Ford Probe....why are these so unloved?
Discussion
Brigand said:
I have to admit I have a soft spot for the Probe having owned one and an Mazda MX-6 that they were based on.
IMO the Probe looks great apart from the back-end. I hated that part. I just didn't like the long light strip so I was a little bit naughty and got myself a US sized reg-plate and put it in the centre where the square reflector was. You could see that this was what was originally intended as there were two holes where the reg-plate bulbs went to illuminate it above the reflector. The pop-up lights were a good feature, but again the US spec car was slightly better in that on the UK version, there is a piece of trim that is in front of the light 'lid' when closed, but the US spec one had a slightly longer lid so that it didn't have that piece of trim looking like an unwanted piece of plastic. Tiny thing but bugged me none the less!
Sadly though I owned the 2.0 model, which was woefully underpowered. It really was a car that looked faster than it actually was. The interior was very comfy, and it was a pleasure to cruise around in. Mine even had a factory-fitted amp installed to make the stereo that little bit better. The V6 is clearly the one to own, my favourite being the purple coloured version with the tan leather interior.
As for its Japanese cousin the MX-6, well that had the V6 in it (only option here in the UK I believe) and was reasonably quick, but not half as luxurious inside and just felt 'cheap' in comparison.
Here's a nice US one IMO the Probe looks great apart from the back-end. I hated that part. I just didn't like the long light strip so I was a little bit naughty and got myself a US sized reg-plate and put it in the centre where the square reflector was. You could see that this was what was originally intended as there were two holes where the reg-plate bulbs went to illuminate it above the reflector. The pop-up lights were a good feature, but again the US spec car was slightly better in that on the UK version, there is a piece of trim that is in front of the light 'lid' when closed, but the US spec one had a slightly longer lid so that it didn't have that piece of trim looking like an unwanted piece of plastic. Tiny thing but bugged me none the less!
Sadly though I owned the 2.0 model, which was woefully underpowered. It really was a car that looked faster than it actually was. The interior was very comfy, and it was a pleasure to cruise around in. Mine even had a factory-fitted amp installed to make the stereo that little bit better. The V6 is clearly the one to own, my favourite being the purple coloured version with the tan leather interior.
As for its Japanese cousin the MX-6, well that had the V6 in it (only option here in the UK I believe) and was reasonably quick, but not half as luxurious inside and just felt 'cheap' in comparison.
And interesting thoughts guys...I will deffo try to drive one soon.
For a start, the name. Seriously. The name.
Secondly, it's no looker. Look ok from the back but pretty ugly from anywhere else. The Mazda MX-6 it's based on is a far nicer looker. Out of the 2, I would go for the Mazda.
I like the Cougar too. My dad had one. It's a nice car. Useless rear seats but I guess that's not really the point of a Coupe. Much more a cruiser than a performance coupe though.
Secondly, it's no looker. Look ok from the back but pretty ugly from anywhere else. The Mazda MX-6 it's based on is a far nicer looker. Out of the 2, I would go for the Mazda.
I like the Cougar too. My dad had one. It's a nice car. Useless rear seats but I guess that's not really the point of a Coupe. Much more a cruiser than a performance coupe though.
Brigand said:
on the UK version, there is a piece of trim that is in front of the light 'lid' when closed, but the US spec one had a slightly longer lid so that it didn't have that piece of trim looking like an unwanted piece of plastic. Tiny thing but bugged me none the less!
Now you've pointed it out, that does look bad. Top geekery too.not a very good looking car, at least it had pop up lights.
cougar looked way better, and can be had for a song too....
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...
cougar looked way better, and can be had for a song too....
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...
I had one back in the late 1990s & loved it (I was 22 at the time) as I'd always wanted a car with pop up headlamps!
More of a GT than a sportscar I still have fond memories of the car.
There are (or were) some common issues - sticky rear calipers, ECU & rotting exhausts but I bet most of these have been solved by now. Britney Spears had one as well I think
I don't remember the handling being particularly good or bad, but unlike most people seem to be on here, I'm not getting the tail out on the way to work or lapping the Ring every weekend so it never bothered me.
More of a GT than a sportscar I still have fond memories of the car.
There are (or were) some common issues - sticky rear calipers, ECU & rotting exhausts but I bet most of these have been solved by now. Britney Spears had one as well I think
I don't remember the handling being particularly good or bad, but unlike most people seem to be on here, I'm not getting the tail out on the way to work or lapping the Ring every weekend so it never bothered me.
bigandclever said:
Two words: Gareth Cheeseman.
You're a tiger, grrr!!!
This killed sales overnight.You're a tiger, grrr!!!
Back in the day my mates took the piss mercilessly the day after that was aired. Sales job in IT. Tick. Hugo Boss suit. Tick. Nokia mobile. Tick. The only thing I didn't have was the Ford Probe [cheeseman voice] 24 Valve [/cheeseman voice]. Unfortunately I had a 200SX which was close enough for them.
What did I do. Went to the office next day and started talking the mick out of my Probe-driving colleague.
Wasn't it supposed to be the 90's Capri?
I think that's part of why it flopped. The Capri was iconic with it's sweeping bonnet and stark linear shape. The Probe seemed like a concept car of the day, with too much glass, like it was originally designed with wheel/arch covers too.
It felt like the Sierra replacement to the Cortina as the blobby mould replaced the more angular predecessor, just turning it into a weak losing sports coupe...kind of 'nothing special'.
For me, it was a bit of a weak, pathetic effort with under-powered engine options and a Calibra reputation.
Personally I prefer cars with angular shapes and presence and a sports coupe with power. The probe just seemed a bit smarmy and weak for my liking and all mouth, no trousers estate agenty feel to it.
I think that's part of why it flopped. The Capri was iconic with it's sweeping bonnet and stark linear shape. The Probe seemed like a concept car of the day, with too much glass, like it was originally designed with wheel/arch covers too.
It felt like the Sierra replacement to the Cortina as the blobby mould replaced the more angular predecessor, just turning it into a weak losing sports coupe...kind of 'nothing special'.
For me, it was a bit of a weak, pathetic effort with under-powered engine options and a Calibra reputation.
Personally I prefer cars with angular shapes and presence and a sports coupe with power. The probe just seemed a bit smarmy and weak for my liking and all mouth, no trousers estate agenty feel to it.
Podie said:
stormy22 said:
Wasn't it supposed to be the 90's Capri?
IIRC, it was launched with Capris in the same room and journos spent more time looking at them than the new car...Asked my Boss who nearly bought one, he said:
They cost quite a bit when they first came out, but inside they very 'Mondeo' in feel and drive - you could buy a BMW 3 series coupe for nearly the same money and they were chalk and cheese, even if it was the most basic spec with the smallest engine, 'delete badge option' was all you needed to look the part at the time, or you could buy a top-spec Mondeo for much less.
Ford's reputation at the time was probably as bad as it's ever been in the UK, they were still punting out the Escort MK5 and Fiesta Mk3's & 4's which were basically early 80's cars rehashed to try to look more modern but designed to be made as cheaply as possible with smoky horrible cheap versions of old CVH engines, they sold in quantity largely thanks to the Ford Options finance schemes which made them very cheap to buy and many thousands of owners who were very vocal at the time about how bad they were.
They cost quite a bit when they first came out, but inside they very 'Mondeo' in feel and drive - you could buy a BMW 3 series coupe for nearly the same money and they were chalk and cheese, even if it was the most basic spec with the smallest engine, 'delete badge option' was all you needed to look the part at the time, or you could buy a top-spec Mondeo for much less.
Ford's reputation at the time was probably as bad as it's ever been in the UK, they were still punting out the Escort MK5 and Fiesta Mk3's & 4's which were basically early 80's cars rehashed to try to look more modern but designed to be made as cheaply as possible with smoky horrible cheap versions of old CVH engines, they sold in quantity largely thanks to the Ford Options finance schemes which made them very cheap to buy and many thousands of owners who were very vocal at the time about how bad they were.
stormy22 said:
Podie said:
stormy22 said:
Wasn't it supposed to be the 90's Capri?
IIRC, it was launched with Capris in the same room and journos spent more time looking at them than the new car...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff