Awful American cars

[CreepingJesus]

^ Surprised, I thought they were part of the GM establishment!

 

On the thought of cheap Yank iron, I wonder how many of the seemingly endless supply of motors there are left up in Angus, from the USAF Edzell days? It was as if the USAF guys brought them over, and couldn't be bothered to take them back. Round about Montrose, Brechin etc., there were tons of them, of all varieties.

[AnthonyG]

There's plenty of modern American stuff around Cambridgeshire, due to the USAF/RAF bases at Lakenheath and Mildenhall. I didn't actually know there was still any USAF presence in the UK - thought they had all gone in the 1990s!

 

Interestly (or not) amongst the Chevy pick ups, Ford Rangers, Escapes and Fusions (a Mondeo class car, not the OAP Fiesta special) there are a couple of US market Japanese models such as the Accord.

 

I have also seen a modern Dodge Charger (a 4dr saloon ) badged as an R/T. It didn't make a interesting sound, so must have been some sort of V6.

[r.welfare]

RAF Croughton, on the A43 between Banbury and Brackley, is still an active USAF satellite base/listening post. I often see US motors running up and down the A43 between the M40 and M1, but they have funny US-style plates.

 

Back in the 80s, the US cars used by the USAF folks based at Greenham Common were all on UK plates. Oddly (or maybe not so oddly), most had US-spec European or Japanese cars - Celica RA40s, VW Rabbits and even a US-spec Fiesta. The Yanks left in 1993 and there's nothing left locally now.

 

I've seen late 90's examples of a Chevrolet Malibu (looks quite stylish by US standards!) and a Dodge Stratus in the Basingstoke area, as well as mid-90s Accord saloons (having the same front end as the coupe and estate that were sold here in RHD at the time, sourced from the Marysville factory) - wonder what the story is with them, as they're not the usual US import fare (Mustang, Hummer, Lincoln Deathtrap limo etc).

[ChinaTom]

A11 / A14 (Suffolk) / A1101 are great places to spot Pacers, Blazers and the like. The white Corvette in my village was bought from a chap from the Mildenhall base.

[Vin]

Due to its proximity to Menwith Hill, Harrogate is also a good place to spot US spec motors.

[Tayne]

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[Tayne]

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[Roc 24v]

The original Ford Probe looks pretty dismal, even compared to its sucessor

 

Nowt wrong with Probes, we even had a US Spec Mk 1 at our Probefest last week. There are less than 10 in the country as far as we know.

 

 

We had 95 Probes on site.

 

Probes are often slagged off, but actually are very underated, especially in 2.5 V6 form, the car is 100% Mazda running gear, not a single Ford component in them.

 

Perfect shite really.

[Pete-M]

Probes are often slagged off, but actually are very underated, especially in 2.5 V6 form, the car is 100% Mazda running gear, not a single Ford component in them.

 

Perfect shite really.

I'd have been happier if they were 100% Ford, and RWD.

[Lukas]

...the car is 100% Mazda running gear, not a single Ford component in them...

I bet you are glad for this fact!

[Roc 24v]

 

Probes are often slagged off, but actually are very underated, especially in 2.5 V6 form, the car is 100% Mazda running gear, not a single Ford component in them.

 

Perfect shite really.

I'd have been happier if they were 100% Ford, and RWD.

That's as maybe, but they were not conceived as a Capri replacement, that was just Ford UK trying it's luck and failing.

 

They were designed for the US market as a cheap sporty car, to sit below the Mustang in the market, Capri's never came into it, nor should it have.

 

Coupled with the fact it was £22000 in 1994 for a top spec, it was far too expensive here, especially as in the states it sold for the equivalent of £12000 at the time.

 

As Founder of UKPOC which now as 700 paid members and a massive social scene, I am glad of the fact it's considered shite and is FWD, as it means it's cheap to buy as nobody else wants them (yet) and pretty robust due to the Mazda oily bits.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Probes were good cars, nothing wrong with them. They drove a lot better than the Calibra (which wasn't hard admittedly) and apart from some iffy interior plastics they seemed like a well sorted car. the 2.0 was a decent everyday driver and the V6 was a nice thing. When I worked at a Ford dealer in the 90's (Skippers Darlington, recently demolished) there was a red demo V6 with black leather. Just a very nice all round car that looked great. It didn't go or handle as well as a 325i Coupe or a Corrado VR6 but it was, as you say, way too expensive. Priced at £16-17'000 it would have sold well. Also the name killed it. If they'd called it a Cougar or even a Capri it would have done well.

[Pete-M]

I have no particular ill-feeling toward the Probe, I've driven a couple of 24v ones and they gripped and handled quite well. I didn't like the cheap interior*, but it isn't much worse than a lot of the other stuff out there at the time.

 

I've seen a lot of dead 24v ones. More dead ones than alive. Quite probably through neglect, but there was a phase 8-10 years ago when every dodgy car lot seemed to have at least one dead Probe.

 

There's also the name. What were they thinking? Ok, I'm glad they didn't call it the Capri, as Capris should never be FWD or have Jap running gear, but Probe? C'mon, seriously?

[Roc 24v]

I have no particular ill-feeling toward the Probe, I've driven a couple of 24v ones and they gripped and handled quite well. I didn't like the cheap interior*, but it isn't much worse than a lot of the other stuff out there at the time.

 

I've seen a lot of dead 24v ones. More dead ones than alive. Quite probably through neglect, but there was a phase 8-10 years ago when every dodgy car lot seemed to have at least one dead Probe.

 

There's also the name. What were they thinking? Ok, I'm glad they didn't call it the Capri, as Capris should never be FWD or have Jap running gear, but Probe? C'mon, seriously?

Probe was the name of their long running concept series, Probe III was the Sierra concept.

 

Probe, as in space probe, not something that goes up your arse, was the plan.

 

V6 engines need regular oil changes and not run to minimum on the dipstick, people who couldn't afford to run them scrimped on service and killed them, with regular servicing the engine is good for 200000+ usually.

 

A Jap car design, built at Flat Rock, Michigan, and then imported here, with most Ford dealers not being trained on the mechanicals, then sold for a premium for no good reason other than to cash in, true shite!

[Negative Creep]

How about this 1961 Valiant?

 

 

 

The rear reminds me of

 

[Volksy]

V6 engines need regular oil changes and not run to minimum on the dipstick, people who couldn't afford to run them scrimped on service and killed them, with regular servicing the engine is good for 200000+ usually.

Until the distributor craps out at £500+ a shot..

 

Out local Ford dealer had 6 in stock and said they go all the time..

[Roc 24v]

V6 engines need regular oil changes and not run to minimum on the dipstick, people who couldn't afford to run them scrimped on service and killed them, with regular servicing the engine is good for 200000+ usually.

Until the distributor craps out at £500+ a shot..

 

Out local Ford dealer had 6 in stock and said they go all the time..

Fixed from 96 onwards, it was changed to a different design, they are now £189 brand new (I run the Probestore spare store too, see obsessed), and an internal coil is only £60 to fix it yourself.

 

Distributor failure on early models should have been a recall really.

 

Distributors are Mitsubishi components, and the only real weak point of the entire car.

 

Like Stag engine issues and the like, the dissy problem, isn't a problem any more.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I think the Probe is a good looking car. I cant help thinking of Max Farnham off brookside when I see one though, and Gareth Cheesman of course. Oh and Steven Seagal!

 

 

from here:

 

http://www.barryboys.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16851

[Roc 24v]

I know who owned that black Probe, it's long since scrapped, that BB's thread is 5 years old, I think all the cars shown on it have been scrapped come to think of it, the one with the roof spoiler certainly has.

 

Most of the chav types have moved on and the cars are passing into the hands of enthusiasts now, rather than 'barry' boys.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Now you mention it I can't think of the last time I saw one on the road. They must be getting well rare now.

[Roc 24v]

Now you mention it I can't think of the last time I saw one on the road. They must be getting well rare now.

We had 95 at the Probefest, but in the 550 mile round trip I did there and back, I didn't see another one.

 

We got the info from the DVLA data guys that shows numbers down from 13000 in 2004 to around 4000 left now. A quarter of remaining cars at that time were scrapped in 2008 according to the stats.

[Leyland Australia]

Probes are often slagged off, but actually are very underated, especially in 2.5 V6 form, the car is 100% Mazda running gear, not a single Ford component in them.

Perfect shite really.

 

Yes, but what kind of sick unit drives a Probe ?

[Roc 24v]

 

Yes, but what kind of sick unit drives a Probe ?

er me.

[gtd2000]

I think the Probe is a good looking car. I cant help thinking of Max Farnham off brookside when I see one though, and Gareth Cheesman of course. Oh and Steven Seagal!

 

 

from here:

 

http://www.barryboys.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16851

Years ago, I almost bumped into Steven Seagal in Hong Kong while I was walking up the steps at Times Square.

 

He's quite "lardy" chap when you see him in the flesh - looked very well "trussed up" and corsetted - must have been sweating his nuts off in the heat and humidty

 

I just nodded to him and he nodded back and that's how I met Steven "Chubby" Seagal.

[gtd2000]

We had 95 at the Probefest....

Was that in Brighton by any chance.....

 

You really couldn't make that up could you?

[Roc 24v]

We had 95 at the Probefest....

Was that in Brighton by any chance.....

 

You really couldn't make that up could you?

erm nearly I guess, Retford, doesn't have quite the scene though

[Heep]

[CIH]

I'd rock a Probe as a daily, more so a yank mk1 for extra shite points.

[Gompo]

 

 

Was that in Brighton by any chance.....

 

You really couldn't make that up could you?

erm nearly I guess, Retford, doesn't have quite the scene though

WTF? Why in Retford, and where?

[Roc 24v]

 

 

Was that in Brighton by any chance.....

 

You really couldn't make that up could you?

erm nearly I guess, Retford, doesn't have quite the scene though

WTF? Why in Retford, and where?

Central, people traveling from Devon and Scotland, and all over, Retford is central enough for that.

 

Trentfield Farm.