Ford Probe popularity

cyklonx · 27-05-2013, 11:39 AM

Hey everyone I was looking on the internet and I came across a 1994 Ford Probe and was just wondering how popular Ford Probes are today and how much they sell for in good condition? Finally I have looked on Redbook
but I just wanted to get all your opinions.

Thanks in advance

Alan D Segal · 27-05-2013, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyklonx

Hey everyone I was looking on the internet and I came across a 1994 Ford Probe and was just wondering how popular Ford Probes are today and how much they sell for in good condition? Finally I have looked on Redbook
but I just wanted to get all your opinions.

Thanks in advance

In my neck of the woods ford probes were never popular and still are not. They're somewhere between a holden calibra and coldsores in popularity.

In terms of how much it is worth it will depend on km and condition but I'd estimate $500-$3000 for one of that age.

EDIT: Just checked redbook myself - my price estimate wasn't too far off. Gold star for me

cyklonx · 27-05-2013, 11:55 AM

Ok that's good to know, thanks for the quick reply if its helps the car has 134,000 kms and the reason I ask is I saw someone wanting $14,999 for one in very good condition.

**Polyal** · 27-05-2013, 12:01 PM

I very nearly brought one when on my P's but read some stories about them being $$ to service, IIRC O2 sensors forever going on them.

I pretty much agree with Alan D, I dont mind the looks but thats all they really have going for them, which isnt saying much.

Much sooner get a mondeo ST24 for the cash they are probably asking.

The Yeti · 27-05-2013, 12:01 PM

I think I would prefer a coldsore

Mr Hardware · 27-05-2013, 12:32 PM

Out of all the cars in that class and age, why would you choose a Probe?
Surely an MX-6 or Prelude would be a superior vehicle

**Polyal** · 27-05-2013, 12:35 PM

A probe is a mx6 I believe

deesun · 27-05-2013, 12:36 PM

[QUOTE=cyklonx;4750071]Hey everyone I was looking on the internet and I came across a 1994 Ford Probe and was just wondering how popular Ford Probes are today and how much they sell for in good condition? Finally I have looked on Redbook
but I just wanted to get all your opinions.

Thanks in advance[/QU

Look for MX6 instead. better quality being Mazda, general servicing on par with most, plenty of go being a 6 and lightweight but a little thirsty cos they are fairly high revving. Check rigorously for rust around screen and or sunroof. 4 wheel steer is no gimick and seems reliable. My son has had 2 of these with very little probs. For a 90's car they looked bucketloads better than a Probe. Remember timing belts every 100k and include the water pump.

Bossxr8 · 27-05-2013, 08:31 PM

[QUOTE=deesun;4750133]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyklonx

Hey everyone I was looking on the internet and I came across a 1994 Ford Probe and was just wondering how popular Ford Probes are today and how much they sell for in good condition? Finally I have looked on Redbook
but I just wanted to get all your opinions.

Thanks in advance[/QU

Look for MX6 instead. better quality being Mazda, general servicing on par with most, plenty of go being a 6 and lightweight but a little thirsty cos they are fairly high revving. Check rigorously for rust around screen and or sunroof. 4 wheel steer is no gimick and seems reliable. My son has had 2 of these with very little probs. For a 90's car they looked bucketloads better than a Probe. Remember timing belts every 100k and include the water pump.

Weren't the Probe and MX6 built on the same production line in the US?

Most people would prefer an actual *nal probe than owning a Ford Probe.

Mr Hardware · 27-05-2013, 12:52 PM

Seems you're right polyal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pr...0.931997_Probe

cyklonx · 27-05-2013, 01:04 PM

One again thank you for the replys , Mr Hardware the car choice was purely because it came up when I search for cheap cars , which I am going to make a project car , deesun since you mentioned the mx-6 I will look into them because I think they are great cars.

Spammy · 27-05-2013, 05:06 PM

Our local Ford dealer had a "new" Probe on his lot for 3 years.

K_Man · 27-05-2013, 05:22 PM

Thats funny, not too long ago found an old school top gear clip on youtube with clarkson taking about how good the Probe looked....how our tastes from the 90s have changed hahaha

I personally prefer the look of the Probe to the mx6, shame the name is so terrible. Both would be down the list if I was shopping for a car though. I think I read somehwere the probe was destined to replace the mustang?

Road_Warrior · 27-05-2013, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K_Man

I think I read somehwere the probe was destined to replace the mustang?

Yep, and when Mustang fans found out about that, they flipped out at Ford

kinksta · 27-05-2013, 06:06 PM

Mum had a Ford Probe 10+ years ago. Looked alright lowered with the XR6 mags of the time, so I am biased.

Being a young kid at the time that was my first feeling of a "sports car"...sort of...

Franco Cozzo · 27-05-2013, 09:38 PM

I like the look of the Ford Probe, and that 2.5L V6 isn't a bad engine.

Bastard to work on though.

tweeked · 27-05-2013, 10:30 PM

Wish I was in the board room back then when they discussed names for Ford's version of the MX6. Someone suggests "Probe". Everyone says "yeah cool".

That must have actually happened.

TMC · 27-05-2013, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweeked

Wish I was in the board room back then when they discussed names for Ford's version of the MX6. Someone suggests "Probe". Everyone says "yeah cool".

That must have actually happened.

The name is so wrong isn't it. My mind goes to those people who believed they'd been abducted by aliens...."they probed me for what seemed hours"

They were a weird looking car.

It's a better name than "butt pole" I suppose.

twr7cx · 27-05-2013, 10:40 PM

The fact that there is only 10 for sale in the country on http://www.carsales.com.au indicates something...

GTENVY · 28-05-2013, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Yep, and when Mustang fans found out about that, they flipped out at Ford

Correct, especially because it was front wheel drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I like the look of the Ford Probe, and that 2.5L V6 isn't a bad engine.

Bastard to work on though.

I agree, always like the look of them. I thought how good would they be with a V8 shoehorned in one of them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by twr7cx

The fact that there is only 10 for sale in the country on http://www.carsales.com.au indicates something...

They're on gumtree for sale instead, tight asses.

kinksta · 28-05-2013, 12:02 AM

That they are all dead, or that people don't wanna sell them?

DRU842 · 28-05-2013, 07:31 AM

Having owned one of the last Probes (unitil written off in 2011) to arrive I can provide a little more information.
There were 1200 imported by Ford plus a few private imports. We only receive the Gen 2 GT V6 models. There were Gen 1 cars & a 4 cyl option in the USA.
Mechanically the cars are V6 Mazda 626, MX-6 & Ford Telstar of the same era, making parts reasonable. Body panels & interior on the other hand were always a problem.
The MX-6 and Probe (Flat Rock plant) were built on the same line in the USA however MX-6's in Australia came from Japan.
The MX-6 has a boot and different interior options versus the Probe's hatch layout and basically trim level. There is a surprising amount of room in the back (being built for America) but it's not great back there for long trips.
Sun roof was the only factory option, other than auto vs manual for the 19994-97 run but some early models had the rear spoiler as optional.
The Probe had far better handling than most cars in its class for the time and the 2.5 ltr V6 was a cut above what was on offer in Celicas, Calibras and Preludes of the day, with or without 4 wheel steer options on some competitors.
Main issue was the car was expensive when new A$45,000, which affected sales badly.
If maintained correctly (the V6 needs regular, quality oil changes) there were few issues not covered by the Mazda mechanicals of the time.
BTW there is a specific section on these boards for the Probe & Cougar.

Franco Cozzo · 28-05-2013, 05:38 PM

That 2.5L V6 is either a Mazda KL-ZE which is the Jap high performance version or the US KL-DE which is detuned.

The KLZE is a very good engine.

Brazen · 28-05-2013, 05:44 PM

I always like the look of the Probe but I thought the back was horrible.

Funnily enough reading a book about the development of the Taurus there was a reference to the Probe; in consumer clinics Ford showed women two rear end of the Probe: one had a more pratical hatch opening but looked uglier, the other rear end looked nice but was less practical. Overwhelmingly the women chose the prettier but less practical rear end which is what Ford went with in production.

If the production Probe had the prettier rear end I would hate to see uglier one!

Franco Cozzo · 28-05-2013, 05:47 PM

I stihl reckon it looks nice all around, the back reminds me of a smaller Mitsubishi 3000GT

uniacidz · 28-05-2013, 05:53 PM

Something i remembered boiut them was that they were bad to work on and parts were scarce

Thing is, check the availlability of the parts and prices.

Older cars like that which were not really sold in great numbers should raise an eyebrow as down the track may cost you an arm and leg to fix it.

Cheap price now, later when needs fixing is where it lays