Ford Probe? Reliability?

[dogboy]

Ok, so I've been driving my Ranger to work and back everyday (30 miles round trip) and then wheeling it on the weekends. I don't like worrying about breaking down on the weekend, the HAVING to fix the truck by Monday morning in order to get to work. Solution, buy a commuter!

I've been looking at a few cars on craigslist and also at a few local towing/ wrecking auctions (I think they are the best place to get cars!). So far I've mainly been looking at Ford Probe's, and Mazda MX-6's, and under $2500. Also, what ever I get is going to be a modern styled car, like the '93+ Probe/ MX-6's ('90's style cars, as opposed to '80's style).

My questions would be, do any of you guys know of any common problems with either of these cars, and what are you opinions of them?
Also, if you have a suggestion of another car that fits into the somewhat sporty, or 2door category in the under $2500-3000 range, I'd like to know (I'm not looking for a car ad, just a type of car to look at). I am not brand loyal, I just want something like a 2door some sort, but when ever I try and think of cars that fit into this category, I just draw a big bank...

Thanks for any advise or suggestions!

 

[kunar]

probe/mx-6 would be a good choice, so would an escort/mx-3/protege. i have an escort gt (mazda 1.8) that i bought for a daily to save on gas. its reliable, great on gas and kinda quick... for an escort anyways. the probe or mx6 you can get in a v6. maybe the mx3 too, i dont remember. of course they wont get as good of mileage but it still shouldnt be bad. there's a fair amount of aftermarket support too, you just have to know where to look.n i havent heard of any problems specificly with the probe, and the escorts only real weakness is it's transmission. as long as you are easy on it though, they will hold up just fine.

edit: a newer escort zx2, fits your description too. they are reasonably priced, sporty and get good mileage. they are a more rounded body style than the older escort gt's too.

 

[mhughes165]

the probe trannies in the era ur lookin at are crap, worse then the ranger automatics.....

 

[CJREX]

If you can deal with a 5 speed, I'd go for an SVT Contour.

I used to have one when I could drive a stick and I loved it.

Decent fuel economy, decent power, and terrific handling.

Plus they're always loaded with the only options being sunroof and rear spoiler.

With an aftermarket exhaust the engine sounds wonderful.

Main thing to watch for is 3rd gear grind in the trans.

 

[dogboy]

the probe trannies in the era ur lookin at are crap, worse then the ranger automatics.....

Are you talking about the autos, or the manuals?
My cousin works at a tranny shop and he said he hasn't seen many Probes at all, and the ones he's seen were pre '92 models (he worked there for over 5 years).

I'm not going to buy something if it has an auto. I want a 5spd.

 

[feellnfroggy]

I hada 96 probe with 5 spd and I drove it hard for about 3-4 yrs, then I gave it to my lil bro for christmas and he drove it hard up until 2008. Then I took it back and ran it til it started spitting parts out the side of the block, Really big parts. I bought it used in 2001 so go figure. It was an awesome little ride.

 

[dogboy]

I hada 96 probe with 5 spd and I drove it hard for about 3-4 yrs, then I gave it to my lil bro for christmas and he drove it hard up until 2008. Then I took it back and ran it til it started spitting parts out the side of the block, Really big parts. I bought it used in 2001 so go figure. It was an awesome little ride.

Did you have the 2.0L I4, or the 2.5 V6?

I guess my other question would be, does the 2.0L make a quick car with only 114hp/124ftlbs, or should I really wait and find a GT, with the 164hp/ 156ftlbs motor?
Obviously I'd rather have the GT, and there have been a few on Craigslist, but it's just a matter of finding on in my price range. So if the 2.0L is a quick motor, then I might settle for it instead of the 2.5L

 

[Shran]

Oh, for a second there I thought somebody put "Probe" and "reliability" in the same sentence...

They are cool looking but that is about all. I had an '89 LX, 2.2na with a 5 speed. It was fun for a month until I threw a gear through the side of the trans. It was also on it's second engine, which was put in due to overheating. The second also had cooling problems, and the donor 626 I got also had been severely overheated.

I would never look at another one again. I'm glad they're almost all gone now.

 

[rboyer]

I know someone with a 93 Probe who is about to be on his third automatic transmission and he doesn't really beat the thing at all. One thing I can tell you is to watch the 93's because they are a year on it's own when it comes to the auto trans. I have another friend who had a 96 with a bad auto trans in his garage and he got a junkyard trans for it. The junkyard trans was bad and he had to get another one. The later ones interchange with the MX and are alot more common to find if you ever needed a junkyard trans. All I know is that I definitely would not buy a 90's Ford Probe for much more than scrap price unless it had extremely low miles and a showroom condition paint job. When it comes to getting to work I say go import and don't look back.

 

[dogboy]

I've thought about imports and would go that route, but it seems like anything import that is a 2 door, is either a Civic, or a Nissan Z... I like both, but they go for way too much money in my opinion. If I found a decent priced one, in a roundish body style, I'd probably jump on it.

If I'm not mistake though, the Probe is based on the MX6/ 626 chassis, not the other way around.

 

[kunar]

If I'm not mistake though, the Probe is based on the MX6/ 626 chassis, not the other way around.

correct... its a mazda designed chassis.

 

[rboyer]

I've thought about imports and would go that route, but it seems like anything import that is a 2 door, is either a Civic, or a Nissan Z... I like both, but they go for way too much money in my opinion. If I found a decent priced one, in a roundish body style, I'd probably jump on it.

If I'm not mistake though, the Probe is based on the MX6/ 626 chassis, not the other way around.

I got hooked on Subarus a couple of years ago. You can find one with no rust for dirt cheap if you look hard enough. My latest one costed $450 (scrap price at the time) and had a bad trans and a scratched fender. $150 later I had a junkyard trans in it and a matching fender from the same place. Having AWD and great fuel mileage AND alot of cargo space plus the ability to tow a small trailer with an atv on it is what attracted me. Oh and the fact that junkyard parts are readily available for them and any problems can be fixed for next to nothing. You however are looking for a 2 door and usually any 2 door import vehicle sells higher. You could always look for a 2 door Dodge Neon. Even though it's a Chrysler product I really think I would trust one of those over a Probe.

 

[dogboy]

So, from what I gather from you guys, Probes are not that good of a car.

It sounds like you guys don't have faith in the tranny (5spd, or auto), just like Ranger trannys.

Do the same opinions apply to MX-6's?

 

[ford1386]

i had a 90 ford probe and i beat the hell out of it and never had a problem with the five speed tranny when i bought it it had 198,000 and i put a new paint job on it, because every probe i see driving around the paint is falling off the thing just like mine was and then i got bored with it and didnt need 3 vehicles so i sold it at the auto auction for $125.....wish i wouldnt have done that but thats that.and as far as the ranger a4ld i have a 94 with 3.27 gears and 35" mickeys and i drive it to work everyday and a blown out front pump seal was the only problem ive ever had with it, but if you ever need to put a pump seal in the a4ld i would definetely get the bellhousing machined to center the seal or you'll be dropping the tranny again.

 

[koda6966]

I've only seen one of them in a Junkyard before but about ten 5spd/3.0 Rangers if that tells you anything.