Probe

[jonnyboyws6]

Found the forum, it's called ukpoc.co.uk

[omega3000]

I had a 24v, in lazer tint red with grey leather. I liked it. Also for a car which apparently never sold well there are still loads on the road round my way! Early ones had problems with the immobiliser knackereing the distributor or something, the later chipped key type immobiliser was much better. Some tend to burn oil due to piston ring problems. Rear calipers seize. Other than that I don't think they are any more troublesome than any other car of that age. There used to be a forum called "poc" which has disappeared now, but I would guess it has been replaced by another because it was always really busy on there.

I found the site  Useful information on there too , piston ring problems i would say is the one to look out for then and the tell tail signs out the ex pipe . Regular oil changes was recommended and pretty much all basic maintenance but thats the same with any car .
Heard the 2.0 is gutless and sunroofs can rot or rust bad 

[jonnyboyws6]

Everyone moans about the 16v Probe being under powered for the way the car looks, but maybe this isn't fair when you consider Calibras were available as a 2 litre 8v, and Celicas as a 1.8. Personally I'd still want a V6 though...

[omega3000]

Everyone moans about the 16v Probe being under powered for the way the car looks, but maybe this isn't fair when you consider Calibras were available as a 2 litre 8v, and Celicas as a 1.8. Personally I'd still want a V6 though...

Indeed  I was shocked to see how many were still on the road looking at the register , best to go for the last ones they made then to avoid electrical issues .

[05omegav6]

I had a 24v, in lazer tint red with grey leather. I liked it. Also for a car which apparently never sold well there are still loads on the road round my way! Early ones had problems with the immobiliser knackereing the distributor or something, the later chipped key type immobiliser was much better. Some tend to burn oil due to piston ring problems. Rear calipers seize. Other than that I don't think they are any more troublesome than any other car of that age. There used to be a forum called "poc" which has disappeared now, but I would guess it has been replaced by another because it was always really busy on there.

A Mazda trait.

Nothing to do with the really crap self adjusting handbrake cam the seizes as soon as you look at it (esp on autos) that Ford started using in '85  then Summat to do with not having to pay someone to set up the hand brake shoes on the factory floor. Lazy stabbers still at it now

US ones not that different... probably more common parts than the Omega/Catera badge job

Different, but a brave choice me thinks If you really need to get a Ford of that era, buy a Granada Cosworth and stick a manual box in it Like a V6 Omega only lighter...

[omega3000]

I had a 24v, in lazer tint red with grey leather. I liked it. Also for a car which apparently never sold well there are still loads on the road round my way! Early ones had problems with the immobiliser knackereing the distributor or something, the later chipped key type immobiliser was much better. Some tend to burn oil due to piston ring problems. Rear calipers seize. Other than that I don't think they are any more troublesome than any other car of that age. There used to be a forum called "poc" which has disappeared now, but I would guess it has been replaced by another because it was always really busy on there.

A Mazda trait.

Nothing to do with the really crap self adjusting handbrake cam the seizes as soon as you look at it (esp on autos) that Ford started using in '85  then Summat to do with not having to pay someone to set up the hand brake shoes on the factory floor. Lazy stabbers still at it now

US ones not that different... probably more common parts than the Omega/Catera badge job

Different, but a brave choice me thinks If you really need to get a Ford of that era, buy a Granada Cosworth and stick a manual box in it Like a V6 Omega only lighter...

Had three 2.9 litre granadas ...compared to the omega i would say they have very soggy suspension , either that or all mine were feked  Just browsing for cars at the minute and finding out the initial bad points to look out for 

[05omegav6]

Had 4 Mk2s, best handling was a factory 2.8i Ghia X manual with the Sports pack , and 3 Mk3 Scorpios. An early 2.9 auto saloon which was fun but crap. A late 2.0 auto hatch which was ok but underpowered and a '92 Cosworth saloon, which handled beautifully. The only, and I mean only thing wrong with it was that it was an auto. If I could justify it I'd seriously consider getting another...

[Kevin Wood]

Nothing to do with the really crap self adjusting handbrake cam the seizes as soon as you look at it (esp on autos) that Ford started using in '85  then Summat to do with not having to pay someone to set up the hand brake shoes on the factory floor. Lazy stabbers still at it now

Don't know - do they have the Ford brakes or Mazda?

I have the much slated Ford rear calipers on my Westfield and find them perfectly OK, although they probably have an easy life and a higher maintenance to mileage ratio than on a jellymould.

The Mazda rear calipers on the MX5 are a pain in the @rse too, so whichever parts bin they came from it don't look good. 

[05omegav6]

I'll bet good money that your handbrake gets alot more use in a week than an auto Granada one does in the six years it takes the wheelarches to rot away

Common design nowadays, must purely be a build cost thing, the first time the handbrake is engaged they're adjusted. Must save a fair bit of time in the factory

[jonnyboyws6]

The US spec gen 1 probe is a totally different car, US gen 2 is the equivalent to the UK car

[05omegav6]

Doesn't the gen 1 one have the Autralian Ford Escort as its base? Thinking '85/'86 ish

[omega3000]

Whats that about the GT model ? Is that what they call the V6 or is GT the american spec 

[jonnyboyws6]

I think GT and SE were US spec only, probably pretty similar to our version just with a different name. They were both (UK and US) built in the same factory anyway. We only got 16v or 24v as the model name.

The Gen 1 was mazda based, a 626 in a posh frock! I know a bit about them because my mate has one and I work on it for him. They are very rare over here and really hard to get parts for; factors either can't be bothered to even try, or they just insist it must be the same as a UK car which is how I now know virtually nothing is interchangeable...

I think the Australian Escort based thingy may have been called a Capri? Am sure I read something about it once now you mention it. Definitely not the same as the US gen 1 Probe though, or we may both be thinking about completely different cars

[05omegav6]

Whats that about the GT model ? Is that what they call the V6 or is GT the american spec 

I did my work experience at Grays of Guildford, a large Ford dealer at the time, in early '94 just after it had been launched. IIRC, we had two models: the 16v 145ish bhp with 3 spoke wheels and cloth, and the 24v 170bhp with 5spoke wheels(much cooler) and leather. Most were red or pearlescent blue/purple. The GT was the north american range topper, 200ish bhp, five spoke 16" wheels and leather. Yanks had different rear lights and a better choice of colours.

When I worked at TNT, I met a Canadian chap who had imported his GT thinking it would be cheaper than buying one when he moved here he spent a fortune importing it and a further fortune buying bits and bobs to make it MoTable

[omega3000]

I think GT and SE were US spec only, probably pretty similar to our version just with a different name. They were both (UK and US) built in the same factory anyway. We only got 16v or 24v as the model name.

thanks for that info

24v 170bhp

2 door coupe with that power ratio would be good enough