Most car companies play it pretty safe with the models they release, but Chrysler is a company that isn’t afraid to do something a little crazy from time to time. Case in point: the Plymouth Prowler. Plymouth was a Chrysler sub-brand from 1928 until 2001 when they went out of business. Most Plymouths of the modern era were boring sedans and minivans, but in 1997 they released the Prowler.

The Prowler was unlike any other modern car and could only be produced by a company like Chrysler. It was built in 1997, 1999, 2000, and then was renamed the Chrysler Prowler for the 2001 and 2002 model years. The Prowler was styled to look like a 30’s roadster and it was certainly eye-catching. But the Prowler has a fatal flaw: it has a Chrysler 3.5 liter V6. The Prowler’s styling screams “V8!!”, yet even after the slight increase in power for the 2001-2002 model years, the Prowler never made more than 253 ponies. While not pretty, the Prowler’s look is definitely interesting, but it is absolutely ruined by a lackluster V6 engine. Had Chrysler put a Hemi in the Prowler they would have had something really special.

The Prowler truly had the makings of a very cool and unique automobile had they put a V8 in it. They took the time and effort necessary to put the transmission at the rear, achieve 50-50 weight distribution, design a crazy body, and actually build it. This kind of lunacy is usually only found in concept cars, but the Prowler brought the concept to life with basically no changes. “Could’ve had a V8.”

photo source: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2008-10-05_Red_Plymouth_Prowler_at_South_Square.jpg

Speed freaks have been removing their mufflers for decades to gain power and get some more noise out of their rides. What many people do not know is that some cars come straight out of the factory without mufflers. I’m sure most people assume these muffler-less vehicles are Italian supercars or maybe even american muscle cars, but most people are wrong.

First on the list is the Fiat 500 Abarth. If you have ever heard a 500 Abarth accelerate from a stoplight or crank up then you have probably heard its surprisingly aggressive exhaust note. The first time I heard one, I assumed it had an aftermarket exhaust sytem or a muffler delete but in reality, Fiat sends these out the door basically straight-piped from the factory. So, next time you see a 500 Abarth, listen to its glorious, poppy exhaust note and be glad that some automakers are still a little bit crazy. The second car on this list is also a 4 cylinder turbo with front wheel drive but its a very different little beast.

The Dodge Neon SRT-4 is what happens when the man behind the original Dodge Vipers gets involved in the compact sedan segment. Now, I’m not going to lie, I thought the SRT-4 Neon was a joke for most of my life but I have wised up and learned more about them. Basically they took a lackluster, bug-eyed Dodge Neon and slapped a turbo on it and a host of other performance mods and created a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This car was produced from 2003-2005 and could hit 60 in less than 6 seconds, which was quite an achievement at the time. Oh, and dodge decided that the turbo and resonators would be enough to quiet the little 4 banger and I am so glad they did.

Continue reading “Cars with no muffler from the factory” →

3.0 liter, 24 valve, 7300 rpm redline, and 220 horse power; not words most would associate with a 90’s Ford Taurus. The first generation Taurus SHO doesn’t look like much, but it is a definite future classic. What makes the Taurus SHO so special is its 3.0 V6 that was co-developed with Yamaha. Adding to the special factor was a 5 speed manual transmission which further engaged the driver in the driving experience. This engine takes the mundane family hauler and turns it into a back-road pleasure. Although front wheel drive, it was more than capable of keeping up with its much more expensive German competitors.

Ford has revived the SHO name with the current Taurus, and on paper it’s better in every way. However, the new SHO will never be as special as the original for many reasons. The current Taurus is powered by the EcoBoost V6 that can be found in many other Ford products, and that is truly a shame. Had ford used a Cosworth tuned V6 or V8 paired to a manual transmission they could have had something truly special, but the result was just a fast Taurus and nothing more.

This car was a performance bargain when it was new, but it offers even more value today. The first generation Taurus SHO will undoubtedly go up in value in the future, but right now they can be had for less than $5,000. The only catch is that they are pretty rare these days, and it’s even more rare to find one in great shape. SHOs are something special. They should be cared for and held on to because they aren’t going to get any cheaper.