1993 Mercury Capri Review - Is It As Good As A Miata??

[@veronica.wheels]

Oh hey! I used to own this exact car for an unfortunately brief time back in 2023, did a bunch of work to it like tires, wheel bearings, AC work, axles, trans service, shifter bushings, alignment, brakes and a lot more I was planning on doing but needed the funds for another project these things happen! These cars engineering wise are so strange and it was a real challenge to do some jobs. I’m so glad to see her out and enjoyed, also been watching this channel since it was at around 500 subs (from a different account, subbed here now too!) love seeing the channel grow, as someone also trying to do some automotive KZbin the way the channel has evolved is awesome. OH AND THE SWITCH some previous owner before me and before the friend I had bought this car off of attempted to wire a Miata style winky switch for one of the lights but stupidly wired it to one of the running lights, when me and my gf figured that out we absolutely lost it laughing oh my god I was in tears.

[@robertbrodowski1379]

Hey Zack, another outstanding review of one of my cars. This Capri was named "Misty" by one of its previous owners. We renamed it "Perry" as in Perry the Platypus because of its Australian roots and its color. Speaking of color, for some reason, digital photos and video show the car as blue rather than the Reef Green (blue-ish green) it is. The true color can be seen when you popped the hood. Since you drove it, I replaced the radiator which was leaking badly, with a very nice new aluminum unit. I will say, this Capri is tons of fun to just zip about, and I love it. Thanks again.

[@dave11686]

These are cool and I see them from time to time and want one

[@wolfgangweber9924]

Back in the day Ford/Mazda created a competition between the California based design studio and the Japanese counterpart. They were tasked to come up with a roadster. The California team developed a RWD model and the Japenese team came up with a FWD model based on the Mazda 323 platform. The RWD was all new and called Miata. Ford/Mazda saw enough of a niche to market the FWD model. They manufactured it in Australia and in the USA it was sold as Mercury Capri.

[@drake5557]

Hopefully fellow Capri owners will see this, and you might get a chance to drive an XR2. Nice example though you got to drive, it runs and drives woohooo! I hardly ever see these on the road.

[@Omeggaomelet]

I will never understand why Ford Australia built these for the US market but Ford refused to bring the Falcon and Territory to the US.

[@wigletron2846]

I would have loved a falcon or any ute

[@Low760]

It was the late 80s, this car was about keeping the Sydney plant open that also assembled ford lasers. You were never going to get Falcons or territories, the union arrangements in America protect Thier workers, ford Australia had to fight every time to get a new model from the 80s on, we almost had ford replace the Falcon with the Taurus in 1997 but they were not suitable for Australia. Now ford sells 90% Rangers and the remainder the Everest, we have the transit but nothing else because bogans love dual cab shit box utes, and they are a tax write off due to so many people being businesses instead of employees.

[@tynewlin]

As a Ford Festiva owner, I love that you made a video on the Capri. There are a lot of similar parts shared between the two. The engine from this (and the Miata) are popular swaps into the Festiva, which was only offered with the B3 (1.3L) Mazda engine, but any B6 or B6T (1.6L/1.6L Turbo), or even the B8 (1.8L) will bolt right up to the Festiva transmission. The B8 immediately doubles the power figures, normally aspirated with only half a liter increase in displacement. If/when my stock B3 quits, she's getting upgraded to the B6T or B8 for sure... unless I go mad scientist with a 1.9 TDI swap 🫠

[@damilolaakanni]

Ford had controlling stake in Mazda, they didn't own the brand 100%.

[@anthony5786]

Love the cross between Mazda/Mercury/Ford. Reminds me of working on my old NC Miata. Even in 2008 you could find parts in the engine bay with the FoMoCo stamp!

[@johneli495]

This was from back in the day when there were a lot of low priced small sporty cars and suvs on the market (Samurai, Amigo, Sidekick etc)

[@Sparky-ww5re]

8:35 . That is so true. We definitely had so many options when it came to economy cars before 2000, to suit a wide range of budgets . 4 door sedan, 2 door coup or convertible, or station wagon. Power or manual windows/locks, automatic or manual transmission, AM/FM radio, AM/FM radio with cassette player, AM/FM radio with CD player, or AM/FM radio with cassette and CD player. Today's "affordable" under $30,000 vehicles you get one or maybe two engine options if you're lucky, with automatic transmission as only choice, as is the case with touchscreens and power windows/locks.

[@1524mike]

I always thought these were 2 seaters. Learn something new everyday.

[@Yourmission9]

Let’s get even weirder and discuss how the older mercury capri had a 5.0. The professional world must’ve been fun before mandatory drug testing became a standard

[@dhillaz]

Going from a V8 fox body to an American Del Sol is wild

[@Low760]

The Ford Capri was from England over in Australia, biggest motor was a v6 Essex.

[@Chris-Courage]

I used to have a 91 XR2 Turbo Capri and absolutely loved that car for years until the engine took a dump. Always considered getting another one but the lack of replacement parts for these things is a deal breaker. Especially the windows motors/regulators since they all break.

[@genericsomething]

I got to drive a Capri around for a long weekend back in the 90s, and it was really fun to drive! If it came in a hatch back with a sunroof, I'd be on the look out for one.

[@RangerMan2002]

Then you'd be looking at a Ford Probe GT. The 2.5 was a screamer engine in this car.

[@jimmyjimjims7483]

My favorite taillights of any car ever. When I was a kid (in like 1997) my neighbor had a red one of these and I would just stare at the taillights fascinated by their strange waterfall shape

[@Pyjamarama11]

In Oz, you can pick-up one of these with ~250k km for about AUD 4000 a cheap little project car

[@Low760]

I had trouble selling one years ago for $1000. They were pretty meh.

[@bobhill3941]

I really like your reviews and review style, I've never seen a Mercury Capri review, thanks for that. I also appreciate you reviewing the same vehicle as some other reviewers so we have a thorough comparison and contrast❤

[@bennetfox]

My best friend had a 1991 Capri XR2 turbo and these cars are so much fun to drive!! They're like little four-cylinder go karts that roll around on rails!! The only problem is finding parts for the car.

[@jgg02]

Never seen this car before, always cool to learn about these cars that was never sold in my country

[@FlowStateNewOrleans]

I wanted one of these so badly when they were new.

[@CamlonLogistics-ju6mb]

I think Americans are Lucky they have original Engens.......Big app Zack watching live from Malawi 🇲🇼

[@bennetfox]

You don't sit in the back seat like a regular person in this car. You sit sideways across the back seat. The car can only carry three people!!

[@arabicelvis]

I owned a 91 xr2 Capri best car I ever owned all i did was oil changes and rotations ....only car I trust for cross country trip!

[@RearEngineShop]

I’ve always liked the look of these. Have never driven one.

[@Dankcatvacs]

my friend's grandma had one it was an auto , the trans was goin out at 112k . drove it once it was a soft cruiser. it also had a xr2 trunk lid but it was not .

[@Tofu_Casserole]

It's sad to see sales figures for roadsters slowly dwindle over the decades. I hope the market has a resurgence in the future.

[@NanuqoftheNorth]

Is it as good as a Miata? Sadly, it is not. FWD vs. RWD makes all the difference.

[@wigletron2846]

Miata was FAR more reliable too. These were hot garbage back in the day.

[@Flyfam11]

Let’s goooooo!!! We are here!! 🏆

[@thomaskreke4635]

My friend’s dad had one of these and I always thought they were so cool. Seems like I was correct.

[@I-Libertine]

The xr2 I used to have had a turbo. Quick little car. But if you leaned on it, say, to kiss someone, the body panel would go thunk and you'd have a big dent in your fender.

[@lesklower7281]

In Australia these were the Ford Capri and this Mecury Capri may have been built in Australia as the Ford Capris were

[@michaelhoskins832]

If you own one of these Capris, you could nickname it Capri-Sun. (like the dribk brand.)

[@bennetfox]

The rear wing is not an option on this car because it is not turbocharged. Only the rear wing came on the Capri XR2 turbocharged cars. This car is also missing the fog lights.

[@HeritageCast]

The Hairdresser with a Dui that specializes in Arson. Everyone says shes bad news but Capri is just right lol...

[@bwofficial1776]

Strange little car. Cool, but not particularly sporty like a Miata. Between this and the last Cougar, Mercury did a lot of switching RWD to FWD. These are uncommon cars now.

[@Low760]

The turbo version of these was at least interesting. Im surprised you love it. Have you driven the same age mazda 323 or Ford escort/laser? All the same platform.

[@ShootingCars]

323 and escort! Love them too!

[@James-mw6se]

Cool car look good 😊

[@MrMikeTauber]

i need a mid size non muscle car convertible

[@davidp2888]

I used to work with someone who had one of these. It was an absolute POS.

[@TrentJordan3198]

Made in Australia 🇦🇺

[@Viggenpower]

Calling it a fwd Miata is an insult. These were garbage. They would fall apart while driving. And why did they try to make it a 4 seater?!? 😆😆😆 Who thought that was a good idea?!?

[@wigletron2846]

I was alive when these were new and they were junk

[@Viggenpower]

@wigletron2846 I test drove one when they were new. I ended up getting the Mazda based 1991 Ford Escort GT which used the Mazda 1.8. a much better car than the Capri.

[@BrandonG8Man]

No…it’s not.

[@robertvance1873]

Big downfall, Prone to Engine Fires 🔥

[@sherlockholmez8764]

Looks like a Japanese engine. An early model obviously but none the less.

[@kc0lif]

ford still owns mazda, land rover, jaguar etc. mercury capri it's American.

[@kevinbrower233]

Ford no longer owns any of those brands. They divested themselves off those brands during the Great Recession.

[@upbeattvraw-hiphop8242]

This comment gave me a proper laugh. Ford hasn’t owned Land Rover literally since 2008. Where have you been dude? 😂😂

[@cryotasticshitposting]

Aussie car.