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

SlickDizzy wrote: After a little more research, I am even more confused about why everyone hates these.

Because everyone here on GRM believes in only driving the ultimate car for any given purpose, and never compromising performance, or comfort, or looks just for the sake of having something unusual.

Nobody's arguing that the Miata isn't superior in every way. But if you're just looking for something to cruise around in when it's a nice day....at a much lower price than a Miata.....I say "why not?" Assuming your expectations are low(ish), I would assume you'll be just fine with the Capri. It's not some kind of crazy death trap that drives like a Versa and looks like an Aztek, lol...It's just a fairly average, small, cheap convertible. It drives fine, if not terribly exciting, in stock form. And as anyone on this forum knows, that's just a starting point for doing whatever you want to do with it. Honda Racing Odyssey, anyone?

Why is there even a comparison being made between this and a Miata? Other than being convertible, commonly called chick cars, and being from the same era, they have nothing in common, right? Different tool for a different job. I think they're ugly, but they're still cool in there own way. I wouldn't cross shop one with a Miata though. Maybe with a Sebring or base model Eclipse convertible, but not a Miata.

I'm pretty sure I even called it the anti-Miata in the title.

As I have said before, I am WELL aware that the Miata is a better sports car in every way than this attempt to turn an FWD economy car into a convertible. Just wondering out loud why nobody has ever bothered with one of these; I would never expect a Miata competitor, but then these are less than half the price on the used market. Seems like you could build a fun little summer runabout on the cheap if you're not worried about the "image".

If you were talking $10k vs $20k, it would make sense. But at the price point we're talking, it's not a big step up to a fun little summer runabout on the cheap that also happens to be a better sports car in every way.

Bought one for $400 for BABE rally 2011. It was stupid fun and turned me on to the joys of turbo. Sure it's not a mitata. And if you are looking for one honestly I'd look for the cheapest skankiest one you can find because they are more fun if you stop caring about them. But they are fun, very hoonable.

its probably saying something about me when I say I kinda like the looks of these.

ive been looking for a stupid cheap drop top beater. this may fit the bill. or a cadavalier, but I like the looks of this better.

I still remember when these came out and the first time I saw one. I was driving home in my 1990 Miata when a woman pull up next to me at a light and yells "you should have waited and gotten one of these". I started laughing quite loud and she got very mad. She burned rubber when the light turned green and just about torque steered into my lane. It made her happy, but I don't see many of these still being enjoyed and I suspect the reason why is because there are so many better cars (certainly a Miata). If I were going to drive something that slab-sided, it would be a Toyota MR Spyder.

Ok, so I think the OP has his answer. Is it a Miata? Certainly not. Are there better cars out there? For sure. Would a cheap beater XR2 still be fun? Sounds like it. Looking forward to the build thread!

I think the problem with this car is that more fun cars are available for equal money. MR2, Z31 300zx, Starion, 924S, early Rx7s, etc. If we are talking $2000 ive seen those all sell around that recently.

kanaric wrote: I think the problem with this car is that more fun cars are available for equal money. MR2, Z31 300zx, Starion, 924S, early Rx7s, etc. If we are talking $2000 ive seen those all sell around that recently.

Sounds like he wants a vert, though. So most of that list is a no-go if that's the case.

Even more fun when you rip it's heart out and stuff it into a Ford Festiva.

I say they could be a hoot to autocross with an LSD, or if you can find a hard top rallycross. I bet you can remove just about everything from the firewall back, add race seat and run. What did they weigh stock compared to a Miata?

I don't love the styling, but small light FWD cars can be a hoot to drive in tight twisty conditions. Look at how fast modern rally cars are.

I don't love them, but I think they could be a barrel of monkeys type fun. Also for those who don't want to spend $2-3k for a turbo kit on a miata and don't have the fab skills to add a one from the junk yard.

Something else, back when the magazine still did decent profiles on cars (hint hint, not the fluff they do now), they did one on the 323 GT/GTX, which is what lead me to get my GTX (hell, that was like 12 years ago!!) in the article while going on about the general awesomeness of the AWD and pedigree of the GTX they did say that for the ultimate pavement terror the FWD GT Sedan was the better bet. Think of the XR2 as a 323GT with factory weight reduction added in from the get go.

Also keep in mind I already own a Supra and a XT Turbo so I'm not really trying to have another Japanese GT car...if I could pick up a beater XR2 for $1000 it could be a fun little runabout!

To some of you the extra $3000 needed to get a decent Miata may be worth it, but I'm a recent college grad here, gotta play on the cheap!

irish44j wrote:

kanaric wrote: I think the problem with this car is that more fun cars are available for equal money. MR2, Z31 300zx, Starion, 924S, early Rx7s, etc. If we are talking $2000 ive seen those all sell around that recently.

Sounds like he wants a vert, though. So most of that list is a no-go if that's the case.

Ya that might be a problem unless Miatas have gone that low...

Probably can't find one of those Fiat roadsters for that cheap anymore either.

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

slow wrote: did we just voted it be one of the worst "sporty car" in another thread?

I believe we did. My only advice would be to make sure you drive one and get well acquainted with it before you buy. My honest opinion is that a 91-94 Protege LX is sportier than these things, with more performance potential down the road. Could probably find one cheaper as well.

The B6T isn't special in any way. I'd take a Protege LX with forum-sourced Familia GTX turbo parts for well under a grand any day of the week over it. It'll cost probably about the same in the end, make way more power everywhere, and be stiffer.

LOTS of fun to be had!

If you buy one, we will all make fun of you!

Its FWD, that should have ended the thread right there!GM's Lotus Elan project proved conclusively that no matter how well it handles, FWD is the fun killer in any self propelled vehicle. Kinda like saying you have the best form of leprosy.

I didn't have much fun in FWD cars either, until Per showed me how to drive my GTI, and Alan showed me how to rock my MINI Cooper S.

I'm with Keith on this one. Cheap- solid Miatas are common outside of the rust belt. Why not fly-in, drive home in a much better car, with a larger aftermarket that will make you happier down the road? $2K-$2,500 Miatas are common down here in FL, and the South. You can fly from Rockford IL to Sanford FL for under $100. Fly in and make it an adventure! We'll even set you up with GRM swag for the ride home!

http://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/4410114698.html

http://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/4432950841.html

http://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/4434346208.html

Had a '91 Capri as my first car, non-turbo unfortunately, but was a 5spd and a manual transmission convertible is fantastic first car. Had a LOT of fun with and in that car. Better sports car than a miata? Not a berkeleying chance... but it could carry a set of ski's and a snowboard with the back seat folded down, the top went down when I skipped school to drive the beach, and the front seats folded back further than a Miata's. All of which is arguably more important than better handling and RWD for a high school student.

I'd love to get one again to hoon with, but starting with an XR2 for sure. Make mine a white '94.

skierd wrote: Had a '91 Capri as my first car, non-turbo unfortunately, but was a 5spd and a manual transmission convertible is fantastic first car. Had a LOT of fun with and in that car. Better sports car than a miata? Not a berkeleying chance... but it could carry a set of ski's and a snowboard with the back seat folded down, the top went down when I skipped school to drive the beach, and the front seats folded back further than a Miata's. All of which is arguably more important than better handling and RWD for a high school student. I'd love to get one again to hoon with, but starting with an XR2 for sure. Make mine a white '94.

I'm with skierd.

This is the first car I bought with my own post college cash. It was a great little car. Drove forever with little maintenance. It wasn't soulless in my opinion. It just had a very different soul. I thought a Miata would be fun but if you don't have Miata money then this car is a decent bet for some fun with the top down. It handles surprisingly well for being FWD car.

I say get it, drive it, mod it, and let us know what you think.

I think someone was autocrossing one with CDC, at least for a little while the last time I was there several years ago. I seem to recall hilarious amounts of body roll with a healthy dose of wheelspin.

Maybe someday the theoretically-eventually-cheap NC will change my mind, but all the NAs and NBs and Mazdaspeed miatas ive driven (and worked on) so far havent made me want one. I have a friend with a low-12, high-11 1/4 mile turbo miata which is tons of fun, but not BECAUSE it's a miata.

With that in mind, the whole "miata is better" thing is falling pretty flat for me. I've said before that i'd rather DD an SOHC neon than an NB (and driven them back to back in the same places). Don't get me wrong, i dont like Capri XR2s in any particular way, but if you want a cheap turbo convertible it has the major advantage of being one.

I bought a cheap convertible to cruise in and its slower and dynamically worse than a Capri and i still love it. It doesn't have to do everything.

Joe Gearin wrote: I'm with Keith on this one. Cheap- solid Miatas are common outside of the rust belt. Why not fly-in, drive home in a much better car, with a larger aftermarket that will make you happier down the road? $2K-$2,500 Miatas are common down here in FL, and the South. You can fly from Rockford IL to Sanford FL for under $100. Fly in and make it an adventure! We'll even set you up with GRM swag for the ride home! http://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/4410114698.html http://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/4432950841.html http://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/4434346208.html

I'm 55 min from Rockford. You NEED to stop posting things like this.