Ford Probe
The Ford Probe is a front wheel drive coupe car from back in the day. Despite the name, there’s nothing surgical or alien about it. Rather, it’s just a solid all rounder that’s quite sporty and decent to drive. Offering quite astonishing value for money these days, the main reason to consider one is the price, or lack of it, but actually what you get is a good car that offers quite a lot to the savvy buyer.
Introduced in 1989 to replace the Capri, the Probe was in production for 8 years in total. Exactly how you’d picture a car from this time, it was outwardly athletic in appearance, the popup headlights akin to big name performance brands. Unfortunately the Ford had a pretty cold reception, not least because of its name, but also because it was far too expensive at the time. Despite this, the facts are that top spec versions have a V6 engine and rather impressive performance figures; all models and generations drive admirably too. What’s not to like about that?
Yes it might look rather ‘90s’ in appearance, but it’s certainly not an ugly car by any means. Some interesting shapes and lines hold your attention, and while it might not be an attention craving auto, it’ll get on with the job without causing a fuss. There’s nothing wrong with the interior too, which is nicely designed, has a good built quality and a lot of kit. While it’s a large car, there’s not a huge amount of room inside, and the rear seats are only suitable for children. Probably described best as a 2+2, clearly the target audience isn’t families.
Jump in behind the wheel and actually the Probe behaves very well on the road. The front wheel drive setup gives it some agility, and this is combined with sensitive steering so you really can attack some apexes with confidence. By far the 2.5 litre V6 is the best engine to go for, and could a reasonable 0-60mph time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 140 mph in its prime. You won’t win and drag races, but there’s enough under the bonnet to keep things lively.
These days you really can find some incredibly cheap second hand Ford Probe cars around, and Motors.co.uk is one of the best places to look. With literally thousands of high quality used cars for sale listed, locating some monumentally good deals is very easy indeed. Some of the lowest prices around mean you’ll get a great amount of car for your cash, and the Probe in particular is tremendously good value.
So really if you want a fun 2 door coupe that has a lot to offer for very little, the Ford Probe is an excellent option to consider. While it’s not particularly fast, it makes up for it with responsive handling and a great driving experience on the whole. Interesting designs and a punchy V6 engine give it some stature, and actually it’ll do its best to make you proud.