In article <...> heiser@acs2.bu.edu (Bill Heiser) writes: >In article <...> chuck@eos.ncsu.edu (Chuck Kesler) writes: >>>"Jeremy G. Mereness" <zonker+@CMU.EDU> says:  >>>>Can anyone offer any opinions of the Ford Probe... ala how they do in >>>>the long run, repair records, reliability, mileage, etc?  I've found mine ('93 Probe GT) to do quite well.    [window problem deleted, artical has been trimmed]  >I have had my Probe looked at twice by my local dealer (where I purchased >the car) ... the first time, they made this problem worse.  The second time, >after advising them of the service bulletin mentioned on my ford-probe mailing >list (they said they didn't know of the bulletin), they adjusted the window and >made it *much* better.  However it now makes a "scritch scritch" noise on rough >roads, and *still* squeals when I open/close the window in wet weather (anyone >elses's do this?)  I've not had any of the air or leakage problems that have been reported but do get the squeal that Bill describes.  I live in Seattle so the wet weather may be a factor.  >>>Ford only gives 1 key with the car.  C'mon Ford, spend an extra few pennies!  If I recall correctly I got two keys.  >>>horn buttons behind air bag in spokes and not in  >>>center (personal preference)  >"you've-got-to-position-the-fingers-perfectly-to-make-it-beep" buttons are >TERRIBLE.  This is true.  I'm wondering if this may be a safety concern.  IE, if people pound on the place where the airbag lives...  >>Speaking of the horn, I was surprised to find that the Probe comes with one >>of those nice 'merican sounding horns instead of the Japanese sounding kind. >>The previous Probes had Japanese horns.  No opinion.  >>>transmission (the 5 speed is a must)  >I have always been a 5-speed guy.  Almost every car I've ever owned has been >a 5-speed.  Because I got a good deal on this car with the 2500 miles, I >(knowingly) overlooked the fact that it has an automatic.  But it is a pretty >high-tech automatic.  It is a fully electronicaly controlled 4-speed with  The 5 speed is much more fun.  We opted for the automatic for a number of reasons but it's still fun, and in some ways more practical.  >>>No shake/rattle noises when going over bumps/potholes (still!)  Ditto.  >Shakes and rattles has been my main gripe.  I've gotten them to fix the >worst of them, but I fear that with the rather harsh ride, the car will >be a virtual potpouri of rattles when it gets older.  I too would suspect that this may be true.  >>>Tires: 225/55VR16 Goodyear Eagles (70% left; hoping for 30K :-)  >very very very well.  It sticks to the road like glue, even on a rough >surface.  Yes!  >>interior is very, very nice too.  Very pleasing to the eye, and ergonomically >>sound.  >Definitely.  Ford/Mazda did a very very nice job on this one.  The >car has a "much more expensive than it actually is" look and feel to it.  Ditto.  >>Yes, this car's stiff suspension isn't for everyone.  I personally like it, >>but if you find it a little harsh but otherwise like the car, I'd strongly >>suggest looking into the MX-6.  Agree. Check it out.  I don't mind it but would say that if it was much  stiffer it might be a problem.  (How about the '93 R1 RX-7 for suspension?!)   >Well I wouldn't encourage passenger-carrying in the Probe unless the >person in the front seat likes to sit with his knees to the dash.  As >mentioned in the Consumer Reports write-ups, "consider the back seat >as a parcel shelf".  No biggie to me though (if it had been, I'd not >have bought the car!  (but it's definitely not a family car)).  True.    >>>I've heard that the exhaust system has trouble, but mine works fine.  >>I haven't heard about this one.  I know that some of the very early Probes >>('89 and maybe '90) had problems with prematurely rusting mufflers (which  I've had this problem and read about it.  (or at least I assume the one I had was the one I read about :-).  In any case what happened was the weld between the muffler and the pipe feeding it (ok, so I'm not a mechanic) broke.  In my case the dealer welded it, ordered replacement parts and put them on when they got them.  I suspect this is some sort of 1) design flaw, or 2) production flaw.  In any case I have an earlier model and would expect it to be worked out on newer ones.  In any case it is a warrantee repair.  (or they get the keys back!)  >>From what I've heard, it sounds like Ford/Mazda had some QC problems with  >>the Probe (and probably MX-6) when they first went into production, but  >>I think these problems have mostly been corrected at this point.  That's >>almost always to be expected with a completely new car like this, though.  >I have to agree that they seem to have some QC problesm.  But I seriously >feel the car design is sound, and expect it to do very well.  I second this.  There seems to be some things that slipped through but the car seems very sound.  While not perfection (what is) you get an awful lot for your money.  >--  >Bill Heiser    heiser@acs.bu.edu, heiser@world.std.com >               Boston University, Boston MA     BTW, Bill has a Probe mailing list.  You might want to subscribe to it if  you are interested in more detail.  Try request-ford-probe@world.std.com (did I get that right?  never can remember if the request goes on the front or the back :-)