I can’t believe that I’m getting all misty-eyed about the demise of the Chrysler Prowler.
DaimlerChrysler announced months ago that the 2002 Prowler — which began in 1997 as the Plymouth Prowler — would be the last of the breed. Production ceased in February, and the limited-production street rod will soon be fair game for collectors of all stripes.
So, why am I sad? Why did I take a final turn in the Prowler just recently?
Was there ever a more impractical car? I can’t think of one.
The base price on the 2002 model is a hefty $44,625. For that, two people can barely squeeze into the roadster. With the cloth top up and once you fall down into the lower-than-the-bottom-door-panel seats, you know how a sardine feels after it has been pressed into a tiny can.
Want to carry anything with you? Forget it … unless you like holding that suitcase in your lap. You have maybe three inches behind the seats.
For the record, Chrysler actually lists “cargo space” in the vehicle at a laughable 1.8 cubic feet. Let me tell what that means.
When you detach the Prowler’s sweeping rear section, pull it back and then fold the cloth top into the rear “cargo” area, you have just enough room to fit a very thin briefcase into the remaining space. Believe me, that’s it.
How about comfort?
The growl from the Prowler’s high-output 3.5-liter V-6 engine rumbles through the interior cabin with all the force of a mini-tornado, and backsides feel every bump in the road thanks to the vehicle’s stiff, hot rod-like suspension.
But, of course, if you’re worrying about such trivial things as cargo space, interior room, quietness and personal comfort in a Chrysler Prowler … well, you just don’t get it.
This car has nothing to do with standard transportation. It was built to be seen. It was built for fun. It was built for the sheer enjoyment of driving a vehicle that looks like it just left the drag strip, a vehicle so aggressively styled that one wonders if it’s street-legal.
And, oh yes, it draws comments. Like nothing else.
People might whistle at you in your 2002 Thunderbird or give you a thumbs-up in your new Mini Cooper, but a Chrysler Prowler is a veritable rolling invitation for testimonials.
During one week in my test 2002 Prowler, I received numerous purchase offers, countless requests to list its specifications and even a couple of inquiries about my current marital status.
Amazing.
The bottom line is that if you have even one drop of affection for motoring in your blood, nothing feels quite as good as bringing a Prowler’s 253 horses to full song on a hot day in the capital region — top down, radio on and gleaming, exotic bodywork slicing through the air.
And now, Chrysler says enough. Bummer.
Dieter Zetsche, chief executive of the U.S.-based Chrysler Group, has insisted that he will keep Chrysler’s fiscal house in order in the future. Rolling along in my test Prowler, Zetsche’s words reminded me of the elementary school principal of my nightmares, telling us there would be no more of this recess nonsense.
I hope Chrysler doesn’t plan on ruling out all the fun. For all its financial problems in recent years, Chrysler has demonstrated a refreshing tendency to let it all hang out, introducing some of the most innovative concepts and production models seen in the United States. The Prowler was perhaps the embodiment of that damn-the-bottom-line, here’s-something-cool philosophy.
Happily, the Prowler will continue to be seen on U.S. roadways. Dedicated watchers of the collector-car industry believe it will be a hot item among collectors, restorers and customizers.
And for those of you out there who have the time and money for something utterly impractical and totally fun, the 2002 Prowler can still be had. Consider yourself incredibly fortunate if you make the investment.
Chrysler Prowler at a glance
Make/ model: 20 Chrysler Prowler
Vehicle type: Two-passenger, rear-drive roadster
Base price: $44,625 (as tested, $45,400)
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6 with 253 horsepower at 6,400 revolutions per minute and 255 foot-pounds of torque at 3,950 rpm
EPA fuel economy: 18 miles per gallon city; 23 mpg highway
Transmission: Electronic four-speed automatic with overdrive and clutchless manual-shifting option
Steering: Power rack and pinion
Brakes: Four-wheel discs with power
Suspension type: Independent with coil springs-over-shock absorber configurations front and rear; stabilizer bars front and rear.
Interior volume: 47.9 cubic feet
Trunk volume: 1.8 cubic feet
Fuel tank: 12.2 gallons
Curb weight: 2,864 pounds
Front track: 62.2 inches
Rear track: 63.5 inches
Height: 50.9 inches
Length: 165.3 inches
Wheelbase: 113.3 inches
Width: 76.5 inches
Tires: P225/45HR17 on front; P295/40HR20 on rear (extended mobility tires with run-flat capability)
Final assembly point: Detroit
