Faults:

Replaced Struts at 140k

Replaced Alternator at 204k

Muffler at 160k

Thermostat at 170k.

General Comments:

The car can keep up with the majority of cars today on a straight line or in the turns.

In addition, it has been virtually trouble free. I bought this car from the original owner with 103k miles. It came with all service records and had new CV joints, and a water pump. Since then I've changed the struts, alternator, muffler, and thermostat. Regular oil changes and brakes and this car is still going strong with 205k miles.

Faults:

Passenger door panel (interior) fell off regularly

Needed rotors every time it needed brake pads

Plastic bits in the hatch area seemed to fall off at random

Hatch struts were DOA at 38000 miles

Mass air flow sensor died at 90000

Hydraulic lifters slowly started dying at 50000 warranting their replacement

Constant knocking and pinging

Leaky sunroof if parked on a slope.

General Comments:

I really liked the way that this car handled and engine performance was strong (with a 5-speed), but it was a terrible piece of junk after about 80000 miles.

I replaced the valve lifters, timing belt, water pump and a bunch of odds and ends myself when I removed the cylinder head. I also replaced the head gasket and cleaned up the pistons as they were caked with a horrible layer of carbon.

After I got it all back together, it still didn't run very well. 50% crappy work on my behalf, 50% junky car. I took it to a proper mechanic to correct some of my mistakes; it still didn't run very well.

I can attribute part of this car's problems to the original owner. Long after I sold this car myself, I came to find out that the car was part of a divorce settlement--the wife got the car so the husband poured a bunch of sugar into the gas tank, hence the horrible carbon buildup and the resultant pinging.

The car was also in an accident that did not appear on any records. The accident was probably responsible for all of the engine trouble as it was run underneath a parked semi trailer (peeled back the hood and wanged the top of the engine.)

When it did run well, it was fun and sporty, but it just couldn't handle the major miles I put on it in such a short period of time (72k in less than three years).

Faults:

At 135,000, the (original) timing belt went out. It was apparently never replaced - no big deal, Probes have a Mazda non-interference engine.

Around 139,000, one of the original CV joint's boot tore and slung grease inside the wheel. No big deal, it was supposed to be replaced at 75,000 miles.

General Comments:

I love these cars. I completely love these cars. I currently own two of them, this car, a 1994 Probe GT, and more recently, a 1995 GT.

They handle like nothing else I've ever driven. In fact, I feel - as anyone else who's driven them - as if I'm a better driver behind the wheel of a PGT.

While not the fastest, this sportscar holds its own with a factory 15.2 in the quarter mile. Plenty fast to beat most NA imports!

Anyone with reliability issued most likely owns a base/SE 4cyl model with an automatic transmission - that ATX is notorious for blowing out.

The exterior lines and styling are beautiful, way ahead of its time.

To really appreciate this car's fun factor, you have to have a stick.

One magazine said in a review, "This is the sweetest V6 sports car BMW never built."