Welcome back to Shitbox Showdown, where we take two crappy cars and let you decide which one’s the least-worst. Before we get into replacements for an American icon, let’s take a look at how yesterday’s all-weather wagon showdown went.
It’s reasonably close, but the Civic takes it. What did I expect? Reliable curiosity beats run-of-the-mill any day of the week. Today, we’re talking about cars meant to replace the Fox body Mustang. There was a time when Ford considered killing its darling, but thankfully that didn’t happen. Still, we’ve lined up an eventual replacement against an intended replacement to settle a score.
2000 Ford Mustang – $2,595
Engine/drivetrain: 3.8-liter V6, five-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel-drive.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Odometer reading: 175,000 miles
Runs/drives? Absolutely.
While this isn’t exactly a direct replacement for the notorious fox body Mustang, it’s the facelift of the replacement. Welcome to the New Edge Mustang. In 1999, Ford took the fourth-generation Mustang and decided to toughen up its appearance by adding a ton of lines and straightening out many curves. The result is this, a more aggressive Mustang than the model launched in 1994.
Although these base-model Mustangs were much sprightlier than their four-cylinder predecessors, they still leave something to be desired in the acceleration department. While New Edge V6 Mustangs gained split-port induction for a 40-horsepower boost over older models, this 3.8-liter V6 made 190 horsepower – four fewer than a V6 Camry from the same vintage could pull out of three liters. Still, at least the five-speed manual means as much power as possible makes it to the rear tires.
On the outside, this Mustang has seen some shit. The paint sort-of exists, although the clearcoat is flaking due to life in the sun and there are massive black marks on the hood. Are those due to paint failure or due to hitting stuff? Who knows? Either way, this is one ugly ‘stang despite the bright red color.
There isn’t much great news on the inside either, as the driver’s seat is torn in multiple spots and the dashboard is cracked. Bargain-basement materials abound, and bolstering is virtually nonexistent. Still, at least the air-conditioning is said to blow cold, not that it matters a great deal in the winter.
1991 Ford Probe – $1,300
Engine/drivetrain: 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, four-speed automatic gearbox, front-wheel-drive.
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Odometer reading: 163,000 miles
Runs/drives? You bet.
Oh, but the fourth-generation Mustang almost didn’t happen altogether. Back in the early 1980s, things were pretty dire at Ford. The smash-hit Taurus was still a few years out, and shaken by the 1979 energy crisis, Ford considered replacing the Mustang with a front-wheel-drive coupe. While the Fox body would live to see another day, the front-wheel-drive replacement saw enough opposition to undergo a name change to Probe.
Under the hood of this 1991 Ford Probe sits Mazda’s 2.2-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine with 110 horsepower and 130 lb.-ft. You could also get a Probe with a turbocharged motor and a V6, but this isn’t any of the fast ones. Instead, it’s a neatly-styled cruiser, putting power down through a four-speed automatic gearbox. This makes a lot of sense as the Probe’s underpinnings come from the Mazda 626.
On the outside, this Probe bears the battle scars you might expect in a 30-year-old daily-driver. The bumpers are scuffed, the right fender has a bit of a gash, and there are numerous dents around the body. However, thanks to the Texas climate, there doesn’t appear to be a ton of rust on this little economy car.
Moving to the inside, things get a bit worse. While the southern weather has gone relatively easy on the bodywork, it’s left the dashboard looking like a deathcore band’s logo. Add in a torn driver’s seat and stains in the footwell, and this Probe’s far from mint. Still, red is a great interior color and motorized seatbelts are a nifty piece of dead technology.
So there we are, two very different planned replacements for the Fox body Ford Mustang. One’s a six-cylinder rear-wheel-drive pony car, the other a much cheaper economical front-wheel-drive coupe. As ever, choose wisely.
(Photo credits: Craigslist sellers)
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My vote goes to the Manual Mustang in this case. If the Probe was a manual, I would have picked it.
For absolutely no reason other than I hate the Essex V6, I’m choosing the Probe.
I’m not buying a car manufactured when the first George Bush was in office unless it’s something special. The Probe is not something special.
Gimme the Probe because I had it’s platform mate the MX-6. That thing was a tank and super easy to work on.
I think I have to go with the Probe here, despite the automatic. I had its evil twin, a black ’89 Probe LX with a stick, also with a red interior, for a couple of years, and loved it. In fact, the only reason I sold it was because I found a good deal on a Miata and couldn’t keep them both. I sold the Probe to a guy in Florida who had one exactly like it in college, and had been looking for another. He paid me for it sight-unseen, flew to Portland, and drove it home.
I’m a fan of the SN95/New Edge Mustangs as cheap fun cars too, but that one looks like someone attacked it with a sandblaster. I’m sure I could find better for around the same price.
Had the same Mustang a year younger and put over 240k on her. When sold she was tired but running well on the original timing chain and trans fluid. Drove the wheels off that car, replaced them, and did it again. Learned wrenching and how much I loved road tripping in that thing. The Mustang wins, though I’d check the exhaust for weakness where the A/C condensation drips directly forward of the catalytic converters causing metal fatigue and failure.
The SN-95 and its decendent the new edge are the worst Mustangs of all time. Even worse than the Mustang II. Yeah I said it.
I think I would buy $2500 worth of bus passes.
Both are awful, but I’ll take the probe because it’s cheaper and that red interior is awesome
That Mustang looks like it’s headed to the Witness Protection Program. Flip-up headlights for the win.
Normally I would run screaming from both options. In the spirit of the poll I went with Mustang.
Cheap MAACO paint job, replacement seats from a boneyard, and you might have a halfway decent car. It is good as a beater, first car, college car as it stands. Not a huge loss.
I always assumed it was called the Probe because the owners were always assuming the “service position.”
Just buy some flame decals and the Mustang is ready to go.
I’m going Mustang, the paints bad, but the probe looks to have crinkles in the front passenger panel, I know which I would rather fix. The mustang looks nicer inside, is newer and more parts (oem and aftermarket) availability. I never liked this generation probe, the second gen looked better in my opinion.
Give me the rebadged Mazda MX-6 if I have to take either.
The MX-6 was the replacement for the 626 Coupe / Capella / Ford Telestar (rebadged 626 for Asia Pacific and Africa), and mechanically identical – a Japanese market GC 626 Coupe is the same as a MX-6 is the same as a Probe.
The big difference however, was that the MX-6 was built in Flat Rock next to the Probe while all North American 626s were built in Hofu Japan with the Japanese market 626 Coupe. The MX-6 came out in 87 while the Probe came out a year later.
That Mustang looks like its been through re-entry. I’d want to see pics from under the hood before I even thought about an inspection
I had to vote Probe, even though this one (probably most all of them by now) is rough, and is missing a pedal.
I had an 89 Probe GL with the manual that got me through the second half of college and on up until 98. I loved that little car. It was a lot of fun to drive, and the amount of stuff you could put in the hatchback was amazing. Moved me and all my stuff (including two large speakers) back and forth to college every year, stuffed Christmas trees in there once I was out and a young adult. So I have a lot of nostalgia for the model.
You never see them around any more, seem pretty much relegated to the dustbin of history. Too bad.
You and I have very different views. My parents bought a ’91 Proble GL new from the dealer when I was 9 years old. It had a lot of issues right off the bat and had to go back to the dealer probably a half-dozen times to get repairs under warranty.
It was later handed down to me when I was 17 or 18, and although it ran okay, it was a pretty crappy car, IMO. It didn’t handle well at all for what you’d expect from a small car. 70-80mph felt like about the maximum speed you could go on the freeway before the car felt unstable. The engine would stall out and completely die when taking moderately hard left-hand turns. The interior was made of the hardest plastics imaginable. And it was slow, slow, slow. Was not even able to spin a tire.
It could haul a lot and in the end it was fairly reliable over the course of its life, but that’s where my praise for the Probe will end.
In 1990, I bought an ’89 Probe LX (I think). It was a manual, with the 2.2L engine.
I had few problems with it. I had to replace one of the rods that raised and lowered one of the headlights and the electric antenna stopped working, so I jammed it in the up position. Other than that, no problems.
It was fast enough for its time and, as frodaddi says, the trunk was surprisingly large.
Had this car been equipped with a manual, I would certainly have chosen it. Since it doesn’t I can’t choose either.
I can’t imagine there’s a ton of parts still around for 1991 Probes, and I’m not interested in a car that looks like I need a tetanus shot just to sit inside it. Mustang is significantly newer, has tons of parts available with aftermarket support, and I dig the “Roadkill” look of it all. Mustang wins today
I’m sure there are plenty of Probes in Texas junkyards that parts might be available. Mustangs are usually so ragged out (even base models) that I’d avoid one that looks like it’s been under a semi, on fire, or both. The Probe is heavy & underpowered, but throw a towel on the dash & you could drive it a few years.
I own a SN95 GT, so pass on the base one here. It’s got the wrong wheels…those are from the pre-1999 model…and the spoiler appears added on, seems too far forward on the rear deck.
I always loved the Probe back in the day for its futuristic look/feel, esp these first gen ones. The second gen had more a ’90s sportcoupe look, but this one looks like the sporty weekend car companion to the Taurus that you’d drive to work on the moon base.
Right on the wheels, wrong on the wing- that’s how 99-00s were. It’s just super common for anyone with one to move it back with the adjustment holes.
I voted for the Mustang. I had a ’94 GT when I made Sergeant in the Army. I miss that thing or the OEM Mach 460 speakers. I can still hear the sound of blowing out the speakers after playing Master of Puppets at full blast.
Both of these cars look like hot garbage, so I’ll take the cheaper hot garbage. If I keep the Probe long enough it will serve as a reminder to schedule my colonoscopies and prostate exams. “Oh that’s right, it’s been a couple of years since a doctor did medical butt stuff to me.”
Viewing the ads (or ad, as the Probe is deleted) was worth it to see the Mustang has a Chrysler floormat beneath the driver’s feet.
I went in expecting to go Probe…but think it’s going to be Mustang. Interior seems a bit better condition, it appears to have a radio, and manual will be a bit more tolerable.
I had a friend with that Mustang. Everyone kept bothering him about why he didn’t buy the GT. He was cheap and he drove like an old lady, so I think that was the right car for him (however much it was lame). I recall one time he was driving me around and we pulled up to a light; when he pulled away (in no hurry) the whole car started bucking and heaving making godawful knocking and pinging sounds. The car was maybe three months old. Nice.
I grew up with a neighbor and that mostly same probe. I know the Mustang was faster, but the probe (despite being older) felt like the future. It handled well, it had the kickass digital dashboard and for a rather modest 2.2, it went when you asked it to. I later got a probe (94) for myself with the mazda 2.0 and enjoyed it quite a lot. Far from perfect, but was good on gas and enjoyable to drive the the 5speed.
Even later still, I had a 1991 Volvo 960 wagon with the inline 6. It was brown, but sadly not manual. I was stopped at a light with that same red v6 mustang next to me. I just liked romping on the gas in that wagon because it would move and that was fun. So when the light turned, I got on it. Dude in the mustang next to me decided to also get in on it, so off we went. Well, off I went, he must have been a lot irritated as I just eased away when he was at full tilt.
I’ll take the probe. At least it’s honest.
This is a tough one- I have a 3.8 mustang, my first car. It’s fun with the supercharger.
But for 26 franklins/52 Grants/130 jacksons/260 Hamiltons/ 520 Lincolns/1300 Jeffersons/2600 Washington’s (or sacagaweas), it’s not worth it.
I can probe a lot of things for 50% off. And think of all the probing you can do with 2600 silver John F. Kennedys in your pocket!
Mustang allllll day. It’s a trip to the junkyard away from whatever engine you wanna stick in there, it’s a manual, and personally, I like how grody it looks. That ratty face with a V8 rumble? People gonna get out of your way.
‘That ratty face with a V8 rumble? People gonna get out of your way.’
If THAT’S what you want a Pontiac is your ride.
NOTHING says IDGAF like a Pontiac.
This gen’s hellspawn-look Firebird particularly specialized in mean bordering on antisocial styling.