Ford Probe? Reliability?

[mhughes165]

the 5spd behind the 4cyl or the v6 are crap at best, 99% of probes that end up at the boneyard are there for a bad transmission, to me, if u can get the probe for dirt cheap, try to clean it up a little bit, slap a fart can on it and sell it to someone that would think its a race car lol, always worst up here for me

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

I would go with the subaru someone posted about before I ever thought about a sexual toy, I mean probe. Step away from the probe. Parts can be very hard to track down sometimes, and they have to come from mazda, even across the big pond sometimes.

 

[Shran]

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?

MX-6's are the same car, different body. As far as I know Probes, MX-3, MX-6, and 626 all share the same drivetrain.

 

[Jay FX4]

My Escort ZX2 I traded for the Ranger was a very good car. The 2.0 Zetec was very reliable. I know three people who are pushing 100K miles on theirs with no major issues.

 

[alain]

I've had a 94 MX-6 v6, 5 speed. kept it for six years and 160 000 miles later, was still going strong. The only part changed, excluding maintenance parts was the water pump.
i should have kept it...

 

[dogboy]

Ok, well today me and my dad went up north of Seattle looking at 3 cars. both of the ones that had "MUST SELL TODAY" in the add, were both a waste of time.
One was a 97 (I think) MX with a bad motor, and some body damage for $300.
Second was a 94 Probe for $250, which was the same, but it had a 2" lowering kit on it
And the third was a 2003 Suzuki Aerio for $1200. We ended up buying this car, and got it for $1000. It needs a clutch (barely moves under it's own power because it slips so bad), the body is a little rough in a couple spots, and the interior is pretty dirtty, but it will clean up nice. Obviously since it needs a clutch, it's a 5spd, but it has a 140hp I4, so it should get up and go pretty well, because it really isn't a very big car, my Ranger pulled it on a tow dolly just fine.


Here's some pics of the car:

I'm still not sure if I'm going to fix it up and just drive it, or fix it up at sell it. I'm thinking I'll end up keeping it for a while and driving it, because really, I don't think they are bad cars (actually made by Suzuki, not some other company), and they don't look too bad either.

 

[Jay FX4]

I hope the car works out for you....
Any pics of the Ranger with this car on the dolly?

 

[88BII got it for $250]

If you like probes and are close to oregon (WA) and like turbo cars, this is about the best probe made.... http://medford.craigslist.org/bar/1240008717.html needs little work, but you sound like a guy with a few wrenches.

 

[dogboy]

I hope the car works out for you....
Any pics of the Ranger with this car on the dolly?

Damn, that's what I should have done... We were in a hurry to get it off the trailer so my dad could go to sleep (it was 6:30 when we got back, and he had to wake up at midnight), so I didn't really have a chance to...

If you like probes and are close to oregon (WA) and like turbo cars, this is about the best probe made.... http://medford.craigslist.org/bar/1240008717.html needs little work, but you sound like a guy with a few wrenches.

Eh, American Rice ain't my cup of tea... I'm not a fan of body kits, or the people who put them on...

 

[Shran]

If you like probes and are close to oregon (WA) and like turbo cars, this is about the best probe made.... http://medford.craigslist.org/bar/1240008717.html needs little work, but you sound like a guy with a few wrenches.

Yeah, that one looks great except that it's priced about $1400 too high and looks like someone is trying to dump it, 'cuz it's got issues.

Forgot to mention that the 1st gen turbo cars have a lot of issues with the turbos. That and if the trans can't hold up under a n/a motor, why would it be any better with boost?

 

[dogboy]

Yeah, that one looks great except that it's priced about $1400 too high and looks like someone is trying to dump it, 'cuz it's got issues.

Forgot to mention that the 1st gen turbo cars have a lot of issues with the turbos. That and if the trans can't hold up under a n/a motor, why would it be any better with boost?

Yeah, it seems like most of Ford's late 80's turbo cars had a lot of issues. Maybe that's just my opinion, I don't know.


Wow, I just noticed the seat covers... You can tell a chick owned it before me, haha.

The didn't believe in those things called floor mats either... The carpet it pretty work out in the driver and passenger's foot area, the back seats foot wells are fine though. The interior came apart in this almost as easy as it did in the Ranger, and this a 4 door with an extra set of seats!! Everything came off easier, there's just more of it.

 

[dontendupzero]

I have a 1990 Probe GT 2.2L turbo 143,000 miles 5 speed. Boost controller is set at 15LBS on stock turbo. Never had a problem with the car and probes are a blast to drive. Ive owned mine for going on 7 years now. Pretty quick for how small they are. Overall I think they are a real reliable car.

 

[darkspork]

My Escort ZX2 I traded for the Ranger was a very good car. The 2.0 Zetec was very reliable. I know three people who are pushing 100K miles on theirs with no major issues.

I've heard the same thing about Escorts. A friend of mine traded his Escort Wagon with 350k miles on it for his Ranger (original engine and transmission). I guess he called it the flying turd because it was brown.

I've ridden in two different escorts with over 200,000 miles on them. They seemed solid. One belonged to a friend in MN who absolutely beats the piss out of it and it doesn't complain. My understanding is that its not uncommon as long as you avoid the automatic transmission. Apparently the auto transmissions were something you would change with the timing belt.

But I suppose my post is kind of worthless since the OP already made a purchase.

 

[177CIOfPureLove]

I will never ever forget this one time I was driving down the road, and someone had a dirty windshield and wrote, " Badass Probe" across the top. Bad Ass Probe. I laughed about that for a while! I actually really wanted one before I got my license. Thank god everyday I didn't find one! Always wanted to drive one though... they seem kinda sporty I guess.

 

[Shran]

My understanding is that its not uncommon as long as you avoid the automatic transmission. Apparently the auto transmissions were something you would change with the timing belt.

I have heard good and bad about those. My sister's 99 Tracer (4cyl/auto) has 140k on it with three wrecks and all they have done is change the oil and timing belt once. It has been a really good little car.