Review: 2002 CHRYSLER PROWLER

By Matt/Bob Hagin
SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price $ 44,625
Price As Tested $ 45,400
Engine Type 3.5 Liter V6 w/SMFI*
Engine Size 215 cid/3518 cc
Horsepower 256 @ 6400 RPM
Torque (lb-ft) 255 @ 3950 RPM
Wheelbase/Width/Length 113.3"/76.5"/165.3"
Transmission Four-speed automatic
Curb Weight 2879 Pounds
Fuel Capacity 12 gallons
Tires (F/R) P225/45HR17 - P295/40HR20
Brakes (F/R) Disc/disc
Drive Train Front-engine/rear-wheel-drive
Vehicle Type Two-passenger/two-door
Domestic Content 90 percent
Coefficient of Drag (Cd.) 0.49
PERFORMANCE
EPA Economy, miles per gallon
city/highway/average 17/23/19
0-60 MPH 7.5 seconds
1/4 Mile (E.T.) 16 seconds @ 86.5 mph
Top speed 115 mph
* Sequential multi-point fuel injection
(Bob Hagin grew up in the California street-rod scene of the '50s
and says that the Chrysler Prowler is close to the concept. Matt Hagin
thinks its a great car for "mature" drivers who want to relive their
youth.)
MATT - The last time we reviewed the Prowler, we had to give it
the Plymouth prefix. When this "retrorod" first hit the market in '97
it was assigned to the Plymouth marketers but even then the handwriting
was on the wall for that venerable old marque. I guess Chrysler wanted
to give the Plymouth logo a good send-off by naming the Prowler a Plymouth.
BOB - Either that or some executive near the top had a thing about
alliteration. The Prowler hasn't seen many changes during its five
years of production. So far 11,000 enthusiasts have taken delivery of
the car. Not a big number, but over the years, it's garnered much more
than its numerical share of publicity and it's still a head-turner when
it appears on city streets.
MATT - It's a hard car to ignore, Dad. Its colors of choice are
either candy-apple red or metallic gold or bright yellow. All of the
no-nonsense auto reviews state that its impractical and expensive but
that's true of most exciting cars that are, in reality, drivable toys.
The power train of the Prowler is off the Chrysler shelf, which
includes a 3.5-liter all-aluminum V6 that's more often found powering a
Chrysler front-wheel drive sedan of some sort. It's a
single-overhead-cam design with 24 valves and it puts out 256 horses
which is more than enough to get this 2900-pound roadster rolling along
pretty well. It backs up to a four-speed automatic transaxle that has a
stick-shift system that lets it either be shifted up and down manually
or left to shift for itself. The suspension front and rear is
independent, and if anyone has any doubts about this, the suspension
units are pretty much out in the open for close inspection.
BOB - The two-seater body has the looks of a custom, non-homemade
street-rod show car of the '70s, with a high-waisted body, a high,
rounded tail section and a sloping, tapered nose that almost comes to a
point up front. The grill has a slight '37 Ford look to it but since
there aren't many of these on the street, you'll have to take my word.
The slit-like headlights are faired into the hood and the front fenders
are cycle-type that turn with the wheels. The only thing that spoils
the front end is the oversized front bumper that sticks out like a sore
thumb and it must have filled the Prowler designers with disgust to
have to put it up there. They had no choice, of course, since the
government says cars must have bumpers. Those agencies have no sense of style.
MATT - As I recall from seeing photos of early '50s street rods,
their interiors were pretty stark but the Prowler interior is very
plush. It has the typical modern "tombstone" control panel in front of
the floor-mounted gear selector and the other control switches for the
windows and such are in the door panels. But the wide-oval dash panel
is strictly '50s, with a big speedometer in the middle and two small
gauges on either side. Also in vintage style is the steering column-mounted tach. There are small roll bars behind the two seats and a compartment back there to hold the top.
BOB - In typical street-rod fashion, the front and rear tires and
wheels are different sizes. The front are 17-by-7.5 inches while the
backs are 20-by-10 inches. Needless to say, the Prowler doesn't carry a
spare for either end so they're run-flats. Although it wasn't designed
to morph into a true race car like the Viper, the Prowler handling is
outstanding. And in a car that is so "open-air" and with its exposed
front wheels and suspension, it seems to be going twice as fast as is
indicated by the speedometer.
MATT - When it was first introduced, Chrysler executives said that
the life-expectancy of the Prowler would only be five years and its
time is now up. It will be dropped after this year and the last 300
will be painted in its now-famous Inca Gold.
BOB - They say what goes around, comes around so I guess I'll have
to wait another fifty years for the California Street-Rod look to come
back in style again.