1989 Ford Capri from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

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.

I bought a 1989 ford Capri at the beginning of this year I'm 17 and its my first car... I'm utterly disappointed. I paid 3400 for the car then had to spend up to 4000 on repairs with things like new gear box and rear axles... the roof leaks and constantly pops off when I'm driving, I also have a lot of trouble opening the compartment were the roof is stored when down. the light don't pop up either there is another problem... the wiring... the windows don't work and the static in the radio is constant... I knew when I bought the car it was old, I mean that's the point of a first car something to learn in, but this is not much of a car. I tell people I have a capri and there like "oh wickid a turbo there well quick" well NO the 89 model is not turbo and it aint QUICK maybe its just my capri or others are the same, but going from a dead stop to first and then second gear is hell the other gears are fine and gain speed fine, but starting it seems to need to be over-rev just to get the thing moving... I think the Capri defiantly lives up to its name the poor mans convertible.

PS any one want to buy a 89 Capri.