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I had a few Capri's in my younger years (a couple of 1600 Mk2's and a 2 litre Mk3) and loved them. Been thinking lately about getting another Capri - now I'm old insurance isn't the issue it once was so a 2.8 seems the obvious choice. What I'd like is an immaculate, low mileage 280 Brooklands but they are mega money by the look of it. Apart from paintwork and leather seats how different were they from a standard 2.8 Capri, as they seem to be twice the price!! Anyone got a 2.8? What are they actually like to live with? It won't be my only car so probably will be a weekend toy mostly but fancy the odd track day too. Any thoughts? Here's a few 2.8's to bring back those memories of 'the car you always promised yourself'       |
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Currently driving a 1972 BMW 1602 as my daily. Don't ask about previous cars - there have been way too many and I stopped counting at 160!
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Nice cars, bit juicy and not as fast as you'd like but they sound ok, can understeer a bit due to the weight of the engine. IMO the 2 litre S is a better handling car and not that hard to get it running the same sort of power. Major difference on the Brooklands underneath was the slipper, makes a lot of difference as it does in most cars, tends to make the car more fun as its easier to get the back out. Here's my old 2.8i,  I swopped my XR4i on it, the Capri feels more sporty and more old school, but the 4i was faster and handled better. Given the choice these days i'd buy a minter, fit a 24v or V8 and some decent handling aids to the suspension, personally (and its only my view) a stock 2.8 is not worth the extra money they command as they are still not what you'd call fast. |
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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I've had a couple of 4-pot Capris and loved them. The 2.8 was the car I always promised myself I'd buy when I was 30. However, I had kids and responsibilities by then and it wasn't really suited to my daily commute. I'm 40 next year though so who knows!
The later Specials had 1/2 leather, 7 spokes instead of pepperpots and the LSD whereas the Brooklands had full leather and 15" wheels. I suspect that the Brooklands isn't twice the car so if you want to use it rather than show it, I reckon a Special is a better bet.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,253
Club RR Member Number: 204
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Loads and loads of fun, get a 2.8i special as it's got the LSD and half leather, which is all you want really brooky is overrated and nowt special really..
grunty quick enough and oversteer on demand, not as sweet handling as a 2.0 laser (my favorite) but much better power/torque...
lob a 2.9 in for a small grunt increase and better mpg or a go the whole hog with a BOA cossie..
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The Internet, like all tools, if used improperly, can make a complete bo**cks of even the simplest jobs...
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^^This. It'll make you feel special every day. ;D My favourite thing about owning a 2.8i? The way it rocks from side to side when it's idling...  |
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a 1985 2.8i special was one of the most disapointing cars i had ever owned,looked nice though!
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^^I have heard the same thing from many 2.8i owners. Also from TVR280i owners. Speculate that the 160HP factory claimed is either very peaky to reach, or it requires near perfect tune. Speculate that either the K-Jetronic injection or the basic engine health (or both) degraded enough on the higher mile used 2.8i cars to such an extent that subsequent owners never experienced anything close to 160HP from their Cappers.
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 Team Blitz Ford Capri parts worldwide: Restoration, Road, or Race. Used, Repro, and NOS, ranging from scabby to perfect. Itching your Capri jones since 1979! Buy, sell, trade. www.teamblitz.com blitz@teamblitz.com |
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Darrel
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,167
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I had a Brooklands years ago when I was a teenager. At the time they werent very sought after and I didnt pay a great deal of money for it. i lent it to my "mate" when I was on holiday and he kindly crashed into Pevensey Castle BACKWARDS in it. He had never driven a RWD car before and just couldnt handle it. To be honest they are not really quick by todays standards, however once the back comes out (and it will  ) they can be great fun. My favourite was a little old 1.6 JPS special I had. It had the old Pinto lump in it and was very thrashable. Personally if I was to look for one again I would be looking for a 1.6 or 2.0 Laser. They were pretty good |
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it was bored and stroked to 3.1.
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What I'd like to hear a bit of also, if DB thinks it useful, would be back-to-back comparisons between a Mk3 3.0L carby and a Mk3 2.8i, from someone here who has driven both in the same sort of tune, freshness, and miles, so that the comparison is meaningful. A comparo of a standard 2.8i against a 3-deuce Essex Grp1 track X-pack is NOT helpful, lol.
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Team Blitz Ford Capri parts worldwide: Restoration, Road, or Race. Used, Repro, and NOS, ranging from scabby to perfect. Itching your Capri jones since 1979! Buy, sell, trade. www.teamblitz.com blitz@teamblitz.com |
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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As an all round, bit of a laugh car I really liked my Capri 2.8. I covered 29K in a year before recessing three exhaust valves on the M27. It was lowered, stripped and had a Janspeed exhaust on it for sh*ts and giggles. As a toy you might find it disappointing, as has been stated they're not that quick. I went to an E28 528i afterwards and that was noticeably quicker. However the Capri was easier to work on and I never really had any issues with it despite constant abuse. I didn't notice a tendency to under/oversteer particularly, no more so than any other six pot, RWD car I've had... Plus I got banned for speeding whilst driving mine. Ahhh, happy days  Capri's tend to be a like it or not type of car, so if you're in the mood why not scratch that itch? Find a 24V converted one with some decent suspension on it and I'm sure you'd enjoy it. Prices remain fairly constant so look after it and you won't lose, may even make on it. Life is too short, give it a go ;D |
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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Copey
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,845
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to be honest they are overrated, they have good grunt and v6 cappers do sound nice, but a breathed on 2.0 will keep up with a 2.8i on the straights and with a lighter engine up front handle a lot better too
i would advise a 2ltr, fast road cam, bigger carb and decent exhaust with a 4-branch manifold, be as quick, handle better and be cheaper to buy and cheaper to run
not to mention the 2.8is have all kinds of problems with the injection system which can mean they have complicated starting issues and they can tend to overheat, so the 4-pots are more reliable too
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1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire GLSi with 2.0 Zetec
1985 Ford Capri 3.0 (was a 2.0 Laser originally)
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10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,253
Club RR Member Number: 204
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What I'd like to hear a bit of also, if DB thinks it useful, would be back-to-back comparisons between a Mk3 3.0L carby and a Mk3 2.8i, from someone here who has driven both in the same sort of tune, freshness, and miles, so that the comparison is meaningful. A comparo of a standard 2.8i against a 3-deuce Essex Grp1 track X-pack is NOT helpful, lol. I've had four 2.8i's (one special, one early 4 speed, one naughty tuned one and a nice stocker) about six 2.0's one 1.6 and one 3.0 though I've driven four or five other 3.0's... Imho the 3.0 is pretty dull, slow to rev, gruff rough and raw when revved (and not in a good way), nice bit of grunt low down but no performance engine at all in my opinion, much more suited to a granada or a zodiac (of which I've had both as well...) where it can slog along at low rev The 2.8 on the other hand is fairly sweet revvy powerfull smooth and keeps pulling as the revs rise, I had a granada 2.8i as well and it suited the capris far better, sure it now bll of fire but it felt quick and felt fun and that's what mattered at the end of the day, I'll never forget the first day i picked up my first 2.8i cappa, grinning from ear to ear all day.. |
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The Internet, like all tools, if used improperly, can make a complete bo**cks of even the simplest jobs...
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gearoil
Part of things
Projectless...
Posts: 918
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I love these things but... The don't stop or corner, drink fuel, rust and are massively overpriced. The 2.8 in my Capri had heads & a cam, don't know what a std V6 in one is like. The std 2.8 in my Sierra does feel a bit flat by comparison. I have given up on owning another one in any other form than die cast model, good ones demand such a high price and the market is flooded with shiney on top snotters. However, as has been said above, the way it feels sitting in one and the lazy gurgle you get tooling along at about 30 is brilliant. Whats about a zetec / duratec / redtop / lexus in one instead of a V6...? The Germans stick BMW oily bits into Capris, anyone done that in the UK...? |
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Darrel
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,167
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Oct 11, 2010 10:31:30 GMT
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Will also have to say no matter what one you have (I even owned a 1.3 one) as long as you have that bonnet buldge in front of you its a great view |
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Nathan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,627
Club RR Member Number: 1
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Oct 11, 2010 12:02:39 GMT
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Had a nice spec'ed up 2.0 and have now as I think upgraded to a 2.8 Special.
IMO if you don't wanna tune the 2.8i then get one, if you do then go for a 4pot as it will cost you alot less. I loved my 2.0 but it just did not have the grunt my mates 2.8 had hence the recent purchase.
I like the noise of the V6 but really unless your wanting one for a specfic reason (leather, LSD (special only) etc) then for the price you can get a "well" sorted 2.0.
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Oct 11, 2010 12:38:47 GMT
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The perfectly healthy low milage Efi 2.8 from a mk3 Granny that was in my XR4i only made 142bhp on the rollers, the operator said he wasn't suprised he'd never seen a 2.8i make 160bhp and most of them were close to or under 150bhp.
I've had quite a few 2.8i Cortinas and i was massively suprised by how fast my 24v one was compared to them, theres a huge difference.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Oct 11, 2010 14:22:19 GMT
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I've a 2.8 special 1985 owned it since 2002, and I think it is awesome and would never sell. Like others have said it's not the fastest vehicle by modern standards but mine has been ultra reliable / starts on the button. Its not too bad on fuel but I didnt buy it as an economical motor / i'd have gone for a Golf diesel if thats what I wanted Up until this year I'd not spend any money on it although it is currently getting treated to some new bushes / inserts and the front brakes upgrading. I wanted a 280 originally like you but even back in 2002 they were fetching a premium and I couldnt justify the extra expense for full leather / green met paint and 15" allys. I say go for it, they don't have the image issue they once had and it certainly has presence on the road which many cars do not. |
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Oct 11, 2010 17:32:17 GMT
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had a few great cars but remember most 2.8i specials will be 25 plus years old now and probably never had the LSD serviced so be prepared for it to not act like a slipper anymore |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,197
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Oct 11, 2010 18:09:13 GMT
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I'm not sure if it's like the modern cars in this respect. When I went from a 2.0 Mk3 Mondeo (143BHP) to the 3.0 (201BHP), the 3.0 initially didn't feel that fast and bar the effortless motorway cruising I wondered why I bought it. I admit overtaking things was a breeze. The 2.0's lighter front end though did make the car a little more fun in the corners. It was only when I jumped back into a 2.0 Mundaneo that I noticed how much of a difference there was. Where the 3.0 had power on tap to make for superb overtaking/swift performance, the 2.0 just felt a little breathless to me. Going from a 100BHP 1.6 Focus to a 2.0 306 GTi-6 (167BHP) felt exactly the same (I.e I wondered why I bothered initially). Again, driving the Focus felt slow, as did driving my 205 GTi for the first time. Basically, I think the smoothness of the 6 pots deceives you to a degree. That and the fact that the engines will be a little more tired now (but won't they be in 2.0s as well?). I'd agree with Nathan's notion of if you want a 2.8, then go for it. Saying that if I were going for a Capri, I'd probably either look out for a small block V8 item or a Cosworth 24V car , and go for sort suspension and decent brakes (I understand CapriSport's conversion with Mondeo calipers and outboard discs (hence putting heat into the wheels to cool the brakes down) is a cost effective and solid conversion). |
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Last Edit: Oct 11, 2010 18:12:53 GMT by ChasR
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) they can be great fun.
