1989 Ford Capri review from Australia and New Zealand

I had to replace the radiator six months after buying the car.

It runs just like any old four cylinder car, and frankly I feel ripped off. I paid Australian $7,500 for what was basically a 13-year-old Ford Laser!!

Considering that is all they are - a ford laser, or a Mazda 323, why are the standard models so expensive? A used Ford Laser made in the same year as my Capri (89) would go for about Australian $3000.

The roof is unbelievably bad. The clips pop open whenever I go over a pot hole in the road.

The suspension is a shocker. I always feel like I am bouncing along on a rocky dirt road - and that is when I am driving in the city.

The locks on both doors have rusted inside, probably due to rain, and the key does not work in them anymore. As a result, I have to leave it unlocked at all times. Not a good idea.

My last Capri was far better performance wise. It was an 1992 XR2 Turbo and was very zippy indeed. However the roof was also a shocker, and the alternator belt went TWICE in the first three months, then a head gasket blew.

I would have kept the car - I loved it, especially the leather seats. But it was stolen.

Has anybody else had problems with the radio? In both my capris the reception was terrible - crackles and has lots of static. In both it was so bad I never use the radio and only listen to Cd's when driving. A friend who used to own one said she had the same problem.

Ford Capri's are only worth the money if you are going to spring for a Turbo model.

I have seen some around town that are really hotted up with sports bumper bars, alloy wheels, etc and they look really terrific.