My Daily Driver



Home	Features	Articles	Daily Drives	Rear View	Driveway	Directory	Showcase	Classifieds	Store	Games

by Bobby McCarthy
Copyright (c), 2003, My Daily Driver -- All Rights Reserved

I was driving my car last week... and I came up behind a Ford Probe. From my vantage point, I could not ascertain the gender of the driver. As I sat there waiting for the green light it suddenly dawned on me, a Ford Probe? What would possess the management of FOMOCO to settle upon the name Probe? Perhaps the boardroom members were convinced that the name was synonymous with NASA's Voyager, a deep space probe.

However, there is only one visual that comes into my mind when I think of the word probe. Anyone who has suffered through the indignant yet necessary procedures during a physical examination knows exactly what the word probe means.

Did the hierarchy of Ford actually consider the negative connotation associated with the moniker they picked for their little sport coup? They even proudly built a Probe GT, a faster probe. Ouch. Maybe I am the only one out here that finds this particular car name slightly offensive. If so, it certainly would not be the first, or last time I stood firmly on a concept that resulted in folks shaking their heads or whispering behind my back. But, as always, I feel I am right on track. Bad car names

One could argue, what's in a "name"? Pretty much everything. I mean, would you buy and also drive a car called the "Fluffy" or the "Turtle" or the "Puny". Of course not. Just imagine sitting in the local pub and folks start asking, "What do you drive?" "I drive a Charger, I drive an Impala, I drive a Mustang." Now you pipe in with, "I drive a Poinsettia." Yep, the name means everything.

Some of these "new" car companies give us names like "Sephia", "Tiburon" and "Impreza". These names are OK, they are just made-up names (although I think Tiburon means "shark" in spanish, but this is America). Again these names are completely unobtrusive.

Which brings us back to the point that the name Probe is just not appropriate. At least from my perspective. Why not name this Ford coup the "Biopsy" or the "MRI"? Oh wait, I think that Mitsubishi already has a car named the "MRI", hmm, maybe not. Well regardless, although I consider myself a "car guy", I really couldn't tell you if Ford manufactures a 2001 Probe. If they have continued the lineage into the next millenium, then perhaps I am mistaken regarding the "name". If the Probe has been dropped from the line, then hopefully some big executives have lost their jobs.

Meanwhile back at my daily drive, I have just pulled up behind a Ford Aspire. After a quick look at this "vehicle", I think it's appropriately named. The owner should "Aspire" to own a better car.

It's all in the name.

page loaded in 0.047 seconds