posted 07-23-2017 01:32 PM                  

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...

posted 07-23-2017 06:39 PM                  

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.

posted 07-23-2017 07:00 PM                  

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...

posted 07-23-2017 09:55 PM                  

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.

posted 07-24-2017 07:22 AM                  

quote:

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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...

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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