Ford Probe GT second generation

The story

The Probe began as Ford's idea for a modern, front-drive Mustang, until Mustang loyalists made their feelings known and the pony car kept driving its rear wheels. The coupe carried on under a name borrowed from a series of Ford aerodynamic concepts, built beside the Mazda MX-6 and 626 at Flat Rock, Michigan. The second generation, launched for 1993, swapped the first car's sharp edges for smooth, sculpted curves and hidden door handles, and the GT carried Mazda's eager 2.5-liter, 24-valve V6 with 164 hp.

What made it special was the way it drove. With independent suspension at every corner, 16-inch wheels and steering that talked back, it turned in cleanly and stayed composed at a pace that rewarded a skilled driver without scaring anyone else. At roughly 1,315 kg (2,900 lb) it never needed huge power to be fun, though a little more would have been welcome. The name invited snickers, the cheaper Escort GT crowded it from below, Mazda hardware kept costs high and the SUV boom drained the coupe market. Production ended in 1997, and the people who owned one still miss it.