Chrysler PT Cruiser - whats it like?

Nephew

This car is an unusual looking species, I kind of love and hate its appearance in equal measures. I'm just curious as to what its actually like as a car

colm_mcm

I nearly bought one based on looks.

Unfortunately, when you sit into it, touch the interior plastics and actually drive it, it all stops making sense. The petrol engine I tried isn't terribly refined or powerful and it doesn't exactly handle either. On the plus side, 2nd hand ones are suitably cheap.

Marcus.Aurelius

It...looks......terrible..... Are you serious???!

It's a chrysler, it means its an American-engineered couch on wheels. Handling is so sloppy the kids will be sick and the engine sounds like Twink on acid.

ambro25

Standard petrol version is so underpowered, it's anaemic.

Only van... sorry, car I ever drove which slows down on upward motorway slopes (no matter how far the accelerator is down). Handling wasn't so bad, surprisingly - not much of that typically yank 'sideways wobble' at all.

Good space, though, and I'm rather for the looks than against - the convertible version I find quite fab' as a real 'family-sized' ragtop. It's got that mid-to-late 40s look to it:

unkel

It's supposed to be competing with small MPVs but it's more like a normal car

When they first came out, they quickly turned into a fad. Loads of people just had to have one and they loved the retro looks. A few years later the fad had gone and most people started to think the PT Cruiser just looks a bit silly. Second hand prices collapsed, which is good if you intend to buy one now

Why don't you take it for a test drive and decide for yourself?

Gatster

My Uncle's on his second, and my mate bought one when his wife had a baby. No complaints from either over the past few years...I personally like the looks and they are comfy enough as a passenger, but I wouldn't buy one

Eoin

Personally I like the looks, but am not the least bit surprised that a lot of people don't. I think I prefer a design that has people divided rather than some bland yoke that doesn't offend or excite anyone. Unfortunately though, it appears that it has nothing else going for it, so if you don't like the looks, there's no upside to it.

testicle

Even the American's hate it!

ambro25

eoin_s wrote:

Personally I like the looks, but am not the least bit surprised that a lot of people don't. I think I prefer a design that has people divided rather than some bland yoke that doesn't offend or excite anyone. Unfortunately though, it appears that it has nothing else going for it, so if you don't like the looks, there's no upside to it.

Do I take it you like FIAT's Multibleurgh, then?

How's that for a dichotomy - I positively despise the Multipla, but I quite like the PT Cruiser

Eoin

ambro25 wrote:

Do I take it you like FIAT's Multibleurgh, then?

How's that for a dichotomy - I positively despise the Multipla, but I quite like the PT Cruiser

What I meant to say is that I like it when a design raises strong feelings one way or the other, not that I will definitely like the design itself.