posted 08-14-2002 09:38 PM                  

quote:

---

Originally posted by prowlerFreek:
ive noticed that now you can buy some prowlers for about 30k and they only have about 10k miles on them! is this just a rare occurence, or are prices going to be raising in the months and years to come? i find that 30k is not expensive at all for a prowler.. i saw a lot for around this price just browsing autotrader.com the other day
what do you guys think?

---

I believe that we may have hit the turning point. The bad news, causing the value to drop, was threefold and is hopefully behind us:
1. Chrysler flooded the market by producing an excess of prowlers through February 15, 2002, intended to last out the 2002 model year.
2. Chrysler, it was reported here, gave dealers $8,500 back on the Plymouths. This, combined with #1 above, effectively reduced the selling price by more than the $8,500. This has caused the Chryslers to drop as well.
3. The economy, and stock market drop, is contributing to the excess supply. People who have lost $$$ in the market or lost their jobs are not now buying expensive cars, and some prowler owners are being forced to sell - just look at the ads within this board.

I just looked at Ebay - there are only 15 listed.
My last data-point was on July 6, 2002 when 28 were listed - almost a 50% drop.

"The reason to buy real-estate is that they're not making any more of it". We can all help the value of our Prowlers by doing the following:

Continue locating and posting the locations and details of prowlers for sale - we seem to do a pretty good job of that already. Although this will continue some short-term pain and contribute to lowballing, we will first help to dry up the dealer supply and then the used. The short-term pain of of the dropping prices will reverse when the flooded supply is gone.

If we can do this before the economy turns, we'll ride the curve up in prowler value faster than the stock market.

JMHO

posted 08-15-2002 10:23 AM                    

quote:

---

Originally posted by Stray Cat:
I would seriously consider another at these prices...... Wow. Prices will go up - it may be a while but, they will go up. History repeats itself. They couldn't give away SuperBirds - Gas crunch etc. Now look. We would all love to have one. Why are there so few RAM AIR IV TA's ? No one wanted them and they were lot's of $$$$ ? Why only 626 or so 69 Trans Ams ? People didn't want them. Look at the prices now. They are 6-10 times what they sold for. If you can find one of the original Convertibles they are 100K +.

John

---

John, look at the length of time to get there (33 years). I suspect a fair amount of us won't be here in 33 years

I also agree with a previous post about the lack of advertising. I still get people stopping me and asking, "What is that??"

I disagree with another poster that said once owners have them, they tend to keep them. Autotrader (et. al.) is littered with tons of individuals selling theirs for a variety of reasons. It's just a car. Yes, some of us really like them alot but, 500 or 2000 people that really want to keep theirs is not going to make the prices skyrocket when there are boatloads of other ones to be had for cheap.

I my search for a new one, I have found alot of dealers still have 2001's and a few 2000's (all brand new). I just bought a new 2002 Yellow for under $40K w/ 10 miles on the OD. A far cry from what you had to pay say two years ago.

I think most of us just bought these to have fun and get noticed for driving a wild looking car. As far as an investment, well, your kids or grandkids might see it but, don't expect to see it any time soon.

------------------
Trey
"Who are you calling chicken? I said I'm YELLOW"

posted 08-16-2002 09:39 AM                    

1) This is a toy car so 95% of the population won't buy it as they need primary transportation.

2) Those who wanted one, I think, already have one (or 12) so that market segment is fairly well saturated

3) If everyone that could afford a $40-50-60K+ Prowler have one (or 12) then dealers need to lower the prices to tap into a different market segment. My last Prowler (Black-Tie #5) I paid $48K for. I recently came across a dealer with a new one with 15 miles on the Od for $39K

Couple all of this with a slow economy and it will make prices worse (or better if you are buying one).

The Prowler is a very unique car that probably will go up in value in time but, I'd be willing to bet that you will not get back what you paid for it in the next 10 years.

So my advice is drive it, enjoy it, and have fun with it and if in 10 or 20 years you can sell it and make money..Great but, if it still is not worth more...well, at least you've had fun with it for all that time.