Plymouth Prowler!!!!

"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
04/08/2019 at 17:10 • Filed to: Found on Montana Craigslist

Wow, I’ve never seen one of these for sale. I don’t even know how you would price it. $30k in the advertisement .

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DISCUSSION (41)

Ash78, voting early and often > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 17:15

These are sort of like the ‘04 T-bird. Most people are like “meh” but there’s a small-but-rabid bunch of collectors out there, too.

Sadly, all I see with them anymore is the genesis for the PT Cruiser.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 17:15

63 for sale on Autotrader.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=32601&makeCodeList=PLYM&modelCodeList=PROWLE

Bo Knows > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 17:17

No way in hell I’d ever buy one of those but for the love of god remove the front bumpers

vondon302 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 17:18

Damn did this thing need more power.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
04/08/2019 at 17:20

Clearly you have confused me with someone who researches things and stuff.

benn454 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 17:20

Would be great with a Hemi and 6 speed . Pointless with the V6 and slushbox.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 17:22

Haha...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Ash78, voting early and often
04/08/2019 at 17:23

so many cars > Prowler > so many other cars > ‘04 T-bird

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > benn454
04/08/2019 at 17:24

Hellcat Prowler!!!!!

Chariotoflove > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 17:26

I like it. Not $30K like it though.

shop-teacher > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 17:32

They made quite a lot of these, and when they were newish I used to see them around a lot. They seem to all be squirreled away now by collectors who think they’re going to be worth a bunch of money someday, but they won’t be.

benn454 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 17:34

Instead of a screaming chicken, it could have a flaming panther

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Chariotoflove
04/08/2019 at 17:40

Yeah that’s a tough call for an objectively terrible car.

MattHurting > Bo Knows
04/08/2019 at 17:40

Yes, bumper removal seems to be quite the popular mod on these. And necessary.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > shop-teacher
04/08/2019 at 17:41

These were on the heals of the much anticipated PT Cruiser launch. We know how that went.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 18:04

Not worth the gallon of gas it would cost to burn this thing to the ground.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > benn454
04/08/2019 at 18:05

They made something liek that called the plymouth “Howler”. It was a prowler with the 4.7 V8 and a 5-speed stick shift and a pickup bed.

Kinja'd!!!

kanadanmajava1 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 18:08

Or with a 2JZ?

Kinja'd!!!

LOREM IPSUM > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 18:09

The engi ne is a gutless piece of shit that will break bits in the top end if you even think of ragging on it. Tick tick tick tick tick.

shop-teacher > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 18:24

No, these predated the PT Cruiser. People forget that the PT Cruiser was initially a huge success.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 18:29

“These were on the heals of the much anticipated PT Cruiser launch. We know how that went.”

Yep... it went fabulously well and everyone wanted one. And that’s not a joke. I remember it very clearly. Demand was way higher than they expected and it was a solid seller from 2000 to 2007.

http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2013/02/chrysler-pt-cruiser-sales-figures-usa-canada/

Demand dropped off at the end because the PT hadn’t received any *meaningful* updates at all. Oh sure, there was a “let’s make it cheaper quality” update in 2006... but that was it.

They should bring back the PT Cruiser as an entry level small CUV for the Chrysler brand.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 18:46

They did not make nearly as many of these as people think, because they were FUCKING EXPENSIVE AS HELL. 11,702 of them. Porsche sold more 911's in the same period.

Also dealers MARKED THE FUCK UP out of them. I know for fact that they were leaving the showroom floor north of $60,000 with another $5,000-7,500 for the factory trailer option.

Being a 2000 doesn’t make it special, being black does . Prowler colors are the OPPOSITE of everything else. It is far more unusual to see a ‘normal’ color than a wild color. They only made 2,746 of them in 2000. Of those 2,746, 1,041 were black. 779 in black for ‘99. Seems like a lot, right?

No. Because they made zero black Prowlers before or after those. There are exactly 1,912 in black (one Chrysler Prowler) and 9,790 in any color but black.

Even without the trailer? Low miles, no accidents (these things were impossible to repair on a good day,) hasn’t been driven (which is a good thing because they break less sitting,) and above museum quality.

VERY Nice Price at $30k.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 18:48

At first I was like “eh, not bad, they were crazy expensive new”. Then I looked it up, about $44k in 2000s money. For some reason I thought they were like 100k.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 18:48

If it’s a less powerful 1997 model, I’d say it’s only worth maybe $25K.

If it’s a more powerful 1999+ model, then it’s a Nice Price.

People say it’s terrible and slow, but that’s false.

It’s basically an aluminum bodied concept vehicle with good weight distribution due to the rear-mounted transmission.

And at 253 HP, except for the V10 engine, the 3.5L HO V6 was the most powerful engine Chrysler had at the time. It was more powerful than the V8 engines they had. Also more powerful than the US-market BMW M3.

Think about that for a second.

The 1999 model had a 0-60 time in the high 5 second range. And that was with a 4 speed automatic.

Think about that.

The 1997 model was a bit slower, but still had a decent 7 second 0-60 time.

The biggest issues with the Prowler was headroom with the top up and it has a hard suspension, made worse with the low profile tires.

The Prowler is a COOL CAR.

It’s just not for really tall people or people looking for a soft suspension.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 18:50

Not a terrible car at all. It was a fantastically cool and innovative car...

Chariotoflove > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 18:52

So, I’ve never driven one, but my understanding of it is that it’s more characterized as a potentially good car s addled with terminal weaknesses, namely a mediocre engine and transmission. So, if you make the modifications it deserves, a terrible car becomes a pretty cool one.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Chariotoflove
04/08/2019 at 18:58

That’s what I thought. I would drive the shit out of one if I had it. It would be a million mile prowler.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
04/08/2019 at 18:59

Fantastic styling, crappy engine and tranny.

Chariotoflove > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 19:05

That black and those wheels really suit the car.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/08/2019 at 19:30

I’ve driven Chryslers with that 4 speed auto... it’s not a bad automatic at all and is reliable if properly maintained using the correct (more expensive) fluid . Of course modern 6+ speed transmissions are way better.

But it wasn’t bad for the time. And I’ve driven automatics that were much worse... like the the Ford AOD or the Ford AXOD.

And the 3.5L V6 was crappy? I’ve experienced that engine too. When it came out in 1999, it was more powerful than just about all the other naturally aspirated V6 engines available at the time... even more powerful than the US-market BMW E36 M3. Granted the BMW I6 was smoother and nicer sounding.

In a perfect world, the Prowler would have had a manual transmission and the modern Hemi in it. But in reality, the modern Hemi didn’t exist yet and the only RWD manual transmissions they had at the time was the one in the Viper and the one in the heavy duty trucks... neither of which would have likely fit.

Hell... even the 4.7L OHC, designed for truck/Jeep use, would have been a step backward at least until the HO versions came out in 2002.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
04/08/2019 at 19:34

It being all aluminum was also part of the reason why it was expensive.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > LOREM IPSUM
04/08/2019 at 19:36

If you believe something with a sub-6 second 0-60 time is ‘gutless’ for the 1999+ model .

The 3.5L engine was actually a solid design. I think you’re confusing it with the 2.7L.

LOREM IPSUM > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
04/08/2019 at 19:47

Po wer to weight helps it go but the engine is a heap in my experience , so if you’re wringing it out it may make yo u regret it.

Had the same one in an I ntrepid, essentially. Luckily it got stolen and totaled before I got my hands too dirty . Positive I’m not thinking the 2.7... I would have never bought it, lol.

I won’t disagree though, for it’s day it wasn’t too bad considering it’s orgins. Chrysler was taking chances trying to shake the k car image, and it was paying off. The prowler, the whole cab-forward thing, the “new ram”.. . It was all seemingly pretty revolutionary, an d well received as I recall.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > shop-teacher
04/08/2019 at 20:46

Yeah, I remember the PT cruiser coming out. People thought it was the shit.

Well... it was shit, so partially right

shop-teacher > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
04/08/2019 at 22:30

People we're paying over sticker to get one of the first ones.

Loco john > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/09/2019 at 01:41

This car is absolutely junk and, not worth asking price. The prowler was made in shady side Ohio plant, Mayflower, each part ( aluminium) had to be, handworked, for fit and form. Thus any damaged part that needs replaced has to be custom fitted, very costly. This was , an extremely cheap built automobile, manufactured only to produce as much profit as possible by non union plant, thus saving even more. Stay away from this car, it will never be a million mile car maybe, if your lucky 125,000 then everything is worn out.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
04/09/2019 at 08:01

The V6 was probably the best option from what they had at the time the problem is the image this car projects. It’s a retro hot-rod styling and the image everyone has of a hot rod is a big V8 crammed into a light weight body.

I can forgive the automatic since hot rods are all about straight line speed, not tr ack duties, but the engine really needed to be a V8.

Skif6996 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/09/2019 at 21:39

Wow! I’m shocked to see everyone ragging on the Prowler! Such an original idea.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/09/2019 at 22:10

My god, now I want to do a Prowler engine swap. BRB scouring AutoTrader

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
04/09/2019 at 22:13

If you have the means, please do so, and we could reap the rewards of your plight. I think I would do a 2JZ or RB26.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
04/10/2019 at 11:28

I had a co-worker order and pay over sticker for a PT cruiser. I didn’t judge until I got a ride in it and while it was a very modern design the car felt cheap considering what else you could get at the time for the same money. Some people really get caught up in the hype. I think it was a great car for Chrysler and probably kept them afloat for a few more years.