As discussed in the thread I posted earlier about quirky or uncommon 80's or 80's cars for cheap, the Capri is very high on my list. I've had several NA Miata, 2 AW11s, but never a Capri. I have no experience with them. Anyone here owned one? I know it's the 323 platform and engine is based on the Miata. I know there's a base model and the XR2. They can be had in great shape for dirt cheap. Are they reliable? Some parts really hard to source?
I know they aren't fast and don't handle like an NA, but that's OK. I just want something odd to bring to Cars and Coffee or get coffee with my wife.
I know the fact it has a tiny backseat makes me happy.
they're on the BF chassis 323, strangely enough, a good number of them that are left have removable hardtops. I think i see more for sale with hardtops now then I ever saw with hardtops on the road. The chassis is a wet noodle with the roof cut off of it. the XR2 has the B6T, which some massaging can be done to get 180-210 hp out of without a crazy amount of fuss. If you get a base, then you might as well do a BP swap, source a BP26 manifold and go DIY forced induction.
Thanks to platform sharing parts aren't entirely hateful, I believe that some brake upgrades are available via the Ford Aspire (I have to confirm that, as it may be a Festiva only upgrade that doesn't apply to BF chassis cars). The transmission will be the limiting factor with regards to power output potential, followed by rods, but with either the BP or B6T the rods will be okay to 280hp. If you get a XR2 or do the BP swap, you'll have a G series transmission, which means that you can source a MFactory limited slip, that and fairly religious fluid changes should keep the transmission happy to 230-240ish hp.
I've never owned one, but there's some cross pollination with the BG chassis guys. I kinda dig their styling, and outside of every brodozer feeling like it could end your life with a single lapse of a mirror check, I imagine that they provide an enjoyable top down motoring experience, even if not so much when attempting to engage in spirited driving. I imagine that ownership is rather risk free at this point. Meaning that if you purchase one and maintain it in the same condition in which you purchase it, or even improve it's condition, i suspect that you'd have no issues in selling it for what you initially pay. I'm not suggesting that they'll increase in value, but small, easy to work on convertibles that are light weight aren't getting any more plentiful, and the most obvious alternative has gone up in value significantly in the past few years.
I think for a cars and coffee and radwood type event vehicle, that there are far worse options to be found. Even weekend drives for the sake of scenery would be enjoyable.
I remember reading a test between the OG Miata and the XR2, and the XR2 was faster in every category yet every reviewer said that they preferred the Miata. I have always felt that they would be a decent low-cost way to have some top-down fun. No clue about the platform, but people go fast in Escort GTs of the era so how different could it be? The only issue that I know of is that many run 3-spoke wheels, which are so bad.
Wonder how fun it could be at rally with some chassis stiffening?
Think 323 convertible and you are pretty close. 1.6L BP was the motor. You can get JY parts from the Tracer and 323 if I remember right. Not a lot of those left on the ground now though. I would imagine convertible top parts and some of the interior bits would be a mess to get so buy good there. A lot of them came with hardtops so that is pretty common.
