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Chrysler PT Cruiser (2005 and earlier)
I just drove one (loaded) leather, moonroof, cd,
16" wheels, tint, the whole 9 yards. Sticker?
$20,000! It was so damn cool!
The interior is the most versatile interior I have
ever encountered! The rear deck cover pulls out
and makes a table for tailgating parties! The back
seats fold down or can be pulled out completely.
The front passenger seat folds flat for more cargo
area!
Based on a Neon the PT gets around 30mpg!
They are coming out with a turbo soon.
Cooler than a minivan but big enough for a family.
I will buy one. You?
16" wheels, tint, the whole 9 yards. Sticker?
$20,000! It was so damn cool!
The interior is the most versatile interior I have
ever encountered! The rear deck cover pulls out
and makes a table for tailgating parties! The back
seats fold down or can be pulled out completely.
The front passenger seat folds flat for more cargo
area!
Based on a Neon the PT gets around 30mpg!
They are coming out with a turbo soon.
Cooler than a minivan but big enough for a family.
I will buy one. You?
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
No, I would not consider buying a Chrysler product because of their poor reliability records. Recent Chrysler models are notorious for peeling paint, electrical problems, failing head gaskets, drivetrain and transmission failure and a host of other design flaws.
They are poorly-engineered vehicles, and owning one will put you on intimate terms with their service department.
I shudder to think of owning any Chrysler, let alone a turbocharged model. Although the PT Cruiser may be fun to drive (for a minivan), I couldn't bring myself to overlook their terrible reputation, and I feel that if you would purchase one, well, lets just say you better get the extended warranty, and maybe buy a second car for those days when the PT Cruiser is at the shop.
I think the same sort of web sites and similar comments regarding overall craftmanship can be found for just about every manufacturer. As a matter of fact, if I go to Alldata and look it up, it seems as though they have spared no one! Mercy!
http://www.alldata.com/pro/TSB/yr.html
However, statistically speaking, you're probably better off with another manufacturer.
First I don't write enough, then I write too much... ;-)
Haa haaa haaaa....
REPENT DC THE END IS NEAR!
Oh brother, give it a rest.
Thanks for the insight on car problems though.
Actually, my ONLY worry is buying North American. I have owned 3 Honda's over the last 7 years and I'm not looking forward to problems that can only be serviced by a dealer that wants to rape me financially.
Sorry for the jabs.
No offense taken at all :-)
Honestly, I just think that you would be better off not buying a Chrysler product. I read Lemonaid (I don't know if you have it in the US, it's a Canadian publication), and Chrysler is consistantly making their "not recommended" category.
I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole, although I must admit, I've never actually owned one myself.
I think if you moved from Honda to Chrysler, you'd find a BIG drop in reliability and overall quality.
And I always enjoy a feisty discussion :-)
The PT was so cool I just have to have one.
Problems I hear of seem to come from people that just don't know how to take care of a car. Granted some problems are legitimate but overall I get the feeling of dumb consumers and $h!+head dealers trying to fix major recalls.
I'd believe that they ship all the lemons to Canada, except for the fact that many of these horror story sites created by Chrysler owners originated from the US.
And if you read the earlier postings in this thread, you'd realize that I'm not, and have never been a Chrysler owner (thank God!).
Mary
find people who have had problems with them.
Mary
I will be the last person to get one from my dealer all other orders will be removed whne mine comes in.
If they still want one they will have to place their orders again later.
They are also really small. And you want to pay $26,000.00 for that. Are you kidding?
I think you are ready for the Mini.
A new Mini car is coming, along with lots of hype
Check it out at:
http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/03/25/automotive/
I bet the Mini won't sell as low as $16000
Pocahontas
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Hatchbacks/Station Wagons Message Boards
You'll find a direct link to Edmund.com's PT Cruiser long term road test on the left hand column of this page. Look for it in the "Additional Resources" section (white box).
Fyi, our "Additional Resources" is a new feature. I'll also be linking up other PT Cruiser articles and related discussions... in that area in the near future.
Pocahontas
Host
Hatchbacks/Station Wagons Message Boards
1: Underpowered. For most people, 150HP is going to be plenty for all theyll ever really need, eg daily commuting. If not, the 2002 model with it's turbocharged 200HP motor will quench your thirst for guts. If you can't wait, then take the money you saved by getting a PT instead of that minivan or monster SUV and put some engine mods into it. Getting the 5-speed manual over the automatic helps too, and not just the acceleration.
2: Dealer headaches. A temporary problem. Production is being ramped up, and demand will start slowing soon. By 2003 MY it'll be like buying a Neon or Intrepid.
3: Low crash-test scores. LEARN TO DRIVE! A truly good driver can spot trouble in plenty of time to evade or correct. Don't believe me? Take a decent driving course, like YD, and not that DMV-passer people pay 20 bucks for a half-hour behind the wheel. I'm sorry if I sound cruel, but if people would just take the time and money to learn the skills that could save your life and the lives of others, we'd all be a lot better off. A $400.00 driving course is a heckuva lot better than a $1500.00+ repair job, not to mention skyrocketing insurance and the possible hospital bills, along with the emotional trauma, loss of transportation, yadda yadda yadda. If THAT doesent convince you, opt for the upgraded 4-wheel disc ABS brakes, if that makes you feel better.
Oh, and keep your hands at 3 and 9. No, not on your cellphone, ON YOUR STEERING WHEEL.
Drive safely.
-Greg
To everyone- Here's an article about the PT Cruiser from Edmunds.com's News: Chrysler Studies Possibility of Open-Top PT Cruiser. What do you think?
Want to see a picture of this? Check out Greg116's post in our Upcoming Hatchbacks discussion. Talk to everyone later. ;-)
Pocahontas
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Hatchbacks/Station Wagons Message Boards
The heated seats came in handy since it snowed up here in the Pocono's yesterday. It is also hard to believe it is a Chrysler! The fit,feel and layout is great. I just love the door handles. The interior is nice and roomy and the power seems to be OK. I have not pounded on it yet but I had no problem getting on the highway and PT cruising at 80 mph. I paid a little under sticker, but it is hard to negotiate when there is a line of people waiting for them. It also helped that I was per-approved for the loan. I just hope it out lasts the loan.
Happy PT owner.
We look forward to hearing more about your PT Cruiser. Happy Motoring! ;-)
Pocahontas
Host
Hatchbacks/Station Wagons Message Boards
Wilkes-barre PA
that is in the northeastern part of the state.
they have a web site so you can check out what they have in stock. but it shows the cars with a depots on them. so they may not be available.
If you really want one you can find dealers that will not gouge you. It may take going to a few dealers but you will find one. I went to 3 dealers that would sell at sticker before finding my local dealer that would go $500 below. You may have to wait for a 2002 but they will be here before you know it.
Got a "taupe" (looks like charcoal to me) Limited with everything for 23K flat, right at MSRP. Kind of tough paying MSRP for a car when I know I could go down the street and pay thousands less at the Dodge or Ford dealers. But, they don't make anything like the PT Cruiser and it just fits my needs perfectly.
16 miles on it off the lot and away we go.
Not trying to start a debate!
Mine is 2 and 1/2 weeks old and has 2000 miles on it. Last tank got 20.2 mpg. Fun to drive as you can tell by the mileage.
I agree you cannot always control every situation and some crashes cannot be avoided.
Like I said I was not trying to start a debate! But there could have been a malfunction?
You remind me of a friend in college who said "You don't trust my driving," when I put on the seat belt. HELLLLLLOOOOOOOOOO....... You are not the only one on the road. You are going to tell me that you can avoid every maniac, sleeping, innatentive (sic?), drunk driver or blow out on the road? When you don't avoid them, don't you want to be in a sturdy vehicle? There was no excuse for this inadequate design.
The cars are not exactly the same on both sides, so the results are not going to be exactly the same.
FACT #1
Crash test data does not agree with injury and fatality data based on actual accidents. Check it out yourself! Some models that have scored poorly in the tests actually have better than average injury and fatality statistics and vise versa.
FACT #2
The tests are not perfect. Forces in a crash are very complex and vary with each and every crash. Most serious crashes involve a collision between two or more vehicles, not a single car hitting a wall. A car designed for the test, may not necessarily be safer overall.
FACT #3
The P.T. did well in the rear and side impact tests. This is just as important if not more so (I would rather be protected from the other drivers than from myself crashing into an object).
Consumer reports did not tell you this so people assume the P.T. did poorly in all the tests (Not So). Why is Consumer Reports selective in the vehicles they choose to trash? There are import vehicles with poor crash results, and CR will not tell you about it. Makes you wonder just how biased said organization is.
FACT 4
How can there be such a big difference between the driver and passanger (the passanger received a 4-star rating). This is a symmetrical vehicle. As an engineer, I can't read too much into such a result.
FACT #5
In multiple vehicle crashes (most serious accidents are), the heaver vehicle is always safer regaurdless of crash ratings. Quite frankly, in a game if Chicken between a P.T. and a 5-star Beetle, I would rather be in the P.T.
The car is not 100% the same on both sides.
Real world data is not going to exactly correspond with a lab test because of many uncontrolled variables.
If you are driving a PT Cruiser and happen to hit an 89 Geo Metro, you will be better off than hitting a 99 Expedition,
The test shows how the vehicle performs hitting a wall at a certain speed and is tested the same as every other vehicle tested.
Certain cars attract certain type of drivers who either drive more safely or more recklessly and real world crash data and insurance data has alot more to do with driver skills, risk taking and the size of the other vehicle they happened to have hit that day than the vehicle's integrity.
Lets talk about how much fun this car is!
BTW... where is the metallic aztec yellow they showed us? Chrysler doesn't know how to paint a car yellow?
I have linked this discussion into that folder, but it will always reside here in Hatchbacks.
Looking forward to meeting everyone!
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
As far as Chrysler products go: I owned a '97 Jeep Wrangler and it was one of the worse cars I have ever owned. It was in the shop no less than 20 times. It is pretty sad when you walk into the service dept and the service manager knows you by name!!!! As far as the PT is concerned, I have heard pretty good things about it. I would be a little nervous about how it holds up a few years down the road. My current car is a '99 Mercury Cougar and I am experiencing the same sort of problems with this car as I did the Jeep. I guess I will be buying a non-american car in 2 years!!!
Good luck with your PT's though!!