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 Another Slam against the Prowler (Page 1)
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| Author | Topic: Another Slam against the Prowler |
BeWare                    POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Acworth , Georgia , USA |
posted 10-01-2001 02:23 PM
    
In the local Friday paper there is a section called Wheels. There was an article about Japanese Auto makers learning that sports cars built from scatch barely pay off. The article was written by Mark Rechtin Automotive News. In the article he quotes Wes Brown and analyst with Nextrend in Thousand Oaks CA a market research firm. He indicates it takes 1.4 billion to to develope a niche vehicle and then starts talking about reducing cost by sharing parts. The article further goes on to say that Brown points out that Chrysler made the Prowler for $200 million because it came from the corporate parts bin."It was junk but it was cool" he said. I found him on the Net>. Wes can be E-Mailed at wesbrown@n-nextrend.com Sounds like Wes could use some enlightning. What do you think. ------------------
This message has been edited by BeWare on 10-01-2001 at 02:34 PM |
ALLEY CAT POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:mesa, az, USA |
posted 10-01-2001 02:40 PM
I just fired one email off at Wes. NEXT VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV |
Brian King Prowler Junkie From:Woodbridge, Ont, Canada |
posted 10-01-2001 02:49 PM
Sent him an e-mail telling him to enjoy the car for what it is, smiles both on the driver and those who see it. Then proceeded to tell him to enjoy the car for what it is not what he wants it to be. ------------------ |
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Joe Rad Prowler Junkie From:Orlando, FL, USA |
posted 10-01-2001 02:50 PM
I will invite Wes to attend one of our Prowler events, and make sure he is enlightened. |
Harry Findley POA Site Supporter Cantankerous Ol Fart From:Joyce, Washington, 98343 USA |
posted 10-01-2001 03:11 PM
BeWare & A/C--- If Wes "likes" your email, then he's just gonna "love" mine  !!I don't know just who this clown think's he is to start bad mouthing the Prowler, but he's obviously got his head up in a "warm - dark - orifice". There hasn't been a new car/sport's car come out hat has received the aclaim and reception that the Prowler has. Even though the KAT's been out now for 4 years, it is still a head turner and at the car shows' it garners more attention than anything else. I do think Mr. Wes Brown needs a reality check! Sign me An extremely satisfied Prowler Owner! PS: Over my lifetime, I've had just about all the "desireable" sport cars, ie. Vetts, Healeys, Jag, Shelby Cobra,(both the 289 & 427)& Mercedes Benz 300SL, & now the KAT. The Cobra & 300SL were the fastest at 150++, the 300SL the smoothest handeling, but the KAT draws more attention! Wes 'ol man, I suggest you drive one--live with one for a while before you begin bad-mouthing something you don't know anaything about! ------------------ This message has been edited by Harry Findley on 10-01-2001 at 04:28 PM |
Marty Usher POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:San Antonio, Texas, United States |
posted 10-01-2001 05:00 PM
I emailed him also. I wonder how many of these "reviewers" have actually spent much time with the cars they write about? Don't really expect a reply from him, but wish some of these people would come to one of our POA events and just observe. Happy Prowling Marty ------------------ |
Y2K Rod Prowler Junkie From:Warrenton, VA, USA |
posted 10-01-2001 06:31 PM
I too emailed Wes. I challenged him to identify the parts bin the Prowler parts came from. Gil ------------------ |
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ALLEY CAT POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:mesa, az, USA |
posted 10-01-2001 07:07 PM
Way to go people!!! Harry - Did you watch the movie "Jaws" again before emailing him? lol He may have shark teeth in his rear end now................................. ------------------ |
catterumpus Prowler Junkie From:rapid city, SD USA |
posted 10-01-2001 09:16 PM
Professional writers are usually just looking on and not truly participating in what they write about. They have to meet deadlines and often shoot from the hip. The real stuff, like the Prowler, is usually around long after the writer is forgotten. Prowlers are unique, like nothing else, and always will be. ------------------ |
Larry Lord Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Colton, CA |
posted 10-01-2001 10:11 PM
Geeeez,,,A little sensitive aren't we? I was not offended at all by his remark about parts coming from the corporate parts bin. Actually I think it was a great idea and I'm sure it saved many dollars. Without some of the cost cutting and parts interchanging we might not have ever seen a Prowler. I was told that the steering wheel is from a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Radio bezel is from a mini van and the inside door handle backing plates are from a Viper but were inverted so as to make them fit the interior design better. I believe that the front brake rotors are also from a mini van but I can't confirm this. I'm sure that there are many more pieces that were interchanged and I for one would like to hear all about all of them. Anybody else have more information? Congrats to DC for robbing the parts bins, using left over junk and creating one of the worlds most unique and beautiful cars. ------------------ |
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BeWare POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Acworth , Georgia , USA |
posted 10-01-2001 10:18 PM
Larry, I read his remarks to mean the Prowler was Junk, not that the parts were junk. And yes I am getting a little weary of people calling the Prowler junk. If people keep reading this drival the legend will become fact if you know what I mean. For example people are constantly telling me they hear the Prowler's not very quick. When I tell them the standard performance numbers the response is usually something like that's pretty quick or that's not slow. I also am glad they robbed the parts bin so I could afford it. How about the V6 and Transaxle from 300M. Neon air filter box. ------------------
This message has been edited by BeWare on 10-01-2001 at 10:36 PM |
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Scot Stern POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Escondido, CA |
posted 10-01-2001 10:33 PM
Larry, I totally agree with you on the parts issue. At my age, the thought of spare parts is something that I constantly think about. Some of my parts are definitely interchangeable and I would be concerned if I couldn't find spare parts in a rapid fashion. Anyway, production costs and interchangeability of parts is a common occurrence in the manufacturing world and anybody who doesn't consider it, and do it, is not profitable. Gotta go as many of my parts are starting to hurt and it is time for my evening hot tub session followed by a good old fashion "Home Depot Rubdown." Makes me sleep better. Scot ------------------ |
ed monahan POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Cincinnati, Oh, USA |
posted 10-01-2001 11:00 PM
If you go to the PROWLER STORY on the main page of this site and scroll down to Feb. 1993, you will read that indeed, they did raid the corporate parts bin in keeping with the tradition of making hot rods out of parts that were scrounged from other auotmobiles. It is also in the booklet you should have received with your Prowler. It shouldn't be taken as an insult, since it is true and traditional. I repeat, I could not care less if every writer in America does not like my car. I didn't consult any of them before buying my cat, and a lot of experts in a lot of fields are total idiots. Why should automotive writers be any different? Basically, who cares what they think or write. |
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ALLEY CAT POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:mesa, az, USA |
posted 10-02-2001 01:06 AM
Ed - I'll respectfully disagree with you. While I don't personally care what a writer thinks, when enough other people read and hear it, that becomes the trend. Take the Vega and Pinto (Ed owned two of each)- afew bashings in print and it was all over. The cars were then considered junk, which probably wasn't a true statement of their existence. I will side with Rich, and I find it repulsive to keep my cat clean and take to car shows, just to hear someone say they read that they were junk.
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ed monahan POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Cincinnati, Oh, USA |
posted 10-02-2001 03:39 AM
Alley Cat, I respect your right to disagree with me, even when you are totally wrong. lol. You only disagreed with the second half of my post. You are slipping. In the old days you used to give me hell about everything. |
Nelson Weber Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:High Ridge, Mo USA |
posted 10-02-2001 08:17 AM
For about 10 years I taught design engineers things to do to keep product costs down. One way is to use existing parts instead of designing a new unique part. Just think what a product would cost if nothing was used that existed: The Prowler has a lot of 'parts bin' parts in it Just to name a few: bolts, nuts, washers, battery, alternator, starter, belts, paint, light bulbs, CD player, tires, oil, oil filter, grease fittings, spark plugs, and existing raw materials (aluminum, plastics, leather, steel, glass, etc). |
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BeWare POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Acworth , Georgia , USA |
posted 10-02-2001 09:10 AM
Alley exactly right! Look what Nader did to the Corvair, and it just started with one guy. Didn't he call it unsafe at any speed? And now history has shown this to be totally untrue. However the myth became fact, Just because it got so much press. I know the Prowler life is going to end , I just don't want the general consensus to be it ended because it was a piece of junk. Which all of us Prowler owners know to be untrue. ------------------
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catterumpus Prowler Junkie From:rapid city, SD USA |
posted 10-02-2001 09:44 PM
A good street rod or truly great car like the Prowler are made of good parts, wherever they are from, and in the best arrangement. The guys at Plymouth really scored. I once owned an automotive junk classic--a '59 Renault purchased new. Later it was hopped up, of course, but even when stock, parts disintegrated with impressive regularity. It definitely beat out Ed's Pinto and Vega. ------------------ |
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MidlifeProwler Prowler Junkie From:Silver Spring, Maryland USA |
posted 10-03-2001 10:03 AM
"one man's junk is another man's treasure" |
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Marty Usher POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:San Antonio, Texas, United States |
posted 10-03-2001 03:00 PM
I actually got a reply from Wes Brown. That surprised me. here it is:
I have driven the Prowler, testing it for a long weekend about a year ago in the bright yellow color. I enjoyed the coolness of the car and the number of heads that it turned out here in California. I think that the Prowler is a very cool car to look at. I also recognize that to own one and be driving it on a regular basis would provide lots of entertainment to the owner and would create a great deal of emotion and passion. However, the vehicle itself is not put together that well, with Chrysler using a very heavy parts bin approach to be able to build the vehicle for as little as they could to get the program approved by the board. That is what I meant by the car being "junk". Regards, Wes Brown Now I will email him back!! Marty ------------------ |
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ed monahan POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Cincinnati, Oh, USA |
posted 10-03-2001 07:53 PM
This guy is an idiot. I guess he thinks other cars do not have parts from part bins. Every part on every car comes from a parts bin. I guess he thinks they are used parts in the bin. I think it is a waste of time talking to him, but I may email him now, too. |
WildCat POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:North Louisville, Indiana, USA |
posted 10-04-2001 09:26 AM
I had to do it. This is what I sent him Wes, I am the proud owner of a custom Painted `99 Prowler. I have had it over 3 years. I feel the car is a good car. Could it have been made better, YES, but at what cost. I did not read your article but I have read several comments that have been posted on Prowleronline.com. A web site for the Prowler Owners of the World. Having heard your comment to Marty Usher about what junk is, I felt I should also let you know what I think. Yes, the car was made from alot of parts already in the Chrysler parts bin. I work for a major OEM assembly plant. Maybe you should spend a few days checking out how a car is built. I have to deal with the engineer's that want their own design on a new product. We manufacture more than 47 different pumps. Most will run through the same test. Yes, some are different, mainly different fittings. But the 47+ could be less than 10 and would work fine for most all applications. Everyone complains about the cost of a new car. This is some of what drives the cost up. The design team did not go to the parts bin and say. WHAT JUNK WOULD BE GOOD TO BUILD A CAR OUT OF. They choose the best parts that would fit their needs. This was a test to see what they could do with the different materials. It was not to build the car. It was a concept car that got such great response that they decided to build it. I'm not sure how you aquired the car you drove, but was it brand new? had someone else been using it to do a report on? Had it been abused by others before you? I can say I'm satisfied with my car and have been since the 1st day. I have 16,000 miles on mine and feel it runs good, has a rough ride but not too bad, and gets more attention and beings more smiles to people of all ages than any other car on the road. I have one question for you. Why do you feel the 300M motor, the mini van disc brakes, the stratus steering column, the eagle transaxle, viper door handles and various other parts are JUNK?
If you feel you can answer my questions please post it on Prowleronline.com in out discussion forum. We would all like to heard your side. Maybe you can attend one of our Prowler events and see what the real special part of the car is. "The PEOPLE" Larry "WildCat" Mayes ------------------
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Harry Findley POA Site Supporter Cantankerous Ol Fart From:Joyce, Washington, 98343 USA |
posted 10-04-2001 11:01 AM
Marty -- I recieved the exact same -- word-for-word reply from that idiot that you did. It is rather apparent that it isn't worth wile to try and educate some people as they are obviously beyond redemption. While Wes is content to wollow in his ignorance and reveal his stupidity to the world, I think I will just continue to Prowl around in my "Junk Prowler", to the apparent admiration of all the other drivers on the road -- that's judging from the waves & smiles I get -- in my "piece of Junk". Sign me "Blissfully Content" In My Parts-Bin-Junk Prowler! ------------------ |
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Nelson Weber Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:High Ridge, Mo USA |
posted 10-04-2001 08:53 PM
Remember - People that usually have the least knowledge on a subject have the strongest opinions. Remember - Never argue with an idiot, for he will lower you to his level and win with his experience. |
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catterumpus Prowler Junkie From:rapid city, SD USA |
posted 10-07-2001 09:26 PM
CJ-- Can you tell us more about the strategy in the development of the Prowler? As I recollect the car was Plymouth's tribute to the street rod. Anyone who has put together a street rod, even a mild custom, knows the principles. It is a combination of engineering, artistry, and finding the appropriate parts (and usually a lot of sweat and sometimes a little blood). A major challenge is finding the best parts and they may be new stock, aftermarket or from the junkyard. Many people, including some automotive mag writers, are hung up on the new products and the latest modifications--anything different than what was built in the past. To them anything old doesn't count, and its a safe bet they don't give much thought to a Deuce roadster. Personally we thank the folks at Plymouth for creating an awesome assembly of "junk"  parts. ------------------ |
2000 Black - Modifications
2001 Silver Prowler
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