2002 Chrysler Prowler Review (continued)
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Walkaround

It is to DaimlerChrysler's credit that real hot rodders generally like and admire the Prowler. They recognize it as the tribute to their cars that it was meant to be. The Prowler is based on a concept car. Few observers at the 1993 North American International Auto Show in Detroit would have believed the stunning concept car turning slowly under the spotlights would eventually see the light of day.

Three years later the car emerged in its eggplant hue with its eggplant-shaped rear hip line, curvaceous and enorm with 20-inch rear wheels, contrasting in delightful incongruity to the airily light front end with motorcycle fenders capping 17-inch wheels and a brash bumper that admits it wouldn't be there on a real hot rod (but looks fine obeying street rules). Originally planned as a halo car for Plymouth, the Prowler is now a Chrysler adoptee.

Image-enhancement is still the car's strong suit, as it enhances the image of the driver. Prowler remains as eye grabbing as ever. Shouts of I love your car" trail it through restaurant parking lots. It evokes thumbs up and smiles from every age group, every gender (though most buyers are men).

The Prowler evokes the emotions and entertains the eye at every angle. Its enduring appeal depends on the fact that it is not just a bright idea and a smart design but that it is well executed. Detail is attended to, fit and finish are admirable. Sleekly sophisticated with its flattened wedge shape, voluptuous curves and unique color schemes, the Prowler is nonetheless a most affable machine. Indeed, if you didn't climb into its lap first it might climb into yours.

Color continues to be part of the appeal of the Prowler. With this car, Chrysler appears to be more like the Franklin Mint than a carmaker. Collectability is a real consideration, and the choice and timing of color options is a teaser to craving. The first year's purple led to a singing yellow in mid 1999. Then came a lipstick red and a black. (Two-tone red and black was used for a special Woodward Dream Cruise edition.) Silver was the new color for 2000. That was joined last Halloween with a deep orange, sort of like a Jack O'Lantern flashed with candle fire. Also for 2001 was a two-tone black and silver metallic called Black Tie Edition, as entertaining as a lounge magician. A special Mulholland Drive edition came in a deep sapphire Pearlcoat blue with light blue hand striping and a dark blue top. Sounds edible, doesn't it? Color the Prowler gold for 2002, but orange and silver will also be available.

Of the more than 7500 Prowlers sold as of April 2001, 1825 were black, 1487 were purple, 1447 were red, 1131 were yellow, 1002 were silver, 397 were orange, 147 were black/red two-tone, 133 were blue, and 102 were silver/black two-tone."

Interior Features

Operated manually, the top is made of a substantive padded cloth. It fits solidly and looks good when up, and it goes down with relative ease (aided by a few expletives), storing out of sight behind the rear deck lid. The rear window is real glass with defogger. The side windows are power with one-touch down.

The leather-trimmed bucket seats are handsome. They also provide good driving support and cruising comfort. The dash is another Chrysler design statement, a body-colored stretched lozenge-shaped cluster with centralized instruments. Never mind, the important thing is the little round tachometer apparently after-thought-mounted smack in front of the driver's nose on the steering column. It reminds us of hot rods with tachs from the J.C. Whitney's catalog.

Prowler has all sorts of comforts that few real rods have: remote keyless entry, air conditioning, 320-watt stereo with six-CD changer, audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel, power locks, windows and mirrors, even a cupholder (singular).

Outward visibility suffers notably. Hot-rod like, the sides of the car rise high, engendering that three-year-old-in-a-bathtub syndrome. The top in place achieves a cocoon-like visual isolation. But even with the top down it is impossible to know exactly where the right-side front tire is. This is more a problem in parking lots than on the road, but care is suggested to avoid damaging or being damaged. (Also be cautious in edging up to low concrete parking space markers lest an unpleasant underside scraping results.) Fortunately for locating other objects in the world the side mirrors are amply sized. (Hint: adjust them so that they take in some of that great swell of the rear fender. This is for aesthetic considerations only.)

The Prowler will teach you to travel light, and flat and soft-sided. The great rear haunches are for transaxle, tires, gas tank and top storage, not your gear. Some garment bags might fit in the shallow area remaining, and a truly skinny brief case behind a seat, but if you carry more than what you wear opt for the small rounded color-matched trailer. It's cute. Fortunately, the center console has a little stuffing space.

People much above the national average in size may find the Prowler's cockpit (and the term is apt) cramped. Seat travel is limited. Certainly anyone who can play above the rim will not find a home in the Prowler. My 6-foot, seven-inch ergonomic tester could sit in the car only with the top stowed. He could drive - sort of - peering over the windshield, knees akimbo around the steering wheel at full tilt. It's not easy to watch an overgrown man cry.