Despite a futuristic look, sales of the Probe were not good. Under a million of them sold during its 8 year span. That's pretty terrible for a major model from a manufacturer like Ford. Consumers did not like the design, and it had one of the worst names in automotive history.

The first generation of this car was sold from 1988 until 1992. Engines on that car ranged from a 110 horsepower I4 up to a 145 hp V6. They came as GL, LX, and GT models. The GT was the one that got the V6.

The second generation model used the Mazda GE platform. The GT engine on that car made 164 hp. A 1994 special edition was made with Wild Orchid paint. It also had a special interior trim. A 1997 Probe GTS was the same as a GT except it had exterior trim enhancements, such as racing stripes.

These cars can be found all over the used car market. You can't walk through a used car lot without tripping over a couple of these cars. You can also find them really cheap on eBay. I mean really cheap. A GT or GTS model would make a really neat first car with a little power, as long as you live somewhere with low insurance rates.