2001 Plymouth Prowler Review

No production car is remotely like the zoomy Chrysler Prowler convertible.


This is the only hot rod ever offered by a major automaker. Drive one, and you'll encounter stares, smiles, waves and appreciative shouts. Nothing you can buy for the $44,625 car's price will draw more attention.


The Prowler first was an early 1990s auto show concept car from the adventuresome old Chrysler Corp. It got such a tremendous reception that it was made a limited-production model with the Plymouth nameplate for 1997.


The Prowler has been on the ''must-have'' lists of some car buffs since its arrival in showrooms. It carries the Chrysler nameplate for 2001 because DaimlerChrysler is phasing out the Plymouth brand.


It's easy to picture deceased actor James Dean hunkering down in the 1950s-style low-slung car with a turned up jacket collar and a sneer on his face.


Few cars turn as many heads because no other auto looks like the largely hand-built Prowler, which has a retro hot rod body with such things as cycle front fenders. But relatively few heads get a chance to be turned by the car because most Prowler owners rarely--if ever--drive it; they hope it eventually will be a collector's item worth a lot more than they paid for it. In fact, the Prowler generally has sold for at least a few thousand dollars over list price.


The Prowler always has been offered in a small number of colors because that's partly how it has been kept distinctive--the styling doesn't change, but the colors do.


The first models only came in purple, while later models were offered with yellow, red and black paint. Blue paint now is the only standard exterior color of choice, although orange is on the way later this year.


That's not to say that you can't find, say, a red or yellow Prowler at dealerships. While more than 7,500 Prowlers have been sold in North America since production began in July 1997, it's a very specialized car that can go for a long time without finding a buyer.


In fact, the Prowler is pretty much a warm-weather weekend toy because it isn't very practical. For one thing, there is no trunk. There is scarcely room for a few small soft pieces of luggage if the top is up, which is why a $5,075 color-coordinated trailer is offered.


The snug cockpit is hard to enter or leave and gets uncomfortably hot in warm weather even with the air conditioning on and the manual-folding top up.


New for 2001 is a $2,000 Black Tie Edition Group option that contains a black/silver two-tone paint scheme, with the top of the car painted a classic hot rod black and the sides painted classic silver.


My test Prowler had the new $600 Mulholland Edition Group option. It's named after Los Angeles' Mulholland Drive, on which owners of hot rods and sports cars long have loved to drive. This option contains deep sapphire pearlcoat blue/silver paint, with handpainted stripes and a blue convertible top.


Very cool, to be sure.


While costly, the Prowler is loaded with power and comfort equipment and is mechanically sophisticated despite its retro body. It has advanced aluminum construction with such items as an all-aluminum frame, besides the hottest DaimlerChrysler V-6. It's a 3.5-liter, 253-horsepower engine hooked to an automatic transmission that can be shifted manually. This is a high-performance automatic, which upshifts very quickly and somewhat harshly if left in Drive mode.


The Prowler zips to 60 mph in only 5.8 seconds and from 70 to 80 mph in practically no time at all. The engine even loafs at 2,300 rpm at 75 mph.


However, hot rod fans think it should be offered with a V-8 and manual transmission, which is a combination common in 1950s hot rods. At least a V-8 would give the car a decent exhaust sound.


On the other hand, a V-8 would eat a lot more gasoline. Estimated fuel economy with the overhead-camshaft, 24-valve V-6 is 17 mpg in the city and 23 on highways. Premium 93-octane fuel is called for.


The first Prowlers had a harsh ride and lots of rattles and shakes; it's tough to make a car without those faults when it has items such as outboard front cycle fenders covering stiff, high-performance tires. However, DaimlerChrysler has made the ride softer and eliminated some of the shakes and rattles. The Prowler feels far more solid than the original model, although the steering wheel still shakes excessively when the car hits big bumps. Also, the firm, all-independent suspension results in a ride that often is jouncy despite the Prowler's long 113.3-inch wheelbase.


Fun to drive? You bet--at least for short runs.


The power rack-and-pinion steering is quick, and handling is good on dry roads. Acceleration is strong, and the brakes are powerful, although the pedal initially feels too soft.


The bucket seats provide excellent support, but the small, retro-style tachometer on the steering column is gimmicky, and there are too many reflections in the gauges.


In the end, the Prowler can't be judged like ordinary cars. It's just too wild.



CHRYSLER PROWLER


Price: $44,625


Likes: Extremely distinctive. Fast. Good handling on dry roads.


Dislikes: Jouncy ride. Snug interior. No trunk.