wanted cheap 1.6 capri/advice :)

[Ewanrout]

hey guys, im new to the forum, looking for a capri, and need some advice
im 18 and looking for a capri thats affordable (car/insurance) this rules out 2.0+ so need a 1.3 or 1.6. 1.3s being as rare as they are i'm presuming that 1.6 would be the best option.
so basically my question is what would be considered the least desirable/most common among collectors (ie cheapest overall price for a car needing minimal or no work to be road legal)
ie cabaret/laser/ect
what should i be looking for?
taking away £1600ish im looking at for insurance, i currently only have around £1000 disposable income left :c
i can keep saving if necessary, but does anyone have a 1.6 living capri for me to love?
- i prefer the black capris, and the four spoke wheels, although i guess im in no position to be overly picky haha
thanks for any help
Ewan

[sotonsaint]

A mk3 1980s 'L' or Laser would probably be cheapest. You're right about engine sizes. Most important thing to look out for is rust and then service history. If it's rusty or hasn't been cared for then even if you find one for a grand (good luck!), within a year or next MOT you'll be paying more than that to keep it on the road.

So if I was you I'd wait a bit longer... Even slightly grotty Cappas are £1.5-2k+ now. If you can cope with superficial rust (front of wings, wheel arches, bonnet) then you might be lucky.. but have a look at the various buyers guides there are so you can spot structural rust and walk away.

Lasers have the 4-spoke wheels and there are plenty of black 1.6s around. I had one (paid £1,200 for it in about 2008) and it was in good nick but had rust on the wings. So that gives you an idea. Prices have gone up since then!

Also.. don't buy the first one you look at!

[Ewanrout]

Thank you very much for the advice, I will keep my eyes peeled i can handle surface rust as long as its structurally sound/will pass mot, and got Afew more mechanically minded people (thanks dad) in the family that could help with most jobs I can't manage. Havnt even found a potential one to go an look at in the nearish area yet
Again thanks for you help,
Regards
A budding capri enthusiast of the future

[Andrew 2.8i]

Hi,
There's a decent buying guide on the main site. It's a little bit outdated, but it will give you some idea of what's what.
Good luck!

Andrew.

[D366Y]

Hiya there, just had a quick look through this and thought I might be able to give you some advice.. I Washburn more or less the same position as you a few years back so be careful when you do buy a cappa for that price because while they will almost certainly not be perfect on the bodywork, you can usually fix I with a bit of time and effort depending upon the severity of course, but I got mine for 1200, looked really good tthroughout but had some problems underneath so when buying your first I can't stress the importance of checling the whole car over thoroughly, particularly the areas most prone to rust as it can be pretty disheartening to have to spend some Much straight away...
With regards to insurance, be careful with the quotes you get now! I got quoted for 2000 when I was learning, and when I passed my test they then quoted 9k! This was only a year and a bit ago and I had to leave the car on the drive for six months until the price dropped by 6k.
Hope I don't seem too old man-man-ish but it was a nightmare I would rather avoid when I was. Only 17!!

[golden eagle]

Hello , I have a capri 1.6 GL that meets your requirements and looking for a young enthusiast . You do not say where you live as you are welcome to inspect mine to give you an idea of what to look for. I am in Reading near J11 . Needs brake o/haul so asking £950

Regards Steve

[Ewanrout]

I'm just off Norwich, so unfortunately that is quite far thank you everyone for the advice I have taken it onboard and are greatful

[cassidy94]

honestly mate have alook at insurance prices... im 20 now and ive owned both a 1.6 and a 2.0 laser. the 2.0 was exactly the same insurance wise with the co-operative insurance