Over the past few years, MotorWeek has blessed us with Retro Reviews of many different Blue Oval models, which are always fun to watch – if for no other reason than to take a little trip back in time, as it pertains to the automotive world. While we’ve certainly come a long way in many regards, most of us have a certain amount of nostalgia when it comes to these older vehicles, and that’s also true of the Ford Probe.
We’ve seen Retro Reviews of the Ford Probe on more than one occasion over the last couple of years, a list that includes the 1993 model, as well as the one that started it all – the 1989 Probe, in the more modest LX trim. Now, MotorWeek is back with another one, this time, covering the 1990 Ford Probe LX. This particular review is notable given the fact that this model added the 3.0L V6 Vulcan engine that was found in the Taurus and Sable at the time.
In this guise, that engine cranked out 140 horsepower, which was just five fewer than the GT’s turbocharged four-cylinder of the time, interestingly enough. It was a quiet and smooth powerplant, though also one that was less efficient than the turbo four with EPA fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. Despite this, MotorWeek claimed that the tradeoffs in fuel efficiency and cost were worth it, as this Probe accelerated from 0-60 in 8.6 seconds and down the quarter-mile in 16.5 clicks – in this case, with the five-speed manual transmission and not the automatic.
In this guise, the Ford Probe didn’t handle quite as well as the GT, as one would expect, exhibiting more body roll and front end plow. Steering was quick and there was plenty of feedback, however, and newly-available anti-lock brakes (or standard four-wheel discs) brought it to a halt quickly. Even with a bevy of options, this tester came in at around $1,500 cheaper than a GT, making it the “value leader” of the Ford Probe lineup at the time, according to our host.
Comments
I still miss my ‘96 Probe GT.
It was white with the Mazda sourced V6.
It handled great and was very comfortable for long distance travel.
Has anyone ever wondered why Ford never offered a brown Probe?
Ford has a habit of coming out with a decent car and then ignoring it or stopping building it. They’ve done it with the Lincoln LS and the Mark 8 in the past. Now they’ve done it with the Edge. They need new interior designers for the Explorer. Very disappointing. No more leather seats in ST model. The fusion was a great car and suddenly they stopped making it when there’s a huge market for that size car being taken now by other companies. I know a lot of people who had either the edge or the fusion that now own other companies cars.
Ford has a bad habit of ignoring quality updates on their cars or continuing to build a good car. They stop the edge the fusion years ago the Lincoln LS and Mark. 8. I know a lot of people who now buy other manufacturers cars because Ford stop making those