I BOUGHT A CHEAP, Rare, Tiny, Turbo, CONVERTIBLE *Mercury Capri XR2*

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  • čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
  • Just in time for hot girl summer, I found a cheap turbo convertible a couple hours down the road! This 1992 Mercury Capri XR2 was only $2,500 so I had to pick it up immediately. It was built by Ford in Australia, based on the Mazda 323, designed in Italy, then imported to the United States. The Capri XR2 is way more fun to drive than you would expect, and reminds you of driving an NA Miata. The headlights go up too so it's the whole package!
    MERCH: shopWatchJRGo.com
    Shop Motul: motul.com
    ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Common Questions:
    What motorcycle do I ride? A few. Ducati 1198, Honda Goldwing, Honda Grom, Honda Ruckus
    What do I do for a living? Make CZcams videos.
    Can you wheelie? No, I suck.
    Are you fast? Sort of. I suck mostly though.
    Where can I keep up with you off the bike?
    Instagram: WatchJRGo
    Facebook: WatchJRGo (or JRGo, FB hates my branding)
    Do you go to school? College, for 2 classes.
    Why do you ride so dangerously? What do mean? I was doing 25.
    Do you go to the track? Of course, hopefully there will be videos in the future.
    Do you play video games? No, but I might stream N64 Goldeneye at some point. Twitch: WatchJRGo
    Are you afraid the police will watch your videos and arrest you? Something something evidence something something warrants and due process of law
    #AustralianCar #MercuryCapriXR2 #CheapCar

Komentáře • 902

  • @brandonbman5921
    @brandonbman5921 Před 3 lety +208

    Park it out in the sun with the top “up” for a few hours. That vinyl will soften up and then you can latch it and let it take a set.

    • @BerkeleyCafeVideo
      @BerkeleyCafeVideo Před 3 lety +5

      If the Ford execs had got their way, this might have been the Miata.

    • @BubbaD85
      @BubbaD85 Před 3 lety +5

      My neighbor had to do the same when he replaced the one on his miata

    • @RussellNelson330
      @RussellNelson330 Před 3 lety +6

      Agree , had to do it on my 93 ranger bed cover. It wouldn't fit unless left in sun.

    • @lordflyquad4721
      @lordflyquad4721 Před 3 lety +4

      @@BerkeleyCafeVideo Watch your mouth! Lol

    • @wit2pz
      @wit2pz Před 3 lety +5

      Brilliant! I was gonna suggest using a heat gun, but solar power is way more efficient!

  • @BentonHart
    @BentonHart Před 3 lety +36

    I remember these things. Used to see them all the time in the 90s/00s. Someone offered to sell me one back when I turned 16, but I passed on that and got an '87 RX-7 instead.

  • @bjgamertv3883
    @bjgamertv3883 Před 3 lety +2

    I own a white 91 Capri non-turbo stick. Very fun car, but nowhere near as quick as the turbo. to address some issues you mentioned. Yes, the temp gauge sits high all the time. Sometimes cleaning the grounds near the drivers side firewall helps with this, and the oil pressure gauge. The top can be forced down with the latches. You need to loosen the nuts on the grab hooks on the windshield, and force the top down. Then you can slowly tighten the nuts until the top sits right. That being said, the top will leak. That's just how that works in these cars. The shifter, if it feels vague, can have bushing replaced to help. Two useful resources for this car are Team Capri, the forum, and Tech Capri, which is the shop manuals for this car. Enjoy the XR2

  • @pppaybackkk
    @pppaybackkk Před 3 lety +74

    "Steering wheel out of the Fox body Mustang" Yeah, and ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING else Ford made in the 90s that had an air bag.

    • @Blackinterceptor999
      @Blackinterceptor999 Před 3 lety +3

      My old Lincoln had a wheel like that too, LOL
      ok slightly different, but the overall design is the same...Bet the wheel itself would interchange.
      I call those early airbags "Hand held face bombs" cause it's gonna bust your face if it blows!

    • @therealboofighter
      @therealboofighter Před 3 lety +5

      And Aston Martin.

    • @SteveBassen
      @SteveBassen Před 3 lety +3

      @@therealboofighter about to say, the DB7 had the Ford corporate steering wheel in it

    • @Stressless2023
      @Stressless2023 Před 3 lety +3

      Ford and Chrysler must have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in the early 90's by using the same steering wheel in damn near every car lol. GM was a little late to the airbag party but they generally had different wheel/airbag designs for almost every car/brand.

    • @bikeman1x11
      @bikeman1x11 Před 3 lety

      @@Stressless2023 why not ? a steering wheel isnt that crucial

  • @bgoins12
    @bgoins12 Před 3 lety +25

    Keep it, these little dudes are getting hard to find in good shape. They are fun and overly criticized.

  • @scottgosnell8599
    @scottgosnell8599 Před 3 lety +3

    Wow! I had one of those in the 90s. Weird fun little car. I drove the wheels off mine.... literally. Always fun when your back wheel flys off on the highway after buying new tires.

  • @scottrobb8934
    @scottrobb8934 Před 3 lety +2

    J.R,, I was delighted to see that you bought a Capri! I came across one in 2010. We had set out to a used car dealer specifically to look at a turbo Volvo wagon and an Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce. We didn't like the Volvo (a V40, no manual trans in North America), and, being 6'3" my legs were too long to even SIT in the Alfa. So, I looked around and spotted another soft top and walked over to see a red Capri XR2. It had a beautiful new paint job. The top was good, as was the interior. I was 53 or 54 then, so I remembered them upon seeing it, but had not seen one in YEARS. 84,000 miles at 20 years old, meant 4,200 miles a year. ALL the original owner's papers were still there. I drove it, it ran great, but the shifter was wobbly (a common occurrence). So, I bought it for $2,995. The same price as the Alfa. It was made in May, 1990 and sold in June. I tracked down the original owner and called him. I'm (now) a retired mechanic, so fixing the few things wrong was easy. After five years driving it, my wife said, "I'd feel much more comfortable with you driving something from THIS century." So, the search began and eventually I found a SUPER rare 2005 Volvo V50 T5 Sport with the M66 manual transmission. It was nine years old with 84,000 miles. One owner, who was a military officer. So, I had my 21st century car. The differences between them were astounding. The turbo-five Volvo engines are torque monsters! It will lay fifty feet of rubber. Not that I do that, but one time with the grandsons in it....
    Anyway, the Capri sat for long stretches. When I finally tried to start it, it wouldn't. It finally struggled to life and there was a knock in the engine! I was heartbroken. I changed the oil and added engine quieting additive and it helped. I belonged to a Facebook Capri owners group and I offered it to them, and one snatched it up. ENJOY it!

  • @ufirex
    @ufirex Před 3 lety +13

    I remember when they debuted the Capri at the Ford plant in Geelong during the annual family Christmas party.

  • @ondrejhybler9371
    @ondrejhybler9371 Před 3 lety +14

    Greetings from Australia. Great content as always. Thanks for bringing an Aussie made car to the world. Cheers mate

  • @100PercentJake
    @100PercentJake Před 3 lety +10

    Every NA Miata guy is gonna be beating your door down for that valve cover

  • @mathewfullerton8577
    @mathewfullerton8577 Před 3 lety +13

    Set it out in the sun for a half hour or so with the top up and then attempt to get it buttoned up. That should allow the vinyl to stretch.

  • @matthewmeaux3450
    @matthewmeaux3450 Před 3 lety +79

    I sold those new is 1991 and 1992. It was quick and fun to drive.

    • @kenlaub4158
      @kenlaub4158 Před 3 lety +26

      Dated a girl who had one back then too. Kinda fun, the car, the girl was meh

    • @matthewmeaux3450
      @matthewmeaux3450 Před 3 lety +4

      @@kenlaub4158 ,😂😂😂

    • @robertvance1873
      @robertvance1873 Před 3 lety +4

      Be careful and check out the wiring they were known to catch fire 🔥🔥🔥🔥

    • @T.S.T2014
      @T.S.T2014 Před 3 lety +2

      I sold a few of them as well. Although when I first drove an MX5 I never turned back.

    • @mexicanspec
      @mexicanspec Před 3 lety

      How many did you actually sell? I am going to bet not many. This was not a popular car in any configuration.

  • @greatreset3
    @greatreset3 Před 3 lety +5

    Check out a German made Ford Merkur XR4ti from the mid to late 80's. Even cooler w/turbo 4cyl. 🚘

    • @ryanm4319
      @ryanm4319 Před 3 lety

      There’s a parked and abandoned white XR4ti here in Philly that gets a ton of attention.

    • @greatreset3
      @greatreset3 Před 3 lety

      @Lassi Kinnunen 81 what the hell are you talking about????????

  • @Matt_from_Florida
    @Matt_from_Florida Před 3 lety +3

    8:55 Actually it came with a black *vinyl* top from the factory. *I owned a 1991 XR2 20 years ago!* Parts were easy to get then and 2 different chips were available to boost it to either 16psi (which I got) or either 12 or 13psi (I no longer remember!). 16psi made shifting at full boost a rough experience and so I should have gotten the 12/13psi chip. Swapping one wire to another behind the fog light switch will let you turn on the fogs *INDEPENDENT* of having the low-beam headlights on. I bought the center console from a '94 XR2 which is a nice upgrade. It has a lid with a storage console. The interior of the 1994's is black though, not grey like the '91-'93 models. There is a *factory Ford interior paint* which exactly matches the grey interior color of the 91-93 models which I sprayed the center-console with.

    • @Matt_from_Florida
      @Matt_from_Florida Před 3 lety

      I should add that the 16psi chip TOTALLY OVERWHELMED the stock clutch. When the boost went up the clutch slipped BADLY. I installed a Centerforce +60% organic clutch which worked well. It was the strongest non-metallic clutch on offer. Also I had a custom 2.5" turbo-back mandrel-bent exhaust made for the car and boost was IMMEDIATE. Several companies used to offer a 2.25" downpipe for the XR2 but that was 20 years ago and I have no knowledge of what's available for the car anymore. I remember though that the OE downpipe is the narrowest part of the exhaust where the downpipe _'necks-down'_ in one place.

    • @Matt_from_Florida
      @Matt_from_Florida Před 3 lety

      There's a used center-console from a 1994 on EBAY. I makes a nice upgrade for the 91-93 Capri's. www.ebay.com/itm/164733641903
      As you mentioned the XR2's run a little too hot for my liking. The OE thermostat is 195F. I installed a 180F thermostat with no adverse affects and it lets the car run well-below the center-mark on the temp gauge.
      shop.moderncapriparts.biz/catalog/CategoryDisplay.cfm?cat=1635&cid=148
      This place is still around!!! They offer a few performance pieces as well as being a good overall source for parts.
      Well put on a wig & call me Barbie! One place still offers a 16psi chip for the little doodle-bug. www.werbatfik.com/ecu.htm

  • @generatorjohn4537
    @generatorjohn4537 Před 3 lety +4

    I can't believe you bought this car so cheap!
    The fact that it goes down the road with no dents is pretty remarkable.
    As for the top, put it out in the sun and warm it up, may be enough to get it to latch.

  • @VanisleNSX
    @VanisleNSX Před 3 lety +9

    Wow, that Mercury looks like a nice, straight, clean car for only $2,500!

    • @chriscole9621
      @chriscole9621 Před 3 lety +1

      If you know these cars that's the high end for them. Nobody likes paying more then 1k for them for some reason

    • @TimmyMoza
      @TimmyMoza Před 3 lety +1

      Yeah but used car market for ANYTHING right now is rediculous pricing… im sittin on the sidelines waitin for sanity to return…

    • @chriscole9621
      @chriscole9621 Před 3 lety

      @@TimmyMoza that is true that's why I'm thinking about selling my 9th gen SI coupe cuz it's gone up value since I bought it lol

  • @shanesimmons6079
    @shanesimmons6079 Před 3 lety +7

    You need to get a ford probe gt dude !!!

    • @WatchJRGo
      @WatchJRGo  Před 3 lety +4

      Yes, yes I do! 💯

    • @Cartier_specialist
      @Cartier_specialist Před 3 lety +2

      The Ford Probe is a badge engineered Mazda MX6.

    • @shanesimmons6079
      @shanesimmons6079 Před 3 lety

      @@Cartier_specialist i own two mazda mx6s their awsome cars 2.5 klde is a awsome engine

    • @eddiel0c61
      @eddiel0c61 Před 5 měsíci

      That F2T in them and the mx6 gt were real torque monsters

  • @schmidt28117
    @schmidt28117 Před 3 lety +5

    If the top latches have "hooks" that lock in the windshield top, unscrew them a few turns. Having the top warm also helps. Lock it down, then retighten the screws. Use leverage to stretch out the top. Cool car! I feel for the "small" feel. I have a 944, and I get missed by large trucks because they don't see me down low.

  • @Thee_Dr_Evil
    @Thee_Dr_Evil Před 3 lety +14

    that's some zoom-zoom engineering, it's a solid power train.

    • @louisbabycos106
      @louisbabycos106 Před 6 měsíci

      Be kinda cool to restomod one with more modernish Mazda engine and power train.

  • @tholtan
    @tholtan Před 3 lety +21

    Such a cool car. I’ve almost bought one on a couple of different occasions. Oddly, the motor mounts were scary bad on every one I looked at. It’s still on the “I’d like one of those” list.

    • @thommygun999
      @thommygun999 Před rokem

      got one at 17 motor mounts are ez pz ive already replaced my whole lower engine block😭

    • @SkyVenomMC
      @SkyVenomMC Před 11 měsíci

      did you happen to turn up the boost? lol@@thommygun999

  • @bmh67wa
    @bmh67wa Před 3 lety +4

    I'm still waiting for the day you get a strut sponsor and have a carousel strut display rack set up in your shop.

  • @_RiseAgainst
    @_RiseAgainst Před 3 lety +17

    As my grandpa would say, the only thing rarer than that car is a guy with the money to buy it.

  • @declanmcquay3476
    @declanmcquay3476 Před 3 lety +8

    I remember going to the Australian Ford factory at the time seeing those being built alongside Falcon utes. I think they were unfairly judged, still see them around Australian roads.

    • @chriscole9621
      @chriscole9621 Před 3 lety

      It's odd tho cuz in america the xr2 trim always has a turbo but in Australia you can get an xr2 without the turbo. Also there is a club sprint edition which we didn't get. Just doesn't make sense to me

  • @anewdimnsion
    @anewdimnsion Před 3 lety +30

    "I love this car so much"
    "This is one of my favorites"
    "Going to be my new daily"
    - Is never heard from again

    • @pclayton5063
      @pclayton5063 Před 3 lety +2

      Next week, SOLD!

    • @Big_M_T
      @Big_M_T Před 3 lety

      If this was a different JR channel…we’re straight piping the XR-2!

  • @AutoAnatomy
    @AutoAnatomy Před 3 lety +21

    The Aussie Capri (AKA the "blunder from down under". The non-turbo was painfully slow, hopefully the boosted version makes it more enjoyable!
    Sean

  • @robertspear9134
    @robertspear9134 Před 3 lety +6

    When I saw you had bought a Capri, I thought " hope it doesn't need a windshield" hard to find. At least it was the last time looked. Fun car though.
    Thanks.

  • @schlupsgarage6441
    @schlupsgarage6441 Před 3 lety +1

    I have owned one of these as well as an 88 Mazda 323 GT. Mazda B6T is a great platform. The BPT 1.8 is even better. Good luck with it and you’re gonna have plenty of fun with it.

  • @charleskuprevich1184
    @charleskuprevich1184 Před 3 lety +1

    You are the only shop/channel that would rehab an odd duck like this Mercury Capri. I love it. I drove one of these years ago and it was a hoot. Keep doing what you're doing.

  • @thecomputerdawgs1437
    @thecomputerdawgs1437 Před 3 lety +14

    Sell it to Jake to swap the engine into his Festiva -- it's a direct swap! Turns them into drag strip monsters

    • @mattbrawner7888
      @mattbrawner7888 Před 3 lety

      I had a capri xr2 and it wasn't fast at all.

    • @chriscole9621
      @chriscole9621 Před 3 lety +1

      Just enjoy the Capri mine was lots of fun. they are getting rarer and rarer because people keep doing this
      I raced an R32 GTR on a back road in my Capri xr2 and was on his bumper in the corners he'd leave be on the straights tho. Mine was modified but the engine was stock

    • @garys9694
      @garys9694 Před 3 lety

      Yeah, right, that's really funny, a real monster! (tung in cheek)

    • @chriscole9621
      @chriscole9621 Před 3 lety

      @@garys9694 to be fair his car had a blown turbo but for real. imgur.com/a/WHyRGsr here's a pic

  • @atw9913
    @atw9913 Před 3 lety +7

    I remember seeing those when I was in high school. Would pass the Mercury dealer and see one parked out front. I had no idea it was basically a FWD 323 GTX re-skinned. All that I knew is that they were slow and nobody wanted one.

    • @paulsz6194
      @paulsz6194 Před 3 lety +1

      It was designed for young women...and hairdressers.

    • @chriscole9621
      @chriscole9621 Před 3 lety +2

      It's not the slowest thing out there. Also it's not all that hard to make a hybrid turbo upgrade and chip the ECU

    • @TheHammer610
      @TheHammer610 Před 3 lety +2

      I was one of the few guys who purchased one, I guess. I loved it. It was better for me than a Miata because we could get the dog and cat down to the beach in the back seat. My wife barely tolerated it. It did OK in the snow and the removable hard top had a rear window defroster.

  • @ranga2050
    @ranga2050 Před 3 lety +2

    Wow this thing is like Mazda, Ford and Nissan bits everywhere. I spot the door handles from my first car, and the shifter!

    • @golum22222
      @golum22222 Před 3 lety +1

      It was based on the Mazda 323

    • @ranga2050
      @ranga2050 Před 3 lety +1

      @@golum22222 My first car was a Nissan.

  • @mikemontgomery7337
    @mikemontgomery7337 Před 3 lety +1

    Had a boss buy the same car . He was so proud of it. We all laughed at it behind his back

  • @toad7487
    @toad7487 Před 3 lety +3

    $2500 is a smokin' deal for that cool little car that I completely forgot existed!

  • @CoastalAutoReactionCAR
    @CoastalAutoReactionCAR Před 3 lety +3

    That 90’s ford steering wheel man they put that in EVERY car and truck they made lol

  • @troywhite76
    @troywhite76 Před 3 lety +1

    I still can't believe you got it for $2500! What a steal! I wanted one of these in highschool. Nice find!

  • @Rose.Of.Hizaki
    @Rose.Of.Hizaki Před 3 lety +1

    Speaking of Mercury, I have been blessed by having a super close encounter with an Mercury Cougar XR7. Unfortunately i didnt get a chance to speak to the driver but the car was absolutely jaw dropping and the engine sounded pristine. super wide bodied car! 😂😂 I wish i had spoken to the driver as im really curious if it was some sort of resto project.
    I doubt i will ever get to see one of those cars again in my life, they are so rare

  • @EFFEZE
    @EFFEZE Před 3 lety +3

    I've had a load of XR2,s but here in England it's the hot hatch version of the Ford Fiesta with a 1.6 cvh engine.

  • @repetey
    @repetey Před 3 lety +13

    I'd do the timing service if there's no record of it.

  • @scottbrown7415
    @scottbrown7415 Před 11 měsíci +1

    It's basically a Mazda Protoge' mechanically. So, Mazda Engine Controls, MECs is a rather quirky engine management system to diagnose problems in.
    The design was derived from a Ghia design prototype that was based on a Ford Fiesta platform and was one of the very few show cars/design studies that could actually be driven that design prototype was called Barchetta. Nice find!

  • @robertboyer5498
    @robertboyer5498 Před 3 lety +1

    I had a 92 Escort GT. Same platform, Mazda 323 with that same engine. Loved that little car, I kept it until 2003 when I traded it for a focus zx5. I still have that car and I just replaced the front lower control arms and did the SVT brake swap on it.

  • @Supradrew
    @Supradrew Před 3 lety +9

    My roommate had the same car back in the 90s. His was red though. Fun little car. 🙂

  • @robertobuenrostro2781
    @robertobuenrostro2781 Před 3 lety +5

    JR grab thee Avalon King. 👨‍🔧
    And bring thee Golden wrachet. 🇦🇺🔧

  • @JustinKelly
    @JustinKelly Před 3 lety +1

    $2500 is a steal! The dealer I work for sold one of these a couple years ago for $5-6k if I recall correctly... It wasn't even in that good of shape either but about the same mechanically.

  • @kimcason8764
    @kimcason8764 Před 2 lety +1

    Hi, I am Driving the Same car in Oz 1992 XR2 Turbo.
    So much fun in a Tiny little car..! And yes the Petrol Tank is Fairly small.
    But the more you 'Boot that Turbo' it will Guzzle that Fuel.
    Hope your still enjoying Her.
    I added a Bigger Aluminum Rad to keep her Cool..! Because of Weather in Oz. Gets a Tad Warm...!!
    Cheers kim in Oz..!

  • @corbingreiner9879
    @corbingreiner9879 Před 3 lety +5

    i didn't know this car had so much Mazda goodness running thru it. I almost bought this in 95. i saw the XR2 badge and thought it was a convertible XR4ti .

    • @rwdplz1
      @rwdplz1 Před 3 lety

      I mean, maybe if you're 40ft away and really, REALLY drunk...

    • @corbingreiner9879
      @corbingreiner9879 Před 3 lety

      @@rwdplz1 Auto Trader ad. no engine picture. i went with a Prelude Si. still have it today. Restored i might break even .lol

  • @spuwho
    @spuwho Před 3 lety +26

    Back when Mercury was still trying to be the "European Brand" under Ford. You can thank Edsel Ford III for this particular one. But I will be honest, the Ford product planners absolutely hated it. Just like they hated the Merkur XR4Ti and Scorpio. Not designed in the US, not engineered in the US, not made in the US. It got the same corporate treatment that the Pontiac GTO/Chevy SS/Saturn Astra got. The dealers didn't want to deal with it (lower margins), the service managers didn't like it (too many unique parts), and the resale went into the dumpster after Ford US recalled all the parts back from the dealers. While I am at it, Ford has some serious problems in their product planning department that has been going on since the 90's. Calling your new EV that is based loosely on a 4 door Mazda 3 a Mustang tells you just how dysfunctional that department has been. Overall a good catch for JR.

    • @AJSAN1971
      @AJSAN1971 Před 3 lety +5

      As far as Europe is concerned this is neither a Capri nor indeed an XR2 (which was a Ford Fiesta). However, it is rather cute.

    • @mexicanspec
      @mexicanspec Před 3 lety

      I learned my lesson a long time ago to not buy a car that has parts from this and parts from that. There will come a time when you will not be able to find the part you need to keep it running.

    • @BRED510
      @BRED510 Před 3 lety +1

      @@AJSAN1971 looks like they copied the front end of the Volvo 480.

    • @jacobweiser9732
      @jacobweiser9732 Před měsícem

      Now look what they've done. They made an electric SUV and called it the new Capri

  • @davidstudebaker4216
    @davidstudebaker4216 Před 3 lety +1

    Dropping that engine into a Ford Festiva is the best of both worlds. Almost a drop in. Going from 63 hp to 180 hpish is crazy fast

  • @chadriddle3517
    @chadriddle3517 Před 3 lety +1

    The randomness of jrgo is crazy cool

  • @stevenpdxedu
    @stevenpdxedu Před 3 lety +6

    Could you swap out a more modern turbo & ECU to have less lag? I mean, you can do a lot to a Miata. Love to see that XR2 become a little ripper. Thanks JRGo! 👀👌

    • @chriscole9621
      @chriscole9621 Před 3 lety

      You can chip the ECU but I mean you can always do a megasquirt and it's been done before

  • @dadteaches
    @dadteaches Před 3 lety +4

    put the top in the sun for an hour- it's how us jeep drivers have to get the tops back on if they've been off for a while.

  • @gregloomis9254
    @gregloomis9254 Před 3 lety +1

    Now you're in my neighborhood JR!
    Got three of them here - a 91 with 50k miles, a 93 to fix up, and another 91 for parts - but none are XR2s. 🙁
    Also, may not be as rare as you think - know where about 4-5 more are here close by.
    Holler if you questions or need a lead on some parts.
    And keep up all the great work!

  • @Frankyz84
    @Frankyz84 Před 2 měsíci

    I have had a few of these Australian built Ford Capri's. My current one (XR2 Turbo) has 277,000 Ks on the clock, all original and (apart from radiator, Pipes and water pump). The engine still purrs, and she starts first time every time and has never let me down in the 5 years i have had her. Her paintwork is the only thing that lets her down, but still not to bad considering the South Australian sunshine. So basically, an Italian design, Mazda powertrain (Mazda Laser engine and gearbox) Most were made for the American market. I love them, and is my fun car which I use at the weekends to explore the hills of Adelaide. She is quite nippy, and handles the country roads well. For the first 3 years she was my daily driver, (just like my previous 1990 model, sadly written off in a 100k/ph rear ender.) I love these cars, and there will always be one in my garage. 😊😊

  • @cassian72
    @cassian72 Před 3 lety +4

    That’s the climate control from a Mazda. I had an ‘88 Mazda 323 with that exact climate control.

    • @WatchJRGo
      @WatchJRGo  Před 3 lety

      I also had an 88 with the 5 speed! 🙌

    • @cassian72
      @cassian72 Před 3 lety

      @@WatchJRGo the five speed was the only way to go! It brought that little engine to life! So much fun.

    • @drowningman1
      @drowningman1 Před 3 lety

      Ditto on my ‘93 Mazda Protege. Same switchgear, good memories.

  • @davidjones734
    @davidjones734 Před 3 lety +5

    When they first launched they were selling for more than MSRP. Check the roof make sure it doesn't leak.

  • @darrelpetrie8793
    @darrelpetrie8793 Před 3 lety

    I bought a barn find last year for a thousand bucks. 120,000 mi. Needs lots of work. Seems like they just tried to drive it into the ground. Needed new axles,brakes. Cheap plastic bumpers are all cracked. Runs like a champ. I fell in love the first time I drove it around the block. I have the base model. Yours needs a good tune because my runs faster than your turbo goes. I call it my little beast. Plenty fast and it goes left and right at speed unlike other cars.

  • @geraldsmith9540
    @geraldsmith9540 Před 3 lety

    I got you beat JR. I was stationed at Fort Benning , GA and myself and two fellow soldiers piled in and drove one of them 16 hours straight averaging 95 to 110 to San Antonio, TX and the guy who owned it had to go another 6 hrs to Pecos , TX and come back to get us to get back by Monday morning for formation. We made it back with 10 minutes to spare. Car is sick and scary fast. Your right about the boost kicking in , but once it does she’ll do the speeds I said all day long and not miss a beat . Good deal !!! 👍

  • @scootermann83
    @scootermann83 Před 3 lety +33

    That sqaure, generic Ford Airbag wheel looks almost as out of place here as in the 90s aston Martins

    • @chriscole9621
      @chriscole9621 Před 3 lety

      To my since I owned one of these it's weird seeing this wheel in other cars lol

  • @leedobbyn1602
    @leedobbyn1602 Před 3 lety +4

    Looked at one of these when I got back from desert storm. Wasn't what I was looking for. Ended up with a black 1988 Corvette convertible..

    • @ryanm4319
      @ryanm4319 Před 3 lety +1

      My uncle made a similar buy when he got back from flying birds in DS for the air calvary

    • @leedobbyn1602
      @leedobbyn1602 Před 3 lety

      @@ryanm4319 yeah we all had almost a year's salary tax free so alot of us had bought nice cars. I seen quite a few vets 300z's and 3000gt's Camaros and mustang's on base soon after coming home

  • @matthewgray3375
    @matthewgray3375 Před 3 lety +1

    All the ford Mazda projects back then we're good! I had a ford Telstar Orion back in the 90s, although not a sports car, was solid motoring

  • @travislivengood2744
    @travislivengood2744 Před 3 lety +1

    Back in the day, there was a KC guy (name withheld) who raced a Festival with a complete drivetrain and suspension swap from one of those. It had a boost controller, big exhaust and a small 50 shot. If the clutch held, it flat boogied.

  • @philipr7686
    @philipr7686 Před 3 lety +9

    I'm old enough to remember these...

  • @andyandnancy
    @andyandnancy Před 3 lety +5

    I almost bought one new in 1994. I ended up buying a ranger instead.

  • @jhowell928s
    @jhowell928s Před 3 lety +1

    That’s actually a classic Mazda climate control. It was also used on the mercury tracer which was basically a Mazda 323. Ford owned a piece of Mazda in those days.

  • @luciantracy6347
    @luciantracy6347 Před 3 lety

    My neighbor had one for years! Good garage kept, only 56k on the odo, nice white color. No issues, period.

  • @stern12akachris32
    @stern12akachris32 Před 3 lety +8

    These tops for a simple manual roof were extremely hard to put on even when they were new. If you didn't do things just right they weren't going to work. I bought a different small convertible because the top was just a pain in the neck !!!

    • @WatchJRGo
      @WatchJRGo  Před 3 lety +1

      I know mine is vinyl, but yeah couldn't even lock it in the up position 😬

    • @Bill_Hartnett
      @Bill_Hartnett Před 3 lety +14

      @@WatchJRGo Like Brandon said. park it out in the sun and let it get hot.. You'll be fine.

    • @clevelandmaker386
      @clevelandmaker386 Před 3 lety

      @@WatchJRGo the sportsman shop owners in my city wife had one she was a cross between Peg Bundy And Dolly Parton.......she was always blasting Conway Twitty or Nat King Cole

    • @szumlins
      @szumlins Před 3 lety

      It is the fastest top in the world to pop up. I used to leave the key in the pop mechanism and I could have it up at a stoplight in 3 seconds. Meant I was driving too down until the literal last second.

    • @WatchJRGo
      @WatchJRGo  Před 3 lety +1

      @@szumlins the Miata is 100x easier 🍻

  • @grabsme
    @grabsme Před 3 lety +18

    My cousin had one of these because she wanted a mustang so bad lmao.

    • @JOHNJ0HN9111
      @JOHNJ0HN9111 Před 3 lety

      not the same car at all... the one that john is showing is a mazda and toyota...

    • @rwdplz1
      @rwdplz1 Před 3 lety +3

      Mom: "We have Mustang at home"
      Mustang at home:

    • @mexicanspec
      @mexicanspec Před 3 lety +1

      Why didn't she buy a Mustang? The Mustang was priced better for what you got.

    • @grabsme
      @grabsme Před 3 lety +1

      @@mexicanspec maybe because she was 16 and just started driving lol

    • @mexicanspec
      @mexicanspec Před 3 lety

      @@grabsme There were 4 cylinder Mustangs that were cheaper than this car. Google says this car was $15,000 new. For that you could have gotten a fully loaded Mustang.

  • @cammiso94
    @cammiso94 Před 3 lety +1

    I am about get my ZX2 on the race track here in AZ for Pro Auto Sports and its GOING TO BE GREAT
    its a BG car also

  • @danielflack7902
    @danielflack7902 Před 3 lety +1

    A Ford Capri from Australia with Mazda running gear. I worked on hundreds of them in the nineties as an apprentice.

  • @losthomas7589
    @losthomas7589 Před 3 lety +10

    Those early Ford airbag steering wheels are UUUUUUGLEEEEEEE!
    Otherwise a pretty cool little car.

  • @shawl777
    @shawl777 Před 3 lety +3

    I remember those! I used to have the gen before that, an ‘81 Capri “Black Magic”. Looked a lot like a Mustang of the same era. I liked that much better than this one, looks-wise.

    • @RandomGuyDan
      @RandomGuyDan Před 3 lety +3

      That's because it was a Fox body mustang with some body mods. I always thought the FB Capri looked better than the Mustang.

    • @lewiskemp5893
      @lewiskemp5893 Před 3 lety

      My first car was a 1976 capri that looked like a 280z but with a small back seat

    • @shawl777
      @shawl777 Před 3 lety

      @@lewiskemp5893 I remember those too, my oldest brother had one around that time. Those were cute little cars! 👍

    • @shawl777
      @shawl777 Před 3 lety

      @@RandomGuyDan agreed, I had an ‘80 Mustang a few years before the Capri and loved the Capri much more. Had a great straight-6 in it too. The 4-cylinder Mustang was a dog, all show-no go lol

  • @An_Albosaurus
    @An_Albosaurus Před 3 lety +2

    My dad had one of these when I was a kid, teal 5speed with the matching hardtop. Fun little car

  • @sherrybaltimore7791
    @sherrybaltimore7791 Před rokem

    I have a 92 xr2 and I LOVE LOVE IT!!!! 21 years strong!!

  • @I_am_Allan
    @I_am_Allan Před 3 lety +3

    This was built when Ford h as a 33% stake in Mazda. No wonder it has Mazda, Ford, and other components.

  • @cbarr0288
    @cbarr0288 Před 3 lety +4

    “They don’t make ‘em like that anymore” was also said in the early 90s

    • @joelutz2630
      @joelutz2630 Před 3 lety

      Great cars, they just eat altinators.

  • @kevinbarry71
    @kevinbarry71 Před 3 lety +2

    I certainly remember this car and the GTX. The GTX certainly was all wheel drive; it was quite a car for the time, all-wheel-drive, turbo charged, intercooled, 16 valves. A lot for the 80s

  • @curtiswilson3569
    @curtiswilson3569 Před 3 lety +1

    When I was a teen in the 90s, I really wanted a red xr2 hardtop convertible for sale down the street. My dad didnt want me to pick it up because they were supposedly expensive to maintain or repair. Bought a Geo Tracker and built it up to a fun offroader instead. Still remember loving that xr2 though.

  • @michaelwilson4648
    @michaelwilson4648 Před 3 lety +3

    I did my driving lessons in one of those in Australia. As a learner driver, the turbo scared the bejesus out of you when it finally kicks in. My instructor changed to a later model in club sport trim when I was close to finishing my learner driver lessons. Nothing like doing your p plate driving test in a goes like stink convertible. I think it may have been what got me hooked on driving manual transmission cars.

  • @howardkerr8174
    @howardkerr8174 Před 3 lety +5

    I just realized : these look a bit like a shrunken Buick Reatta convertible.

  • @gregorycasterline6060
    @gregorycasterline6060 Před 3 lety +1

    I grew up in California and saw a ton of these when i was a kid. The more rare car I think would be a Geo Metro Convertible. I’ve only seen two in my 37 years of life.

  • @mikejohnson9583
    @mikejohnson9583 Před 3 lety +1

    That's the second "odd" car that you've bought that I'm familiar with. Back in the early 90s my now ex-sister in law had an XR2 Capri. I drove it several times and it was a blast. Back in the mid 80s I had an '82 Ford EXP. I was stationed in Louisiana while in the air force and drove it up to El Dorado to visit family many times.

  • @Thee_Dr_Evil
    @Thee_Dr_Evil Před 3 lety +4

    Sold em new, never the Miata killer it was intended to be.

    • @chriscole9621
      @chriscole9621 Před 3 lety +1

      In a drag race it was, Alot more hp. My friend had a Miata 1.6 and I had a xr2 Capri both in red and we'd race on back roads all the time and I was always glued to his bumper.

    • @Thee_Dr_Evil
      @Thee_Dr_Evil Před 3 lety +1

      @@chriscole9621 that's true, but the heart of a Miata was always handling and a stock Capri never had that same balance. Sad thing is we couldn't give away Capri's when Miatas sold like hot cakes. I always wondered if it were labeled a Ford instead if it would have sold better. At the time I worked at a Ford, Lincoln, Mercury dealer and with Mercury being focused at an older demographic it just didn't make sense.

    • @chriscole9621
      @chriscole9621 Před 3 lety

      @@Thee_Dr_Evil yeah that is true and look at how things are now. Miatas are still being sold and nobody even knows what the Capri is half the time

  • @watchjaredwork1487
    @watchjaredwork1487 Před 3 lety +3

    Hey!

  • @RandomGuyDan
    @RandomGuyDan Před 3 lety

    I see one of these almost every day. Someone in my girlfriend's neighborhood has one. I drove past it this morning. Despite the 2 door sports car appearance, they definitely are no better than "sporty" and the Miata is much more fun to drive and a true sports car.

    • @louisbabycos106
      @louisbabycos106 Před 6 měsíci

      This is also slightly more practical. FWD good snow tires and it will handle winter . More interior space for a few sacks of groceries ,a roomier trunk . If you don't go to Sam's , Costco this could be conceivably your only car . You could if you are the right person make a Capri XR2 work as an only car .

  • @1Corinthians15-1-4-J
    @1Corinthians15-1-4-J Před 3 lety +1

    i used to haul them non stop to junk yards back when. most were nice looking. but dang that is a clean lookin car.

  • @chicagodaddy1
    @chicagodaddy1 Před 3 lety +16

    When you’re ready to re-sell it, let me know. I’ll buy it.

  • @JoshuaBrown-is8fb
    @JoshuaBrown-is8fb Před 3 lety +1

    You can bet Daddy Doug is jealous lol 😂

  • @weightlessliving9856
    @weightlessliving9856 Před 3 lety +1

    This Capri was designed in Italy, engineered by Ford Europe in Germany, Mechanicals from Japan, built in Australia to be sold in the USA. A true world car.

  • @novgaladh
    @novgaladh Před 3 lety +1

    The car suits you JR, put your sunglasses on top of your head, play karma chameleon in the background and your good to go.

  • @Cozydozyduds
    @Cozydozyduds Před rokem

    I still drive my 1993 mercury Capri xr2 5 speed. Second owner I purchased 1996. I learned stick with this car still original trans today and son now has learned stick. Mine needs some love . But I still love her .

  • @JUSTFUN-lv8fr
    @JUSTFUN-lv8fr Před 3 lety +1

    It’s incredible!! I saw This car on marketplace and I was ready to go to do a deal and suddenly the post appears “SOLD”!! 😂🤣 And later a few days ago, I saw the CZcams notification were you bought the car!! 😂🤣😂🤣

  • @TheHammer610
    @TheHammer610 Před 3 lety

    I purchased one new in 1992 (less the turbo). I got the hard top too. I loved that car. Not the finest car in the world, but a bleeping lot of fun. We used to drive to the beach, put the dog and the cat (cat in a pet box) in the back seat. Even with cool weather, we could turn the heat on and keep ourselves comfy.

  • @davesnothere8859
    @davesnothere8859 Před 3 lety +1

    I believe those are older than miata, I saw these on a truck a few years before the Miata was released in Detroit when i worked at at a truck stop in the mid to late 80s.

  • @joeconti2396
    @joeconti2396 Před 3 lety +1

    The RCR headlights bits are so fun

  • @pjolls58
    @pjolls58 Před 3 lety +1

    We have 2 of these cars. 1 XR2 (non-turbo) and 1 XR2 turbo. They are super reliable, cheap to run and great fun to drive, particularly with the roof down on a nice sunny Australian day.

  • @tonys623
    @tonys623 Před 3 lety +2

    That huge Mercury Sable steering wheel is hilarious.

  • @craigschenk729
    @craigschenk729 Před 3 lety

    I was running a dealer new car prep dept. and participated in the launch of these vehicles. They were fun little quirky cars. Good to see someone loved one of these and took good care of it. Have fun with this one!

  • @jeflarremore7170
    @jeflarremore7170 Před 3 lety

    Ahhhh the days when these used to roam the earth. I remember them well. Not a flashy car or common but definitely an eye turner.

  • @tateswanson1803
    @tateswanson1803 Před 3 lety

    You were absolutely correct to buy this thing immediately. This is a fantastically unique, quirky car that more people need to know about.

  • @DanTheMailman330
    @DanTheMailman330 Před rokem

    My 16 year old son just told me he wants one of these or a Fiero...
    Definitely going Capri with a hard top. A cheap, fun but not fast first car. I know parts can be a little pricey but it's easy to do the work ourselves.

  • @JohnWood302
    @JohnWood302 Před 3 lety

    Hi JR my brother is a mechanic and one day I was in the workshop and he was overhauling one of these that had been sitting around for a while. Oh yeah I am in Australia so it was a local build car!