Capri XR2 (the FWD anti-Miata) - any fun to be had?

SlickDizzy wrote: Up here in the rust belt, weird stuff holds value a lot better, too; it's tough to get into an old MG or Fiat that isn't terminally rusty for less than $3k. Same goes for Miatas, MR2s, etc. Like, check this out. Comes with a hardtop and everything, I bet I could throw the dude $1500 and take it home. http://rockford.craigslist.org/cto/4452397268.html

This is a car I generally find to be more fun the less you spend and would make <$1000 my goal. But if you could get into that one for $1500 I'd do it assuming it's as decent as it looks.

Because they offer some cheap turbo fun, I've looked into these. I asked about them on here a couple months back and didn't get much.

While I'd love a Miata, in my area my price range seems to only turn up early beat B6 PILES. For what those piles command, I've found MINT Capri XR-2's.

While they don't offer the same virtues as the Miata, I'd be looking at mostly 99% drop top fun and putzing around town and about 1% Miata stuff...

Check out teamcapri.net as it seems to be the only forum for these things. The admin there can tweak the stock ECU to run more boost for a small fee if you send it his way.

I've never owned one, but here are some things I've learned:

-1991 cars suffer from the same crank issues that early B6 Miatas suffer from. It was cleared up for 92-94 cars.

-1994 cars have better suspension parts, but are pretty hard to find

-The aftermarket is scant. As some have mentioned here, some nice suspension upgrades can still be had. There was some overlap with the 323 GT/GTX aftermarket, but most places that offered 323 stuff (like Corksport and Racing Beat etc. haven't for years now.) Aftermarket camshafts from a B6 Miata will bolt in. Kelford apparently makes a nice set in various sizes.

-There is some compatability with other vehicles. The stock IHI VJ14 turbo is related to other Mazda VJ turbo's of the era. Popular in the 1G F2T Probe/MX6 world, the VJ14 can be "hybridized". While keeping the VJ14 hotside, the compressor wheel and housing can be swapped with that from a Probe/MX6 VJ11 or that from a turbo from a 87-88 T-bird turbo coupe. Using the T-bird stuff on the Probes usually gives them a nice boost, so I can only imagine the same for the lighter B6T cars.

-You'd have to dig on Teamcapri, but IIRC the exhaust mani bolt pattern is almost identical to that of a D-series Honda. A cheap way to upgrade to a non-IHI turbo is to slightly modify the flange of an eBay D-series turbo mani.

That's all I can remember right now.

There was a guy on that board with an XR2 that put the B6T top end on a B6 bottom end for higher compression. Then, he somehow fabbed in a DSM 16G, added an FMIC, and I think some fuel mods. The car apparently ran high 12's spinning and torque steering, but was still decent enough for DD duty.

http://greenville.craigslist.org/cto/4422677083.html

Seems like the way to go.

Its main problem is that Miatas exist and are not much more expensive. Think of it as a turbo Escort / Protege convertible and you'd be pretty close. I'm not sure if it is based on the BF or BG platform.

They were true competitors on the showroom floor when new. If the Miata had not come out I think the Capri would have enjoyed more success. At the time, they were about your only choice for 2 seat convertibles, aside from the aging Alfa Spider.

I still kinda want one

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/4579859894.html