From the Way Back Machine; 1991 Capri XR2 Turbo

[wings&wheels]

Going through some old pics (got to get away from the home office).

Back in '91, looking for a fun Summer toy, I really wanted a Lotus M100 Elan, but it was out of my price range and I knew enough about Lotus quality to understand the car would generate some frustration. I was driving ~20+k/year for work in my Jetta and wanted a convertible that could also reliably jump in to the commute. The Miata was new, but I saw it then as a blatant ripoff of the cars I really liked (MG, early Lotus, etc.). My view has changed. I also wanted FWD since, if Lotus was going in that direction, it must be good!

I wound up with this Mercury badged, Ford of Australia built Mazda underpinned thing. It was fun, I still really like the looks, but a sorry vehicle w/ issues that would have surprised Lotus owners...headlight motor life measured in months, gearshift fell into the floor but still could be shifted enough to get home, random overheats when the fan motors blew fuses 2-3x per Summer.... That said, some fun parts from a few suppliers (Rod Millen IIRC) turned up the boost and improved handling, sticky tires and the car was a blast.

Once when I was negotiating a fleet of trucks, I talked to the regional Ford rep...he said they hated the car; the amount of warranty work, 'kids' were 'cooking' turbos in 20k miles...he was shocked I got 60k out of mine before I sold it (I understood cooling turbos down and ran the then new Castrol Syntec 5w-50).

I have not seen one in at least 25 years..... Anyone else ever own one? Scan warped the image a bit.

 

[simple_gifts]

Your recollection of the shortcomings of the car is what i remember also.

I seem to recall it was awaited in great anticipation and then a giant "NOT"

Have not seen one in years.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Scan warped the image a bit.

Thought it was some massive positive camber for a second.

 

[JohnnyG]

I guess Mazda by that time hadn't learned anything from the Garrett High Pressure turbo that was used in my 1986 Merkur, as well as the Cosworth Sierra. It was water cooled and I never had a failure, even while running 22# of boost at the manifold!

1985-1989 Merkur XR4TI Buyer's Guide - Motor Trend

Remember the 1985-1989 Merkur XR4Ti? Learn all about the turbocharged European car in this special Buyer's Guide feature from the experts at Motor Trend.

www.motortrend.com

Mine was exactly like the one in the link, but with later 1989 15" wheels (originals were 14")

 

[wings&wheels]

Your recollection of the shortcomings of the car is what i remember also.

I seem to recall it was awaited in great anticipation and then a giant "NOT"

Have not seen one in years.

yeah...same story with many of the captive imports; snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

[wings&wheels]

I guess Mazda by that time hadn't learned anything from the Garrett High Pressure turbo that was used in my 1986 Merkur, as well as the Cosworth Sierra. It was water cooled and I never had a failure, even while running 22# of boost at the manifold!

1985-1989 Merkur XR4TI Buyer's Guide - Motor Trend

Remember the 1985-1989 Merkur XR4Ti? Learn all about the turbocharged European car in this special Buyer's Guide feature from the experts at Motor Trend.

www.motortrend.com

Mine was exactly like the one in the link, but with later 1989 15" wheels (originals were 14")

Always like the Merkur XR4ti

 

[simple_gifts]

My father and I went to test drive a Merkur and it would not start.

He ended up buying a 1st gen Taurus SHO and it was a great car after the OEM clutch was replaced @ 19K miles.

OEM is the best choice here, when you want another 19K lasting clutch.

 

[Greasymechtech]

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/mercury/capri/2448716.html

Great pocket rocket 'vert. Like most cars, abused/neglected/destroyed by clueless consumers. I see times haven't changed one bit in 30 years.

Miss the Capri XR2, 323GT, 323GTX, Escort GT, Omni GLH, Renault Alliance GTA, Sentra SER, NX2000, Dodge Colt/Mirage turbo, Isuzu Impulse RS(turbo awd)..... great time for economy cars with a tad more pep and handling before the HP wars.... which lead to Talon/Eclipse turbos and off course, all those twin turbo V6's(3000Stealth/Supra/300)....

84-86 Mustang SVO's, Merkur XR4Ti's, and turbocoupe Thunderbirds are all begging for a 2.3ecoboost swap from a newer Mustang.

https://performance.ford.com/enthusiasts/fan-spotlight/2019/10/1987-merkur-xr4ti---ryan-labombard.html

 

[JohnnyG]

I almost bought a Scorpio too, but passed on it when it wouldn't start. It had the V6 and the rear seats would RECLINE!
It also had one of the weirdest keys in the world, it was just a round pin with magnets in it!
My Merkur was indeed a blast to drive. I became an enthusiast of them at that point and found one for a friend, a 1998 model in Pittsburgh. The young girl actually cried when she saw it leaving!!

My apologies for the HIGHJACK!

 

[2EHA]

I almost bought a Scorpio too, but passed on it when it wouldn't start. It had the V6 and the rear seats would RECLINE!
It also had one of the weirdest keys in the world, it was just a round pin with magnets in it!

Like this?

Or like this?

The second “tibbe” type came back to the states with all jags after 1991 and the transit connect.

 

[atikovi]

I really wanted a Lotus M100 Elan, but it was out of my price range and I knew enough about Lotus quality to understand the car would generate some frustration.

The Elan has an Isuzu powertrain that is pretty bulletproof and a composite body that won't rust. Have one for nearly 15 years now with no issues. I've spent more on the personalized tags than on parts or service.

 

[wings&wheels]

The Elan has an Isuzu powertrain that is pretty bulletproof and a composite body that won't rust. Have one for nearly 15 years now with no issues. I've spent more on the personalized tags than on parts or service.

I had owned a Europa and knew folks w/ Esprit's....

Nice car!

 

[wemay]

Thought it was some massive positive camber for a second.

So did i!

 

[JohnnyG]

Or like this?

The second “tibbe” type came back to the states with all jags after 1991 and the transit connect.

More like the Ford one on the left. Very strange looking thing!
Hey, it's been a long time! Hard to tell. Sounds like a good way to spend a few hours on Google!

 

[2EHA]

More like the Ford one on the left. Very strange looking thing!
Hey, it's been a long time! Hard to tell. Sounds like a good way to spend a few hours on Google!

same keys, right is the blank.

 

[JT20]

"I'd buy that for a dollar!" lol.

I LOVE the early 90s nostalgia.

Like the 4WD Celica... ?

 

[hpb]

I was an apprentice mechanic at Ford when the Capri was launched - OMG, what a truly awful thing they were! Water leaks from the soft top were the major thing we dealt with. Lots of owners elected to have a hard top fitted, I think for a while Ford Oz were supplying them for free, or very cheaply. Capri was a great idea, poorly executed.

 

[wings&wheels]

I was an apprentice mechanic at Ford when the Capri was launched - OMG, what a truly awful thing they were! Water leaks from the soft top were the major thing we dealt with. Lots of owners elected to have a hard top fitted, I think for a while Ford Oz were supplying them for free, or very cheaply. Capri was a great idea, poorly executed.

Agree. I don't remember major leaks though. I do remember the car had a clever tonneau cover and once in very heavy rain, I got a misfire. Water had somehow gotten past a spark plug tube seal.