OK, here's the deal, the Probe's 2.0 and 2.5 were both fully Mazda-designed engines. Ford brought those engines to the Probe under their badge only. The Probes were built in Flat Rock, Michigan at a Ford plant (which also produces some Mazdas ie. MX6, at least back when the Probe was still around. Not sure about now). This may involve just assembling the Japanese engine's parts, or maybe even producing all the parts and assembling as well.
The FS engine we have in our cars is almost the same design as the Probe 2.0 engine (though there's slight differences in shape and stuff as it evolved over the years), but our car was designed, produced, assembled, and whatever else in a plant in Japan. Fully assembled, they were shipped over to our shores.
I live in Vancouver, Canada, and it was wonderful to watch several hundred of those beauties sitting at the 'holding' facility after being brought from the docks, waiting to be unleashed on us hehe...
Oh, and something to note: maybe the difference in locales for assembly of the car made the difference in the quality 'feel' of the car....my Probe was full of rattles and loose panels...the door closing sound was rather loud and hollow, and reliability was low, while the MP3 (although a cheaper priced car than the Probe GT) feels much more solid and well built.
No disrespect intended for American built cars or anything, but Ford really skimped on quality, while Mazda has done pretty well so far, in my opinion. I'm all for North American home grown products and supporting our own economy etc. Before my Probe, I drove a 'Stang (Again, shake, rattle, and roll). But I think the North American manufacturers really should learn something from the Japanese (and Euros) in this aspect. At least in the case of the Probe vs MP3 issue.
Anyways, I'm getting off topic...
The FS engine we have in our cars is almost the same design as the Probe 2.0 engine (though there's slight differences in shape and stuff as it evolved over the years), but our car was designed, produced, assembled, and whatever else in a plant in Japan. Fully assembled, they were shipped over to our shores.
I live in Vancouver, Canada, and it was wonderful to watch several hundred of those beauties sitting at the 'holding' facility after being brought from the docks, waiting to be unleashed on us hehe...
Oh, and something to note: maybe the difference in locales for assembly of the car made the difference in the quality 'feel' of the car....my Probe was full of rattles and loose panels...the door closing sound was rather loud and hollow, and reliability was low, while the MP3 (although a cheaper priced car than the Probe GT) feels much more solid and well built.
No disrespect intended for American built cars or anything, but Ford really skimped on quality, while Mazda has done pretty well so far, in my opinion. I'm all for North American home grown products and supporting our own economy etc. Before my Probe, I drove a 'Stang (Again, shake, rattle, and roll). But I think the North American manufacturers really should learn something from the Japanese (and Euros) in this aspect. At least in the case of the Probe vs MP3 issue.
Anyways, I'm getting off topic...
