I need another car when the cabby goes to keep me going til April, when I'm going for a loan and buying a performance motor. Was going to get another Clio 1.8 16v as these cars are great fun, and it's quicker than my other option, an escort 1.8 si.

Browsing on eBay I noticed the Capri 2.8i Special has power steering. I've always liked Capris but detest regular steering. What's the steering like on these and how do they perform? Are they reliable? And would I get an alright one for under a grand?

 

they are great fun and the engine parts are easy to sort, but by know the fooking will be a rust bucket you must be carfull

 

All 2.8i Capri's have power steering
Beware of rot!

 

and roundabouts in the wet

that back end swings around like graceland

 

I had one fell in love with it, they are so much fun, specials have a LSD as well!

 

There good for going through ditches backwards and decent ones are well over a grand arent the specilas the only ones with 5 speed boxes as well?

 

No they all had 5 speed after about Y reg, it was only the very first X reg's that had 4 speed

The "special" was from B reg and had 7 Spokes, LSD and half leather trim. then the Blooklands were the last few all 1 colour and full leather and had 15" 7 spokes.

I loved my 2.8I special, still the most comfortable car i ever had.

cheeRS

 

LAMP POSTS 1 Capri's 5

BLEW a 2.8 engine up

last 2.8 green rotted in the last LOCK UP

rent was WORTH MORE THAN THE CAR

they never got the rent but got the car

 

had 5 2.8is they were mostly rot buckets 10years ago so fuk knows how bad they are now

 

buy this fooker

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ford-capri-mk3...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Iv'e had 3 2.8i Capri's over the years & i think they are brilliant fun. Remember having the rear chassis rails welded on my 1983 2.8i & that was back in 1992 ! I think your struggle to find a clean one.

Is it me or do 2.8i capri's seem to have gone up in price, seems very hard to find one under a grand & even at a grand its most probably rotten.

Remember being offered a x plate green one (the quicker 4 speed early one) for £150 about 5 yrs ago, needed some welding though !!!

Simon.

 

I had themintiest mint black 2.8i special, needed new boot door cos ofminor accident damage. had only done 70k was soild perfect, £850

 

great fun but be bloody care full in the wet it's not just the back end that
goes the front can also catch you out
and stopping them can be interesting to

my x pack was a diffrent story handled very well rain or shine but braking
was still a issue.

 

Yes brakes on the 2.8 capri are crap, mine used to warp quite often, lovely driving position though. If i had more space in my garage i'd get another 2.8 for a toy

Simon.

 

I'll never forget the night our mate overtook us in his X-pack 2.8i then hit some ice, disappeared down a ditch taking out one of the huge motorway style lamp posts on the way

Great cars, can deffo be a handful though

 

I love them, great cars, got an E reg special that's very nice.

You'll pay £3000 + for a nice one unless you get someone who doesn't know what they have.

 

Buy one, you won't have any regrets!

You won't find anything much decent under a grand, but good ones can easily still be had under two. Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of solid ones about nowadays because the majority of those that hadn't been looked after have all rusted away. Just be prepared to travel if the right car comes up. Although Brooklands models are now fetching over £10k for the best of the best, the Injection and Special are still relatively cheap - although I don't see it lasting, so get in there nice and quick!

The handling isn't anywhere near as bad as people make out if the suspension is in good condition. Yes, they are a bit silly in the wet, but as long as you're gentle with it and respect it, you won't go far wrong. In the dry, again, respect the car and you can actually push on reasonably well in the twisties. The brakes ain't great but they do pull the car up when you need them to - they aren't the best in the world but I've never found them to be a problem. They're quick cars too, when you bear in mind their age - mine still puts the frighteners on much newer stuff, which is great fun Whack some 2" or 3" systems on there and an air filter, and you'll be amazed how much more responsive it becomes. Driving position is great and it's lovely to cruise down the motorway in summer with the arm on the windowsill

Keep an eye out for: rusty bits on the strut tops, rear arches, leading edges of front wings and the base of the A-post around the bottom of the windscreen. Gearboxes start to go by losing synchro on 2nd, so steer clear of anything that crunches at all going into that gear. Best way to check is, while driving along, take the car out of 2nd into neutral and then put it straight back in - that should reveal any potential problems. The V6s are lovely engines but get a bit tappity in later life - that's not a major problem, obviously. The ride should be firm but not rock hard - if it's wallowy or spongy, you've got shockers on their way out. Leaf springs weaken with age and cause them to adopt a tail-down stance.

You might to have a look at this if you are interested. The paintwork on this car ain't great but the rest of it is spot on, and it's worth that money all day long. http://forum.fordsport.org.uk/viewthread.php?tid=6645