| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| bobs77vet | hello new guy here, well not too new to cars or life but new to the Prowler forum. I restore and play around with classic cars for fun. the prowler has always been on my mind. mostly i go by bobs77vet but also visit some forums as 37ford4dr. here are my two current fun cars a 58 mga coupe and a 53 mg td. the TD is up for sale and i am thinking either a prowler or a C5 will take its place. DD is a 06 mustang convertible. i look forward to learning more about the prowlers, Bob  
This message has been edited by bobs77vet on 07-23-2017 at 11:52 AM |
| 1st Prowler | Heh Bob, you've got some "cool" rides there......now, just add a Prowler & lets go (((cruising))). 😎 |
| Landscape Doctor | Welcome to the site. Hope you find a Prowler that tickles your fancy. |
| bobs77vet | thanks, I am leaning towards the prowler but the adult kids who I restored stingrays with when they were in high school with are pushing for the C5. Where i live in side the DC beltway is the worst spot ever for cars....between other drivers inattention, talking on the phone , texting, speeding its just no fun in being in cars that dont have modern safety equipment. add to that neighborhood speed bumps that slow you down to 15-20mph in a mininvan, brings you down to 5mph in C5. so how does the Prowler do over speed bumps? |
| MattG | Welcome Bob. I'm a (relative) newbee too but quickly found out that these people here will help you through whatever. Some have been dealing with prowlers 15+ years so thee aren't too many stones that haven't been turned. Some of these guys own 3 Prowlers - maybe more? Just searching the archives can at the very least give some info on whatever... After that - about THE car and your Q. Prowlers aren't really known for their smooth ride but on the other hand the reason I went with a prowler is I wanted a old school style car but after doing some test drives I quickly realized I like a modern ride and amenities just as much as anyone. I'm only a few months in but gotta say, I can't hardly take it out without getting comments and interested questions. Besides everybody has a Camaro/Mustang/Challanger/Ve... Oh - never mind. You get my drift though... No offence intended... With only roughly 11k Prowlers ever made they are unique - by definition. They probably make that many Mustang each month... To get the nuts and bolts Prowler details here are a few reading resources: (the first 2 are from this web site) The Prowler Story
Facts & Stats
Prowler Info Regarding your current (very cool) rides (pictured above) and specifically the 58 MG you gotta wonder how much those cars influenced the AC Cobra design... This message has been edited by MattG on 07-23-2017 at 01:38 PM |
| ed monahan | Speed bumps and Prowlers are NOT a good combo. If you have front mud flaps, they will probably drag unless you cut the bottom 2 inches off. It will be worth the effort, however.
Matt gave you good advice about reading those 3 sections. |
| bobs77vet | thanks i have read the first two articles and will read the last one thanks bob |
| bobs77vet | geez..... robert bowdens review is pretty harsh in that last article. luckily that wasnt my first review of a car by a critic. some times i wonder if they go out of their way to be negative |
| phil2237 | Nice cars you have, BUT, with the Prowler, it will take you some time to get used to all the people that watch & admire the Prowler. The Prowler will also hold its value better than any other car. Forget the Vette, It may be quicker, But pull up to a stop light with a vette & a Prowler and see what car they are admiring. This message has been edited by phil2237 on 07-23-2017 at 06:30 PM |
| alrtg | Bob, These were on my Dad's 1947 MGTC many years ago. I have them as keepsakes. I see you also have them on your car.  
This message has been edited by alrtg on 07-23-2017 at 06:44 PM |
| padroo | Hi Bob, welcome to the POA. I would try to find someone to give you your first ride in a Prowler if you are on the edge of a decision. The first thing I would say there is nothing practical about owning a Prowler. lol If you don't like having your picture taken a Prowler is not for you, unlike the cookie cutter cars out there including the Corvette. I know they are nice cars but they are soo common. The Prowler has some quirks about it and some of the parts are in limited supply but being a member of the POA you can usually find what you want. You will hear people slam it because it doesn't have a V-8 or a manual option. They even added the Prowler into the SRT stable.
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/srt-belatedly-claims-plymouth-prowler-as-one-of- its-own/
This message has been edited by padroo on 07-23-2017 at 06:44 PM |
| MattG | Opinions... Everyone got one. And, good news doesn't sell... He did seem to really slam the Prowler but then gave it 3 out of 4 stars??? After that, let me address a few of the things from his "bad stuff" list: Brutal, bone-shaking, eyeball-gelling, rough ride - having only had mine for a few months and reading that and similar I expected the worse, but have not found that to be the case - OK not up to the ride of my wife's Lexus but what do you expect? You will find it a dream compared to your vintage cars and a few simple mods like getting rid of the run-flat tires does wonders. Then again, my daily driver is a Toyota pick-up so what do I know? Difficult entry and exit - This can be addressed with a $10/1 hr fix. No anti-lock brakes and long stopping distance - In another article I read Prowler had among the shortest stopping distances of all cars tested... and ABS doesn't necessarily mean shorter stopping distances. No doubt - I'd like to have ABS - it does help the driver maintain control in a panic stop situation, but in 2001 (yr of the article) ABS didn't come on all vehicles so it is what it is. No spare tires(s) - Not much you can do with different sized tires/wheels front and rear. It's a integral part of the look - the 'stance'. Manual top drop with difficult front latches - I didn't find that to be the case after I operated them a few times. Maybe for challenged individuals. Hair-ripping wind buffeting above 50 miles an hour - Again - I didn't find that to be the case and am able to wear a hat with the top down and it hasn't blown off. Actually less windy than most convertibles I've driven probably due to the low sports car like seating. My (long haired) wife has actually ridden with no head wear. Wheels look out of place - ????? Huh??? The 20s on the rear is part of what makes the whole look??? When I first saw them I called them modern day L-60s (dating myself) I could go on, and on but you get the idea... This message has been edited by MattG on 07-23-2017 at 07:18 PM |
| 401KAT | Let me give u one more story....Some good friends of mine were trying to buy the PT Crusier in 2000...Went in biggest chrysler dealer in houston ...Told they could order one ...There on showroom was a silver Prowler....Salesman says we can sell u that for 2k more....( I had no idea dealers were raping people then on PT Cruisers)...They buy Prowler and still have today...Worth 30k....pt cruiser maybe 4-5k.....true story....jim |
| pgpg42 | Bob,
I own a 2001 Prowler and my wife just bought me a 2017 Corvette Grand Sport. I am a die hard Corvette guy and this is the 16th one that I have owned. I have only owned my Prowler a couple years. I bought it in Phoenix with only 1900 miles on it and drove it home to Florida. I used to be turned off by the Prowler's V6, however I can honestly say it is as responsive as many Corvettes I have owned. My only Prowler complaint is the Prowler exhaust sound, it is just loud, there is no sweet sound like a V8 makes. I even changed to Sweet Thunder exhaust and the sound is not attractive. Neither car likes speed bumps. The Prowler does revceive more attention. Many people have never seen one. As an investment the Prowler is a better value. It is easier to find a very low mileage Prowler in pristine condition. Prowlers are still bringing about what I paid for mine a couple years ago. The Prowler will have a much better paint job, most of them still have the original paint which was wet sanded and buffed at the factory. The Prowler trunk is smaller but I had a custom made piece of luggage made to fit and I can still put the top down.
The C6 Corvette is a fine piece of machinery. It is very easy to get parts which is a concern for the Prowler. Believe it or not, the Corvette will get better gas mileage. It is easy to find mechanics familiar with working on a Corvette.
I am certain that you will enjoy which ever one you buy. Who knows, maybe someday you will end up with one of each.
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| bobs77vet | Andria I like those badges! thanks everybody for the comments, I have driven the Prowler and do like it. Although the one I test drove had a steering issue and it was way slow too respond to steering wheel input. This was a mechanical failure probably of the steering pump or steering rack. I have encountered it before in my travels. I am use to comments and thumbs up from the rest of my old cars so attention doesnt bother me.....drive up some where in a 69 stingray convertible with side pipes and you get noticed too. the C5s are like many of you have said are common, but in common you get lots of parts availability, low repair costs and honestly a pretty well engineered car, for not a lot of money, and you can find them all day long that have been babied their whole life. the info computer on my DD mustang says I average 21 MPH on my 9 mile commute traffic light to traffic light. I would drive this car to work on nice days and on weekends for fun. so its not like i am drag racing any where and I am never the fastest driver on the highways anyway so either car would have more then ennough power. in fact my v6 mustang weighs more and less HP then the Prowler and my power needs are met. what is the $10 fix that makes getting into and out of the car easier? PGPG42 what is the difference in seat height off the ground between the C5 and the Prowler, the C5 does sit pretty low and its hard for the boss to get in and out of low cars....she wont even get in the MGs, well she got in the TD once and said she thought she was riding in a go cart. thanks for the help Bob |
| 401KAT | Spacers behind the bolts on door stop...gets u about 6 inches more width...jim |
| TucsonJer | Hey Bob, welcome to POA land. There's a lot of Prowler owners out here who own both the Prowler and the Vette and from what I've read it seems that the general consensus is that while the Vette is an absolute blast to own, when all is said and done, nothing beats the pure pleasure of owning a Prowler. My wife and I just ended a 6 week road trip in our Prowler that afforded us one of the most incredible experiences of our lives. The interest in the Prowler was non-stop from the time we got in it each morning till the time we parked it each night. The pictures & videos taken, the never ending questions every time we stopped (even at a stoplight), the continuous stream of big smiles with a thumbs up was amazing. Even when parked, it garnered attention from people stopping to look at it and take pictures. It will be among our most treasured memories, our 2017 road trip, and it was all because of an exciting and unique automobile that seems to capture the hearts of almost every red blooded American who lays eyes on it. If you're on the fence about which car to buy, I urge you to experience the absolute joy of owning a Prowler. Jer |
| ed monahan | You can get seat risers for the passenger seat. |
| bobs77vet | thanks for the honest input i appreciate it
quote:
Originally posted by MattG:
Regarding your current (very cool) rides (pictured above) and specifically the 58 MG you gotta wonder how much those cars influenced the AC Cobra design...
it seems like designers travel in the same circles and follow the same cues the mga, AC , austin healey all moved to the same shape. the MGA got delayed in manufacturing and the Austin Healey got pushed forward. you can easily see styling differences between the two mg cars in 4 years but the chassis and suspension are very similar here is the build link on the MGA coupe a 5 year frame off build done in my garage. http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?2,2085517
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| BeWare | Welcome. I always like the design of the MG TC's and TD's. |
| pgpg42 | Bob,
My Corvette sits a few inches lower than the Prowler. It is a C7, don't know how it compares to a C6.
Dave |
