Anyone drive a PT Cruiser?

[KE5FRF]

I'm picking up a used one for a great deal today, driving out of state to get it. The owner is family and it is in great shape. Limited edition with moonroof and leather.

moonroof might prohibit a magmount though
Not the biggest ground plane.

How many miles does a typical well maintained Cruiser expect? Any known failures? I know the fog lamps have already been an issue and the sensor was disconnected on this car.

[KB9BVN]

You don't say what year it is or how many miles are on it, but here goes.

The PT Cruiser is a front-wheel drive 5-passenger vehicle, classified as a truck in the U.S. by the NHTSA for CAFE fuel economy calculations but as a car by most other metrics.

Chrysler specifically designed the PT Cruiser to fit the NHTSA criteria for a light truck in order to bring the average fuel efficiency of the company's light truck fleet into compliance with CAFE standards.

For safety rating the vehicle gets 3 out of 5 stars and was originally conceived as a Plymouth...but always sold as a Chrysler. The biggest complaints have been excessive oil consumption, problems with braking systems, and front end suspension problems (they've been know to eat a set of tires in less than a year, if the suspension problems are not fixed ASAP). The models with the 2.7L engine have had a raft of engine problems.

It is fun to drive though.

[VE3FMC]

I see a lot of older people driving those PT's up here in Ontario.

Maybe they are trying to relive their younger days by driving a car that kind of looks old

A friend of mine has one and he refuses to drive it in the winter. He told me I should not be driving my 2000 Mustang in the winter. I said "It's just a car, it is not a classic"

Have fun, lots of flat roof there to mount antennas

[KR2D]

There are enthusiast forums out there dedicated to pretty much every vehicle make and model. Here's the first two from google search for "PT Cruiser Forum", they look like they have a lot of info:

http://www.ptcruiserlinks.com/forum/
http://www.ptcruizer.com/

[N0SYA]

those things remind me of a hearse for midgets

[KA9MOT]

The PT Cruiser is built on the Neon chassis. Automatic transmission issues are well known.

I drove one when I worked for a Chrysler Dealership as a driver that had a Turbocharged 4 banger. The son of a gun was amazing.....

No room for fatboys though.

[WB2WIK]

I think they're very cool looking and rented them a few times (Hertz, Avis, et al) while traveling but never owned one. Fun to drive.

Not sure if there were any power options (as in engine power) but the ones I rented were a bit "sluggish," compared to what I'm used to. Intuitively more sluggish cars should get better gas mileage, but I'm not so sure with the Cruiser.

When you drive a slower car and can't get 30 mpg, I always wonder where the heck does the gas go?

My 5500 lb. Town & Country 3.8L van is pretty powerful and gets 22 mpg.

I've seen it get 99 mpg, though. Going down a long steep hill! The computer won't display above 99 mpg, so I might have been getting more than that.

[KG4CGC]

When they first came out, CR as well as R&T said the turning radius was poor for a car of its size.

What I have seen from owners I have known, the front and rear bumper covers begin to fall off for no apparent reason.

[N0WUE]

Automatic transmission issues are well known.

just don't use dextron or mercon transmission fluid, and it will probably last the life of the car. if someone says their fluid does everything, walk away.

[WB8MKV]

..not if I have to.....