Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    The new Sierra will be front wheel drive, so I guess you'd call it a
    completely new car...
    
    /. Ian .\

    The Ford 'Probe' is on sale in Germany, but for some strange reason
    hasn't shown its self over here yet. I have herd rumours that Mazda had
    something to do with this model ?

    During the summer, my brother bought a car from a dealer deep in the
    heart of the Hampshire countryside. Also on the dealers forecourt were
    an imported Ford Probe (white, LHD) and a MkII Mazda RX7. The dealer
    said he bought the Probe off a bloke who imported it for his father
    when they were first released in the USA, and that it was practically
    identical to the Mazda (under the bonnet etc. , I suppose). Not
    surprising really seeing that Ford own an x% stake of Mazda (where x is
    fairly big).
    Andy  

    I think the probe was based on a MAZDA MX-3. I never thought much of
    the MX-3 either.
    
    Mark.

I thought it said that the Probe MAY come to the UK as the Capri.
Personally, I thought it looked pretty gross - very "American" looking!


Ian

    The Ford probe and mazda 626 are made in the same assembly plant in the
    US.  They are a joint project between mazda and ford.  For example,the
    Ford Escort GT and Mercury Tracer LTS both have the Mazda 1.8DOHC
    engine, as did the mazda protoge GT.  the FOrd Prode comes with a Ford
    engine or 2 different mazda engines.  Outside and inside design is Ford
    and most of the engine/transmission/suspension is Mazda.  so depending
    on what options you choose decides the proper parts bin it comes uot
    of.  To show some other partnerships.  Ford markets the Festiva which
    is just a rebadged Mazda 121,  and Mazda markets a Navajo which is a
    rebadged Ford Explorer.  And Mercury in the US sells a Capri which is
    made in Australia, and is a 2+2 convertible based on the older Mazda
    323.

    I wouldn't be seen dead driving around in a car called
    a 'Probe'. 
    Although having seen one, it's probably a good name 
    for it.
    
    Al.

    Saw a transporter the other day loaded up with 'Probes' (that name is
    gonna take some getting used to). It certainly is a smart looking
    motor.
    
    Apparently they are not available until March.
    
    Royston

    The Probe is launched in th uk in March (or so I understand).
    
    Any one know of th edate or if Ford dealers have brochures for it yet ?
    
    Royston

It's gonna be on Top Gear on Thursday night. 

With all this talk of the Probe, I can't help feeling that they should
have spent a bit more time considering its name.  I only mention this
after a friend of mine picked up a recent copy of Car Week and immediately
p'd herself laughing at it.  I won't repeat the comment that she
made, but it was a bit, er, rude...

Chris

    It's launched on March 14th I believe. I saw a Probe in the States
    recently, looks good, it'll be interesting to see how it compares to
    the Calibra.
    
    Richard

    
    A couple of the rags have already done Probe-Calibra back to back
    tests. Probe won heavily each time.
    
    Colin

Any comments on last night's review? I thought the Probe looks
crap - too "American" in styling. And the Calibra looks a lot
better that the Honda. It's a shame they tested the top of 
the range model rather than the one that will sell, and there
are plenty of other cars that compete directly, BMW 3 series,
Rover 200, MX6, Celica, etc...


	Ian

I saw this. I don't understand why they knock the Calibra. When TG tested the 
turbo Calibra vs the Turbo Cosworth Escort the Ford won even though the Ford 
was less controlled in the "tests".
The Probe looked very American, and the glass curves at the back looked 
pretty cheap - I suppose I'll wait till I see one. It wasn't quick. But TG 
said it was the real thing. Internally it looked much like all the others.

Me - I just will never buy a Ford - pure prejudice.

... well i spent Sunday at a Ford Probe launch event at Losely (sp?)
Park near Guildford.

After dripping ice cream over "static models", we road-tested both
the 16v and 24v cars.

Now i will be very honest! I wasn't really looking forward to driving
a sixteen and a half grand Ford car, especially one with a 115bhp (or
"XR3i" output) engine - i was only after the free mints and coffee.

The first car i drove was the 24v, but sadly this was with a "minder"
sitting in the passenger seat, so i couldn't be too silly! It was only
a ten minute "round the block", but it was enough to appreciate a very
fine (Mazda) engine. It is so quiet that you can hardly hear it, very
smooth with plenty of torque for an effortless drive.

I drove the 16v second, so i was almost certain that i would be
dissappointed, but this was not so. This time it was a 45 minute
drive "on your own", so i was in a much better position to determine
how the car really handles. Or rather i _should_ have been in a better
position, but the local Police had also  heard about the event, so
the test route was amply patrolled by jam sandwiches, bikes and even
radars. Also, it would be rather hard to remain inconspicuous when you
were in a convoy of 70-odd other identical motors!

Anyway, the 16v was also very impressive. It felt a much more mature
engine than i was expecting, and seemed to have more bhp than the
specifications suggest.

Both cars handled well, (although my minder told me off when i drove
enthusiastically round a rotary, er, roundabout). Reading the brochure,
it does not actually say whether the car is front or rear-wheel drive,
and on the road it is also quite hard to tell - it is VERY neutral
(i.e. safe) when thrown into bends, and it is only the torque-steer
that gives away the driven wheels. Grip is excellent, with the 16v
having 205 tyres all round, and the 24v with 225s.

The test cars were fitted with every accessory, including cruise-control,
RDS radio, air-con, electric sunroof etc. I would only recommend the
cruise-control with the 24v, as the 16v seemed a little lumpy when
trying to maintain speed.

Build quality is good (the UK models are still are made in the US),
and the design of the interior is of a standard equal to (or maybe
even better) than the MR2.

Rear legroom isn't!

The car comes with an immobiliser as standard, and this is controlled
by a button on the ignition key which talks to the car via an induction
loop.

How they fit the 24v engine into the front nobody knows. There isn't
even enough room to get a feeler gauge in there.

So, whats good about the cars?

Nice shape, great interior, superbe 24v engine, lots of goodies as
standard, good driving position, lots of visibility, safe handling,
effortless to drive.

... and whats not so good?

No rear legroom, 16v has very tacky allow wheels, no handle on the
tailgate, so you are forced to hold the bodywork when opening and
closing the boot, not a lot of headroom, sunroof opens "outwards"
to lie on the rear of the roof, rather pricey.



Nevertheless, the 24v is certainly worth having!

mb