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Chrysler PT Cruiser (2005 and earlier)
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Comments
Yes, the engine space is tight on a Cruiser, but does that matter? Routine service items are not a problem to reach.
I was surprised to read that the Avalon had black tape on some wires. I have a Camry and it does not have any.
Thanks.
You can run a turbo on regular, but performance and mpg will be reduced. If you are concerned about the extra cost of using premium instead of regular you are looking at the wrong car. Consider this: If you drive 18,000 miles per year you would use 1000 gallons of gasoline, based on the mpg my Cruiser gives for my combination of near gridlock and high speed driving. The difference in cost for a year by using regular, if one can get the same mpg on regular as with premium, is just $200.
Based on testing I did with another car that has the recommendation to use premium, running regular instead of premium reduced mpg by 8%, showing there was essentially no dollar saving using regular. Performance was reduced using regular, so using regular instead of premium was a net negative.
We like our Cruiser very much, but don't use it for trips. It is used locally, with an occasional freeway drive of not over 75 miles one way. We did try it for a 250 mile drive and found the seats comfortable, and the ride okay too.
My 03 PT Limited now has 35K miles on it. The only problem I've had thus far is the heated seat switch indicator burning out for the 'low' position on the driver's side. The switch itself has been replaced 3 times, and it's currently on order right now. Weird. That, and the gear shift knob (auto) came loose a few times as well.
I had the 30K done, and also had the brake pads in front replaced and the fuel injectors cleaned. I just had to have the serpentine belt replaced (the NA 2.4 actually has 2 of them) for a total of $159 from a private garage (dealer quoted $200).
All in all, I have been extremely happy with my choice. It's rommy, comfortable, very versatile, and a good value. The only thing I would change would be depreciation (which is a bit steep), and maybe give it a little more merging power.
Also, a few suggestions wouldn't hurt either.
idntnvu
For additional traction, you could mount snow tires in winter, which would also aid in turning and stopping, something 4WD doesn't do. For the vast majority of driving in snow country, FWD, especially when combined with winter tires, is very adequate.
As far as power is concerned, the power requirement isn't dependent on whether or not you'll be driving in snow, in that the NA 2.4 has more than enough power to spin the drive wheels wildly on a slippery surface, something you probably wouldn't want to do anyway. My point is that you need to decide whether the NA 2.4 is adequately powered for your general needs, since the snow issue is irrelevant, as it relates to power.
Two questions:
1) Will the newer, low-profile rear headrests fit my '01?
2) If so, where can I purchase them?
Many thanks in advance!
Does anyone know if that is a standard equipment on GT convertible?
My 01 Limited has tens of paint chips on the front end,being lower in the front,and like our noses,take it up front.I do live on a gravel driveway,but don't speed on it!!!!!!!!
I don't know what all you race drivers ,do but I just checked my mileage and am getting 29.3MPG,for both town(small) and highway(up &down) driving,since gas prices,and try and average 55MPH.Thats not bad for a heavy" little car" I LOVE IT!!!!
My concern is the paint, looks like the paint job on PT is not that good, especially black car. Ours happens to be black.
I happened to take a flight back sitting next to a car detailer. He told me black is the hardest to maintain (from any brand) although it does look beautiful.
I don't think there is any magic finish to protect the car.
Maybe get it detailed once a year (clay to remove deposits, then apply any good wax or polymer).
Please keep us posted on the 5 speed manual. I had a 4 speed automatic and was disappointed with the acceleration and gas mileage, but hear very good things about the manual. You can search old test reports on the car magazine websites.
Beware of invoice pricing, it is not a reliable indicator of actual selling prices. You need to look at the "factory" sticker; factory incentives; and dealer discount. I got mine much more than $2,000 below invoice (invoice was only a grand less than factory sticker) after adding up the dealer discount ($1,800) the rebate ($2,000) and the Chrysler Financial extra rebate for financing with them ($1,000). This late in the model year, you should get a great deal.
Finally, word is out now on the 2006 PT Cruiser. The interior looks worse imho, the exterior changes seem neutral to me, but they are improving the sound proofing quite a bit (my PT Cruiser was plenty quiet as it was). At least you owe it to yourself to Google 2006 PT Cruiser and see what you come up with, so you don't feel let down in a couple of months when the 2006's hit the dealers.
Like you, I got the PT Cruiser in lieu of a small SUV, and liked it a lot for that purpose.
We have had a bit of trouble with the paint in the front. We had it part of the front repainted (warranty). However, my wife drives it to work daily and her path (except in the dead of winter) has a high concentration of bugs. One would have to clean it twice a day at least to keep the bugs from becoming an integral part of the paint job.
Other than that, she gets a bit over 30 mpg and it is still tight and quiet even though the roads she travels (120 miles round trip) daily are backroads and notably rough.
Like some others here I have decided to move to better plugs and like many have installed Platinum plugs. I just got back from a road trip to Texas from California and back and got a low of 25 mpg in a head wind and holding to 80 mph to a high of 35 mpg on the flat with no head wind and 75 mph.
I got my PT in 2002 and still love it. Take out the back seats and you can load a lot more into the car than I could in my old Cherokee. I have 17 inch rims and have lowered it by 2 inches in the front and 2.5 inches in the rear so it rides flat.
I was told it is under the left fender
I've had it for only a week and 2 days.
I gave it back to the dealer after CLOCK WOULDN'T KEEP TIME
and I COULDN'T SHUT OFF THE HEADLIGHTS. the keys where out of the ignition and the dumby bell was sounding when I opened the door. I finally got it to go off when I put the key back into the ignition and turned slightly.
then I tried to open back door and THE REAL TAIL LIGHT FLASHED
then I COULDN'T GET THE DOME LIGHT TO WORK WITH THE DOOR CLOSED.
My car salesman told me they found a loose wire connected to the fuse box and they fixed it.
When I picked it up tonight, the service dept. told me that it still had the "fuse"? that the floor models have in them and that they where supposed to take that out when they sold me the car and switch it out.
Then on my way home in the dark I was listening to the sterio when it felt cold and noisey. I turned on the dome light to find that THE PASSENGER REAR WINDOW HAD ROLLED ITSELF DOWN!!! i COULDN'T GET IT TO GO BACK UP.
After parking it and putting the key back in the ignition a few times, I was able to roll the window up using the rear seat window things.
I feel at this time that I want to return this "lemon" and get a car that isn't a Chrysler product.
I had a Dodge Shadow 92 that also had electrical issues that where never resolved.
Our 03 averages only 18 mpg, but I have seen as much as 27 on a long freeway drive.
Yes, I have seen a small increase in mpg (about 1 mpg) and the engine idles a little better too. It also seems to start more quickly. All of these observations would probably be the same with new standard plugs too.
Because I also put new tires on about the same time as the plug change, the increase in mpg could be due to the new tires. The new tires are far superior to the OE tires with a better ride, less noise, better wet handling, and a higher tread wear rating.
I'm a PT newbie--we just bought a 2003 PT Cruiser Classic and we love it. However, because it's the base version, it doesn't have power door locks. Does anyone have a recommendation for aftermarket keyless remote system installers? I live in the L.A. area (Redondo Beach for you L.A.ers). Any help you can give will be sincerely appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
-terry-
Go for it and have fun. The convertibles are a blast!
There was one major reason, and two minor reasons why we didn't get the Caliber instead:
First, the Caliber is stickered high, at least with the basic options you'd want. It was stickered $2,000 more than the PT (but had some extra goodies, like side curtain airbags, ABS, tire pressure monitor, etc.) More importantly (I would have paid the difference for the extras) there is only a $500 rebate and the dealer would only offer $500 off the MSRP. This is because the car is new. So it's just way too early to get bargains.
Second, third, and fourth, (1) its not as spacious feeling as the PT, and the trunk seems smaller - I don't think you sit as high up in it (all these factors make it less suitable for hauling around 4 people - two small adults, an infant, and a pre-teen); (2) the CVT is untested, imho, and has a different "feel" from a 4, 5, or 6 speed automatic; and (3) the interior isn't as nice - it's plain instead of dressed up like in the PT. Of course that's part of the "little SUV" design cues Dodge is intentionally using.
BUT if I were buying for myself, and Dodge was offering $2000 in rebates and the dealer was offering $2000 in their own discounts (as they were doing on the PT), I would have made up the difference in MRSP's in an instant and bought one...even as a first model year, with all the pain and suffering that implies, it is such a winner.
The car holds a lot for a small car. I can get my drum kit and my hand drums in at the same time.
Thanks
Jim
were squeaky. The dealer told me it was because it had been sitting on the lot for a while, and
we had had wet weather. Whenever it rains, the brakes squeak ( squeal ) should it be doing this? We never had this with our Jeep TJ! Rain or not. I called the dealership, and spoke to them. They told me they pulled the inspection report, and the brakes were 70%. I want a copy of that report. My wife is concerned about the car not being safe to drive, even though this only happens when it rains. Does she have a legit concern? I use my vehicle everyday. Does anyone else have this problem? What could it be? A rock? bad rotars? any ideas? Iam going to take the car to the dealership and request they check the brakes in my presence. What would be your advice? Thanks all!
I managed to get approved for a loan all on my own, I just got to turn over the keys and the title for the ol' lemon from hell! Cheers to all u PT CRUZER owners, and long live the PT!!!
We're moving away from these large generic discussions, and setting up smaller more focused ones. This is a work in progress, so if you don't find a discussion that fits the issue you want to talk about, please feel free to create a new one and we can adjust things later if need be.
Thanks for your patience and assistance as we move the furntiure around!