The worst car in the world? Chrysler PT Cruiser Goes for a Drive
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
- Possibly the most hated car since the Edsel, the Chrysler PT Cruiser was a brave retro styling exercise paying homage to cars of the 30s and 40s, but does it deserve the bad press?
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I’ve always kind of liked the PT. yes it’s flawed dynamically; but Chrysler took a risk. I respect that
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Found the dynamics decent with stick shift and decent tires.
I like it. I recently bought a GT from 2004.. I only need to have to get the pedals adjusted, they're to long for my taste and the clutch is pretty vague because of the former mentioned. And the clutch can be adjusted separately. I plan to keep it for quite a while. The prices are rising, so I'll keep maintaining the car as it should.
And keep the parts I'll replace, because the GT can be a really fun "sleeper". 😜
(will take years though, I'm poor 😓)
It had a hard time going up hills it needed a bigger engine that's why people didn't like it. But it was really nice looking.
I had a rental one of these one time. It drove ok, and I liked sitting high up. It did smell like plastic though. I'm in the middle on it,
Don't honestly know why people hate it--I'd much rather have something looking like this than Generic SUV #327.
I've 2002 Touring and in great condition. Love it! I'm the only one in town, now.
Unreliable they are
@@christineayres5339 thanks yoda lol
You don't know why? Man you must be living in your own world and have ZERO taste.
@@4486xxdawson thanks, Tony the teenie tiny tinker tool.
I learned to drive in my dad's car, a Citroen DS and I loved it. The PT is also an unusual car and that is what drew me to it. I know Millenials hate PT's, but I hate Millenials in return, so it is reciprocal. I drove all around with my PT, from Chicago to Boston and plan to ride down to New Orleans sometime soon. See ya, haters!
I had one about 10 years ago. I loved it. The only thing I didn’t like it it was a thirsty bugger. I called it Oliver Reed!
burp...
😂🥃
I absolutely adore these cars, don’t care what anyone says! They’re very marmite, but god are they unique and quirky. If I didn’t have a Rover problem, I’d have one in a heartbeat.
I am from canada i baught pt crusier one year ago i am very happy people look at me and they smile this is fun ride interior is so lovely comfortable seats don't listen to people just buy pt crusier
What's wrong with plastic.Its light weight and it doesn't rust.What would be better.
Yeah your kind would like it.
Same here, I was going to buy one, but was worried about finding parts for them.
The styling, the picknic options, removable seats, like a hotrod? It's more like a modern 2cv,
Legally it's designated as a light truck.
I had a PT Cruiser for many years and loved it. The styling was great. I used it for many years as a daily commuting vehicle. My middle daughter took it with her to university and drove it for 4 years. Then my youngest daughter drove it for a couple of years until she could afford a new car of her own. Then after over 12 years and about 260 thousand miles I sold it for $600 dollars. Everything still worked on it. Shows that doing proper and timely maintenance on a vehicle pays dividends.
Nice story they are good cars
I kept up with maintenance on mine but now the head gasket is cracked. Not worth the repair. I got my '01 Cruiser in 2016. It had 44K miles. I just passed 113K miles when the gasket blew. I"m so mad. I loved that baby!
Good reliable story ,which model/s(engine) of PT cruiser it was of Pls?
Despite all the flak, I actually like these and don’t quite understand why so many people hate them? Don’t like it when they slap chromed bits all over them and retro hub caps but the styling and shape is so distinctive and different. Most people don’t like different and chastise as a result!
Great video Matt and the low mileage is insane! It’s still new
The car community is strangely elitist and this is no different
People have a herd mentality,afraid to be different, it 's like in China where you didn't see any difference between male/female. Everybody is the same, horribel.People should grow some balls and be different.
The only real negative i've found is the bad turning circle in car parks and the lack of rear view sensors, which is easily fixed.
PT Cruisers in the US have a nasty reputation for having horribly aged mechanicals. I knew someone in high school who had one, bought it second hand from an older couple, but it was just RIDDLED with problems, and it eventually overheated one day and caught on fire while on the road.
Is it just me, or does it also look like some of he Isuzu trucks used by Imperial Japan? The grille and bonnet are unmistakeable
I love the PT! Currently own 3 of them, 2002 Dream Cruiser, 2004 Dream Cruiser Turbo(turbo=fun) and a 2009 Touring I use as my daily driver. I've had 5 of them over the years, they are fun little cars. If I can find a turbo convertible Imma buy it!
One of my favorite cars. Believe me, I drove a lot of different vehicles in my life and PT Cruiser, especially Turbo 2.4 Manual tranny... It is something very special. Fast (VERY fast actually!), robust, maintenance inexpensive, and very comfortable on the road. And very handy in everyday's use. When building my house, I've carried a lot of big and heavy things in it. Wanna go for a weekend to the forest or the riverside? There is special feature in the trunk shelf converting it in a small picnic table. Moreover, you can take away rear seats with just a few clicks and turn them into a chair. PS: to switch temperature indicator from F to C just press the button.
My stepdad had one. That little sucker went 210,000 miles before he traded it in.
Nice my 2001 PT has 284,300 miles and rides well.
Mine is 2007 and has 50,000 miles and a new timing belt, so it'll outlast me.
My younger brother had the diesel one in Limited trim. I thought the interior was cheap and horrible. Thing is he had it for a few years and it never let him down. Not my bag but each to their own.
I bought a new one in 2007 and it's still going strong. I loved it when I bought it and I still do. There are still lots of them on the road here in the US, but most of them are driven by people like me...middle-aged ladies. I call mine my "Grannymobile". ❤
I am from canada i baught pt crusier one year ago i am very happy people look at me and they smile this is fun ride interior is so lovely comfortable seats don't listen to people just buy pt crusier
How many miles on it?
This one is in exceptionally good condition. Hard to believe someone has managed to maintain one like this.
Not difficult when it probably spent most of its life in a garage being fixed!
@@Toby-vs6sm Hard plastic?You are not going to hug it or is it whenb drunk you hit your head on the plastic dash?
My 2009 is solid , oiled sprayed every year thats the only way to keep any car good now with all the car companies useing recycled steal . Crap metal
the red is gorgeous ; even the grey bumper fits perfectly
I've owned 4 and presently still own 2. My 01 I had for 12 yrs. best car I have ever owned. Easy in and out, comfortable, and versatile. You failed in your video what you can do with the front passenger seat and back seat which is what makes the car the most versatile car on the market that no suv can do. My 01 was a 5 spd that when I put cold air induction on it made it run like a by. I actually drove it 110 mph on Texas Motor Speedway. I converted an 05 to a custom pickup and won many awards with it. My wifes 07 was a convertible and after 12 yrs traded the 01 for a 10 which I still have along with the 05 custom.
Why wouldn’t you buy a pt turbo, or a pt GT?
very cool
Well done!!
Back in 2005, we bought a new PT Cruiser CRD Limited . It's one of the best little familycars I know. Lots of leather and plastic is easy to clean ( young families know what I mean ) On long trips with little kids, we used the picnic table to change diapers and when you fold down the passenger seat and the rear seat , the low position of the cover enables a flat space for long and heavy items. The diesel got a lot of torque and it was a surprisingly reliable car and always fun to drive for the five years we owned it.
Part of the performance concern is that the basic engine in the US was a more powerful 2.4 liter and a turbocharged GT was available from late-2002. I bought one in 2002 and drove it until 2010, when my father, who bought the woody version (only made in 2002/2003) stopped driving at 95-years old and gave me his, so I sold mine to my friends college age son. We lived by the beach in LA (Venice) and these were great in an urban environment. When my wife's BMW 325i needs an engine that cost more than the car was worth, we needed a car fast and bought a silver 2007 PT with low miles to replace it and she is still driving it to this day. When we retired to semi-rural Northern California (Santa Rosa) I had sold all of our older cars (owned over 50 ~ yes fifty! ~ Morris Minors, a few Riley 1.5s and a few MGs) and were looking for another "weekend" car, and found a sharp GT Turbo convertible at reasonable price. With the turbo, Chrysler uprated the automatic trans (Hard to find a stick shift here in CA) and suspension and it is a lot more entertaining to drive. I have also modified the Woodie to handle better and put on a performance exhaust. I'm an old guy who has collected over 100 old cars, mostly American and British (except for a pair of Citroens, ID19 and a DS21 and a Peugeot 403) and find these a great compromise between old and new. As for long term dependability, they seem to be holding up quite well, way better than the American-made Neons from the same era. You still see many on the road here and most are in very good nick, but that might be that they were owned by older folks and were better maintained and often garage kept, so you don't often see then around limping along and shabby like Onslow's Cortina...
Nice to see one not covered in aftermarket plastic chrome.
While I would give this a miss I have always fancied a prowler.
I bought a 2005 convertible last year one owner 30,000 miles take out Sundaystop down
on it
Fair evaluation. I bought a PT for my mother in law. Later model with body colored bumpers. It did everything as advertised. I enjoyed it.
In fact I used it to drive across from Texas to the east coast as my Audi A4 was not anywhere as reliable.
I am from canada i baught pt crusier one year ago i am very happy people look at me and they smile this is fun ride interior is so lovely comfortable seats don't listen to people just buy pt crusier
Thanks for doing this video Matt. We owned a 2003 reddish purple Limited with the wood paneling, 2.4L. Automatic and chrome wheels. It drove fine for what it was. It was a striking thing to look at when it was clean and polished. These cars sold for over sticker for the first year or 2 but then quickly fell out of favor to become a joke car really. My wife loved it. It was reliable. A car for people who don’t really care about cars is an accurate description. Although a little plasticy (no worse than other American cars of the time) the interiors had a lot of cool touches and hold up really well over time, even the headliner. I see dozens of these things in junkyards and the interiors are almost always in pretty good shape even though the rest of the car has been hammered into oblivion. It did have a horrendous turning circle for what was a relatively small car. It would always catch us out when trying to whip into a parking space. And rear drum brakes that sounded like an old dump truck until they warmed up. I still like the styling. Oddly enough, I recently owned a Chevy HHR for a brief time. Dynamically, it was a much better car to drive. Stylistically, it was an obvious poor copy of the PT with gun slit windows and a criminally cheap looking interior. I think they did a good job with this car and never understood all of the hate heaped upon it. Cheers.
Do you know why the HHR looked similar? It was designed by the same guy. He had quit Chrysler not too long after the PT was released and was hired by GM.
I do have a 2004 Touring Edition I "rescued" from a kid at work who was going to turn it into a "couch"! How does one do that? It had a been sitting for year with a broken timing belt and I had to replace quite a few things on the car, front suspension was trashed (the kid beat the hell out of it, he really didn't care about it) the bearings were so worn out the INSIDES of the front tires were worn to the steel belts. I did end replacing the engine about a year ago, it had been beating so bad before I got it, it eventually developed a rod knock and blew itself up in the driveway. It's not that quick, the gas mileage is awful for a small car and four cylinders, but it's just fun to "cruise" around in.
I own the 2003 turbo GT model, I've owned it since new, and it has served me well! I do my own repairs on it, it has all the common issues just like any other vehicle, and with nearly 235+ KMS on the odometer, the running gear in it is still as strong as the day I bought!, I do regular maintenance on it (oil changes, tune ups, fluid replacements, brakes ect.) and it still runs great! starts up every time, most mechanics I've talked with love the car, they would rather take this car, over a BMW any day! the only complaint(and I agree with them) is that is cramped to work on.
I follow truth, NOT trends...
PT was the original designation for "Plymouth Truck", a few of which were sold in about 1940. The design inspiration was probably the 1937 Ford, but crash regulations would not permit the pointy front end of the Ford, which I think was influenced by Henry Ford's son Edsel. Like it or not, the PT Cruiser will be a future collector car and if you agree, its time to look for the nicest one you can find.
"PT" stands for personal transportation ....not Plymouth truck 🙄
Ah, the PT Cruiser, my childhood dream car. I was 8 or 9 years old when it launched, and my uncle worked at the local Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge dealer. He brought home a copy of the brochure for me, which I still have in my collection. I also spent my pocket money on a Maisto 1/18 scale diecast model PT Cruiser, which I displayed prominently in my bedroom. I was enamoured with the chrome details and body-coloured dashboard, which you just didn't see on other new cars at the time. I still think it's a clever and handsome design. I almost bought one last year - I probably should have.
you still can--and they don't cost much! Go for it!
Had one of these as a hire car in the USA in 2006. As a ZZ Top fan I hired it based on the shape. It did everything very ordinary.
Tiring on long distances, bad fuel economy in all driving conditions. Cramped and odd driving position, unrefined engine, woolley steering and handling, uncomfortable seats, I could go on..... I was glad to return it at the end of the holiday. The only positive it gave me was an even greater appreciation for the quality and comfort of my SAAB 9-5 that I drove from Heathrow to home when returning back to the UK.
We owned brand new gold PT Limited back in the day. I’m 6’2” 260 pounds and it was one of the easiest cars to get in and out of that I’ve owned in 50 years. We took a 10 day driving tour of Nova Scotia including The Cabot Trail, The unpaved General Line and many others. Had a ball. In fact turned around several times on The Cabot Trail to redrive spots that were so much fun.
love Nova Scotia myself--was in Digby for vacay in 2019
The circular dimples on the steering wheel are possibly to emulate having a bolted on centre piece to the wheel without the safety issues with putting real bolts of sticky out sharp bits in a circle all over your wheel
Makes it more arrow dynamic for lift like a golf ball, LOL
The wheel was pretty cool. One of the smallest, least obtrusive airbag installs there is.
That isn't incredibly true, I'm a huge car fan and I love PT Cruisers, I have one and I enjoy driving it.
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Great review. I personally didn't like the PT Cruiser at all ... BUT I got to drive one for a week or two when they were brand new. It had the same 140 hp-ish engine as in your review (I think) but 4-speed automatic. It was very sluggish and long geared. At 150 kph it would shift down to third to wind up to its top speed again.
But what I really have to admit is that I never ever drove a new car that created SO MUCH attention. I remember I was visiting customers with this car who had their office in the top floor of some tall building, and several of them immediately ran to the front windows of their offices to see and admire this PT Cruiser.
Today I'm still not a fan but I would always prefer this over all those dreadful SUV's. And I would always want the automatic even though it is so sluggish :p
That centre control was built in so the car could be LHD or RHD without major engineering changes.
And, the stereos in those are bloody excellent.
I'll second that on the stereos. Both of my PTs have great stereos even at 23 years old, and even compared to my wife's newer car. I think they used good quality speakers.
Had one in 2002 and loved it... great to have a car with a bit of character
I’m American and always thought that the PT Cruiser was a nice looking vehicle and can’t really understand why it receives the hatred by some that it gets. I also appreciated the effort by Chrysler to even produce a modern/retro style design like this. It was risky for them and they deserve accolades for the attempt.
I really respect them for trying and like the 30s influence but it should have driven better, a nicer engine and RWD and it might have swayed more positive opinions. Unfortunately people dont like change so something that looks different will scare folks, who will then complain everything looks the same
Don’t see them this condition anymore
They are out there.
Yeah no kidding not even mine is thus clean
Im in canada just picked up a mint 2009 with 80 thow klm for 700 bucks , felt like i stole it on the way home because everything works perfect and solid and quiet , my wife is goint to love it and its black so now i want to do some work to it to make it even nicer so i dont look like a dork driving it , truth is i really enjoyed driving it home and sorta fell in love with it after one drive , it just feels retro fun its hard to explain but if your into antiques you will love the feel of the PT
Chrysler invented the modern car with the airflow. I drive a Chrysler grand Voyager and I find a lot of the interior is the same, I would have one would be great cruising down the highway with ZZ Top at full pelt on the CD player, yes
I ran one as a taxi for two years just to ge a bit different from the usual Xsara Picasso and Renault Scenic other drivers used at the time, it did the job surprisingly well and was reliable(ish).
I am a viewer from the United States.
When the PT Cruiser first became available there as a waiting list for them and some buyers paid MSRP or more to acquire one.
They appealed to a great many people, some looking for basic transportation to people who customized them to make them look like surfer wagons or hot rods from the 30s.
The turbo models were properly quick.
The styling didn't really age that well and I think Chrysler's mistake was keeping them in production too long.
As the model got older it began to appear in rental fleets and Buy Here Pay Here used car lots.
They're styling may not of aged well but they can definitely take the miles and abuse.
It is not uncommon to see them on the roads of the United States today usually with a pizza delivery sign on the top of them.
Yep, there was a waiting list. They released them in March 2000, I ordered mine in April and took delivery in September. Paid MSRP but that didn't bother me. I've had it since and even bought another 2001 PT in 20 19. They were extremely popular when first released. So yeah, I'm a fan.
I quite liked the styling. It was good to see something different at the time. As you say, just a shame the driving experience didn't match it.
The convertible always quite amused me too. I wonder how many of them are left
Driving experience can be changed with different shocks and some tweaks.I love this one, I wouldn't mind having one of these,wonderful color.
The design of the exterior I quite like and the interior does have style. Furthermore, I don't think it was as bad as some of the press said I feel it was unfairly slated at times just because it was different from the norm at the time.
You actually used all the words I was going to use, specifically I appreciate what Fiat/Chrysler were trying to do, in my opinion it wasn't quite bold enough, though I can't see any way to go bolder without going tacky. That said I like them when they're looked after snd I think they will age well. I think Fiat/Chrysler hit the nail on the head with the Ypsilon, another retro styled car and basically a rebadged Lancia, but it never seemed to get the recognition it deserved.
That car looks like it came out of the factory, love the PT cruser 🥰
Always liked the look of this car when it first came. Reminds me of an old Ford Pop my dad used to own many many moons ago.
Yeah pt brings old memories back
What a great review of an interesting car. During the production run there were a number of special editions. The most interesting is the 2001-2005 Dream Cruiser. Each year was a different and unique to the model colour. The later ones had the turbocharged engine from the GT along with different tyres and wheels. A friend's mother has a 2004 which is in burnt orange metallic with the black and orange interior. The turbo engine works extremely well. At about 150,000 miles it still looks and drives almost like new, and the interior is immaculate. Along with the special editions there were quite a number of dealer supplied accessories. One of the most successful are the chrome pieces that fill in the recesses in the bumpers, making them look even more period correct. The factory also offered a wood grain package that looked particularly lovely.
The orange is a 2003. I have a 2004 Turbo Dream Cruiser it is 2 toned blue and grey. Have a friend the the 2003 it's the orange one. But you are right about everything else if I see a good 2003 Dream for sale I'd buy it, that color is fantastic! I also have a 2002 Dream Cruiser it's a really cool color they call Inca Gold, it's not a turbo but still fun.
I have a Tangerine Dream and I love it! 94k miles :)
Nice review! I didn't realize you got these across the pond; I think they were new here as a 1997 model, and certainly the early ones grabbed one's attention. Later, rather like the Neon, it was (to me) kind of "Meh!", after seeing them all over the place. And we got a turbo version at some point.
Rather amusingly, my Mom, at age 71, was looking to buy a new/used car; the salesman tried to talk her into trying the PT he had on the lot; she replied, "Why would I want to drive something that reminds me of the Depression Era?!" But, of course, her first three cars (before I was born) were: A 1938 Hupmobile, a 1949 "low-light" Minor, and a 1955 MG-TD...
we have one, we call it the Trooper. We got it as a stand-in when a Jag estate went to the scrapyard in the sky. We have giant breed dogs and the Cruiser is better than any estate because of the headroom (Once seats down). Re the engine, it's naturally aspirated so it's a driver's car, you really have to put it through it's paces but once it's at its revs it's happy and will tootle along happily. I have found the seats some of the most comfortable, ours is the lower range to no leather or heated seats, but arm rests on both front seats. The turning circle is shite tho!! We will keep ours until it falls apart, fantastic little car
We love our PT Cruisers, on our second now, and we were lucky to get hold of the very rare "Tangerine Dream" (1 of 500 German tease-models). It's a tangerine coloured Street Cruiser II., with a Merc' 2,2 turbo diesel loaded with original goodies as standard: Tangerine and black leather interior, Sun/moon roof, rear roof spoiler, chrome everywhere (even door knobs) and beautiful original alu wheels. Easy to get parts even in the 2020'ies from the "PT Cruiser Parts, UK" that keeps all PT enthusiasts going with a friendly club feeling and super service. Lovely automobile 🙂
I´ve had a Pt Cruiser since 2013. I and the family love it so much and people here in Brazil sometimes stop me to ask about it. it´s retro style and I sing on a rock and roll band. That´s the car for me. It represents America ( at least that I can afford in Brazil). It´s cult. I will never understand why someone would hate it.
I always wonder why the better equipped models of some cars are called 'limited'. Seems contradictory. Limited edition maybe?
I was thinking the same. In normal life, something limited is more restricted and basic.
Wow! This one looks just like mine (a Canadian car, also a 2001 Ltd Ed with a 5-Speed trans), complete with "Inferno Red" paint, 5-spoke chrome rims, factory fog lights and suede grey upholstery, although I do have the power sunroof. Love it to pieces but at 208,000 kms I'm getting ready to sell it on to someone else. Its interior is still rattle and squeak free. American PT's get the 2.4 L engine which is bigger than the UK 2.0 L engine but its still noisy and slow. With the manual transmission, its less slow but still noisy.
Me and my father recently purchased a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser Limited with 30,000 miles. It hasn’t been on the road since 2012, and we saved it from being scrapped. I anticipate to get it back on the road. I personally find the styling quite pleasant. I really enjoyed your video. 👍🏻
We have a 2005 touring 2.4 w/o turbo. Changed all engine supports in 5 hours recently. Seating position is perfect for me. Spare parts cost next to nothing. Love it.
We had one and loved it. Very comfortable and absolutely faultless, nothing went wrong with it, broke or fell off. You just reminded me we used to change the kid's nappies on the parcel shelf 😂
Being picky it was too front heavy for the diesel lump and a couple of torches were better than the woeful headlights. Overall though we had many wonderful years with our PT 👍
Actualy a realy nice drive.
Practical and simple. I quite like it more now than 20yrs ago when they came out and were quite common on the roads.
Those little shelves above the front door speakers must be for your Mr Kiplings Country Slices.(Other rectangular cakes maybe available)😂
Best. Answer. Ever.
for the dairy lee cheese triangles
I have two 2005 PTs, a Touring Cnvt. automatic trans and the Series 4 Dream Cruiser Cnvt. manual trans. I admit that the build quality of the US market cars leaves much to be desired. However, I love the look. More so, I love the open air ride. I also love driving in "canopy mode" (all 4 windows down with the top up). It's a great size for a convertible, lots of head room when top is up. I bought the Touring Edition model in 2015 with 68K miles; now have 125K and only a few minor problems (knock on DyNoc!) along the way. The Dream Cruiser I bought in 2016 with 51K miles; now have 57K miles. No problems except with the transmission. I agree with the reviewer of this video that the Getrag 5-spd transmission has poor feel to it and is the biggest weakness of the car that I have seen.
The PT Cruiser is a niche car--don't buy it because you need a car. Buy it because you want something different to have a unique driving experience and fond future memories of that. Possibly a future collectible?
Thank you for the review, it confirms what I've been thinking about PT Cruisers. As a Neon owner I've considered getting one but... I don't know really. Those found in Finland are generally high mileage, neglected/poor condition and mostly automatics, which yields higher consumption and poor performance. They are cheap though. Even though PT Cruisers have an SUV feel to them they have a low ground clearance, lower than 2nd gen Neons, which might be a problem on rural roads.
As a side note the 2.0 engine on a PT Cruiser (as well as on a Sebring) is DOHC, whereas Neons have a SOHC one. Euro Neons never had the DOHC engine to my knowledge.
I wanted one of these. The wife didn't. We didn't get one.
Being a man has lost it's meaning I guess. This car is different than the lot. People should be brave to be different..
Yea...I've been there...
Your wife made a great decision
beta Male.. 🤦♂️
Look at the wankers reaction to the oldest of tropes.
If you feel the need to call someone else a beta male or imply they lack manliness because they care enough to value their significant others feelings, you probably need to do some self examination.
It will have to be a self examination, because you sure as hell aren't in a relationship.
We have one in the family since new and have absolutely no complaints. Highways crusing no problem, minimal repairs.
I truly miss my Cruiser, had it for a number of years, passed MOT again & again with no issues, was a 2L touring auto, which suited it better than the manual, agreat car. Thanks for the post mate!
This is why ordinary people should ignore automotive journalists completely. They want a car that pleases them instead of 99% of the buying public. This gentleman is at least fair in his evaluation of its features.
The fact is that the "handling" fetish is inconsequential to 99% of the buying public. I'm not driving in any formula one races. I'm not driving a slalom course on my way to work or shopping. Not everyone wants a "well handling car" with hard seats, harsh ride and few amenities. I want to be comfortable and get to where I'm going reliably and with good fuel economy.
It's bizarre that a car that sold over a million copies would be seen as a failure!
OH this is funny. I still have one. Mine is the Turing edition. 2007 and 129000 miles. Just keeps going. I used it as a work car when i worked as a service tech for a
copier company. I took the rear seats out and had tons of space.
Carried over 350 parts. Does great in snow. Thanks for showing this
I always wanted one of these but circumstances never allowed it. How true are your early remarks that the Public says it does not want clone cars and yet when it comes - they don't want to know. Your video is so good I feel like I have just taken a test drive myself - Thank You !!
Aah, the infamous PT cruiser.
Not entirely horrid - that goes to the convertible version. I was told by a very tall friend that this car was perfectly suited to the 2.1 metre driver. Probably the headroom.
In all fairness, he was more into bikes. He had a Triumph Rocket III, And could literally step over the handle bars of my Sportster with no effort.
I agree about the convertible version ... a car with a tent.
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That says it all really. You own a "hardly ableson" sportster ....
"It's ok if you're not really into cars" summed it up very well (that's the case for me and I love it!) and the stereo is more than decent, the manual bass/treble controls but also the balance/fade being accessible without cycling through menus when you're driving!
Don't forget, there was also a 1.6 Lt engine available in European market, especially popular here in Greece
(due to the taxes "punishing" the ownership of a car with an engine bigger the 1929cc. eg. A 2001 PT Cruiser with the 1.6 engines has 265€ of road tax for 2021 and for the 2.0 it's 630€, and 840€ for the 2.4)
Yes, I have known two people who loved their "PTs". One replaced their first with a second in an identical color. I have driven them a little, and not the worst, certainly, IMO. Old people like the upright ride height, and I think part of the derision came from it becoming popular with the elderly here in the USA. I still see them on the roads, and though based on the Neon, I never see any of those around any more.
I've seen a few in the UK on various visits, and although comparatively rare, more common than any other US car there than the Mustang, probably.
Daimler-Benz got a lot of flack for buying Chrysler, and then gutting it, then selling it. It was never a "merger" where everything was shared, but a marriage of convenience and never an equal relationship where both flourished. I'd rather have seen Chrysler and Mitsubishi partner up.
Thank you for the review, furiousdriving. I have the greatest respect for your reviews because I always find them fair-minded, giving credit where credit is due. I can't imagine a modern Top Gear review of it as that show became a paordy of a driving enthusiast show, as far as I am concerned. A vehicle was either a great, lauded Supercar deserving only praise, or ridiculed.
I was given a PT Cruiser as a rental in the USA when they first appeared on the roads. I still quite like the retro looks and styling, although living with it for a couple of weeks was interesting. The one I was given pulled to the left without warning and I was constantly correcting the steering. Probably had been kerbed by a previous driver. Other than that it was alright and they still get looks today for being an unusual vehicle.
Had a high gloss black one and loved it. The front passenger seat back folds forward and flat making a table. You can then release the rear tracks and tip it forward into the footwell.
Back seats slide fore and aft plus remove making for a vast stowage area. I wanted to remove the headlamps fill the gap and install some 30s style chrome bullet type but alas never did.
ive had 3 pt cruisers all 2.2 diesels mercedes engines retro styling what more do you want
I’m all about retro styling and Art Deco but I rented one of these in the US and I couldn’t wait to return it! The car felt and drove like a piece of 💩 if you pulled the steering wheel and the engine out of it would make a lovely stylish picnic area but that’s it! This one should have stayed on the drawing board! ✍️
My aunt has one, it’s an 05 with under 100k. But has had lots of work done on it. Not cheap to fix. But I personally like the style.😀
Had a 2005 base 5-speed in the US (with body-colored bumpers!). Removed the rear seats to save weight and got some decent tires. They become quite chuckable once you get over the fear it's going to tip over. Very competent rear suspension.
Picked it up on October 4th 2009. Warm sunny day for Portland, Oregon. Looking forward to a/c. Never bothered much with a/c as it was either weak, broken or didn't exist. Even ordered a '96 neon ACR coupe and deleted a/c and the radio.
Imagine my surprise on this unusually sunny day when I went to put the a/c on... didn't have it!
Wondered why it was so cheap. Only had 21K on it. Assumed (basic building block of many mistakes) they all had a/c. Never actually checked it was there.
Black cherry - purple to the rest of us. Called it Barney after the purple dinosaur.
Sold it in 2015 with 108K. Needed around $2,500 in repairs. More than it was worth. Got $1500. Quite happy.
Had a build idea that I played around with. Convert to 2-door and make it rear-wheel drive with an inline block from a Jeep Liberty. Add supercharger and turbo and sequential gearbox. Call it Barnasty. Head to the Nurburgring...
I like Marmite too.
Thanks Matt for the video on the PT drove the same car spec/colour/engine at White House Maidstone back in the day for a test drive loved the car but the wife didn't ended up buying a van from Haynes Maidstone. I was going to convert it to a van when I did mobile car valeting in Medway and Maidstone. I wish i did now. Got me thinking now 😂 😂
Good review, but two things: while it borrows a lot from the Neon, it's stretching to call it the same platform. The rear is completely different, substituting a beam axle in place of Neon's struts, to allow a wide, flat load floor. And the Neon was actually quite good dynamically, especially in R/T or ACR guise. It was very popular for spec racing.
Regarding the Mexico vs Austria thing, its the same situation with the Grand Cherokee. One thing I did notice on the various forums, EU posts VS NA, was the NA ones rotted where EU ones did not. My grand Cherokee was spotless underneath after 20 years of tough rural driving and parked outside, and had no additional protection. Otherwise the various sensors, engine parts, motors etc and other components failed with a similar frequency.
Hi Matt.Thumbs up for your presentation,as always.As for the car,it's got the character of a commercial light van (and drives like that,too).It is different in style,but that's it....
When these first came out, I went to look at one. The dealership had only one in stock to use as a demonstrator, and a months long waiting list. They were ridiculously popular at the time. With the dealer markup and waiting list, I passed on it. Which was fine in retrospect.
I think because they were popular with older folks, and with somewhat dodgy build quality and materials, it became cool for the cynics especially in the press to criticise them. It didn't help that they were kept in production essentially unchanged well after their "best before" date.
I considered these to be much like Nickleback, someone's buying their albums, even if no one admits it.
The GT version with the turbo engine was quite potent for the time.
I like the styling, I had one as a rental car in the USA it was a 2.4 auto, it was great for the American roads and a trip to Vegas. then i drove a diesel uk spec and that thing was terrible, I would buy one but the car tax on these is on the high side, Also in the USA the car was classed as a light truck to get around the C.A.F.E safety regulations for passenger cars.
@freepieanchipsgarage ah I stand corrected
I did similar in the early 2000’s drove a rental 2.4 PT cruiser from Vegas to grand canyon, down to Phoenix, across to San Diego and then to LA. It was great for that trip.👍
Greatb Vlog as usual . Neighbour has an 03 from new and loves it . Least it looks different.
They can't be that bad as you see plenty of survivors on the road today 20 years later and It seems to be one of the best selling american cars in the UK as most USA vehicles are huge
A neighbour had a 2.4 convertible PT cruiser and reckoned it was one of the best cars he ever owned
I just bought my second PT Cruiser, it’s a 2005 GT SR4 2.4 liter turbo engine with 220 hp. I was lucky to find a customized one with 54,000 miles on it, all leather including a real leather wrapped wheel and all leather interior, has a moonroof too! What do you think? In the US we had a very wide selection of trim and engine levels! This one is a real hot rod!
I’ve always kind of liked it , but don’t tell anyone.
Just come out! You'll feel great.
These were a steal on the used car market in the U.S . Most people who bought them were older and took care of them and many were low miles and highly optioned . They ran good and didn't have a lot of mechanical gremlins. The number still on the road today is a testimony to its reliability.
I own three Mercedes (an ML class, E class, and S class) and a 2005 PT Cruiser with I20,000 miles. Honestly, the PT is my favorite.
A factor to consider is price and the demographic it was designed for. Tailgating, hauling stuff, get around errand car, etc.
I drove a red PT Cruiser Touring CRD for 13 years until I retired, and then I sold it. At the time of buying it, it was priced at €26000. Six years after selling my first one, I bought one in brilliant condition for €2600, in black/chrome, and I love it too. I would not buy a petrol (US „gas“) one, as the reports about such engines are catastrophic. On the other hand, the diesel engines are from the Mercedes Benz E-Class series, and such PTs are still being sold with an excess of 300 000 km on the clock..
It was also available in a GT form with stiffer suspension and a turbo. There was also a cabrio which looked pretty good. I test drove a GT cabrio in 2006, and it handled relatively well. I also owned a Neon ACR which handled relatively well. I like good handling cars, perhaps because I grew up in Western Pennsylvania, which is hilly and has lots of twisty roads. But now that I'm in Texas, handling isn't all that important. It's like when I lived in Chicago, where most of the curves are on entrance and exit ramps. So it's not a surprise that the base models don't handle well by European standards. In 2006 I ended up buying a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited. That's a retro vehicle that just stayed old school, so no retrograde movement was necessary.
Great driving position. Big doors, high seat mean easy in and out. Short overhangs makes for easy parking.
I have a 2007 PT that I absolutely love! She's been with me for almost 12 years now and I can't imagine having any other car. She fits my personality so well. Idk if it's just because this one sat for so long or what, but mine handles really well on the road. I do get a lot of hate from friends though. They say she's "ugly," which makes me want to slap them. So many people who have known me for a long time are surprised I still have her and all I can think is "well I'm sorry that I don't feel the need to switch cars every year Suzanne." Anyway, I love this car so much that I picked it over a brand new Dodge charger, which is apparently surprising for a then 19 year old American. 🤷♀️
Had one of these as a hired car for a 2nd interview in Kassel, pickup at Dortmund airport. Couldn't start the engine until I'd put on the seatbelt, which took a while to figure out. It got worse from there.
I’ve had 2 of these PTs both diesels,the 150bhp model is brilliant to drive and good on fuel,i just love driving these cars they are so comfortable and being disabled it’s very easy to get in and out of. My son thinks I’ve lost the plot and hates them but he’s into Range Rovers. I also have a 300c diesel which I use for the longer journeys but prefer the PT for ease of access,they are a Marmite car and you either love them or hate them and I love them and so do a lot of other people,their getting a bit of a cult car now a bit like the old minis and beetles but better.
There's a ton here in Hawaii (Probably used to be part of the rental car fleet). Bought an '06 convertible gt myself for a steal. Just under 50,000 miles and pretty good condition for 5,000 bucks. Admittedly a cheaply made car, but I like it well enough.
This vehicle in the US 🇺🇸 was classified as an MPV, meaning it was a truck, so it could get away with certain emissions and safety.
Later on in production this was a convertible and a 2.4 litre turbo.
The electric window controls are out of the Jeep Liberty, and all the controls are identical to the US model.
I have ridden in one in the past, but most are tired, with squeaks, rattles and modified bits.
The model to find is the turbo.
GREAT REVIEW!
The SSR was a 2 seat retro pick-up with Corvette engine and retractable hood. I rode in one as well, very, very tight. This sold poorly and discontinued after a 3 year production run. The PT Cruiser was more successful because it was more versatile.
I bought this car! It's my second PT Cruiser and both have been a joy. Not the most "sensible" car in the world but as something to love, they are hard to beat!
2005 PT Cruiser turbo GT 5 speed owner here......he mentions durability as an issue and he's right. These cars are great, don't get me wrong, I like them, but there's a downside to the maintenance involved in keeping these cars healthy and that's the cost of labor when maintaining them. The lower control arms were an issue as they needed replacement on almost all PTs early on in the cars life (15000-20,000 miles) and the timing belt or clutch replacement after about 80,000- 90,000 miles each meant a repair bill of $1000 or more per repair. Although if the car is maintained and the owner is willing to just pony-up for the high repair bills, then it's a dependable and fun car.
Also mentioned was the "wonky-ness" of the stick shift, which is something I noticed straight away and I was surprised that even a nearly brand new one had this issue. The bushings in the linkage are prone to fast wear and replacement, not an expensive part price (around $40) but again the labor runs the bill up to around $300. The tight clearances in the engine compartment, along with electrical issues popping up unexpectedly from time to time, are 2 of the main culprits concerning high labor costs. Love em or hate em, they have their own unique issues that need to be addressed just like any other car.
My neighbour had one, it was a cheap car he bought after his Alfa 156 died. He had to bring it to the scrapyard 4 years ago after numerous breakdowns, I think the antenna breaking off was the least of his worries. Now drives Skoda on PCP, boring car to look at but at least it doesn't break down.
Hi Matt, great review on the PT Cruiser,Ive driven one of these in this colour was a valeter at the time,they ain't too bad as a car.
I remember the pre prod concept being shown at Goodwood FoS in 1997. Hot rod vibes. I think the aerial placement is meant to look like a frenched-in custom car/hot rod aerial placement. In the US it was just a single metal mast rather than telescopic on the first models. I quite fancied one but th bad press not great for it. I even went to a Chrysler Jeep showroom to lust after the pool ball gear knob.
I always thought the PT Cruiser had great design and style for a relatively economical car. It was ahead of the curve in being a useful little, compact utility vehicle, before they became popular. When it came out, I tested one when with an automatic, and it it drove well enough for a normal commuter car. I have heard that the PT Cruiser's reliability is subpar, but like any car model, you will find both owners who have had good experiences, and those that have had bad ones.
I've just Googled the Woody version - amazing. Brave effort and certainly different.
We’ve just finished a Woody Version of this car. A Mk2 Sunset Boulevard Edition. Full glass out re-spray and custom Woody Pack using parts from the original kit and 3M Architect Vinyl wrap for the wood. Add a set of smoothies with white walls, custom made SS 4” pipes exiting either side and some other custom PT additions like a visor and it’s turned out nice. Everywhere we take it people want their picture or picture of the car. The body shape lends itself well to the 1950’s Beach Woody look which is exactly what we have in an every day useable car. There’s a lot of myths about these cars and I never owned one or even sat in one before we embarked on a project to build the one we have, but it’s been flawlessly reliable and they are set to become a future classic for sure, regardless of whether you love them or hate them. Will be keeping ours for the foreseeable.
I confess I've never gotten all the hate these things got. Strip away the controversial styling and you get a reasonably competent vehicle with lots of room, ok dynamics and great utility. The worst thing I could say about my base model stick was that it wasn't the most efficient car on the road, I saw 20-23 mpg in mixed driving. Still, she had enough low end torque to handle my 1000 lb sailboat on the boat ramp, was roomy enough to carry the things I needed for temporary moves and rarely let me down. For all the horror stories I have heard about Chryslers of that era, my PT had very few problems beyond the usual wear items.
I never really minded the way the car drive until I bought a new Kia Soul in 2019. It was only then that I realized how much better a car could be. My 2003 PT Cruiser had about 125,000 miles on it when i sold her to my next door neighbor and he seems quite happy with the old car. I'm looking forward to seeing how long he keeps it.
Nice review Matt always thought these were cool I should imagine these will become collectible soon and rocket up in value. Clarkson’s Top Gear didn’t like any car that wasn’t a super car or German👍
Top Gear was all about idiots showing off and nothing at all to do with cars. I wouldn't listen to any judgement offered by those cretins.