I'm not that active on here anymore but thought i'd share this with you....
I've had my FSI for something like 3 or 4 years now () but recently it has developed a clutch or gearbox issue....
I didn't have the motivation to fix this or pay for this myself so i looked for another route; which led to my following purchase....

The marmite Ford Probe 2.5 v6. Strange choice you say?
Pros:

Firstly, it's cheap. I got this for £750 with full MOT and 6 month Tax... It has done 120k mileage, but everything works still and it drives sweet and smooth. 2.5 V6 Engine is pretty pokey, considerabley faster than my Fiesta, and achieves a reasonable 0-60 of 8.5s - My brother thinks it's quicker than his Almera Gti (when he had it) which has a 0-60 of 7.9, so i'd be more interested in a 0-100 figure if there is one.
Also, this is a mix-breed car. Jap Chassis, Jap Engine, Ford Styling (have i jumped ship here?) In my experience Jap engineering is a good thing! The chassis and engine are both very modern for the time they were produced; I think they were used by Mazda into the 2000's...
The engine revs to 8.5k without running out of steam. It's what i imagine a Type R to feel like but with a V6 soundtrack.
Another plus point is equipment levels: Cruise Control, Elec Windows, Elec Mirrors, Elec Seats, Elec Sunroof, A/C, Twin Airbags, so many other little gizmo's to play with - it's easy to forget this was a premium car back in the 90's and it was made in an era that cars weren't built on such a shoestring budget - probably explains why it's still going at 120k! Decent Build quality.
Fuel isn't too bad; around 28mpg can be averaged on my route to work... the Fsi got around 30-32mpg with the cams in so it's not completely emptying my wallet.
Tax costs the same as the fiesta despite the engine nearly being 1ltr bigger (how does Mr Brown work that one out?)
So far i'm very happy with it. It's been bought to last a year, maybe a little longer...only issues i've had so far are HT leads were knackered....balancing & tracking needs doing and thats about it.

Plans:

- I need the standard spoiler. the back end looks abit yank to me!
- Maintain and enjoy!

P.s Fiesta is still alive.






















Any comment's appreciated....
Happy New Year All!


Andy

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L333SYA - Ford Cougar 2.5 V6
RR - TBC

looks tidy, when you look at the facts what is not to like about the probe? b6 and bmw take off for less that 1k, your on to a winner. is there any owners clubs for them?

I didn't expect that!

I like it. For a run around car it's the business. Lot of car for the money. I've heard the build quality is quite sketchy with these, but regardless if it's only for a year or so I wouldn't imagine too many problems. Of course the JDM versions were 200bhp-ish, and it's quite cheap to get it there you know

V6 sound FTW though. I hope you enjoy it!

Criticisms? (the none-Ford crew have gotta have them mate!) It should of been made RWD! Oh and IMO change the steering wheel to an aftermarket one. It has a lot of character, but it's not my cup of tea

There's an owners club for them, as one of the rat-look.com members is an admin/moderator of the Probe forum I believe.

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Rest in peace Ben "Jam" Elvin. Gone but never forgotten.

the owners club i'm not too sure on; i have lingered there for some time in the background... they are very clued up and technical and willing to come and help you out to fix something etc which is good. Only problem i think i'm probably 20yrs younger then most of them......

i've bought it for the commute, and as both of you have said it's alot of car for the money. I like nik-naks. Yes the Japs were fortunately enough to have a 200bhp engine (KLDE or KLZE, i get them confused). Quite a few options for tuning, but not sure i'll go down that route again for a daily car....

I sort of wish it was RWD, and initally when looking i thought they were. Typical 'sarah the carer' at ford thought too many people would end up in ditchs to made it FWD. However; given the weather i'm thankful for the FWD...when the weather changes i'll probably change my mind

Steering wheel is like a bus driver's...wouldn't change it though as i don't want to sacrifice the cruise control......

thanks for the comments. It's marmite, took me agess to get the missus to like it
Ry, you never know it might grow on you!

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L333SYA - Ford Cougar 2.5 V6
RR - TBC

looks good buddy

yuo still got the fez then?

Should have bought a....

Who am I kidding, looks great.

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i still have the fiesta but it's laid up on my gf's mums drive...i'm hoping to get a garage for it soon to start rebuilding/long term project. I could be in a tricky situation if i don't get the garage; sell it or break it. I'm sure it won't come to that though

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L333SYA - Ford Cougar 2.5 V6
RR - TBC

at thread title

looks good

Looks very clean mate. Not too clued up on these cars but I've heard they are good

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your Si is very nice, I think you should give me your rear lights, its the right thing to dooooOOOOooo

thanks for all the positive comments.
shit myself today; i *thought* i checked the coolant level (iit was dark) but i really checked the expansion bottle level....empty. I was so pee'd off!! turns out this is meant to be empty when cold anyway.......

Loumiester- they are abit ropey now, i didn't laquer them enough when i tinted them. it's easy DIY job though, just need some red/black tints and thin masking tape and laquer.

the wheels, suspension and cam's on the fiesta maybe coming up for grabs soon unless i get a good offer for the whole car

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L333SYA - Ford Cougar 2.5 V6
RR - TBC

were in leicester are u dude may have a place you can put the car if u want

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Ford Fiesta 1.6si 5Door Mods Sony flip down cd player,Alpine Type s compent speakers Tweeters in colour coded mirror bases Kenwood 17cm speakers In Rear shelf,Splx 10inch Sub In boot 600watt Splx on passanger footwell in custom Bulid,Richbrook Ford Gear Knob,Green Cotton Air Panel Filter,Tom brown hat on rear shelf,clear side repeaters,ripspeed car mats,rear head rests rear small ford badage,ditgal volt gauge in front heater vent,Escort gti rims

Coming soon
mk4 wiper arm,laguna spilter,grey centres in the wheels 35mm drop,screen bulit into dash dvd player in glove box,stanless steel back box Mondeo dics and calipers,Rear disc conversation,Black roof lining with bulit in leds,Blue limation on dials,white dials & heater vents,graphti bonnet

i'm in desford but how it's going with the council i'd put it anywhere dry!
what have you in mind?
thanks

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L333SYA - Ford Cougar 2.5 V6
RR - TBC

do u know meryless?
Il have a word with my boss to see if u can put it in our new unit

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Ford Fiesta 1.6si 5Door Mods Sony flip down cd player,Alpine Type s compent speakers Tweeters in colour coded mirror bases Kenwood 17cm speakers In Rear shelf,Splx 10inch Sub In boot 600watt Splx on passanger footwell in custom Bulid,Richbrook Ford Gear Knob,Green Cotton Air Panel Filter,Tom brown hat on rear shelf,clear side repeaters,ripspeed car mats,rear head rests rear small ford badage,ditgal volt gauge in front heater vent,Escort gti rims

Coming soon
mk4 wiper arm,laguna spilter,grey centres in the wheels 35mm drop,screen bulit into dash dvd player in glove box,stanless steel back box Mondeo dics and calipers,Rear disc conversation,Black roof lining with bulit in leds,Blue limation on dials,white dials & heater vents,graphti bonnet

i may give it a try, so you put laquer on top of the tint?

Jay - see pm

Lou - yeah once tint has dried use a laquer ontop. Not sure if you need a specific laquer or not.

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L333SYA - Ford Cougar 2.5 V6
RR - TBC

cheers, may give it ago when the snow decides to disapear lol, thanks.