Bill is the only reviewer on the internet who can make a Ford Probe video fascinating! Great understanding of history, a bit of comedy, and blunt honesty about life in general. Keep 'em coming' Bill!
Thanks Bill! As a life-long Ford fan, I distinctly remember when this came out in '89 when I was in elementary school. I loved it -- I thought it looked futuristic for the time, and sophisticated compared to other cars in its class, and other Ford products. I lived in a small town in Iowa at the time, I was wide-eyed... And I just remember the first time I saw one driving near the local dealership, it might as well have been a Ferrari, haha. One day my mom had to drop our Ford off for service, and I pleaded with her to get me a brochure that particular day so I could read it after school. I remember poring over the pages, fascinated. It became part of my cherished car brochure collection at the time. Ah, childhood memories :) Thanks for doing this video - it was great!
So true, I remember as a kid that era is when cars started to really look fast and futuristic even when parked. The first Eagle Talons were also in that group of cars that just looked so far ahead of the rest.
I bought an 89 Probe for my 20th birthday on 5/14/88, the first weekend it came out. It was a SPACESHIP. Turned heads EVERYWHERE I went. Man, I miss that car!!!
You know, Regular Car Reviews brought up a good "idea" while he was reviewing a new EcoBoost mustang. He basically said that it would've been better if Ford just made the EcoBoost mustang into a new Probe, instead of bringing back the 4 cylinder mustangs
@@666cemetaryslut so instead of making ecoboost s550s and putting that same engine into a modern Probe, you'd rather it stick onto the Mustang while complaining about the mach-e? Confused.
I worked at that Manufacturing plant back then. It was a joint venture with Mazda. The Mazda 626 was built on the same line. The Probe was supposed to be the replacement for the Mustang. They already had "MUSTANG" imprinted on the bumpers but Ford changed their mind. Those humps in the hood were because the struts didn't fit right, it wasn't a cosmetic design thing. And that entire instrument panel that tilted along with the steering wheel was stupid.
This is such a forgotten car now but they where everywhere in the early 90's along with the Chevrolet Beretta. I had one and the quality was way above everything else Ford was making at the time. Good gas mileage and was very quiet because it was so areodynamic. Almost looks like something you could sell today. It was ahead of its time for sure.
Actually of the big 3 domestics, Ford was far better built and led the way in aero and innovation. Cars like the sho Taurus, the turbo t-bird and super Coupe and of course the bulletproof 5 L Mustangs were all excellent products and set the bar quite high in their respective categories. The probe was definitely ahead of its time in many ways and the second generation is still a beautiful car!
Hard to believe this guy only has 154k subscribers. This channel is the equivalent of a low-budget movie that ends up being a blockbuster film. Highly entertaining, somewhat educational, and still manages to be an advertisement as well. Kudos, my good man. Also: Bruce Jenner. LOLOLOL.
@@nolahahnshouse3389 I like the MX-6 better, hope you enjoyed yours as well. The 2nd generation MX-6 was hot. Really like your reviews- they are fun and informative.
A fun thing to do with Ford products from this era is to add the word "ANAL" before the model name ie Anal Explorer, Expedition, Excursion, Probe, ect ect.
Yeah, you'd take it in the ass paying for all the repairs. Mazda powered with Ford parts mixed in. They were a mechanics nightmare. My Dad's shops made a ton of money on these once they hit about 60K miles. My Dad loved them but we never owned them. Put my sister through college, I'm sure. Ford trucks of the era were decent but anything other than a 5.0 or 4.6 engine was a POS.
I had an 89 turbo gt. Beautiful car but the turbo would glow orange at night and constantly popped the bolt heads off. I had to drill out the threads twice before I gave up and sold it.
What fun to see my old car again! And presented in such detail it really jogged my memory- how proud I was of it, how cool it looked. How, after driving a base Ford Escort for five years, I was driving something that looked like what I never had imagined I could afford. What fond memories....👍🙂
Today's cars are so covered with bumps and gouges that the smoothness of the probe is slick and clean. I like the cleanness of the design of cars back then. Today's styling is so superfluous.
@TcZ Are you kidding? Have you seen the new corvette or a civic hot hatch. All bumps and gouges. Underneath the gouges and protrusions, the proportions of the civic are hideous, way out of wack. Look at the probe or a 4th gen corvette, smooth and fluid. The Japanese used to call it surface excitement. I call it superfluous.
I know this comment is late to the game. I do remember I learned to operate a manual transmission in a 1989 Probe. Also remember driving a few years later a friend’s 1996 Probe. Anyway thank you for the video. This video takes me back
Stories like the Ford Probe's are why I've fallen in love with automotive history. Such an interesting turn of events from being the new mustang to becoming it's own car and eventually ending production
My Probe was the first and last Ford I ever built. The car was fantastic, but the first production run '89 models had a defective muffler that rusted out after 18 months. Ford did a recall on the 89's and replaced them all under warranty. I had an early production run 1990 model. Ford's own mechanic said that my car had one of the defective mufflers on it, but because it was a 1990 model instead of an 89, Ford didn't want to replace it as part of the recall or under warranty. I had to fight like crazy to get them to stand behind their car. That experience soured me to Ford forever. I've bought a lot of new cars over the years since then. Ford not wanting to cover a $200.00 part cost them $70,000+ in future sales.
This was always my dream car. New hygienist, in 1992. Ford Probe. It was a good name for hygienists..( periodontal probe). My Dad said, it was really gorgeous, but. on the snow it slide .. so the Ford Bronco II, was the new vehicle, I purchased .. always loved the Probe....ask me why Ford ? My Dad worked for GM.
The Probe was a smart call to run alongside the Mustang because it didn't cannibalize Mustang sales at all. The Probe appealed to people who were cross-shopping the Honda Prelude, Mitsubishi Eclipse, and its sister Car, the Mazda 626. I was inches from pulling the trigger on a Prelude until I drove the Probe.
He seems so salty most of the time doing these videos. I kinda feel sorry a little bit and wonder how he got so salty. LoL. Although I definitely enjoy these videos. ^U^
@@itsyeeoledskoolfurry3208 'Life' is how he got so 'salty'. I know how Bill feels; Bill is about a decade younger than myself... which means that someday he will be even more bitter and 'salty! 👀
These cars are an absolute nightmare of electrical issues with the added bonus of having Mazda engine controls aka MECs. The parts guys at the ford dealership I worked at used to laugh about how every single component was at least twice as expensive as an Escort or base Mustang! The 1993 to 97 Probe GT was so difficult and expensive to repair that the mechanics nickname for it was "Fordrarri". I recall that the alternator for the 2.5 v6 had a list price of $895.! Not kidding! Stuff like that sticks in the memory.
I bought my Dad's 1992 LX V6 Probe from him after he was in an accident with it while living in Ft Lauderdale. Drove up here to PA, did all the repairs it needed and did a full paint job on it in my small body shop. Only 140 hp. ( I believe), but moved ok enough. Straight red with a red interior, it was a nice looking car.
Hey good reviews on the cars! I like cars from this era, I’m a Ford fan, up here in Ontario these have all been gone and rusted for a long time. Nice to see these low mileage cars! 👍
I had a new 1990 Probe LX (the one with the 3.0L V6 from the Taurus) and absolutely loved it. The engine had a lot of low-end torque, the car looked awesome, drove very well, and had a lot of cool gadgets for the era. I'd love to find and restore one if I had the money to do it.
The amazing thing is the design really does not look that dated. One could have that design with a different name and still probably sell the car today.
A decade ago this plan could've been back on the market, but today, I think with crossovers being the flavor of the day, with seemingly no end in sight, I think the Probe would be a tough sell today. The design is definitely timeless, however.
@@texan903 you do make a good point about the popularity of crossovers. I was responding to the design aesthetic more than anything I suppose. I just cannot believe how current a 30 year old car looks.
These were built on the same line as the Mazda 626 in 1987 in a former Ford Foundry facility aka "Hell". I worked there in the "Traffic & Customs" department before the "logistics" word became all the rage. They'd call us from the office to help move cars that needed "reprocessing" off the final assembly line. Everyone fought over jumping into the GT. There was all this stuff about "diversity" too and those door handles were designed for women with longer fingernails. Not only that, those "bumps" in the hood weren't for aesthetics. The strut towers were the issue. Rather than a tilt steering wheel, that whole dash panel tilted which was such a silly gimmick. Both the Probe and the 626 had those "automatic" shoulder belts that activated with door opening/closing. That belt knocked the cigarette out of my bosses lips in his 626 and burned a hole in the seat. True story.
I was always in awe seeing these on the streets when they came out. This car was way ahead of its time. I remember people constantly using the word futuristic when talking about them.
It was. Had one of the coolest "cockpit" instrument clusters of the time. Only other vehicle that had something as futuristic wa the Z32 300ZX which was a legend in its own right.
I love this video. It’s a pretty pedestrian car compared to most of the other things you review, but back in that very year my then-girlfriend now-wife almost bought one. Test drove a whole bunch of things and narrowed it down to a Probe, a Honda Prelude, and a Nissan 240SX. She ended up with the Prelude and drove it for a dozen years or so. But the Probe was so close to being the choice. There were just better options then, in that light, front wheel drive, sporty/but economical, coupe-ish kind of thing. The Prelude, the 240SX, the Celica, etc. Love all the history talk, takes me back.
I purchased a Gen 2 Ford Probe a little over a month ago and it still amazes me. I fell in love with the design and underdog story of the Probe about a year ago and was looking for one since. It`s such a lively little sports car, and surprisingly practical as well. I`m a musician and I can fit multiple guitars, an amp and still a passenger to ride shotgun. It only has 91k miles, so I plan to keep it for years to come. And definitely a few car shows here and there. Great review, gotta keep spreading the word about these unique cars!
I had a probe and it was great. Drove it to school everyday and parked it in Brooklyn. It took a beating and kept going. Over 200,000 miles when I traded it in. Thank you for the video, brought back so many memories.
Side note. I would love to see you do one of these with a chevette in mint condition. Betting your commentary would have the class rolling on the floor!!
This car, and others that came out at the time were the beginnings of the entire "ricer / Fast and furious / tuner" movement of inexpensive Japanese performance cars. While There were higher-end Japanese sports cars, like Nissan Z-cars, and Toyota Supras, these cars were sort of the Japanese flavor of the American ponycar. small size, sporty looks, 4 seats (2+2), good handling, quick acceleration, and affordable price (meaning mechanical components were typically borrowed from economy car platforms). I can see why the Probe was slated to replace the Mustang...it was some good trend prediction going on on the part of Ford! This car had a LOT of competition when it came out, and the competitors sold well too. The biggest was from Chrysler, who was deep into a partnership with Mitsubishi, called "Diamond Star Motors". They came out with the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon trio that came out in 1989 as well. Nissan also came out with the 240SX in 1989 too, although it was styled and sized similarly to the Mitsubishi and Mazda designs, was a cut above with rear-wheel drive, and a sedan style, versus a hatchback. GM and Isuzu even played this market as well, with the Isuzu impulse, and the Geo Storm. Honda was already in the game with the Prelude, and Toyota as well, with the Celica. One of the things about these cars is they became the cars of choice that GenX parents gave their kids for graduation, as they figured they were largely just economy cars with sporty looks, and nowhere near as dangerous as a V8-powered musclecar (they wouldn't dare give a kid a Mustang GT, but a probe GT, is fair game...it's only got a 4-cylinder!) Likewise, as these cars aged into the 2000's, they captured the millennial generation, as they bought them as older beaters and modded and tuned them and brought back the fun and enjoyment of performance modding cars, like the boomers did in the 60's and 70's.
I love how afraid you are of birds and goats I live in Maine with 3 goats and I’m surrounded by wild birds so it cracks me up. 😂 I love your detailed videos and commentary. Keep up the good work Bill!
Thanks! Had a 1991 Mazda 4 door LX manual...had to find a car after a 16 yo crashed his Grand fathers newly restored 1965 Mustang into my 1984 Mustang GT manual on Halloween in Reno NV. Grabbed the Mazda with 106,000 miles for $6,600 and drove it till it wouldn't pass smog with over 200,000 miles. Comfy and economical and you could sit in back with the right front seat married to the back to create a small lounge! Blue over blue velour and swinging center front vent! Like my stinger a bit more!
Perhaps a few less would have died from prostate cancer if they had🤔 but back then men were men and being woke was something that you did between sleeping and breakfast... 🤧
Hey Bill-one other piece of Pored Frobe trivia; the poor elderly woman who suffered serious burns in her lap from coffee from McDonalds was sitting in her grandson’s Probe. No cup holders!
This car DESERVED the 220hp 3.0L SHO V6. That kind of power could have saved the car. Instead we got the 140 hp 3.0L Vulcan motor and later that anemic Contour V6 at 165 hp.
29:20 Rush playing on radio, I can imagine Bill saying "A little bit of Rush, maybe helps the Canadians in the back seat be a little bit more chipper, and help them deal with the limited leg and headroom"
@@good4jg I had mine for a good couple of years and although it was pretty snug for a 6-ft plus guy, the car had great power, awesome handling, really useful space in the back, and was dead nuts reliable! And even to this day going on 30 years later they're still a beautiful design.
@@lancemannion4113 When I was between cars for a couple of years in the early '90s, I would go to Hertz to rent one from their "fun fleet", despite the fact that I'm a GM guy (it's all I've ever owned). I am 6'3", but I don't remember being uncomfortble at all; all I remember is how much I enjoyed the car.
I love your videos so much, I live like 10 minutes away from you and every videos at the beginning your like a weatherman with the forecast I love it I know the Florida struggle so I can relate lol
Great review man! I was a car guy at an early age & about 12 years old when this car came out. The cars of this era are still some of my favorites. Keep the vids coming!👍🏾
Really great history of this car Bill. I remember tons of these around when they were new. You are correct about the current Mustang too. I was visiting the UK in 2018 and saw lots of right hand drive Mustangs as soon as they started making those.
I had a front wheel drive '95 Probe I that I LOVED! Now I have a REAR wheel drive Mustang that I have to keep having to have pushed out of my drive, sucks in the snow..... Needs detailing, oh look, a cute squirrel! Hate that bird!!
Birds, goats, cats...basically any animal freaks him out. Coronavirus whiskey therapy mornings, rants about the detailer and how society is going to shit; this guy could do stand up. Who else but Bill can review a 90 Probe for 45 minutes and get people to watch?! 🤣
My first car was a ‘90 Probe LX I got when I turned 16 in ‘95. Had the 3.0, the digital dash, and trip computer, very futuristic for the time! This brought back a lot of memories for me as well, and the notion that these qualify for what are called “historical plates” here in Ohio, makes even me feel old! Also drove a ‘94 GT, that was a pretty fun car!
I had a nice blue 92 with the same wheels that I drove through college with a manual transmission. It wasn't anemic at all. It wasn't a rocket but I think it was limited to 115mph but had no problem doing that quietly and smoothly. One semester I commuted to school and would set the cruise control at 90mph and listen to NPR on the way up on the interstate. It wasn't exactly an economy car either because I only got about 31 - 32mpg with it. It was a single over head cam. I didn't know anything about working on cars then but I could have probably added more power by opening up the intake, and doing a few more tweaks. However the one thing I liked about it the most was it was SO ERGONOMIC. Instead of the turn signals and other controls being on Stalks which we still suffer from today the signals, cruise control and everything was all within finger reach. It had very little wind and road noise too and I liked that. Took many road trips in it. It had one problem though with the mazda transmission. Weak shift forks or bad syncros and eventually 2nd gear stopped going in. After graduation I went to travel around Europe and when I got back it was gone. I missed that car so much
Great review Bill. I wrecked my Honda Accord in college and was given a Ford Probe for almost six weeks as a loaner. Brings back memories. Keep up the reviews Bill!!! Please add a w124 e320 cabrio to the queue!
6:15 Thanks Bill I never heard of _Hugh Banson_ but yeah, he ABSOLUTELY had a MASSIVE role in creating the "Face of Fard" ( late 80's /90's) , I mean just LOOK at this and tell me you dont see Taurus/ fox Mustang Crown Vic even later model Rangers ect... leave it to Bill to introduce me to one of the lead designers who played what I think to be a key role in the FMC design language. Thanks Bill! Happy 2023 All✌
Loved the video, I owned 3 of them all gts. I still remember purchasing 1 with my Dad, was a white LX model that was actually in the showroom. I was 16, I sat in the car a said Dad check this car out its totally cool, he bought it on the spot, we actually drove it off the show room floor. Loved it, brings back great memories.....👍👍😁😁
He did. I called him out when he slipped up months ago but this is the first time I've heard it since. Whiskey therapy gets his mind a little mixed up sometimes.
To me it feels a little weird when he DOESN’T say “AutoEuropa Naples” during the intro. It just sounds more natural than “Autohaus” and some of his best videos to date were filmed when AE Naples was still operating.
@@drivedb7 The good old days when there were birds on the wire, planes directly overhead, and every nook and cranny had a specific firearm that could be stored there. And when Bill confused Harry Chapin for Cat Stevens we gave him so much hell in the comments that he apologized for the mistake in his next video. Good times.
Sometimes I wish Bill would spend a few dollars and hire a camera guy. He does an okay job filming the cars himself, but the process would be so much easier if he had someone to do the filming for him. Plus we would get to see Bill and the car at the same time as well.
@@ChrisDragotta - well when he spends 10 - 15 minutes talking about the history of each car yes it's better this way, but once he gets behind the wheel having a camera man would be most helpful.
You'd lose a lot of the "imposed upon" vibes that are at the heart of his humor. Getting attacked by a robin isn't going to worry someone who brings a staff.
The fact that he’s an advocate for placing children (toddlers and infants) into the trunk of not only this Probe but at least one other vehicle is really endearing to me.
I owned a 1990, red Probe GT, with the five speed manual transmission. It was a sweet car. Turned a lot of heads in Newark New Jersey. LOL. I stumbled upon your TH-cam channel a few weeks ago. I worship you. Keep up the great reviews that I also find extremely entertaining.
My roommate in college had one of these. "It's probe time!" was the battle cry whenever we went for a drive. I remember it having lots of problems, and just as he was selling it there developed a ghastly noise when he turned left. The poor sap that bought it only turned right during his test drive. Funny the things one remembers... Thanks for the commentary, Bill! I learned way more about Fords probing than I thought there was to know.
The Probe was a very good sports coupe, what I liked is it was well made and had decent performance at the time. The name was unfortunate, could easily called it a Ford GT-X.
This was the "sister" to the Mazda MX-6. Built in Flat Rock Michigan. The main reason for the hood bumps was there was an option for 3 position electronically controlled struts. Standard on the GT model with turbo. The motor/actuators were mounted to the top of struts. So they needed the clearance for them on the Probe's hood.
Bill is the only reviewer on the internet who can make a Ford Probe video fascinating! Great understanding of history, a bit of comedy, and blunt honesty about life in general. Keep 'em coming' Bill!
🤣🤣👍
And an Accord or Altima video would be more fascinating?
Yes. Great point Thomas.
Well said.
Right. When I found Bill. I had to stop watching Doug Demuro.
Thanks Bill! As a life-long Ford fan, I distinctly remember when this came out in '89 when I was in elementary school. I loved it -- I thought it looked futuristic for the time, and sophisticated compared to other cars in its class, and other Ford products. I lived in a small town in Iowa at the time, I was wide-eyed... And I just remember the first time I saw one driving near the local dealership, it might as well have been a Ferrari, haha. One day my mom had to drop our Ford off for service, and I pleaded with her to get me a brochure that particular day so I could read it after school. I remember poring over the pages, fascinated. It became part of my cherished car brochure collection at the time. Ah, childhood memories :) Thanks for doing this video - it was great!
So true, I remember as a kid that era is when cars started to really look fast and futuristic even when parked.
The first Eagle Talons were also in that group of cars that just looked so far ahead of the rest.
Introduced in 1988. I was there at the plant where they were built in Flat Rock Michigan starting 1987. The Mazda 626 was built on the same line.
I bought an 89 Probe for my 20th birthday on 5/14/88, the first weekend it came out. It was a SPACESHIP. Turned heads EVERYWHERE I went. Man, I miss that car!!!
Why do you care about turning heads? You just crave attention?
You know, Regular Car Reviews brought up a good "idea" while he was reviewing a new EcoBoost mustang. He basically said that it would've been better if Ford just made the EcoBoost mustang into a new Probe, instead of bringing back the 4 cylinder mustangs
That idea is almost as bad as putting the mustang name on an electric suv
@@666cemetaryslut so instead of making ecoboost s550s and putting that same engine into a modern Probe, you'd rather it stick onto the Mustang while complaining about the mach-e? Confused.
@@666cemetaryslut well Mach E is sold out before it’s out go figure
@@intergalactic4160 Still doesn’t change the fact that it’s about the biggest whoring out of a brand name in history
The 2nd generation that came after this is still one of the best looking coupes today.
Agreed!
im buying one very soon
@@kitamayoru3486 how did that work out? I had a 95 GT
@@Jag-leaper amazing! I bought a 16v 2l 3 months ago and im moding it rn
I love the first generation ones more personally
"I remember the Probe quite well"
One does tend to remember their first probing...or block it out completely
My first probing was about 8"
@@its.me.christopher3061 Creepy. Go away.
Rotflmao!! 🤣🤣🤣😂
I worked at that Manufacturing plant back then. It was a joint venture with Mazda. The Mazda 626 was built on the same line. The Probe was supposed to be the replacement for the Mustang. They already had "MUSTANG" imprinted on the bumpers but Ford changed their mind. Those humps in the hood were because the struts didn't fit right, it wasn't a cosmetic design thing. And that entire instrument panel that tilted along with the steering wheel was stupid.
@@its.me.christopher3061 Dude, that's horrible.
This is such a forgotten car now but they where everywhere in the early 90's along with the Chevrolet Beretta. I had one and the quality was way above everything else Ford was making at the time. Good gas mileage and was very quiet because it was so areodynamic. Almost looks like something you could sell today. It was ahead of its time for sure.
Actually of the big 3 domestics, Ford was far better built and led the way in aero and innovation. Cars like the sho Taurus, the turbo t-bird and super Coupe and of course the bulletproof 5 L Mustangs were all excellent products and set the bar quite high in their respective categories. The probe was definitely ahead of its time in many ways and the second generation is still a beautiful car!
I paid $1000 for one about 20 years ago.
I loved how it rode.
Unfortunately the transmission was toast and shops wanted $1000 to fix.
I forgot about the Beretta!
Hard to believe this guy only has 154k subscribers. This channel is the equivalent of a low-budget movie that ends up being a blockbuster film. Highly entertaining, somewhat educational, and still manages to be an advertisement as well. Kudos, my good man.
Also: Bruce Jenner. LOLOLOL.
Bill you are too generous for us. Second video in 48h. God bless you and let the goats stay away from you.
Great looking 1st generation Probe; amazing condition. These were built down the road along with the Mazda MX-6/626 here in MI.
Which are pretty much the same car.. sad that I just found this out owning a mx6 back in the day and owning a miata now lol
@@nolahahnshouse3389 I like the MX-6 better, hope you enjoyed yours as well. The 2nd generation MX-6 was hot. Really like your reviews- they are fun and informative.
I visited that plant two years ago, saw an old Probe poster still hanging up in the office. I showed it in one of my videos. Cool.
I sold em in the 80s. Bought one. Loved the hell out of it.
Yeah it is basically an MX-6 , the dash even looks the same!
A fun thing to do with Ford products from this era is to add the word "ANAL" before the model name ie Anal Explorer, Expedition, Excursion, Probe, ect ect.
Deeply closeted gay man? Wife a real battle axe?
lmao... anal police interceptor, anal fusion... those are some interesting visuals...this is a great game
Yeah, you'd take it in the ass paying for all the repairs. Mazda powered with Ford parts mixed in. They were a mechanics nightmare. My Dad's shops made a ton of money on these once they hit about 60K miles. My Dad loved them but we never owned them. Put my sister through college, I'm sure. Ford trucks of the era were decent but anything other than a 5.0 or 4.6 engine was a POS.
@@HoyaSaxaSD dosnt really matter if he his anyway does it mate
@@HoyaSaxaSD Nah just a little humor that clearly went over your head.
15:55 Probes with body kits were actually used in Back to the Future Part II (2015 Hill Valley scene).
My shop teacher in high-school had a turbo 4 manual black Probe. I believe he still has it.
Loved the turbo. I had one.
I had a black GT, absolutely a rocketship! 32 mpg average too!
I had an 89 turbo gt. Beautiful car but the turbo would glow orange at night and constantly popped the bolt heads off. I had to drill out the threads twice before I gave up and sold it.
He touched you?
What fun to see my old car again! And presented in such detail it really jogged my memory- how proud I was of it, how cool it looked. How, after driving a base Ford Escort for five years, I was driving something that looked like what I never had imagined I could afford. What fond memories....👍🙂
Today's cars are so covered with bumps and gouges that the smoothness of the probe is slick and clean. I like the cleanness of the design of cars back then. Today's styling is so superfluous.
@TcZ Are you kidding? Have you seen the new corvette or a civic hot hatch. All bumps and gouges. Underneath the gouges and protrusions, the proportions of the civic are hideous, way out of wack. Look at the probe or a 4th gen corvette, smooth and fluid. The Japanese used to call it surface excitement. I call it superfluous.
I know this comment is late to the game. I do remember I learned to operate a manual transmission in a 1989 Probe. Also remember driving a few years later a friend’s 1996 Probe. Anyway thank you for the video. This video takes me back
OH MY GOD YOU DID NOT
You just made my whole month Bill! I own my great grandmothers 1989 Ford Probe. It had 58k miles. This is a treat!
Don't worry Bill you're not the only one. My '99 Toyota is now about as old to me as Christine was to Arnie when he brought it home lol.
Stories like the Ford Probe's are why I've fallen in love with automotive history. Such an interesting turn of events from being the new mustang to becoming it's own car and eventually ending production
Best history or the Ford Probe I’ve heard. And entertaining.
Bill did an amazing job. I can't believe how much i learned about the Probe. I definitely remember them but had no idea it was Mustangs replacement
I agree!
He thoroughly probed the subject
@@andy16666 😏
Mazda MX6 version was much better looking and finished... Probes looked ungainly...
I sold these Probes in the 80s. Never understood why it wasnt a hit. I bought one. I absolutely loved it.
My Probe was the first and last Ford I ever built. The car was fantastic, but the first production run '89 models had a defective muffler that rusted out after 18 months. Ford did a recall on the 89's and replaced them all under warranty. I had an early production run 1990 model. Ford's own mechanic said that my car had one of the defective mufflers on it, but because it was a 1990 model instead of an 89, Ford didn't want to replace it as part of the recall or under warranty. I had to fight like crazy to get them to stand behind their car. That experience soured me to Ford forever. I've bought a lot of new cars over the years since then. Ford not wanting to cover a $200.00 part cost them $70,000+ in future sales.
How much is fuel consumption?
This was always my dream car. New hygienist, in 1992. Ford Probe. It was a good name for hygienists..( periodontal probe). My Dad said, it was really gorgeous, but. on the snow it slide .. so the Ford Bronco II, was the new vehicle, I purchased .. always loved the Probe....ask me why Ford ? My Dad worked for GM.
31:01 The Bruce Jenner gag got me
The Probe was an excellent and attractive car in it's own right, and never needed to be branded a Mustang. Thank you for making this video.
The Probe was a smart call to run alongside the Mustang because it didn't cannibalize Mustang sales at all. The Probe appealed to people who were cross-shopping the Honda Prelude, Mitsubishi Eclipse, and its sister Car, the Mazda 626. I was inches from pulling the trigger on a Prelude until I drove the Probe.
😂 😂 😂 I thoroughly enjoyed this video his commentary is fucking hilarious! The Bruce Jenner model.😅
31:02 lol it's amazing how seatbelt configurations can potentially change a car's model name in specific roadway encounters.
He seems so salty most of the time doing these videos. I kinda feel sorry a little bit and wonder how he got so salty. LoL. Although I definitely enjoy these videos. ^U^
@@itsyeeoledskoolfurry3208 'Life' is how he got so 'salty'. I know how Bill feels; Bill is about a decade younger than myself... which means that someday he will be even more bitter and 'salty! 👀
Gotcha.
This dudes unreasonable fear of wildlife always cracks me up
Great video of a seldom seen car anymore. I absolutely love how you detail the history and information of the cars in the videos. Please keep it up.
These cars are an absolute nightmare of electrical issues with the added bonus of having Mazda engine controls aka MECs. The parts guys at the ford dealership I worked at used to laugh about how every single component was at least twice as expensive as an Escort or base Mustang!
The 1993 to 97 Probe GT was so difficult and expensive to repair that the mechanics nickname for it was "Fordrarri". I recall that the alternator for the 2.5 v6 had a list price of $895.! Not kidding! Stuff like that sticks in the memory.
Incredible review. I never thought I'd find a Ford Probe interesting. Great job Bill.
Bill , Knows his stuff !
He could sell a 4 cylinder Probe to AJ Foyt.
Neither did i.
Mom test drove a few black Probe GTs and came very close to signing on the line for one ... Super fun as kid riding in the passenger seat...
I remember Jay Leno commenting on the car when it came out. "Hey baby, come sit on my Probe."
I bought my Dad's 1992 LX V6 Probe from him after he was in an accident with it while living in Ft Lauderdale. Drove up here to PA, did all the repairs it needed and did a full paint job on it in my small body shop. Only 140 hp. ( I believe), but moved ok enough. Straight red with a red interior, it was a nice looking car.
Hey good reviews on the cars! I like cars from this era, I’m a Ford fan, up here in Ontario these have all been gone and rusted for a long time. Nice to see these low mileage cars! 👍
I had a new 1990 Probe LX (the one with the 3.0L V6 from the Taurus) and absolutely loved it. The engine had a lot of low-end torque, the car looked awesome, drove very well, and had a lot of cool gadgets for the era. I'd love to find and restore one if I had the money to do it.
The amazing thing is the design really does not look that dated. One could have that design with a different name and still probably sell the car today.
A decade ago this plan could've been back on the market, but today, I think with crossovers being the flavor of the day, with seemingly no end in sight, I think the Probe would be a tough sell today. The design is definitely timeless, however.
@@texan903 you do make a good point about the popularity of crossovers. I was responding to the design aesthetic more than anything I suppose. I just cannot believe how current a 30 year old car looks.
It has clean modern lines, yes, but the throwbacks are popular, because spiritually there is no future, so we have noatalgia.
Yeah, and for the new name I say we go with the “Insertion”.
@@texan903 I like the 2nd generation more, though...
These were built on the same line as the Mazda 626 in 1987 in a former Ford Foundry facility aka "Hell". I worked there in the "Traffic & Customs" department before the "logistics" word became all the rage. They'd call us from the office to help move cars that needed "reprocessing" off the final assembly line. Everyone fought over jumping into the GT. There was all this stuff about "diversity" too and those door handles were designed for women with longer fingernails. Not only that, those "bumps" in the hood weren't for aesthetics. The strut towers were the issue. Rather than a tilt steering wheel, that whole dash panel tilted which was such a silly gimmick. Both the Probe and the 626 had those "automatic" shoulder belts that activated with door opening/closing. That belt knocked the cigarette out of my bosses lips in his 626 and burned a hole in the seat. True story.
I was always in awe seeing these on the streets when they came out. This car was way ahead of its time. I remember people constantly using the word futuristic when talking about them.
It was. Had one of the coolest "cockpit" instrument clusters of the time. Only other vehicle that had something as futuristic wa the Z32 300ZX which was a legend in its own right.
Hello all.. Ive been a long time subscriber and this guy is the coolest!! ✌️
This channel features car after car that I would love to own. Not only that but includes some history on them too. Excellent job Bill
I love this video. It’s a pretty pedestrian car compared to most of the other things you review, but back in that very year my then-girlfriend now-wife almost bought one. Test drove a whole bunch of things and narrowed it down to a Probe, a Honda Prelude, and a Nissan 240SX. She ended up with the Prelude and drove it for a dozen years or so. But the Probe was so close to being the choice. There were just better options then, in that light, front wheel drive, sporty/but economical, coupe-ish kind of thing. The Prelude, the 240SX, the Celica, etc. Love all the history talk, takes me back.
I can hear Rod Roddy now: It comes with all the standard features and California Emission, plus Air Conditioning; Bob.
LOL ! My Mom loved that show.
Dian or Holly modeling...💓😍💓😍💓
I purchased a Gen 2 Ford Probe a little over a month ago and it still amazes me. I fell in love with the design and underdog story of the Probe about a year ago and was looking for one since. It`s such a lively little sports car, and surprisingly practical as well. I`m a musician and I can fit multiple guitars, an amp and still a passenger to ride shotgun. It only has 91k miles, so I plan to keep it for years to come. And definitely a few car shows here and there. Great review, gotta keep spreading the word about these unique cars!
There was a joke back in the day when these came out a girl told her parents my date is coming over to pick me up with his Probe
Haha
Wasn't funny then, either.
I had a probe and it was great. Drove it to school everyday and parked it in Brooklyn. It took a beating and kept going. Over 200,000 miles when I traded it in. Thank you for the video, brought back so many memories.
As a Canadian, I am miffed (in the most polite manner possible) at the Rush snub. Not too chipper here in the back seat. Oh, and I'm sorry.
Sorey?
I recognised Rush almost immediately. And I could tell from the few seconds of silence that Bill was hoping to identify it. 😂
Side note. I would love to see you do one of these with a chevette in mint condition. Betting your commentary would have the class rolling on the floor!!
Had a 1995 probe GT with a 5 speed and coil overs and loved it!!!
👍👍 Fun drivers car for sure.
@@ford_probe_garage_studio Yup!!!😁
I had a 89 GT and a 95 GT very fun to drive and the handling is great . I miss both of them
@@maggylagosi3787 yeah, I miss mine as well!
Have you seen a 2nd gen GT Aftermarket turbo run much better
This car, and others that came out at the time were the beginnings of the entire "ricer / Fast and furious / tuner" movement of inexpensive Japanese performance cars. While There were higher-end Japanese sports cars, like Nissan Z-cars, and Toyota Supras, these cars were sort of the Japanese flavor of the American ponycar. small size, sporty looks, 4 seats (2+2), good handling, quick acceleration, and affordable price (meaning mechanical components were typically borrowed from economy car platforms). I can see why the Probe was slated to replace the Mustang...it was some good trend prediction going on on the part of Ford! This car had a LOT of competition when it came out, and the competitors sold well too. The biggest was from Chrysler, who was deep into a partnership with Mitsubishi, called "Diamond Star Motors". They came out with the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon trio that came out in 1989 as well. Nissan also came out with the 240SX in 1989 too, although it was styled and sized similarly to the Mitsubishi and Mazda designs, was a cut above with rear-wheel drive, and a sedan style, versus a hatchback. GM and Isuzu even played this market as well, with the Isuzu impulse, and the Geo Storm. Honda was already in the game with the Prelude, and Toyota as well, with the Celica. One of the things about these cars is they became the cars of choice that GenX parents gave their kids for graduation, as they figured they were largely just economy cars with sporty looks, and nowhere near as dangerous as a V8-powered musclecar (they wouldn't dare give a kid a Mustang GT, but a probe GT, is fair game...it's only got a 4-cylinder!) Likewise, as these cars aged into the 2000's, they captured the millennial generation, as they bought them as older beaters and modded and tuned them and brought back the fun and enjoyment of performance modding cars, like the boomers did in the 60's and 70's.
I love how afraid you are of birds and goats I live in Maine with 3 goats and I’m surrounded by wild birds so it cracks me up. 😂 I love your detailed videos and commentary. Keep up the good work Bill!
Thanks! Had a 1991 Mazda 4 door LX manual...had to find a car after a 16 yo crashed his Grand fathers newly restored 1965 Mustang into my 1984 Mustang GT manual on Halloween in Reno NV. Grabbed the Mazda with 106,000 miles for $6,600 and drove it till it wouldn't pass smog with over 200,000 miles. Comfy and economical and you could sit in back with the right front seat married to the back to create a small lounge! Blue over blue velour and swinging center front vent! Like my stinger a bit more!
I liked it as well as the Mazda MX6 but the name doomed it. No man volunteers to get a probe.
Just debadge it and call it a Ford Coupe
Perhaps a few less would have died from prostate cancer if they had🤔 but back then men were men and being woke was something that you did between sleeping and breakfast... 🤧
@@alasdairhompstead7950 It seems as if you have a probe in you right now.
@@SimeonToko Christ, I hope not😱
@@alasdairhompstead7950
Better look in da mirror.
I find your side bar dialogue hilarious. love what your doing with channel
Hey Bill-one other piece of Pored Frobe trivia; the poor elderly woman who suffered serious burns in her lap from coffee from McDonalds was sitting in her grandson’s Probe. No cup holders!
This car DESERVED the 220hp 3.0L SHO V6. That kind of power could have saved the car. Instead we got the 140 hp 3.0L Vulcan motor and later that anemic Contour V6 at 165 hp.
Despite what condition of most of these are in today, they still totally catch my eye.
29:20 Rush playing on radio, I can imagine Bill saying "A little bit of Rush, maybe helps the Canadians in the back seat be a little bit more chipper, and help them deal with the limited leg and headroom"
Honestly the second generation was even sexier particularly with that high tech DOHC V6.
Yep the 93 to 97 was way better looking
@@rxtuninginc8444 The way they drove was even better than the way they looked, at least in GT trim.
@@good4jg I had mine for a good couple of years and although it was pretty snug for a 6-ft plus guy, the car had great power, awesome handling, really useful space in the back, and was dead nuts reliable! And even to this day going on 30 years later they're still a beautiful design.
@@lancemannion4113 When I was between cars for a couple of years in the early '90s, I would go to Hertz to rent one from their "fun fleet", despite the fact that I'm a GM guy (it's all I've ever owned). I am 6'3", but I don't remember being uncomfortble at all; all I remember is how much I enjoyed the car.
"The called it the Bruce Jenner.... cough, cough, gag, cough..." Oh Bill, your brilliant martini humor is priceless. Thanks for being you.
I love your videos so much, I live like 10 minutes away from you and every videos at the beginning your like a weatherman with the forecast I love it I know the Florida struggle so I can relate lol
This was my first car! Black 1989. . Digital dash . flip up headlights .ah memories
Wow, 16k mileage gee this car wasn't even broken in.
Great review man! I was a car guy at an early age & about 12 years old when this car came out. The cars of this era are still some of my favorites. Keep the vids coming!👍🏾
Really great history of this car Bill. I remember tons of these around when they were new.
You are correct about the current Mustang too. I was visiting the UK in 2018 and saw lots of right hand drive Mustangs as soon as they started making those.
I had a front wheel drive '95 Probe I that I LOVED! Now I have a REAR wheel drive Mustang that I have to keep having to have pushed out of my drive, sucks in the snow..... Needs detailing, oh look, a cute squirrel! Hate that bird!!
Just found this channel and find Bill's reviews very informative and entertaining, but I gotta ask...what's the deal with birds?
Birds, goats, cats...basically any animal freaks him out. Coronavirus whiskey therapy mornings, rants about the detailer and how society is going to shit; this guy could do stand up.
Who else but Bill can review a 90 Probe for 45 minutes and get people to watch?! 🤣
Wait till you hear about car designs that can keep Canadians chipper in the back seat.
My first car was a ‘90 Probe LX I got when I turned 16 in ‘95. Had the 3.0, the digital dash, and trip computer, very futuristic for the time! This brought back a lot of memories for me as well, and the notion that these qualify for what are called “historical plates” here in Ohio, makes even me feel old! Also drove a ‘94 GT, that was a pretty fun car!
Damn haven't seen one of those in years.
Same here. It’s much ugly than I remember.
I had a nice blue 92 with the same wheels that I drove through college with a manual transmission. It wasn't anemic at all. It wasn't a rocket but I think it was limited to 115mph but had no problem doing that quietly and smoothly. One semester I commuted to school and would set the cruise control at 90mph and listen to NPR on the way up on the interstate. It wasn't exactly an economy car either because I only got about 31 - 32mpg with it. It was a single over head cam. I didn't know anything about working on cars then but I could have probably added more power by opening up the intake, and doing a few more tweaks. However the one thing I liked about it the most was it was SO ERGONOMIC. Instead of the turn signals and other controls being on Stalks which we still suffer from today the signals, cruise control and everything was all within finger reach. It had very little wind and road noise too and I liked that. Took many road trips in it. It had one problem though with the mazda transmission. Weak shift forks or bad syncros and eventually 2nd gear stopped going in. After graduation I went to travel around Europe and when I got back it was gone. I missed that car so much
Very well said sir!! Man these videos are damn near poetic!!. Thank you for the videos my friend keep 'em coming.
Man I'm so Glad this did not replace the Mustang.
I bought the first one off the truck and was HAPPY as a lark!!! Loved these cars while Ford stopped making them too soon.
I’m just here for Bill’s bird phobia. You’d think Hitchcock was making a sequel.
Had this replaced the Mustang it would've been quite a "Probe-lem"😉
That stereo really does sound amazing!
When the probe first came out, we all thought it looked like a space ship. It was another ground breaking design by Ford.
There was a time I would get Probed each time I needed a rental car. I don't even know why I liked it.
I remember these cars being primarily driven by young, bleach blond, blue eyeshadow wearing harlots😏
“Harlots”? Not a word you hear much these days.
@@benedictdonald4338 I'm old😔
@@benedictdonald4338 there is a cheapness and tawdriness about that word. I have occasionally used it.
Are you an independent fundamentalist baptist by chance?
@@sneakerfreak2002 Haha nope, just an old soul apparently.
Those passive restraint seat belts were a huge pain in the ass. I'm glad they no longer exist.
I had a 1990 probe GT and it was one of the best cars I have owned.
Great review Bill. I wrecked my Honda Accord in college and was given a Ford Probe for almost six weeks as a loaner. Brings back memories. Keep up the reviews Bill!!! Please add a w124 e320 cabrio to the queue!
I remember when these came out in the late 80s, they were very futuristic looking!!!
Hey Bill, did Dalton's mother have any children that lived?? 🤪🥴
6:15 Thanks Bill I never heard of _Hugh Banson_ but yeah, he ABSOLUTELY had a MASSIVE role in creating the "Face of Fard" ( late 80's /90's) , I mean just LOOK at this and tell me you dont see Taurus/ fox Mustang Crown Vic even later model Rangers ect... leave it to Bill to introduce me to one of the lead designers who played what I think to be a key role in the FMC design language. Thanks Bill!
Happy 2023 All✌
Awwwww I miss the goats lol .... I actually love these Probes ... keep bringing us these neat cars Bill 🤗🤗🤗
Loved the video, I owned 3 of them all gts. I still remember purchasing 1 with my Dad, was a white LX model that was actually in the showroom. I was 16, I sat in the car a said Dad check this car out its totally cool, he bought it on the spot, we actually drove it off the show room floor. Loved it, brings back great memories.....👍👍😁😁
A brown Probe. I wonder if the first owner was a proctologist?
This was a Mazda MX6 under the skin. I drove a 1995 MX6 that I thought was a blast to drive. with the 2.5 V6.
Did you say Auto Europa Naples at the intro?? Are you back with them??
He did. I called him out when he slipped up months ago but this is the first time I've heard it since. Whiskey therapy gets his mind a little mixed up sometimes.
I may have to try this "whiskey therapy". I'll have what he's having!!
To me it feels a little weird when he DOESN’T say “AutoEuropa Naples” during the intro. It just sounds more natural than “Autohaus” and some of his best videos to date were filmed when AE Naples was still operating.
@@drivedb7 The good old days when there were birds on the wire, planes directly overhead, and every nook and cranny had a specific firearm that could be stored there. And when Bill confused Harry Chapin for Cat Stevens we gave him so much hell in the comments that he apologized for the mistake in his next video. Good times.
Any chance you can do a video on the 2nd gen probe as well? Love your reviews🙏🙏
Sometimes I wish Bill would spend a few dollars and hire a camera guy. He does an okay job filming the cars himself, but the process would be so much easier if he had someone to do the filming for him. Plus we would get to see Bill and the car at the same time as well.
Nah, it's better like this.
Yup, better this way
@@ChrisDragotta - well when he spends 10 - 15 minutes talking about the history of each car yes it's better this way, but once he gets behind the wheel having a camera man would be most helpful.
You'd lose a lot of the "imposed upon" vibes that are at the heart of his humor. Getting attacked by a robin isn't going to worry someone who brings a staff.
The fact that he’s an advocate for placing children (toddlers and infants) into the trunk of not only this Probe but at least one other vehicle is really endearing to me.
😳
I would love to see a DSM on here, but I’m sure they’re impossible to find in decent condition.
Pretty much... it’s sad.
I owned a 1990, red Probe GT, with the five speed manual transmission. It was a sweet car. Turned a lot of heads in Newark New Jersey. LOL. I stumbled upon your TH-cam channel a few weeks ago. I worship you. Keep up the great reviews that I also find extremely entertaining.
Class of 89! Happy 50th Bill!
My roommate in college had one of these. "It's probe time!" was the battle cry whenever we went for a drive. I remember it having lots of problems, and just as he was selling it there developed a ghastly noise when he turned left. The poor sap that bought it only turned right during his test drive. Funny the things one remembers... Thanks for the commentary, Bill! I learned way more about Fords probing than I thought there was to know.
The Probe was a very good sports coupe, what I liked is it was well made and had decent performance at the time. The name was unfortunate, could easily called it a Ford GT-X.
Ford Tempos interior were set up much the same except for the tilting gauge cluster which is very cool…
My proctologist drives a brown Probe. I think it's a '93.
@@OverlandOrange OMG....
A brown probe. Ok
I worked at Ford dealership 88 -90.great car.i finally got a mustang gt.39k miles.probe great.not a replacement.
The GT turbo's are extremely rare, you can never find them and if one does see one there always in bad shape
This was the "sister" to the Mazda MX-6. Built in Flat Rock Michigan. The main reason for the hood bumps was there was an option for 3 position electronically controlled struts. Standard on the GT model with turbo. The motor/actuators were mounted to the top of struts. So they needed the clearance for them on the Probe's hood.