Ford Probe...

I love a good Probe (oo-err)

I raced one a few years back as a stockcar (traveller spec) and ever since have had the guilts as you rarely see them on the road, was a V6 too and made such a nice noise...



From what I remember they shared something with the MX6 which is also a handsome coupe...



I would quite like to find a Probe one day and make the most of it...not just hack it round an oval...but that's hindsight, it was a 50 quid, already written off car that gave me some fun!

Awful cars, the worst of American styling and no room whatsoever inside. I remember a football awayday in one going to Sheffield United from Ipswich, about 4 hours each way. 4 adults was claustrophobic to say the least. Chap near me has always ran at least one, normally has two on his front drive. He must be mad. Probably decent on an oval though so bring on more Probe bangers. My mate bought one as he was obsessed with the Area 51 ad campaign when the car was released. Silly boy. Never buy a car just because you like the ad campaign.

The MX6 on the other hand looks luverly! Basically the same car in the hands of a decent designer. Ford and Mazda shared a lot of platforms / drivetrains in the 90s. The Mazda Bongo Friendee/Ford Freda also shared the 2.5l V6.

Never experienced one, but I rather like the look of them. It's firmly in the 'Love for the unloved' category and exempt from Ford scene tax, so I don't think it'll be long before we see one or two popping up here. I'm keen to see what can be done.

I had a V6 2.5 one (tastelessly modified, of course. Well, Viper stripes, anyway...). It was cockin awesome. Loved it and everything about it. Brilliant noise, utterly ridiculous spec for the money (leather, electric everything, aircon, cruise control etc), brilliant noise, Mazda engine with variable intake trickery never ever goes wrong ever, reasonable fuel economy, brilliant noise, comfortable, HUGE boot, rarity value, brilliant noise. Oh, and put a cat-back Scorpion on it and it makes a brilliant noise. People who knock them (as usual) have probably never driven one. Sold mine to an organic cattle farmer, who loved it, and I've regretted it ever since.

Did I mention that they really do make a great noise?

Mine *shame*. Don't mind the stripes but with hindsight the spoiler was probably a bit much

I love Probes.

Now I've got that out of the way we can talk about the Ford Coupe of the same name. The shape has grown on me for sure, they've matured into smart looking cars. Early to mid 90s stuff can look incredibly dated. I've heard the 2lt's can be abit gutless but the V6 is an absolute peach! I would for sure.


One other thing DarrenW, do you know anything else of that red Punto with mad rake in the background of the above picture?

Gsreth Cheeseman killed it totally!

Sorry, no! That photo is from my extensive Right-Click-Save-As archives

I started a shop of a probe ages ago, seeing this I may have to bring it back from the dead



I personally don't think they're a bad looking car, just their reputation precedes them now

I think they're retro, and cool but I would say that wouldn't I!

I think although the car didn't look cutting edge in the styling dept (fiat coupe, hyundai coupe) when new it's lines have aged well and it looks better now than it did.

I liked them when they came out and then forgot all about them, I ended up with the red one back in 2000 after I realised I didn't have enough cash for a decent Nissan 200sx s14. It's been a great car and I went and bought a old shed of a probe on e-bay for £100 back in 2009 - that is still going too!

Scrappage scheme took loads of the road and the numbers are (from How Many Left Q3):

Probe 16v
Licenced (taxed) 424
SORN 400

Probe 24v
Licenced (taxed) 463
SORN 486

Total Probes Taxed 887
SORN 886

We (UKPOC) had a club stand at the NEC and the interest in the cars was fantastic, especially when you tell people that a mint 16v with 11k on the clock can cost as little as 2k and a decent car is around £800 with a project costing £200.

One of the club members just bought an early teal blue 16v - rare no sunroof model with 51k on it and loads of history for £200! It had short test but aside from a small dent and a scrape on the bumper is a perfect car.