ON THE ROAD
This Capri can’t help but turn heads in its sharp Tickford suit. With its blanked-off grille, deep front splitter, chunky rear spoiler and angled skirts tapering towards the doors, it’s obvious that this is no ordinary Ford – the car you always promised yourself. A 2.8 Injection, frankly, just wouldn’t cut it.
That’s not to say the 944 isn’t just as handsome, simply that the tweaks to the nose section (new splitter, integrated lamps) and addition of an apron spoiler at the back result in a look that’s far more restrained. Subtlety on Porsche’s part means that it lacks the Ford’s aura. Familiarisation might be the key because the Turbo’s styling cues were adopted by the later 944 S2.
Step inside the Capri, and the sight of a walnut facia is almost jarring. Isn’t this supposed to be a blue collar champion? The wood undoubtedly adds a touch of class, as do the leather trim surrounds, but it takes some getting used to. Deeply recessed gauges on a flat-fronted panel date the Capri – as does the simplicity of the overall layout – but it’s functional, not to mention tried and tested.
The 944, on the other hand, has a far more modern feel and its superior build quality is immediately obvious. Sitting inside the Porsche, observing the 928-style binnacle and curved dash-top that cleverly blends into the door cards, the discrepancy in launch prices between our pair of rivals is most keenly felt – when new, it would’ve cost the Porsche enthusiast an additional £10k on top of the Tickford Capri’s £15k to put a 944 Turbo in their garage.