Ford Probe GT 1996
- Thread starter V0RT3X
- 30 comments
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- 12
- Corporate America
I really like the styling of this car and the first generation as well.
- 2,953
- Sweden
- SMH1989
Powertrain: 2497 cc , V6 , DOHC , 164 hp / 5600 rpm , 217 Nm / 4000 rpm , 5-speed manual
Dimensions: Length 4639 mm , Width 1773 mm , Height 1311 mm , Weight 1325 kg
Performance: Top speed 220 km/h , 0-100 km/h 7 sec
Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Probe#1993.E2.80.931997_Probe
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- 995
- Waterford MI
- V0RT3X7373
Powertrain: 2497 cc , V6 , DOHC , 164 hp / 5600 rpm , 217 Nm / 4000 rpm , 5-speed manual
Dimensions: Length 4639 mm , Width 1773 mm , Height 1311 mm , Weight 1325 kg
Performance: Top speed 220 km/h , 0-100 km/h 7 sec
Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Probe#1993.E2.80.931997_Probe
fun fact about that steering wheel: if you don't hold on to it right when turning, youll honk the horn.
marcvic
Premium
- 881
- USA
- marcvic
Nice Wednesday want!
This was actually my first car - I had the SE version though. Bought it at 16 y/o after working at McDonald's for 6 months ($1,250). Great car and it handled extremely well for an FF. The cockpit was designed very well, and the seats provided some pretty good support. And I couldn't get enough of those pop-up headlights!
As the article suggested, my GF at the time (now wife) definitely dug into me about my car being called the "probe" - also as the article also suggested, it was likened to sex toys.
This was actually my first car - I had the SE version though. Bought it at 16 y/o after working at McDonald's for 6 months ($1,250). Great car and it handled extremely well for an FF. The cockpit was designed very well, and the seats provided some pretty good support. And I couldn't get enough of those pop-up headlights!
As the article suggested, my GF at the time (now wife) definitely dug into me about my car being called the "probe" - also as the article also suggested, it was likened to sex toys.
- 783
- United States
- Tunerguy21
Totally down for a Probe GT to be added. Always loved how they looked, and the sound....
. Although, the MX6 would be better for me, but I'm kinda biased in that regard.
. Although, the MX6 would be better for me, but I'm kinda biased in that regard.
- 2,949
- Nowhere
- TheSweeney_
Aside from the name being all funny weird in that classic childish nature , I've thought the MX-6 was a much better variant all round, particularly on the style front, as it has aged much better than the probe in my opinion too.
Though it must be said the Probe isn't ugly by any means, and the pop-up headlamps are an advantage of course
, plus the charismatic K-Series Mazda V6 was/is fantastic (though better in the Mazda with the extra HP). Though Funnily enough I've always preferred the Cougar to the Probe, which I have a bit of a soft spot for actually. Like these little Wednesday Wants, find them interesting reads 👍.
, I've thought the MX-6 was a much better variant all round, particularly on the style front, as it has aged much better than the probe in my opinion too. Though it must be said the Probe isn't ugly by any means, and the pop-up headlamps are an advantage of course
, plus the charismatic K-Series Mazda V6 was/is fantastic (though better in the Mazda with the extra HP). Though Funnily enough I've always preferred the Cougar to the Probe, which I have a bit of a soft spot for actually. Like these little Wednesday Wants, find them interesting reads 👍.
- 350
- Brazil
4 me looks like a Celica with a more MR2-ish front end
- 5,013
- Panama City, FL
My '95 was black, no sunroof (I had to look around for that, as being tall, I couldn't sit in the cars with sunroofs
the GT with 5-speed, so it had the 2.5 7,000-RPM V6. Word is, the engine was good for 8 or 8.5 thousand RPM, but the computer cut it at 7.5 to protect accessories.
That was the best car I ever owned, drove it to 175,000 miles, and the vacuum system started coming apart. All of those things in the intake to switch runner length at whatever RPM that was were plastic, and at about 8 or 10 years old, they became quite brittle. Lots of vacuum leaks in places you can't get to without dropping the drivetrain made for something much less desirable! While it worked, though, I was in heaven!!!!! That engine was the smoothest thing in the Universe, nothing better than a 60-degree V6 (except, I guess, a V12...
) and it was on the original clutch when the intake system started coming apart.
I never really thought much about the name. I knew the idea of using it to replace the Mustang was incredibly stupid, but since both cars existed, it wasn't the same market niche.
The base 4-cylinder had no reason to exist, in either generation. The first-gen turbo 4 was quick, but didn't handle well. (I autocrossed both my '90 turbo 4 and my '95 V6, so I know.) The handling was completely fixed in the second generation car! The second-gen GT was THE car to have for SCCA Solo II G-Stock in the late 90s!
Brakes, on the other hand.... It had rotors smaller than those on a Miata. It had MUCH larger tires than a Miata, so it could stop very well from 80 or 90 mph. Once. Those dime-sized rotors just could not shed heat!
I saw sound mentioned above... I removed my muffler and put a SuperTrapp on it. (Muffler swap was permitted in Solo II stock classes. No changes from the cat forward, but cat back was free.) I have video somewhere, but it will take me a while to find it, but that thing sounded GOOD!
the GT with 5-speed, so it had the 2.5 7,000-RPM V6. Word is, the engine was good for 8 or 8.5 thousand RPM, but the computer cut it at 7.5 to protect accessories.That was the best car I ever owned, drove it to 175,000 miles, and the vacuum system started coming apart. All of those things in the intake to switch runner length at whatever RPM that was were plastic, and at about 8 or 10 years old, they became quite brittle. Lots of vacuum leaks in places you can't get to without dropping the drivetrain made for something much less desirable! While it worked, though, I was in heaven!!!!! That engine was the smoothest thing in the Universe, nothing better than a 60-degree V6 (except, I guess, a V12...
) and it was on the original clutch when the intake system started coming apart.I never really thought much about the name. I knew the idea of using it to replace the Mustang was incredibly stupid, but since both cars existed, it wasn't the same market niche.
The base 4-cylinder had no reason to exist, in either generation. The first-gen turbo 4 was quick, but didn't handle well. (I autocrossed both my '90 turbo 4 and my '95 V6, so I know.) The handling was completely fixed in the second generation car! The second-gen GT was THE car to have for SCCA Solo II G-Stock in the late 90s!
Brakes, on the other hand.... It had rotors smaller than those on a Miata. It had MUCH larger tires than a Miata, so it could stop very well from 80 or 90 mph. Once. Those dime-sized rotors just could not shed heat!
I saw sound mentioned above... I removed my muffler and put a SuperTrapp on it. (Muffler swap was permitted in Solo II stock classes. No changes from the cat forward, but cat back was free.) I have video somewhere, but it will take me a while to find it, but that thing sounded GOOD!
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- 995
- Waterford MI
- V0RT3X7373
The Probe GT was my first car too. I got it when I was 17 for $1,000, it had all kinds of side body damage on the drivers side, form what I assume was a deer. The interior fan didn't work so it couldn't blow warm air in the cold Michigan winters, and the windshield would constantly freeze. the exhaust was all kinds of messed up. So at high RPMs it sounded like a rotary, haha. Tones of weird 90's mods, including a minidisc player. (yeah, you read that right) However, it held a ton of stuff in the back for being as small of a car as it was. I sold it to buy my MK3 Supra but I don't think I could have asked for a much better first car.
@tstig712 and I were in High School when I had it, so he can attest to all of that.
@tstig712 and I were in High School when I had it, so he can attest to all of that.
- 1,994
- Ontario
- bloodyboyblue
I've always thought Probe was one of the best car names of all time. That's mostly because I loved all of the Probe concept cars which preceded this. Then again Mazda MX-6 Mystere (which was what it was called in Canada) is pretty great in a ridiculous way also. Nearly impossible to find a Probe now that isn't beat to hell/modified poorly/turned into a race car. I see nice MX-6s driving around quite often though so just shows how they've always appealed to two totally different audiences.
Robin
Premium
- 16,799
- United Kingdom
I remember sitting in one as a kid in a Ford dealership whilst my parents car was being serviced. For the era I thought it looked amazing, I love the wrap around pillarless effect of the rear window. It also had this American feel which you didn't really get with other European sports cars at the time,
In later years they apparently were notorious for becoming cut and shuts. Being a sporty car lots of them were crashed, as it was very pricey to repair and hard to source parts (due to low sales) many were welded back up with the front /rear of another car.
I also loved the name, it sounded bold and 'Space-y'. I never thought about the name in the other way
In later years they apparently were notorious for becoming cut and shuts. Being a sporty car lots of them were crashed, as it was very pricey to repair and hard to source parts (due to low sales) many were welded back up with the front /rear of another car.
I also loved the name, it sounded bold and 'Space-y'. I never thought about the name in the other way
- 470
- Melbourne
- Senator2655
- Senator265
I own a white Ford Probe 1994. As a daily drive as I also have a HSV Senator. It's a good car looks alright and does what it needs to do with Mazda reliability.
I wish it was in GT 6 as well. Glad to see it's featured lol. Also Jeremy Clarkson reviews a purple/dark blue one on you tube many many years ago
I wish it was in GT 6 as well. Glad to see it's featured lol. Also Jeremy Clarkson reviews a purple/dark blue one on you tube many many years ago
- 470
- Melbourne
- Senator2655
- Senator265
Tried to upload pic didn't work 
it's on good condition and well looked after always garaged etc. my uncle gave to me.
it's on good condition and well looked after always garaged etc. my uncle gave to me.
- 2,747
- Morgoth_666
First I've ever heard of any of this naming controversy. Never heard anybody particularly having a problem with the Probe back when it was a relatively current car either. Not everyone liked it of course, but a lot of people loved it. About the only thing I remember people poking fun about it was that it was a bit of a "girly" car I guess because of its styling.
Maybe it was mostly a European thing. Or maybe we're just making up an excuse for a car that failed due to other reasons.
Maybe it was mostly a European thing. Or maybe we're just making up an excuse for a car that failed due to other reasons.
- 84,332
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
https://www.complex.com/sports/2012/07/the-25-most-ridiculous-car-names-of-all-time/
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/from-bad-to-worse-the-top-ten-worst-car-names/
https://www.guideautoweb.com/en/galleries/30655/10-bad-car-names/
https://jalopnik.com/is-the-ford-probe-still-a-good-looking-car-1580380278 & https://jalopnik.com/400480/the-top-ten-worst-car-names
https://www.odometer.com/lifestyle/3226/11-worst-car-names-in-history/
https://www.zeroto60times.com/2016/06/50-terrible-car-names/
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2017/06/16/dumbest-car-names
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/research/worst-car-names-ever/
And that's just the first eight US Google results for "worst car names".
I'll grant you that the Americans had an earlier Probe in 1987, and so another seven years to get used to the name, but it's not like the Europeans were the ones freaking out over it. Everyone thought it was ridiculous.
The name was variously interpreted as a sex toy, invasive medical procedure or alien abduction. Most car fans in the UK will refer to it as the Anal Probe, and the rest as Gareth Cheeseman's car.
The price in the UK didn't help, as is mentioned in the article. But when the car was announced in 1992, everyone on this side of the Atlantic fell about laughing and interest - which was high, as Ford hadn't had a car like this since the much-loved Capri - vanished overnight.
Personally, I bloody love them and my dad had a 1996 V6 (in white) when I was younger.
- 2,747
- Morgoth_666
That is interesting, thanks. I honestly can't recall hearing anyone at the time or later suggest that it was a horrible name or that it somehow diminished the car in any way. Probably because I never really read car magazines except when waiting at a service center.
I mean, a couple people made some silly jokes but people make silly jokes about just about everything including lots of cars. Pretty sure they were just jokes. The only criticism I can recall is that it was a FWD attempt at "replacing" the Mustang(which went exactly nowhere) and that it was too feminine for some people's tastes. I think I heard both combined into one at one point actually, that it was a "Mustang for girls" because, as we all know, girls can't drive RWD. Just like they can't drive a stick(now THERE's a source of plenty of off-color humour ).
I mean, a couple people made some silly jokes but people make silly jokes about just about everything including lots of cars. Pretty sure they were just jokes. The only criticism I can recall is that it was a FWD attempt at "replacing" the Mustang(which went exactly nowhere) and that it was too feminine for some people's tastes. I think I heard both combined into one at one point actually, that it was a "Mustang for girls" because, as we all know, girls can't drive RWD. Just like they can't drive a stick(now THERE's a source of plenty of off-color humour
).
- 470
- Melbourne
- Senator2655
- Senator265
- 219
- Italy
- Ant_U_Meglio
The Front remember a Corvette C5, The rear a Mitsubishi Eclipse 1995
- 189
- Australia
Somewhere around that time Ford had an issue with names - yes, the Probe sounded like a sex toy, but they also had the Fiesta and the Escort - both porn mags in the UK. Then they had a cougar, and I suspect the Granada was spelled like that because Grandma was just too obvious...
