Fun article on the Plymouth Prowler

[Laconian]

Does it belong in Fast Lane? I don't know, probably not, but it's an enjoyable read.
https://jalopnik.com/the-1999-plymouth-prowler-was-a-rolling-midlife-crisis-1844627703

[veeman]

That was a good read.  It looked way better than the follow up Chrysler Crossfire.

[FoMoJo]

Inspiration from a '32 Ford hot rod...essentially, it was a insult to the whole notion of what hot-rodding was all about, putting a wimpy V6 in it.  Kind of like the opposite of hot-rodding. 

[SJ_GTI]

Inspiration from a '32 Ford hot rod...essentially, it was a insult to the whole notion of what hot-rodding was all about, putting a wimpy V6 in it.  Kind of like the opposite of hot-rodding.

The V6 seems plenty powerful for the size car, shame it only had an automatic though. Sounds like it is still pretty fun to drive all things considered.

[Raza]

I know what I know about the Prowler, but still, whenever I see it.   



The engine had plenty of power--when they uprated it in 1999, it went to 253--more than a comparable Boxster S (by 3) and the weight was about the same (2,844 compared to the Boxster's 2,855).  If you're saying it's underpowered your expectations were out of line with reality.  It was a $39,000 car, not a Viper.  Yes, if you compare it to the Corvette, which was basically the same price, it was by far the outgunned car, but the Corvette has always been an outlier in dollars per horsepower.  A base Boxster was $41,000 at the time with a stomping 201hp.  The Nissan 350Z didn't exist.  The SLK230 was $40,000 and made do with a measly 185hp.  The Mustang GT's raging V8 had 7 more horsepower to drag its 3,300 pound carcass from place to place.  The SVT Cobra convertible did have 320hp and was cheaper, but it was also nearly a thousand pounds heavier.  I know "hot rod purists" or whatever thought the looks demanded a V8, but American V8s at the time were either the LS1 or complete crap like Ford's 286.  I say who cares as long as it has enough power?

The transmission was a big letdown, yes.  A 6 speed manual would have made this car really sweet.  But they were going for the same crowd the Chevy SSR would later go for--people who wanted to stunt, not drive, and mating a manual seemed like it was too much work for them. 

But if I win the lottery, I would love to buy one and have someone do an engine and transmission swap and tune the suspension.  It's one of the hottest cars in the last 30 years. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

Yep, the 4 speed auto kills it. I wonder what manual transaxle would even fit in the back of a Prowler. The rear body panels are nearly a skin tight fit to the transaxle and fuel tank. Corvette, perhaps.

[Raza]

Yep, the 4 speed auto kills it. I wonder what manual transaxle would even fit in the back of a Prowler. The rear body panels are nearly a skin tight fit to the transaxle and fuel tank.

I'll move the gas tank to the passenger footwell.  I just won't smoke in the car.

[Rich]

Farah made a good point in his Peterson video.  The value of cars as they age will dependent on how they sound, look, and feel.  Numbers age. 

They did a good job with this from the factory, but the 'cool' factor and future value would have been so much higher with small 305 v8 and 5 speed which Chrysler didn't have at the time. 

http://youtu.be/rPEH6MI74PM

[Soup DeVille]

Yep, the 4 speed auto kills it. I wonder what manual transaxle would even fit in the back of a Prowler. The rear body panels are nearly a skin tight fit to the transaxle and fuel tank. Corvette, perhaps.

A Porsche one apparently.

This was up for auction just a few weeks ago.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/35527/this-ls-v8-swapped-1999-plymouth-prowler-with-a-5-speed-porsche-manual-is-finally-a-real-hot-rod

[Eye of the Tiger]

A Porsche one apparently.

This was up for auction just a few weeks ago.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/35527/this-ls-v8-swapped-1999-plymouth-prowler-with-a-5-speed-porsche-manual-is-finally-a-real-hot-rod

That's how it should have been from the factory.

[FoMoJo]

A Porsche one apparently.

This was up for auction just a few weeks ago.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/35527/this-ls-v8-swapped-1999-plymouth-prowler-with-a-5-speed-porsche-manual-is-finally-a-real-hot-rod

This would be more acceptable...This LS V8-Swapped 1999 Plymouth Prowler with a 5-Speed Porsche Manual Is Finally a Real Hot Rod

[AutobahnSHO]

100% what Raza said.

I saw one on the street a few weeks back.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

And you could get it with a trailer!
https://youtu.be/OqZv60aEdgc

[Soup DeVille]

Almost everybody who actually uses one of those has a trailer; because there's absolutely no place to put anything in those.

[Payman]

The author is completely wrong about Chrysler in the '90s. They were killing it with the Neon, Stratus/Breeze, and the LH's. Sure they weren't that great but they were doing better than GM and Ford and their designs were cutting edge. The "merger of equals" in '98 with Daimler was devastating for them.

[Payman]

If I were to do a Prowler, first thing to go would be the headlights, replace them with some stalked units. Then I think the appropriate engine is a 5.3 Hemi out of a Challenger R/T, and the Porsche transaxle.

Actually scratch all that. For the time/money/effort, Factory Five '33 Roadster build with a Coyote 5.0.

[FoMoJo]

If I were to do a Prowler, first thing to go would be the headlights, replace them with some stalked units. Then I think the appropriate engine is a 5.3 Hemi out of a Challenger R/T, and the Porsche transaxle.

Actually scratch all that. For the time/money/effort, Factory Five '33 Roadster build with a Coyote 5.0.

Yes, a real hot rod.  I've always considered the '33-'34 as ideal for a hot rod.  The grille makes all the difference.

My favourite...

[shp4man]

Yes, a real hot rod.  I've always considered the '33-'34 as ideal for a hot rod.  The grille makes all the difference.

My favourite...

The Cop car was cool, too. Have to watch that movie again.   

[Laconian]

Prowler towing a trailer looks like a smartphone panorama gone wrong.

[CaminoRacer]

If I were to do a Prowler, first thing to go would be the headlights, replace them with some stalked units. Then I think the appropriate engine is a 5.3 Hemi out of a Challenger R/T, and the Porsche transaxle.

Actually scratch all that. For the time/money/effort, Factory Five '33 Roadster build with a Coyote 5.0.

I think I'd build the FFR hot rod pickup. If I can get a 3 car garage, I'll do it. Maybe in 10 years...

[AutobahnSHO]

And you could get it with a trailer!
https://youtu.be/OqZv60aEdgc

Almost everybody who actually uses one of those has a trailer; because there's absolutely no place to put anything in those.

LITERALLY nowhere. Do they have a glovebox?

I've seen one with trailer LOL. If they got good gas mileage it'd be a fun commuter car then with trailer for weekend trips LOLOLOL