From: ellisk@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (Michael K. Ellis)
Subject: Re: "info on 93 Probe wanted"
Reply-To: ellisk@fido.Colorado.EDU
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 04:48:28 GMT

keesup@jacquard.ece.wisc.edu (Keesup Kim) writes:

>I am thinking of buying a base model 93 Ford Probe with A/C, auto and
>power windows (plus 351A package).  I will be moving to Sacramento CA
>next week and was wondering if it is in high demand in Sacramento, SF
>or San Jose area.  If it is, I can place an order from a dealer in
>Wisconsin and have the car delivered to any dealer in Sacramento.

I'm also considering buying a 1993 Ford Probe, although I'm considering
the GT model and you seem to be considering the base model.  The
question of how popular it is depends on where you go.  I've been to two
Ford dealers (wanted to doublecheck something from the first dealer),
and gotten conflicting answers.  The second dealer said he got five
Probe GT's in, and sold them about as quickly as he could get them, has
six more coming, and three are sold before they arrive.  He also said
that dealers in Denver are putting $1,500 markups above and beyond the
usual BS, and people were paying it, no questions asked.  However, the
Denver dealer I went to (Courtesy Ford [and for the most part they are,
too]) had plenty of Probes (~6 GT's, ~5 base models, and that was only
in and around the showroom, don't know about the back lot), I didn't see
any markup on them, and I can *order* one for $500 above dealer cost
(plus transportation, plus $190 'checkout cost') if I'm willing to wait for
delivery.  I might.  I'd guess that you can get a better deal on the
base model, since the GT is likely to be flying off the lots
(comparatively speaking).  Again, though, at Courtesy I'm fairly sure I
saw the same Probes in the showroom over a two week period.  Even test
drove the same GT twice over two weeks. 

Options you might want to consider are cruise control and ABS.  I'm
definitely going to get both on any car I buy, be it the Probe GT or the
Saturn SL2 (the other primary choice, and yes, I get to order that too).
Both are part of the 'premium' package on the GT, along with power
windows and locks, and a rear windshield wiper.  Funny thing is, going
by dealer cost (optained from Consumer Reports) the GT with the
'premium' package costs only $500 or so more than a 'regular' package
equipped Probe plus ABS and Cruise Control.  Something to think about.
(Now if I can only get a credit for not wanting a Ford radio/cassette
player.)  The other thing to consider is getting a manual transmission
rather than the automatic, particularly if you get a GT.  Even if you
don't know *how* to drive a stick, it's worth learning if you buy this
car.  It's also cheaper. :)

>Also, any hints on good price for the car and opinions from the OWNERs
>will be appreciated.

I'm not an owner (yet!) but I will say that after having looked at and
driven just about everything in the Probe's class, it comes out tops in
price/performance.  It's extremely satisfying to drive, moreso than even
the VW Corrado SLC, the Talon TSi AWD, or the Honda Prelude, and it's
cheaper than all of them (not including Talon rebates).  I am a little
wary of quality, particularly compared with the Saturn SL2, but the
Ford/Mazda partnership seems to be working out.  If you can spring for
the expense, I'd suggest getting the GT.  The V-6 under the hood is
worlds ahead of the 4-cyl in the base model.  The only other car I had
this much fun driving was a Nissan Sentra SE-R, and the Sentra didn't
make it into my final choices for other reasons.

--
Michael K. Ellis
ellisk@fido.colorado.edu
Newsgroups: rec.autos