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  Oct. 12, 2011 8:10 p.m. BoostedBrandon Reader

  I have this innate ability to be driving by a used car lot, glimpse over, catch a taillight, and realize what a car is, go back and look at it. It amazes (read: annoys) my wife.

  A local used car place has a first gen Probe GT on their back lot. All I know is it's a first gen, it's a gunmetal grey, it's a five-speed, and the odo reads just over 200K. I have not listened to it run, know what year it is, nor do I know the real deal breaker: the price.

  Granted, this is a used car lot, they're going to try to make a buck off of it. I'm gonna say it's a trade in, and I'm gonna say they didn't give much for it. The car overall looks pretty straight. Interior is clean, and the clearcoat is kinda faded and scratched. With the way they typically price these things, I wouldn't be suprised to see $2500 on it. If I had cash in hand I'd go out there and throw a ridiculous offer at them, but all I have in me pockets is lint.

  What do I need to look for short of the standard stuff to look at on a used car? Any specific problem areas, stuff to really be aware of?

  Two years ago I wouldn't have thought twice about a probe. Damn you, ben.

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  Oct. 12, 2011 8:14 p.m. mndsm SuperDork

  Ben is an shiny happy person. I do have an 88 mx6 GT as a result of him. IDK if i'd give the man anywhere near 2500 for that car, got mine with 209k on the clock and a rebuilt trans for 400$. I'd offer him closer to 1500 and join the mx6 mafia at 2012.

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  Oct. 12, 2011 8:45 p.m. JamesMcD Reader

  Are GCs eligible for MX6 mafia membership? I'm a long-time GD MX-6 owner (16-17 years) but my MX6 is farther away from being back on the road than one of my two GC ('83-'87 626) turbos.

  Probes aren't as cool as MX6s and the interiors aren't as high of quality. If it runs and drives properly, looks to have been maintained, and only needs paint to be "nice", at that mileage, I would say it's a $1200-$1500 car. But F2T cars are "special" enough to me that I would not laugh at a person who paid considerably more...

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  Oct. 12, 2011 8:52 p.m. mndsm SuperDork

  I know about your GC, and I know what's destined to go in it, I'd call it legit. You bought the one with the f2t swap kit, right?

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  Oct. 12, 2011 9:04 p.m. JamesMcD Reader

  Yes, I bought the white GC coupe that included an F2T...Not exactly a kit, just an engine and transmission. It's not a drop-in proposition.

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  Oct. 13, 2011 7:42 a.m. MadScientistMatt SuperDork

  I bought one that wasn't quite running right (In retrospect, I think it had a plugged injector) for $500 with similar miles and the exact same color and entered it in the $2004 Challenge, and yes, I got it at a dealership. They may have realized it's not easy to unload a 20 year old, 200K mile turbo car. Paint was in pretty bad shape, taillights were cracked, and I suspect they grabbed it at an auction for practically nothing. Quite a fun car - I can't think of any particular weak points, but any sign of overheating or sludgy oil would be a definite red flag.

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  Oct. 13, 2011 9:06 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

  Based on mileage alone, i wouldn't pay more than $1500 for it, unless it purred like a kitten, didn't leak a drop, and when you opened the hood you were blinded by the shiny-ness and cleanliness.

  However... Probes have some advantages, and some disadvantages over MX6s.

  Advantages:
  1) They have real gauges, and some of them are useful.
  2) I believe the sway bars are bigger
  3) They're hatchbacks
  4) Pop up headlights FTW

  Disadvantages:
  1) They're hatchbacks
  2) They're heavier
  3) Interior quality is not as good.
  4) less space for bigass FMIC setup
  5) Their name.

  There's really... not anything in particular to look at on these things. They're pretty bulletproof. Obviously look for rust, check fluids. If it has chocolate milk oil, walk away, unless you've got a hookup on a new head. Many times when they overheat and blow head gaskets, the head cracks or at least warps to the point you have to get it machined. You can really only machine once.

  Check the turbo if you can. A crappy idle isn't something to worry about, usually a boost/vacuum leak.

  The motor in that thing is one of Mazda's best-kept secrets. It's ridiculously strong, ridiculously long-lived, and for very little money, can be ridiculously fast.

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  Oct. 13, 2011 3:22 p.m. BoostedBrandon Reader

  Well I test drove it on lunch a few minutes ago... verdict:

  Pass?

  I'm not terribly put off by it, it has issues and quirks you would expect a 22 (1989) year old car to have. The rotors are warped, one or both axles click in turns, and it leaks oil. Some around the valve cover, but when glancing under it I noticed a drip at the passenger side of the oil pan, at the rate of about 2 drips per minute. Oil was dirty, but looked full and didn't send off any red flags. Air blows coldish, power windows work, all gauges work. I ran it about 25 minutes, got it up to highway speed (in a hurry). Slight drift to the right, never ran hot, oil pressure was good, seemed like a solid car.

  A $500 dollar car.

  Not a $1957 dollar car.

  If I had cash in hand, I'd throw them an offer. It is a trade in, and I doubt they have even 500 in it. Problem is, no cash in hand.

  What say yea?

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  Oct. 13, 2011 3:54 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

  Wait, so they're asking $500 for it? Or they're asking $1957 for it?

  If you don't have cash in hand, though, that pretty much ends this episode, doesn't it? From what you describe, either way, i'd pay $1200-$1500 for it. Parts are cheap.

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  Oct. 13, 2011 4:11 p.m. mndsm SuperDork

  Go get cash and lowball the hell out of em. Cars like that they're often willing to get rid of so they don't have to deal with a blight on their lots. Probe GT's are a fairly specialized car, not a lot of folks sniffin' around those these days.

  Ben- I gather they're asking 1957$ for it, and it's worth about 500$ to BoostedBrandon.

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  Oct. 13, 2011 6:15 p.m. driver109x HalfDork

  What halftrack said... but knowing me, if I really wanted it and from how you decribe the car I'd pay $1957 and giggle like a little girl enjoying the drive home.

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  Dec. 8, 2011 11:30 p.m. BoostedBrandon HalfDork

  Reviving old threads yadda yadda....

  Long story short, they still have this heap. In shopping for my 16 yo BIL's first car, I showed him this. So..... we might be going for a test drive this weekend. I'll provide updates.

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  Dec. 9, 2011 8:47 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

  If he gets it, he has to join here.

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  Dec. 9, 2011 9:00 a.m. mndsm SuperDork

  Yes, yes he does.

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  Dec. 9, 2011 9:43 a.m. belteshazzar SuperDork

  what a lucky bastard

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