Capri first car?

[Lanxx]

Hi all.
Basically I'd love a Capri mk3, I'm 18 soon and will be a getting a full time job when I finish college. I've looked at insurance for a 1.6 and a 2.0 laser and it seems affordable... Maybe. Please could you give me some advice on this, either encourage me or snap me out of my never-going-to-happen plan lol...

Thanks

[maniac0796]

Do it. It'll teach you how to weld and spanner as well.

Most kids think it's cooler to have a new corsa or fiesta paid for on finance by mummy and daddy, but a capri, which is a far more awesome car, paid for and worked on by yourself is a much better prospect

To me anyway.

[GT03ROB]

Lanxx said:

Hi all.
Basically I'd love a Capri mk3, I'm 18 soon and will be a getting a full time job when I finish college. I've looked at insurance for a 1.6 and a 2.0 laser and it seems affordable... Maybe. Please could you give me some advice on this, either encourage me or snap me out of my never-going-to-happen plan lol...

Thanks

I got one at 19. Get one they are great!

[Egg Chaser]

I'm also considering getting a Mk3 Capri, but to be honest I think I'll just end up getting raped for insurance if I did. There's a 1.3 available too, if you're lucky enough to find one, but I think it'll be painfully slow.

[LukeSi]

Bah who needs these FWD chav cars. I'm getting a Mk1 Eunos Roadster for my first. Go for it a Capri sounds good.

[Lanxx]

I love PistonHeads because you are all nutters! I definitely want one!

"mum it's an investment, they appreciate year on year now"
"not if you wrap it round a tree son"

[Fleckers]

What about an Opel Manta?

Go for a 1.8 non injected version

Manta's and Capri's are both old enough for a classic insurance policy

as stated above will teach you about cars, maybe get on an evening course to learn some basic mechanics

good luck

[Lanxx]

I'm just worried about how much sh*t will go wrong with it. I mean I've heard an electric ignition is a good idea, but how much to have it fitted if I was unable to (taking into account that I know very little technical car stuff)

[vit4]

Always wanted one for my first, ended up with an old Astra. How'd that happen?!

In all seriousness, if you're prepared to get your hands dirty (as with any older cars really!) and have something much, much cooler than the standard Corsa/Fiesta/Saxetera then go for it!

[LukeSi]

As someone said in my thread about having a Eunos for the first car I imagine the same will apply for a Capri.

A 17 year old in a Capri (was MX5 in my thread) will get lots of Flange, so get one with leather seats.

[Egg Chaser]

Lanxx said:

I'm just worried about how much sh*t will go wrong with it. I mean I've heard an electric ignition is a good idea, but how much to have it fitted if I was unable to (taking into account that I know very little technical car stuff)

Bah, who needs electronic ignition? Seriously, an older style ignition is really easy to fix if it goes wrong. You could learn how an older ignition system works in 10 minutes.

[TRUENOSAM]

My mates brother had a 1.6L mk3 Capri. Do it

[Lanxx]

Egg Chaser said:

Bah, who needs electronic ignition? Seriously, an older style ignition is really easy to fix if it goes wrong. You could learn how an older ignition system works in 10 minutes.

But don't you get damp start problems?? We are in England

[Baz Tench]

Egg Chaser said:

Lanxx said:

I'm just worried about how much sh*t will go wrong with it. I mean I've heard an electric ignition is a good idea, but how much to have it fitted if I was unable to (taking into account that I know very little technical car stuff)

Bah, who needs electronic ignition? Seriously, an older style ignition is really easy to fix if it goes wrong. You could learn how an older ignition system works in 10 minutes.

Yep. These are as easy as it gets to work on (bar siezed bolts etc.).

No matter what goes wrong with it, it can be fixed using a Haynes manual, the most basic tool set and a jack.

[Baz Tench]

Lanxx said:

Egg Chaser said:

Bah, who needs electronic ignition? Seriously, an older style ignition is really easy to fix if it goes wrong. You could learn how an older ignition system works in 10 minutes.

But don't you get damp start problems?? We are in England

Oh and a can of WD40/plusgas to spray on the leads (which can also be replaced in 5 minutes for pennies.

[WhoseGeneration]

Lanxx said:

Hi all.
Basically I'd love a Capri mk3, I'm 18 soon and will be a getting a full time job when I finish college. I've looked at insurance for a 1.6 and a 2.0 laser and it seems affordable... Maybe. Please could you give me some advice on this, either encourage me or snap me out of my never-going-to-happen plan lol...

Thanks

Follow your desires.
Or, when you're older, you'll regret not doing so.
Basically, apart from the bigger engined ones, they're rubbish, without a lot of mods and even the more desirable bigger engined ones need mods to make them really usable on today's roads as a daily.
Go for it, it'll prove you're a petrolhead.

[Lanxx]

Thanks to you all very helpful. I'm thinking it'll be about almost 2k for a good 2.0?

[GadgeS3C]

Fleckers said:

What about an Opel Manta?

Go for a 1.8 non injected version

Manta's and Capri's are both old enough for a classic insurance policy

as stated above will teach you about cars, maybe get on an evening course to learn some basic mechanics

good luck

The Opel Manta, a friend used the describe his as "the thinking man's Capri"

[Egg Chaser]

Lanxx said:

But don't you get damp start problems?? We are in England

Only if your HT leads are knackered really. And if they are, you could replace them within a minute. Or, like mentioned above, a can of WD40 will sort it temporarily.

If you can afford the insurance, do it! This is PH afterall, did you really expect to hear anything else?

[Baz Tench]

Lanxx said:

Thanks to you all very helpful. I'm thinking it'll be about almost 2k for a good 2.0?

I've got no idea of prices these days. First job to learn on the 2.0 would be the cambelt change if there's no proof that it's been done recently, as it's an interference engine I believe (whereas the 1.6 isn't) and could knacker the valves if it goes.

It's a simple job though, right at the front of the engine with plenty of access. Whilst you're at it, make sure the camshaft seal isn't leaking oil onto the top pulley as this will rot the cambelt and cause it to lose teeth (I have personal experience of this )