posted 09-28-2011 12:57 PM                  

I have a 1969 Camaro RS/SS and a 1963 Custom Rag Top VW Beetle. They are both great cars for cruising around town, but I am looking for a car that I can hop in and drive 3 hours to the beach or drive to the mountains and cruise the back roads of PA, MD or WV. I am not selling the Bug. It is just too much fun. The Camaro reluctantly will have to go.

So I need to know what to look for in a Prowler and what to watch out for in a Prowler. I have been trying to learn as much as I can in the last few weeks. I seem to like late Prowlers the most - 2001 and 2002. Is there a difference in value between Plymouth Prowlers and Chrysler Prowlers? I really seem to be drawn to Mulhollands and Inca Gold Prowlers.

Any advice, help and/or info would be really helpful. Any local owners that might want to "take me under their wing" would be helpful also.

The thought of selling the Camaro is killing me but I just don't drive it enough. I am 46 and have a wife and 2 teens. Seldom would the 4 of us want hop in and go for a cruise. It is usually me and the wife or me and 1 of the kids. I am not sure that I will even like driving the Prowler, so I plan on going and test driving one at a dealer on Friday. Is the trunk space really as small as it appears?

Thanks for your help.

posted 09-28-2011 02:58 PM                  

The one that I am looking at and test driving is an Orange 2001 Chrysler with 19,000 miles. It is a 1 owner car that looks like it came out of Jersey and was picked up by the dealer at auction this summer. It looks like they have had it since July.

posted 09-28-2011 04:05 PM                  

quote:

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Is the trunk space really as small as it appears?

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posted 09-28-2011 05:31 PM                  

...look under nose for scrapes
...inside of wheels for pitting
...conv. top for holes(from being put down incorrectly)
...make sure both windows work okay
...hood struts, will they hold the hood open
...leaking shocks

posted 09-28-2011 06:07 PM                  

If you like your Camaro you will Love the Prowler.

I sold my 1969 COPO Camaro about twelve years ago with about 10,000 original miles on it. Yes I miss it and not a day goes by that I don't kick myself for selling it but knowing it has a great home helps.

I have had my Prowler for about two and a half years and have put around 15K miles on it in that time, all of them have been great. The best part is the people I have met and become friends with within the community.

Look for upcoming events here on the East Coast. There is a group of us that get together a few times each year and work on the cars or go somewhere for a long weekend. It makes the Prowler experience that much better when it can be shared with others. Look for ECP related postings like the one we are about to experience on the Statue of Liberty get together. I hope you can join in and become part of the group.

posted 09-28-2011 08:11 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Simonsez:
My only advice is do not sell your '69 Camaro! I have both the Prowler and a '69 Camaro convertible. There's time for both.

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posted 09-28-2011 09:37 PM                  

I will check under the front end (that makes sense as low as they are), the hood struts, the windows, check for pitting on the wheels, the shocks for leaking and the top. I assume the top tears in the rear upper corners. How do the interiors wear? Can you at least get a small travel bag in the trunk?

Does anyone know if the PD or inspection stations in Pennsylvania allow the front bumper delete? How are insurance costs? Mine will be real low miles on with 4 other cars (3 daily drivers and a low mileage Lexus SUV).

I would love to join the East Coast Prowler group on their adventures. I read the link on the Statue of Liberty trip. It sounds like fun. Thanks alrtg. I also get to Hagerstown a good bit. There are some nice cruise-ins there.

More advice is welcome, but that so much for what you guys gave me so far.

Tim

posted 09-28-2011 09:50 PM                  

Sorry - I will work on that tomorrow.

Tim

posted 09-28-2011 10:00 PM                  

The one that I am looking at and test driving is an Orange 2001 Chrysler with 19,000 miles. It is a 1 owner car that looks like it came out of Jersey and was picked up by the dealer at auction this summer. It looks like they have had it since July.

Tim [QUOTE]

Tim,
Mine is a 2001 Plymouth and I had to change all the shocks to Konis at 2k miles because Chrysler started installing the Dynamics(POS)and they were leaking. All other year's were installed with Konis. You might want to check and see if the previous owner changed them out.

posted 09-29-2011 12:15 AM                  

...top snags just above the door handle area(approx)

...bumpers are your own call...most who remove them don't worry about it...I've never heard anything negative from doing it...I've owned 10-11 Prowlers, took them off of all but 1 or 2 (sold them )

...luggage...use soft duffle bags...my wife and I have been gone a week at a time...both packed, car cleaning supplies and 1 lawn chair...don't buy anything in a square box unless you want to carry it in your lap all the way home

ps...pack with your top down, so if you decide to put it down on the trip you have space for it to go down...the way I like to travel best is to leave the wife at home and put my crap in the front seat, LOL....fewer pee stops, less b!tching and whining about food

posted 09-29-2011 08:34 AM                  

I iwll check to see if the shocks were replaced.

posted 09-29-2011 08:44 AM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by tangled up in BLUE:
less b!tching and whining about food

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Of course. If your wife's not there, there's nobody to bitch and whine too lol.

posted 09-29-2011 09:15 AM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Simonsez:
My only advice is do not sell your '69 Camaro!

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Exactly. Don't do it. I'm primarily an "old" car guy, and cars like that are getting to be worth more and more every day. Hold off on the Prowler until you can afford it without getting rid of the Camaro. Since they are relatively newer cars, the Prowler values won't really start to climb until about 10 years from now.

I talk to guys at car shows all the time who say, "I used to have a [insert old car name here] and wish I'd never sold it. Sure regret doing that."

posted 09-29-2011 02:58 PM                  

Then on the other hand, I really don’t drive it very much and won’t want to take it on a trip over an hour or leave it out overnight. It runs good but is more over a cruiser than anything to take a trip in.

So now you all have me thinking. Do I hang onto the Camaro and defer getting a Prowler (or any other vehicle) or do I try to sell it and get all I can for it. Ask a big number and if I get it cool, if not just hand onto it.
Either way I think that I will go check out the Prowler tomorrow and see what I think. I am also going to the Carlisle car show and Auction after that so I will be on car overload tomorrow. Hershey next Friday.

Thanks for everything.

posted 09-29-2011 03:30 PM                  

In answer to selling the old and buying new...that is marlarky in my opinion. I paid $5100 for my Camaro in '71 and was offered $35,500 by a serious buyer this summer. If someone were to offer me today what I paid for my Prowler I would probably take it. I could always buy another Prowler at a reasonable price...not the case for a '69 Camaro. JMO

posted 09-29-2011 03:52 PM                  

I will keep figuring this out.

Thanks for all the info guys.

I wish that I could post a picture of the Camaro.

Is there a way to cut and paste a picture?

posted 09-29-2011 07:06 PM                  

When I go to car shows and cruise-ins all I see are old farts like me...Young people seem to have little interest..JMO...

posted 09-29-2011 07:50 PM                  

The good news is that they are putting kick ass muscle cars in Video games. They also let the kids build them like back in the day. That is how my 15 year old fell in love with 1970 GTO's. Me also races a '69 Camaro online but it isn't as cool as a GTO since the old man has one.

I will email a couple pics.

I can see both sides and struggled with both issues before i even hopped on here. You guys have not made it any easier. The Camaro is super clean and runs great. It just needs some minor details like vintage air installed (not cheap), carpet, seat covers (which i have) and head light actuators installed. I have the actuators but I think that I want to replace them with solid state electronic actuators.

On the other hand it would be nice to just go out and hop in a Prowler and go 150 miles to the beach and not even think about it. But I guess I can do that in my SUV but just not as fun.