Heard through the grapevine that there are PITA repair issues like radiator and water pump R and R probs ? ... true ? Anything else ?

Doc, do a search here they were covered quite well a while back.

All I remember about them is there was very little room around the motor, due to the body shape.
Otherwise they seemed pretty bulletproof.

The wife's 2001 still going strong. No radiator or pump issues. Last couple years, rad fan and motor mounts replaced. Motor mounts fairly common issue due to design. More recently, engine check light activity, mostly smog stuff. Very dependable 30+ mpg.

My wife has an 04 turbo car. Somewhere around 130K miles on it now.
The timing belt was replaced at 100K as per recommendation, so while your in there, you replace the water pump and the timing belt tensioner.The original water pump didn't have any issues, but we are on pump #3 in about 30,000 miles. I can't work on this thing, my hands don't fit between the inner fenders and the timing belt end of the motor (passenger side). Changing the motor mounts is also a pita. The only other issue we have has been with front brake rotors cracking, we are on set #4 or 5.
Our gas mileage runs about 24 mpg, tops, but we don't exactly drive it for the best mileage. Still, 24 is about the best its ever done.
That said, my wife loves that car, so it will be here until she doesn't love it anymore. I've learned that lesson many years ago, if mama is happy with her car, you don't change it. Gene

Anything else? Yeah you'll never be able to repair your reputation as a geezer.

I just bought a 2010 for my daughter's first car. She loves the way they look and wanted one over anything else. Finding one around here that wasnt rusted underneath was a challenge. Found one with 23k miles and super clean.

Anyway, I did a lot of research and if you stay away from the turbo, this will remove one additional headache and space taker under the hood. You pretty much have to remove the grille and rad support to do anything on the front of the motor. Sounds worse than it is. To do the timing belt you need to evacuate the a/c. A/C compressor pressure sensors are common to leak on earlier ones. Typical lower control arm rust and bushing issues, similar to Neons. Separating the upper and lower plastic intake could result in a stripped thread insert.
Those are the most common themes.

If you can find a 2010, this is the last year and had the most standard safety options, which was a plus for me with my daughter. Abs, 4 wheel disc, traction control, side airbags, EVIC cluster, were all standard. Hers even has a valid sirius radio account still (told her not to count on that working forever).

We had two PT cruisers. Gas mileage was about 20-24 mpg. Never more then that. Our 07 Had a burnt valve at around 50,000-60,000 miles. And it bad lower control arm bushings.

HaY DoC, how many cars are you gonna buy ?

I owned one for a while a couple years ago.
Bought it with a coolant leak / repair then flip car.

Ended up doing a head gasket, water pump, + belt . Radiator and all the hoses.
I'll never buy another needing those repairs again.
My knuckles are still recovering from all the scrapes I got.

While at the dealership I pulled and rebuilt a few of the transmissions in them . That wasn't a bad as engine repairs. but pretty much anything under hood is tough. Even changing spark plugs require the upper intake plenum be removed.

Keep in mind they are basically a reskinned Neon. and tend to ride similar. just a lot more interior room.
If I'm not the one who has to work on it ,,,then I would own one for a local daily driver to replace my current 05 Town + Country
BUT my wife hated the one I had and thinks they are uglier than sin. so Odds are I'll never own another

I've done several timing belts, water pumps, radiators. I prefer removing the radiator and fans before doing the timing belt water pump. Opens it up a bunch. The other thing to do is remove the upper engine mount bracket that bolts to the inner fender. Makes for a lot of room and they are pretty east to work on.

Like said already, no room, everything is jammed in so tight you can barely get a hand in there. X2 If you have to do a timing belt or something on the front you definitely are taking the upper mount off and jacking the motor up, really no way to do it otherwise. Anything A/C related on them is a nightmare. Control arms and motor mounts go bad, the suspensions on those wear out pretty fast.

Thx guys .... jsta looking at 2 here for a female friend..,. One has a dead AC so that one is out. I’m not going to be able to help her much .... because of the distance. So is labor rates going to be a killer ?

To BanJONES .... yur RIGHT THERE yerself ! ... plus living in all those disasters!

I never cared for them, but oddly enough the current teens are fond of them. All my daughters friends find it cute. One of the seniors has a convertible PT. Funny how that works.

From the ones I worked on.

Timing belts are a PIA. So are many of the ,little things like alternators and such, do to no room.

Those engines were bad about overheating and blowing head gaskets. I fit's got head gasket or evidence of cooling system problems, don't buy it.

Also Chrysler electronics have never been great but those cars would develop a weird electric keyfob/lock problem. You lock the door with the key fob and the door would randomly unlock a minute or two later. Often the lock would just start freaking out and locking/unlocking itself rapidly then stop and start up again. The controller is about $125 to $150 and is under the dashpad. Most people just disconnected it.

Coils are crap but easy to replace.

Overall it's a neon and like Neons, the poor quality control on building them made many die an early death. Those that are left are really good cars.

Also bad MAP sensors will cause it to throw an O2 code. DAMHIK

Like I said, remove the fans and radiator along with the upper mount bracket that bolted to the inner fender and a timing belt on these are a cake job. If you want to fight and cuss all day just leave the radiator and the mount bracket on.