Re: PT cruiser ? are they any good?
[Re: ProStock1320]
#1774604
03/08/15 10:20 AM
03/08/15 10:20 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212 Minnesota
peabodyracing
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
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Generally reliable with proper maintenance. Little small in the cabin space and a little underpowered.
The body integrity is good. Had a good friend get rear ended at 35 MPH while sitting in traffic. Got pushed into the car in front, which sustained a fair amount of damage. Replaced both bumper covers on the cruiser and that was it! Body shop that repaired it commented that they'd been pretty impressed with how tough the Cruisers were when in a wreck.
Bushings in front suspension, timing belt, trans flush are the three things I know of to watch.
Somewhere I'd heard they were intended to have a V6 but the engine development didn't work out so they rushed to fit the 4 cylinder in them.
Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way
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Re: PT cruiser ? are they any good?
[Re: peabodyracing]
#1774605
03/08/15 10:43 AM
03/08/15 10:43 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,830 N.E. Ohio
6bblFLASH
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,830
N.E. Ohio
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Nothing but good things to say. Bought one new in March 01`. Non Turbo/5-speed manual. Still drive it eveyday 220,000 miles. NEVER a break down or failure to start. Still gets 30mpg. Its geting rusty,but would`nt hesitate to head on a long trip today. Looking to find a low mileage one to replace this one.
70` Cuda`,440 6BBL Jerico,Dana 4.56 Still on 93 Pump Gas 9.87 @ 136/1.31-60ft.`09 Mopar Nationals PASSON PERFORMANCE "Stick-Shift" Champ! 2013 StickShift Challenge Winner@ Mopar Nationals!
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Re: PT cruiser ? are they any good?
[Re: FJR doc]
#1774608
03/08/15 12:26 PM
03/08/15 12:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,059 Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,059
Niles , Ohio
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The wife got her 03 in 04 Other than brakes control arm bushings and belt and water pump its been good.Has close to 140K on it.Im 6 3 and fit pretty good in it.The best we get though is about 24 MPG.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
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Re: PT cruiser ? are they any good?
[Re: BDW]
#1774609
03/08/15 12:51 PM
03/08/15 12:51 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 959 france
jose jones
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 959
france
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Quote:
Replace a Honda with a PT? Why? Don't understand the loyalty to a poor quality brand. The muscle cars fine, but a PT?
I have a 13 year old PT Cruiser Never had any troubles with it, A great car,The body is tight with no rattles. The quality of a new Challenger is absolutely no better.
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Re: PT cruiser ? are they any good?
[Re: stumpy]
#1774615
03/09/15 01:04 AM
03/09/15 01:04 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 422 wisconsin united states
keith airgrabber
OP
Right in the Nutz!!!
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OP
Right in the Nutz!!!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 422
wisconsin united states
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Quote:
My wife's 2003 PT limited has 140,000 miles on it. She bought it new and the only time it's ever been in the shop was for a recommended timing belt replacement at 100.000. It's never failed her and is still tight and quiet. I had a 2005 GT convert and the turbo really woke that car up. It would haul butt. Never went to the shop for any failures because it never failed me. Good everyday dependable drivers.
I was thinking if I do get one. To go for the Turbo. I had a daytona Iroc r/t turbo in 1992 and loved it. But I also don't want head gasket failure and turbo going out The turbo has like 240 horse doesn't it?
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Re: PT cruiser ? are they any good?
[Re: keith airgrabber]
#1774618
03/09/15 07:07 AM
03/09/15 07:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699 Newport, Mi
Evil Spirit
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699
Newport, Mi
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They are pretty high maintenance niche cars IMO. If you like changing timing belts, head gaskets, water pumps, radiators, fan units, engine torque struts, wheel bearings, lower control arms, sway bar links and various electrical parts on a regular basis - you will get along fine with one. Poor mileage for a car with limited power - my full sized 3.5 Intrepid got much better mileage than my 2.4L 5-speed Cruiser did.
Free advice and worth every penny... Factory trained Slinky rewinder.........
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Re: PT cruiser ? are they any good?
[Re: BDW]
#1774621
03/10/15 02:27 AM
03/10/15 02:27 AM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,018 Missouri
MOBodyman
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,018
Missouri
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Quote:
Consumer Reports
For now, the PT Cruiser remains an interesting mile marker in the automaker's product history. New PT Cruisers are still available, and there are ample used examples on the market—many for rather low asking prices. However, used models have very uneven reliability; the latest safety features are still missing (head-protection air bags and ESC have never been offered); and IIHS side-crash test results are poor. Hence, it's critical for used-car shoppers to do their homework. Overall, though, we think there are better choices.
"New PT Cruisers are still available"??? So, this article is 5 years old??
I had an '05 convertible with a 5 speed. I regularly got mileage in the 30's so mine was an exception. It developed an oil leak over time. Finally found it was coming from the back corner of the head. Re-torquing the head slowed it to a seep but I eventually had the gasket replaced since the car was perfect otherwise.
I also had a really nice '07 turbo-automatic car. It didn't get near the mileage the 5 speed did. I had one odd problem with it. The front park lights wouldn't work and the a/c compressor wouldn't turn off. (Bought it wrecked and repaired it.) That required a new BCM which was an expensive repair, about $600.
I still see them around. Most that I'm familiar with are getting around 200k on them now.
Dallas
2012 Rallye Redline Challenger, 1st new car! 2010 Ram 1500 4wd HEMI-hauler 2014 Dodge Dart-gas saver 4 projects and a bunch of parts cars, losing interest since buying the Challenger lol 1969 Dodge Coronet 500-'gonna fix 'er up someday!'
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Re: PT cruiser ? are they any good?
[Re: MOBodyman]
#1774622
03/12/15 12:01 AM
03/12/15 12:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,524 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,524
Freeport IL USA
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We have an 04 limited turbo auto. Ours is the non-intercooled turbo, rated at 180 HP. Ours is in that 24-25 mpg range. We bought our car as a Chrysler exect car that was 1 year old and had 5,600 miles on it. There are a lot of options on the car. Our PT has been wrecked 2 times. We got rear ended while stopped in traffic to the tune of around $3,000 (hatch, bumper bracing and cover) when it was 2 years old, then a year later my wife turned in front of a pickup she couldn't see. That hit took out the right front fender, right front suspension, hood & front door, about $4000. We had an injector replaced under warrentee (they would only replace 1 injector), and a timing belt along with the water pump, and a replacement water pump for that one, and whatever else is up there. These cars are a pita to work on, the motor sits sideways and the inner fenders are close to both ends of the motor, I don't do anything with it.
We have had the rear watts-link bar mount replaced, the rear shocks, the transmission solenoid pack, the motor mounts, the radiator, the power steering hoses, both lower control arms, both outer tie rod ends (in addition to what was replaced when wrecked), the windshield, brakes 2x (they always make grinding noise) and of course, tires, and normal maintenance. We currently have a couple nightly reappearing 2" diameter leaks under the motor.
As the car ages, we are getting some minor wind noise around the doors, and some rust in the lower rear rockers. We didn't use the AC much, but it hasn't functioned for the last couple years (there are pin holes in the AC hoses). Our PT has 115,000 miles. I wouldn't classify it as the best little car we ever had, but it certainly is not the worst car either. My wife likes it, as stated earlier, happy wife, happy life. When she is ready to replace it, it probably won't be with another PT. Gene
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