and will go from one collection to another.I guess the companies selling Mk1 and mk2 replicas for £100k plus and those individuals selling escorts and sierras for £50-120k are all targeting the more affluent council estates too...
Isn't it exceptions which prove the point?
Not that my opinion counts for anything. I would have probably bought an Alfa in the day.
Hard to argue though that a leaf sprung pretend sporty car based on Mk2 Cortina underpinnings isn't a bit crap.
The one thing Ford have been pretty consistent with is persuading the hard of thinking to part with their money for pretty dross products.
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