1991 Mercury Capri XR2 Turbo

Summary:

Quick, practical, cheap, fun and maybe some future collectible value with its distinctive styling

Faults:

Top rips and has shrunk.

Headlamp motor has failed.

Seat fabric is faded and shows wear.

General Comments:

Cheaply made car with a cheap price as a used car. Purchased for our teen to destroy as she is rough on things.

The car has won the family over. Offensively cheap construction and styling that just misses the mark is forgotten on quick runs through the mountains. Delightfully responsive with a very dependable core this car is the most often used of our four for around town. We anticipate keeping this car for a long while.

This is the only car we have named and that well deserved name is Diveno, as in divine (which it is).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th October, 2000

12th Feb 2003, 13:15

Instead of buying a new headlight motor, try just taking them apart and cleaning the metal contact plates with a fine sandpaper and WD-40 or other cleaner. They are very easy to unbolt and clean. The Ford dealer wanted to charge $350 for a new motor, but I fixed mine in about one half hour. The fine sandpaper is the key... the cleaner by itself didn't get all the dead spots. The motor was fine, the contacts were just dirty. Good Luck...Vic.

12th May 2008, 05:59

I have been told that the headlight motor in the Capri is the same as the one in the super-common Ford Probe. The Probe, like the Capri, is mostly made by Mazda (at least in terms of mechanical stuff). However, while the motor itself is the same, the linkage for it is different between the Capri and Probe. So if your Capri's headlight motor goes belly up, go to a boneyard, find a wrecked Probe, get the headlight motor, and use your Capri's original linkage. IIRC, the motors also interchange from side to side.

1991 Mercury Capri

Faults:

Not a thing.

General Comments:

Great little car for a Sunday drive with the top down.

I drive my car every day, long trips more than 500 miles could be a beating though, after all it is a sports car. If you want to take a long road trip get a Cadillac.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 5th September, 2000

1991 Mercury Capri 1.6 non turbo

Summary:

A lot of fun for the money

Faults:

Ignition pickup in distributor at 30,000 miles.

Replaced clutch at 43,000 miles.

General Comments:

Overall a very fun little toy.

Dealer service was non existent. I have heard many horror stories about this model. If you can do your own repairs as I do it is not terribly expensive to keep on the road. Parts are available if you dig around a bit. I just completed a clutch and pressure plate replacement for less than $150.

A very good handling small car that delivers great fuel mileage.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 6th August, 2000