Ford Capri's

Message

HowardQ · #16 Post by **HowardQ** » Sun May 22, 2011 11:20 pm

Problem with any "old" cars is they do not do most of the things that modern cars do, so using one as day to day transport brings issues.
Older cars like a 40 year old Capri that was never as reliable, economical or good handling/braking, did not compare with a basic modern car when new, so it won't have got any better 40 years later.
If the car is to be a collectors piece, looked after and only occasionally used, buy one and enjoy it this way. If you want a good reliable economical car you can use every day with few worries, get the newest small hatch that you can afford.

Sorry to be a killjoy but this is the reality.

ligloo · #17 Post by **ligloo** » Mon May 23, 2011 4:08 am

I'm up early, not late before you comment lol....

but I seriously doubt it's to be used as a collector's piece, he's 20

Sensible words though Howard, that will fall on deaf ears, no doubt! I'm quite chuffed at him showing a serious interest in sommat though, he could be doing worse!

figaro · #18 Post by **figaro** » Mon May 23, 2011 4:31 am

HowardQ wrote:Problem with any "old" cars is they do not do most of the things that modern cars do, so using one as day to day transport brings issues.
Older cars like a 40 year old Capri that was never as reliable, economical or good handling/braking, did not compare with a basic modern car when new, so it won't have got any better 40 years later.
If the car is to be a collectors piece, looked after and only occasionally used, buy one and enjoy it this way. If you want a good reliable economical car you can use every day with few worries, get the newest small hatch that you can afford.

Sorry to be a killjoy but this is the reality.

I don't agree with that at all. Saying it won't be as economical or fine handling as a modern car is stating the bleedin' obvious, but there's absolutely no reason at all why they can't be reliable daily transport. Where's your soul, man?

HowardQ · #19 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon May 23, 2011 11:55 am

Please see my earlier post about my own 1970 3 litre Capri, which I loved, (back in the 70s).
Cars then were NOT as reliable as modern cars today. I know I owned and repaired loads of them!
They are still good fun and can be used as regular transport, but you have to look after them, which is often more time consuming than with modern stuff, as 40 year old parts MAY not always be quite as easy to get hold of as they used to be.
I know some are possibly easier like bits for old MGBs, Minis and the like.

The other side of this is that you CAN actually work on them and enjoy fiddling/fixing, where todays modern cars are much more difficult.

BikerGran · #20 Post by **BikerGran** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:16 pm

'Orrible things, Capris!

Tell him what he ought to want is a nice MkI Cortina!

He could ask on http://www.mankymonkeymotors.co.uk/forum/index.php - he'd find helpful people on there as well.

Or there's lots of links to clubs etc if you Google Ford Capri, and there are bound to be cars for sale on there.

#21 Post by **Kwackerz** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:47 pm

Nowt wrong with cutting your mechanical teeth on an old ford. Capris are a piece of piss to work on. Only takes 2 hours on a top end overhaul.. Haynes can be your friend and aint a bad tool to use, despite whats oft said about them. Some of my most reliable cars were pinto engined and thats when they were 20 years and thrashed daily! They were always the cheap sheds when I got them, not cared for ones.. Never paid over 150 quid for one and often ended up towing something newer back to camp..
Nowadays theyll still be drivable in a spirited manner, just reduce the redline a smidge.. theyll stop too.. Just have to remember everything else will stop quicker!!! If hes set on one then he should go for it. Youve not lived til youve done the old skool ford thing!

#22 Post by **Kwackerz** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:51 pm

He might want to consider the fuel costs though. What he saves on insurance as a classic and tax, hell lose in miles per gallon, especially if he lives in scotland!

ligloo · #23 Post by **ligloo** » Tue May 24, 2011 12:08 pm

figaro wrote:I had a MK1 2.0 V4 and a MK11 2.0S. Great cars!

Here's a nice looking 1.6 for a sensible price...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1982-FORD-CAPRI-L ... 2c5cd74b1d

Well this is the one he's bought. Couple of minor things need fixing but all in all in good nick and the 3 hour drive home went well.

He says it's gold but I prefer rust coloured..... least you wont be able to see the rust ;)

Thanks Figaro

Falcopops · #24 Post by **Falcopops** » Tue May 24, 2011 11:28 pm

Not a bad old nail, grats.

All it needs now is some fluffy dice

#25 Post by **Kwackerz** » Wed May 25, 2011 8:55 am

Leopard print seat covers, furry dice, go faster stripes and change the badge to read crapi. Job jobbed

Falcoholic · #26 Post by **Falcoholic** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:46 pm

Here's a nice sensible one for ya

HERE

Wouldn't mind that one myself

MartDude · #27 Post by **MartDude** » Wed May 25, 2011 4:34 pm

Would he have any problems with unleaded petrol in an old Ford?

BikerGran · #28 Post by **BikerGran** » Wed May 25, 2011 8:03 pm

Kwackerz wrote:Leopard print seat covers, furry dice, go faster stripes and change the badge to read crapi. Job jobbed

And it needs one of those green sunstrips with names of driver and GF!

Would he have any problems with unleaded petrol in an old Ford?

When I had an old Maestro some folks had unleaded heads fitted at great expense but one owner had done 40,000 miles on the old 'leaded' head with no problems.

D-Rider · #29 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed May 25, 2011 10:57 pm

Falcopops wrote:Not a bad old nail.

Crikey - not many can get away with calling Ligs something like that !

back_marker · #30 Post by **back_marker** » Thu May 26, 2011 12:13 pm

BikerGran wrote:
Would he have any problems with unleaded petrol in an old Ford?
When I had an old Maestro some folks had unleaded heads fitted at great expense but one owner had done 40,000 miles on the old 'leaded' head with no problems.

My first car (Ford Festa) ran quite happily on green petrol without any mods - also ran on LRP which was handy when all the garages had no unleaded about 10 years ago.

Did ask someone about what needed to be done to carry out a proper conversion, he pointed out that if you are going to get the head done with hardened valve seats, why not wait until the old one's kneackered first