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[Andy H]

At 160 bhp, that engine was a blinder.


puts 175 bhp for a 2.5 Omega into perspective.

Why? 

As a teenager I had a friend who idolised the 280 Capri.  Posters all over his bedroom and in awe of the phenomenal performance.
I have always had a nagging sense that I was missing something so for me it does put it in perspective 

[Kevin Wood]

My dad considered a cologne engined Scorpio when he got his 24v Senator. Needless to say that idea didn't outlive the respective test drives.

[EMD]

My old 1.6 Capri couldnt pull the skin off a rice pudding but i loved it and still miss it  So easy to work on and rarely if at all went wrong 

[Nick W]

My old 1.6 Capri couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding but i loved it and still miss it  So easy to work on and rarely if at all went wrong 

The simple cure for that was to replace the VV carb with a 32/36DGAV from a 2.0l Pinto. Takes about 10 minutes, and improves power, drivability, fuel consumption and reliability. 2.0l Capris aren't much faster than a 1.6, but they are nicer to drive; the increased torque allowed higher gearing that suited the engine better. Although the 2.0l 4speed gearbox is a clunky old thing.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

My old 1.6 Capri couldnt pull the skin off a rice pudding but i loved it and still miss it  So easy to work on and rarely if at all went wrong 

Back in the mists of time I also owned a Capri. Just like yours mine was also a 1.6 OHC.
Built in 1974 (M) she was white with a BVR and a boot.

She looked the part but drove like a lorry.

A snapped cambelt finished her off but surprisingly didn't take the engine with it.

[EMD]

My old 1.6 Capri couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding but i loved it and still miss it  So easy to work on and rarely if at all went wrong 

The simple cure for that was to replace the VV carb with a 32/36DGAV from a 2.0l Pinto. Takes about 10 minutes, and improves power, drivability, fuel consumption and reliability. 2.0l Capris aren't much faster than a 1.6, but they are nicer to drive; the increased torque allowed higher gearing that suited the engine better. Although the 2.0l 4speed gearbox is a clunky old thing.

I fitted a Cortina 5 speed  I remember that when it dropped on my fingers whilst underneath the car 

[STEMO]

My old 1.6 Capri couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding but i loved it and still miss it  So easy to work on and rarely if at all went wrong 

The simple cure for that was to replace the VV carb with a 32/36DGAV from a 2.0l Pinto. Takes about 10 minutes, and improves power, drivability, fuel consumption and reliability. 2.0l Capris aren't much faster than a 1.6, but they are nicer to drive; the increased torque allowed higher gearing that suited the engine better. Although the 2.0l 4speed gearbox is a clunky old thing.

I fitted a Cortina 5 speed  I remember that when it dropped on my fingers whilst underneath the car 

Are you sure it wasn't your head? 

[Nick W]

My old 1.6 Capri couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding but i loved it and still miss it  So easy to work on and rarely if at all went wrong 

The simple cure for that was to replace the VV carb with a 32/36DGAV from a 2.0l Pinto. Takes about 10 minutes, and improves power, drivability, fuel consumption and reliability. 2.0l Capris aren't much faster than a 1.6, but they are nicer to drive; the increased torque allowed higher gearing that suited the engine better. Although the 2.0l 4speed gearbox is a clunky old thing.

I fitted a Cortina 5 speed  I remember that when it dropped on my fingers whilst underneath the car 

Ford never fitted Cortinas with 5speeds, as the gearbox was introduced on the Cortina's replacement. But because the T9 5speed is based on the Cortina gearbox it isn't difficult to fit - a slightly shorter propshaft, slot the gearbox crossmember mounting holes and some fiddling with the gearlever hole will do the job.

[henryd]

My dad considered a cologne engined Scorpio when he got his 24v Senator. Needless to say that idea didn't outlive the respective test drives.

The last 24v Scorpios could shift though if you could stand the looks

[ronnyd]

Scorpios always looked better when you were inside them.

[Nick W]

My dad considered a cologne engined Scorpio when he got his 24v Senator. Needless to say that idea didn't outlive the respective test drives.

The last 24v Scorpios could shift though if you could stand the looks

You have to compare like with like: a 12v Scorpio compares OK to a 2.5 Omega. A 24v Scorpio matches a 3.0l Omega unless you want a manual gearbox which weren't available in the Ford. The 4 cylinder cars are similarly comparable. There is no point comparing a 2.4 Scorpio with anything, as nobody bought them(V6 running costs with 4cyl performance guaranteed that from the start). 4WD was Ford only if that matters to anyone.


A Scorpio has more rear leg room, and the hatchback makes for an enormous boot which is why you rarely saw the early saloons. Ford's decision to only make the later cars as a saloon was very strange. Omega and Scorpio estates are equally useful. Both cars suffer from strut front suspensions that wear out bushes, but the Ford is cheaper to sort and the non-adjustable suspension causes fewer issues. Ford's weak 4speed auto and rust prone arches/floorpan  easily make up for that. The Omega facelift improved the car inside and out, but the Scorpio facelift is still hard to understand 20 years later. Both cars are similarly comfortable, quiet and effortless cruisers that personal preference was hard to justify rationally. The Omega's extra five years of production mean that today it is still easy to find a good one.

[05omegav6]

Ignore the wheels, had one of these in this colour...

For me, the Omega is the car that Ford should have replaced the Mk3 Granada with...

[Entwood]

If we are talking Grannies ... I thought this the best tow-car ever .. until I got the 3.2 Omega

[Viral_Jim]

Nice cars the Granadas, although the idea of owning a car thats beige on both the inside and the outside fills me with dread 

 

[05omegav6]

Nice cars the Granadas, although the idea of owning a car thats beige on both the inside and the outside fills me with dread 

 

Never had an early gold facelift Omega then...