I have an 05 PT GT 5 speed in exactly that color combo. Have lots of go fast parts on and yet to be put on. The plan is to get it to ~300whp, it's a good troll car. I have some Focal F20's (Bronze) and BC Racing coilovers (about 1.25" dropped, and the convertible is already about 2" lower than the sedan from the factory), that and new headlights / tail lights... really updated the look of the car. One other thing to note about the transmissions... the PT GT does not get an LSD from the factory (I put a Phantom Grip in mine when I did the clutch / flywheel). The SRT4 does get one from the factory.
Please post pictures! That sounds amazing! In on the verge of buying a 2007 or 2006 (not 100% sure )Cobalt SS for my nephew. The previous owner is mentally ill and no longer allowed to drive. So his dad is selling it. It’s been dropped, it has old school Krager rims, low pro tires, very nice exhaust system manual 5 speed transmission, a really nice sounding system, racing seats. The father daily’s it to his job at the supermarket and it is very well kept. $4500. 71,000 miles. What’s your opinion. Thank you.
@@Taino871 Sounds like a great buy for that price, a fun car for not much money... If I had room I'd love an HHR in the driveway with the PT Cruiser. :)
What a handsome two! This is an awesome! Boy I miss old Chrysler! Affordable fun engineered great not anything like today garbage! I had an '04 Dodge Neon SXT that never let me down never had to put a large amount of money into it either Best reliable vehicle I have ever owned never left me stranded alongside the road when she departed 250,000 mi on it she was still running! The body was done.
I've got both. An '03 srt4 and an '03 pt-gt. Both on tein s-tech springs(pt rides smoother) both have same mods(intake, tune, exhaust) Both have the mopar diverter plate. The srt4 is "quicker" but the pt-gt is "faster" cause of its gearing. The pt gets less hate and more props cause it's a pt not "just a neon". I'll prob do a video on my channel to showcase it when I get 'round to it.
I had no idea they offered the 5-speed in the PT GT. That is wild. For some reason I thought they were all autos. My dad had a bare bones 04 PT (non turbo) that was a 5-speed. Actually he just got rid of it in October. The thing had 485 thousand miles on it. He was the original owner.
Those PT Cruisers were a bit of a sleeper for their time when new. Back then 12-13 second street cars were still considered “quick” because every stock sedan didn’t have a turbo and run that stock like today. But I digress; I used to race with a guy that had an auto PT Turbo with a bunch of bolt ons and some decent tires. That car went like 12.90s and surprised a lot of people with “quick” cars of the time. Specifically out of the bunch I remember him beating a nice GSR swapped EG hatch, a bolt-on Eclipse GS-T, and a 99 Mustang GT with an intake and Flowmasters. Not exactly rocket ships, but he was beating them in a PT Cruiser lol so there’s gotta be some points for that!
Thank you for this video. This is very helpful. I drive a pt gt and its the 4 door. I have an exhaust and an intake and it pulls good, its alot of fun and ive always wondered how they stack up
Thank you... I've actually been working on building a PT Cruiser and did a ton of research on parts and of course I found a ton of shared parts that I could get the performance parts as direct replacements for it from SRT-4's upgrades... Mine is not a gt unfortunately but I have found a GT donor hidden away at an undisclosed location that I can get for a reasonable price and curiously my PT Cruiser already has the SRT-4 5 speed in it I verified this through extensive research and the fact that I angered the trans shop when I needed to have a clutch put in while I was traveling (bad timing)... They were not happy when they found out that the trans wasn't the one that they had thought it was 😂... But it's great that mine uses All the SRT-4 solid racing motor and transmission mounts, sadly it has the drawback of I can use the coilovers for the front but have to used sleeves in the rear due to the fact that the rear don't use struts... Still though it's handling is quite good for the type of rear suspension that the 4-door of mine has... I've completely upgraded the whole suspension including "prothane" style bushings, I got them from energy suspension and they make the car really tight... A lot more comparable to the ride and handling of an SRT-4 with the same bushings... I hope that helps a few other people out here who may be interested in doing things with a good PT Cruiser... Much love, and keep doing what you do... ✌️☮️
We have truly hit a different era. I just googled some of these and they’re priced between 17-20k!!!! I remember back in 2004-2006 as a kid these would be found used for 3-6k!! Any car from the 2000s you want, you better get it now because those cars are becoming vintage status
@@SparksNWreckreation you can still buy srt4s around 5-10k used car market is pretty effed up still but i agree back 10 years ago or so they re selling for a couple thousand
Not because they're really anything special. It's because there's so few of them left now. I've been on the hunt for a Caliber SRT4 for a year now but of the last 11 I've looked at since 2022 there have only been 2 that would be considered "road trip ready" but I was not about to pay 9 to 11 grand for a 20+ year old Mopar product with no service history on a vehicle known to have head gasket, timing belt and transmission issues. People are stupid to think the PT GT, SRT4 or CSRT4 are worth damn near their original MSRP 20 years later and 10 owners ago.
@@alpha2gproject783 they're only worth what people are willing to pay. I agree that it would be insanely stupid to pay that much for any of these cars, but obviously there are a lot of people who feel otherwise. For 10, 12 grand anyone can find a lot nicer and newer and more powerful vehicles. For that price you're getting into older but not terribly beat to shit Charger R/T territory.
Never understood why SRT4 guys would get their panties in a bunch when you'd bring up the fact it's basically the same drive train as a PT GT...tnagz not necessarily a bad thing
Just bought a 06 PT GT 5spd Manual Convertible with 59,000 miles. Completely rust free with no imperfections. Showroom quality if you will. Ive owned 4 PT Cruisers prior to my GT but this is my first PT GT. Best PT ive owned and yes, does spin the tires in 2nd. Can confirm that. Lol. Added a K&N Typhoon 69 Series to it and it makes the same sounds as the SRT-4 but without the BOV. Lot of power though and I avg 22 mpg. Lol.
Had a 2001 Pt Cruiser with a Whipple supercharger from the factory...I think only 27 were built. Got it to put the drive train in a Neon. Motor Trend test drove one when it format came out but with the turbo craze happening, the idea fell on its face hence why not many were made
I had an 03 PT Cruiser GT with the 5 speed 12 years ago. The drivetrain was totally awesome... Unfortunately the rest of the car was not so great. So many stupid problems with it. It was a fun sleeper when it wasn't eating wheel bearings, frying electronics and rusting. Ran low 14's at the track. Pretty respectable for what it was. I loved messing with riced out imports.
i drove an automatic dream cruiser 2.4t a few years back, i was impressed with the torque. still have yet to drive an srt4, but i have driven an sx2.0 manual lol, i have an 03 dakota r/t
I had a PT cruiser take off at a stop light the other day. I took off and it took me way longer than I thought it should to real him in. I had to Google PT cruiser GT and it all makes sense.
My '03 pt gt is a solid rear axle BUT they came from the factory with a watts link. It corners almost as well as my '14 focus ST(pt is on 18" xxrs and mickey thompson street comps)
I’m thinking of getting a gt pt cruiser taking the drive train scraping the car and buying a regular neon to srt4 swap it essentially because I love the neon I played a lot of nfs underground and midnight club 3 which the neon was a starter car in both I always wanted one but the prices are ridiculous for what your getting in return I remember when I was 14 looking up srt4s online seeing how cheap they were wishing I could get my hands on one then but now I think swapping one is the only way I could get one I find hella neons of that generation around me most of them not being srt4s and the one dude I know has one keeps it tucked in the garage to gain value don’t blame him but I wanna get one to actually drive reasons why I’m considering swapping a neon
I had a pt turbo light that looked just like that one. But i put in a stage 1 computer, bov and muffler delete. My friend with an srt loved it. Mostly because I had an auto
Nice, I have only owned the 5 speed GTs. I would have to try an automatic and see how that performs. Every neon or traditional PT with an automatic I have ever driven was quite boring. The turbo must wake it up
@@SparksNWreckreation it really did. I miss the car. But she started falling apart and I didn't want to fix it anymore. So I replaced it with an 03 Vette
I liked the video man good job I've never driven a Neon SRT-4 but we are currently driving a similar year PT Cruiser it's not the turbo version and I wouldn't exactly say it's terribly slow, like off the line it has good low end torque but after about 50 miles an hour it just goes away LOL all in all I don't like the body style but it runs pretty decent and it gets me from point A to point B
A convertible GT i imagine is actually heavier as convertibles usually are because they have to rely solely on the added rigidity undearneath to be as rigid as a hard top, that gets no added rigidity underneath. Wonder how a 4 door gt compares to an srt neon
My parents bought a PT GT wagon brand new in 2003. It's was an automatic and decently quick for what it was. Never drove a 5-speed version, I'm sure they are much quicker.
Could have been a better comparison if the PT wasn't a convertible but how could I be picky when it's already pretty awesome you were able to line this pair up these days
You are right in the milage range of doing timing and water pump work on both. Just go ahead and do it now and save the motors. Please. My PT tossed the belt at 143k. An old friend of mine tossed his on a Neon at 130ish, he beat on it though.
Shops near me want 2k for ether of the 2. Unless you can do it yourself, Most people let them die. Sadly most people hate on them so the value is less than the timing belt job.
The New Venture T-850 is rated for more input torque and can handle more power than the PT's Getrag. The third gear explosion in the NSRT-4 is driver related in almost all instances. A lot of these cars died for very dumb reasons. Example: I knew a guy who bought an ebay GT30R kit, installed it, ran it on 27lbs of boost, SBE, no tune. Is any surprised it died?
Neons interior is waaay easier on the eyes, materials still leave a lot to be desired. Throw that drivetrain in like a '97 Neon Expresso coupe. They weigh nothing, would be an excellent swap... a difficult swap due to the electrical, but once it was done it would be just about the most desirable Neon around ...
If you can even find an 97 Neon that isn't a total rot box. I haven't seen one on the road in a LONG time. The same goes for any 90's American econo-box. I haven't seen a Ford Escort (other than mine) in a long time either. I seen some Cavaliers once in a while but they made them through 05 so it's not a 100% accurate comparison. Cobalts and early Focuses are getting scarce too. If you can find one though, you would have the advantage of it being emission exempt in a lot of states.
Ive owned both. The auto is a turd and can't handle much more than stock hp. The manual is stout and way better gearing. If you want one don't settle for the auto
@@SparksNWreckreationif an srt4 is stock turbo with an intake. They all make that sound on acceleration. One of my favorite things about them actually.
The PT is the go to if you want a sleeper. In all other ways the SRT-4 is better. I reliably find multiple SRT-4s for under $5K, every time I look. They're not expensive, they are in fact cheap.
This is Impressive ! the srt4 almost has a similar quarter mile time as my 2001 S2000 ! , but with the S2000 I have 50:50 power to weight ratio with world class handling and I can handle the corners going 3 times the speed limit ! I doubt you can do that with a Neon or GT PT Cruiser , thats Why My car was $50 g brand new and the Neon $25 , but still in todays market ! for $4000 id buy a Pt Cruiser GT just to mess around as a daily driver ! its a total SLEEPER !
They offered the GT at 180hp or GT High Output that was like 210 or 220hp. This is the HO. Either way a basic tune will put you at SRT #s. The majority of the power level difference between SRT and PTGTHO was intake manifold and tune.
I spent over 20 years with CJD and the PT we’re horrible to work on I’d take the SRT4. Dodge should have put that motor and a 5speed in the Stratus RT.
@@black99rt Chrysler made some cool cars down there. Back in the day when I messed with the 2.2 and 2.5 they had a Mexican head for that motor that was for non US market.
Those PT Cruiser's had the worst engines and were way too heavy. They had a 4 cylinder that only got 19 mpg. The turbo got 15 mpg. My 6 cylinder Toyota Tacoma gets 19 mpg.
I never grasped why PT cruiser is so despised. I realize it's a crappy car same as a Neon but the retro look of the PT cruiser doesn't offend me the way it does others . It's no worse then the SUV CUV thing today . I guess it's considered too fake in its design and how it was marketed as cool and perhaps custom old hot rod being FWD ,4 cyl and cheap architecture and craptastic plastic interior and seats that fall apart and garbage steel that starts rusting in showroom. OK , but the general shape of it doesn't offend me perhaps the way the public would tell me i should be . OK the fake woody ones maybe . But to be truthful . For the time , if you were gonna buy a low end 4 cyl domestic car the stylingbwas at least bold . The Prowler was an Odd bird . Everything with Chrysler was off being a broke company with so much stuff half as. The prowler besides being weird had a terrible Power train with a weak 6 cyl and slush box because they didn't have a proper powertrain for it so for its looks and price it didn't fit and was all show with no go . If it performed and sounded better, maybe looked at differently. Even the Challenger which was another one of their retro designs , a concept and I development forever and finally released was crap IMO . I NEVER was so excited for a car then when following the show car to pre production developement to release with EVERY BIT OF INTENT TO THROW MONEY AT DODGE thinking they were building the ultimate american car with best possible retro design from muscle car era with modern amenities like ability to stop and turn as well as be fast and be more on par with european cars in these ways while taking advantage of big HP and TOURQUE !! all while appearing in modern way to meet standards and regs like the best looking cars in American design . But Chrysler being poor they had to skimp and use an ancient chassis from their partnership or being owned by Mercedes and given a hand me down of a big chunky heavy luxo sedan chassis that was already outdated . This meant it was a fat pig . The Hemi designation to engine didn't mean squat and it was just a basic of the day pushrod V8 that was OK and in a lighter car with a better chassis and easier to put more rubber on it would have been up to snuff so that you wouldn't feel like you were driving something old and un refined compared to a BMW or something like in a mustang or camaro . Instead when released I was devastated to find out that despite healthy power #s it wasn't faster then anything else or slower because of pig fatness and inability to put all Power down In classic muscle car fashion and in regards to handling all the fatness and other issues meant despite a NEW CAR it had no improvements to the segment to add competence as a drivers car to allow you to follow your friends in BMWs who looked down on you on backroads or lose them when the road straightened witn V8 power . You got this really great design . The best retro design ever pulled off , designers achieving the overall aura and look of a cuda more then Challenger in some ways in my opinion with the old Challenger being longer then Cuda and modern Challenger looking less lean because of proportions to meet safety standards and modern restrictions but recognizable as mopar pony car with the right cues . but in the end all the " magazine " #s for acceleration , braking , lateral Gs and performance metrics were meh to sucky and no improvement or worse to what was on offer from Ford and GM and not shining except for more back seat and styling . THE STYLING was now a problem in my mind . It looked the part but was Same old same and not modern with the style and advantage of V8 . cost a fair amount and in the end didn't return better #s then something like an SS camaro or the garbage car with insane power of the Terminator Cobra that had the disgusting interior, heaviness and lack of refinment but at least had the muscle thing down with insane power/ acceleration. It made the Challenger somewhat like the PT cruiser and Prowler being a design thing and parts bin thing rather then what looked like Chrysler pulling off the impossible and something great. The excitement surrounding it was huge and I had it personal . After the first test results and reviews I knew I couldn't spend on it and feel like a poser plus actually lose something in regards to proper driving . But people bought them and fell for the " hemi" named V8 not at all special enough to use the name and an obvious ploy and settled for mediocre car with great looks and OK engine rated for power but of no use to setting it apart from anything because at its core it was an outdated big heavy sedan chassis not egineered for the application . I did NOT want a car that looked like a Modern Cuda with the name Hemi associated with it to not only be the worst handling but also meh as a drag car and feeling like a poser . I was pissed off and let down . Like both the Neon and PT Cruiser people bought them up though . Of course the Challengers style and not being a budget car and having V8 sound etc allowed it to stay viable forever despite the already old chassis when new despite always under performing In so many ways because of compromises from day one and they just kept throwing more power and adding even more weight and trying to compensate by bolting on stuff and then tacked on looking wide bodies to try and increase traction , cornering and braking but always hamstrings by platform and just advertising big power #s for traction limited cars that In real world rarely performed as great as hyped despite rediculous engine ratings . I never got past the initial let down and despite loving the shape and some of the models with different classic hood designs etc couldnt ever bring myself to buy a compromised car not good at anything besides looking / spunding nice and destroying tires In a car that fits fat people and rides OK. At least Camaro on Alpha Chassis had some dynamics even if also a bit too heavy and not dialing in retro as spot on and achieving what level of camaro it did with the pill box thing you could get one that was a drivers car . Chrysler had fallen , was traded around and always on budget and had some hits despite working with very little but no real home runs . I Don't consider Demons etc, despite some decent sales and hard core fans home runs . The SRT4 neon is an example of working with what you got and has its following. But , regardless of how crap a PT cruiser is the styling isnt what i find the worst and I think it's goofed on past where it should be , for cost of used one it would be a fine car to play with or use if you weren't considered the least hip person on the planet . Certainly getting one and making power for rolling power where you can troll people in the goofy car has some appeal . I DID initially think they looked OK in that signature color shared with prowler of the dark metallic purple. If I had to have a PT cruiser, make it purple , turbo and manual . Only thing I remember about these was they had some go on a roll for what they were for the time . I love vans , panel trucks, old bread trucks made into shagging wagons so the design isn't as awful to me. If it had no back seats and flat space with padding behind to fuck in with blacked out windows I would forgive it for sure . But the Challenger broke my heart . Was like a beautiful girl with great body you COULD date but had a reocurring yeast infection that was just a shame because it looked so inviting and if you held your nose, whatever, but just never the full package to enjoy . But I was expecting something different having followed it in pre production for years and many people were thrilled with the looks, sound , Making smoke and banging gears like a 60s car that was better driving then 60s car even if nothing special for modern era , I wanted it all . I mean imagine the Challenger on something like the Alpha Chassis or something even better weighing less with better suspension and contact patch that had that look and Power .
That SRT4 bolt on sound with the era correct bov is timeless
Best comment!
What kind of bov is that??
@@RacingHeartMedia Tial Purple
@@SparksNWreckreationsounds like a rfl bov
1000% that's either a Greddy Type-s (Purple top BOV) Or one of the ebay knockoffs. Either way it's such a signature sound! Love it.
I have an 05 PT GT 5 speed in exactly that color combo. Have lots of go fast parts on and yet to be put on. The plan is to get it to ~300whp, it's a good troll car. I have some Focal F20's (Bronze) and BC Racing coilovers (about 1.25" dropped, and the convertible is already about 2" lower than the sedan from the factory), that and new headlights / tail lights... really updated the look of the car. One other thing to note about the transmissions... the PT GT does not get an LSD from the factory (I put a Phantom Grip in mine when I did the clutch / flywheel). The SRT4 does get one from the factory.
That sounds epic ! Great project and sleeper car ! I love people tinkering and modding there vehicles . Makes them more unique and fun :)
Only later srt4 the early ones didn’t come with it either
@@utahcountypicazospage5412 Good to know, thanks!
Please post pictures! That sounds amazing! In on the verge of buying a 2007 or 2006 (not 100% sure )Cobalt SS for my nephew. The previous owner is mentally ill and no longer allowed to drive. So his dad is selling it. It’s been dropped, it has old school Krager rims, low pro tires, very nice exhaust system manual 5 speed transmission, a really nice sounding system, racing seats. The father daily’s it to his job at the supermarket and it is very well kept. $4500. 71,000 miles. What’s your opinion. Thank you.
@@Taino871 Sounds like a great buy for that price, a fun car for not much money... If I had room I'd love an HHR in the driveway with the PT Cruiser. :)
I've always wanted someone to do a comparo like this
Glad we could make it happen
I typically hate exhausts on 4 cylinders, but that SRT4 sounds great.
me too, i remember back in 08 a guy had a red one that was pretty loud, i always loved seeing it ride by as a kid
Well these are Mopar's they're different they have a soul!
What a handsome two! This is an awesome! Boy I miss old Chrysler! Affordable fun engineered great not anything like today garbage! I had an '04 Dodge Neon SXT that never let me down never had to put a large amount of money into it either Best reliable vehicle I have ever owned never left me stranded alongside the road when she departed 250,000 mi on it she was still running! The body was done.
Europe that's all we have are 4 cylinders and exhausts
I've got both. An '03 srt4 and an '03 pt-gt. Both on tein s-tech springs(pt rides smoother) both have same mods(intake, tune, exhaust) Both have the mopar diverter plate. The srt4 is "quicker" but the pt-gt is "faster" cause of its gearing. The pt gets less hate and more props cause it's a pt not "just a neon". I'll prob do a video on my channel to showcase it when I get 'round to it.
I had no idea they offered the 5-speed in the PT GT. That is wild. For some reason I thought they were all autos.
My dad had a bare bones 04 PT (non turbo) that was a 5-speed. Actually he just got rid of it in October. The thing had 485 thousand miles on it. He was the original owner.
I had an 04 SRT4 and it was a fun car for sure. They sound good to.
Best sounding 4 cylinder car, period.
I have 04 srt silver with 294 k drives awesome drove it to work today
Those PT Cruisers were a bit of a sleeper for their time when new. Back then 12-13 second street cars were still considered “quick” because every stock sedan didn’t have a turbo and run that stock like today. But I digress; I used to race with a guy that had an auto PT Turbo with a bunch of bolt ons and some decent tires. That car went like 12.90s and surprised a lot of people with “quick” cars of the time. Specifically out of the bunch I remember him beating a nice GSR swapped EG hatch, a bolt-on Eclipse GS-T, and a 99 Mustang GT with an intake and Flowmasters. Not exactly rocket ships, but he was beating them in a PT Cruiser lol so there’s gotta be some points for that!
Exactly, you get it
It's fun, because it shouldn't be.
Thank you for this video. This is very helpful. I drive a pt gt and its the 4 door. I have an exhaust and an intake and it pulls good, its alot of fun and ive always wondered how they stack up
Thank you... I've actually been working on building a PT Cruiser and did a ton of research on parts and of course I found a ton of shared parts that I could get the performance parts as direct replacements for it from SRT-4's upgrades... Mine is not a gt unfortunately but I have found a GT donor hidden away at an undisclosed location that I can get for a reasonable price and curiously my PT Cruiser already has the SRT-4 5 speed in it I verified this through extensive research and the fact that I angered the trans shop when I needed to have a clutch put in while I was traveling (bad timing)... They were not happy when they found out that the trans wasn't the one that they had thought it was 😂... But it's great that mine uses All the SRT-4 solid racing motor and transmission mounts, sadly it has the drawback of I can use the coilovers for the front but have to used sleeves in the rear due to the fact that the rear don't use struts... Still though it's handling is quite good for the type of rear suspension that the 4-door of mine has... I've completely upgraded the whole suspension including "prothane" style bushings, I got them from energy suspension and they make the car really tight... A lot more comparable to the ride and handling of an SRT-4 with the same bushings... I hope that helps a few other people out here who may be interested in doing things with a good PT Cruiser... Much love, and keep doing what you do... ✌️☮️
I have a new respect for the PT cruise now ha. Great video
Thanks for watching!
You better!!! Or >😈
We have truly hit a different era. I just googled some of these and they’re priced between 17-20k!!!! I remember back in 2004-2006 as a kid these would be found used for 3-6k!! Any car from the 2000s you want, you better get it now because those cars are becoming vintage status
It's crazy how expensive these have become in good shape!
@@SparksNWreckreation you can still buy srt4s around 5-10k used car market is pretty effed up still but i agree back 10 years ago or so they re selling for a couple thousand
Not because they're really anything special. It's because there's so few of them left now. I've been on the hunt for a Caliber SRT4 for a year now but of the last 11 I've looked at since 2022 there have only been 2 that would be considered "road trip ready" but I was not about to pay 9 to 11 grand for a 20+ year old Mopar product with no service history on a vehicle known to have head gasket, timing belt and transmission issues. People are stupid to think the PT GT, SRT4 or CSRT4 are worth damn near their original MSRP 20 years later and 10 owners ago.
@@spitsomefireI turned 18 when the 04 neon srt was brand new. I remember asking my dad to co-sign and he said hell no. Lol
@@alpha2gproject783 they're only worth what people are willing to pay. I agree that it would be insanely stupid to pay that much for any of these cars, but obviously there are a lot of people who feel otherwise. For 10, 12 grand anyone can find a lot nicer and newer and more powerful vehicles. For that price you're getting into older but not terribly beat to shit Charger R/T territory.
Never understood why SRT4 guys would get their panties in a bunch when you'd bring up the fact it's basically the same drive train as a PT GT...tnagz not necessarily a bad thing
Just bought a 06 PT GT 5spd Manual Convertible with 59,000 miles. Completely rust free with no imperfections. Showroom quality if you will. Ive owned 4 PT Cruisers prior to my GT but this is my first PT GT.
Best PT ive owned and yes, does spin the tires in 2nd. Can confirm that. Lol. Added a K&N Typhoon 69 Series to it and it makes the same sounds as the SRT-4 but without the BOV. Lot of power though and I avg 22 mpg. Lol.
DON'T YOU DARE DESTROY THOSE INNOCENT CARS. AND THAT MOCKERY PFP IS GONNA GET YOU DOWN DEEPER WITH 👹
Had a 2001 Pt Cruiser with a Whipple supercharger from the factory...I think only 27 were built. Got it to put the drive train in a Neon. Motor Trend test drove one when it format came out but with the turbo craze happening, the idea fell on its face hence why not many were made
Now you need a stratus with the 2.4 turbo engine from mexico
I had an 03 PT Cruiser GT with the 5 speed 12 years ago. The drivetrain was totally awesome... Unfortunately the rest of the car was not so great. So many stupid problems with it. It was a fun sleeper when it wasn't eating wheel bearings, frying electronics and rusting. Ran low 14's at the track. Pretty respectable for what it was. I loved messing with riced out imports.
2 cars i have lots of nostalgia for
This video got me, but the channel name got me subscribed.
Thanks man. We have some varied content, hopefully you enjoy some of it!
i drove an automatic dream cruiser 2.4t a few years back, i was impressed with the torque. still have yet to drive an srt4, but i have driven an sx2.0 manual lol, i have an 03 dakota r/t
I had a PT cruiser take off at a stop light the other day. I took off and it took me way longer than I thought it should to real him in. I had to Google PT cruiser GT and it all makes sense.
Yeah not fast cars but certainly fun!
Don't Neons have a true independent rear suspension? I know the PT Crusers don't and that makes a HUGE difference in cornering performance.
My '03 pt gt is a solid rear axle BUT they came from the factory with a watts link. It corners almost as well as my '14 focus ST(pt is on 18" xxrs and mickey thompson street comps)
I’m thinking of getting a gt pt cruiser taking the drive train scraping the car and buying a regular neon to srt4 swap it essentially because I love the neon I played a lot of nfs underground and midnight club 3 which the neon was a starter car in both I always wanted one but the prices are ridiculous for what your getting in return I remember when I was 14 looking up srt4s online seeing how cheap they were wishing I could get my hands on one then but now I think swapping one is the only way I could get one I find hella neons of that generation around me most of them not being srt4s and the one dude I know has one keeps it tucked in the garage to gain value don’t blame him but I wanna get one to actually drive reasons why I’m considering swapping a neon
I can’t believe they are still running. How many str-4 neons you still see on the road
I had a pt turbo light that looked just like that one. But i put in a stage 1 computer, bov and muffler delete. My friend with an srt loved it. Mostly because I had an auto
Nice, I have only owned the 5 speed GTs. I would have to try an automatic and see how that performs.
Every neon or traditional PT with an automatic I have ever driven was quite boring.
The turbo must wake it up
@@SparksNWreckreation it really did. I miss the car. But she started falling apart and I didn't want to fix it anymore. So I replaced it with an 03 Vette
I liked the video man good job I've never driven a Neon SRT-4 but we are currently driving a similar year PT Cruiser it's not the turbo version and I wouldn't exactly say it's terribly slow, like off the line it has good low end torque but after about 50 miles an hour it just goes away LOL all in all I don't like the body style but it runs pretty decent and it gets me from point A to point B
I would have never considered a comparison between the two but I’m intrigued
That blow off valve is absolutely perfect what is it called
A convertible GT i imagine is actually heavier as convertibles usually are because they have to rely solely on the added rigidity undearneath to be as rigid as a hard top, that gets no added rigidity underneath. Wonder how a 4 door gt compares to an srt neon
Man I need a SRT4
My parents bought a PT GT wagon brand new in 2003. It's was an automatic and decently quick for what it was. Never drove a 5-speed version, I'm sure they are much quicker.
Could have been a better comparison if the PT wasn't a convertible but how could I be picky when it's already pretty awesome you were able to line this pair up these days
Does the Dodge Neon really have the same engine as the Stratus?
You are right in the milage range of doing timing and water pump work on both. Just go ahead and do it now and save the motors. Please. My PT tossed the belt at 143k. An old friend of mine tossed his on a Neon at 130ish, he beat on it though.
Shops near me want 2k for ether of the 2. Unless you can do it yourself, Most people let them die. Sadly most people hate on them so the value is less than the timing belt job.
Man if you have that srt4 much longer, I might have to make a bad financial decision
If I didn't have so much junk already, I would keep the turd.
I think he's saying it's fo salee
...between these two though, I like the Neon better.
The PT Cruiser secretly being hatch version of the Neon is not a plot teist I was expecting.
I like how somone put a turbo badge on the plastic bezel of the gauge cluster....just incase you forgot...lol
Add a caliper. It was the neons replacement
Surprised they are both still running.
What BOV does the Neon have? :o
The PT cruiser actual exhaust note sounds better. Some people might say the SRT sounds better just because it has a blow off valve.
You might be correct! Top down full throttle is great in the summer
I literally saw today a purple ptr cruiser wide body. Was that a thing or was it a custom job. Great video! 👌🏻
Nice video. Just sold my 5 speed PT GT. Great car, odd but great. I have a bunch of videos on it on my channel if anyone wants to see more.
The New Venture T-850 is rated for more input torque and can handle more power than the PT's Getrag. The third gear explosion in the NSRT-4 is driver related in almost all instances. A lot of these cars died for very dumb reasons. Example: I knew a guy who bought an ebay GT30R kit, installed it, ran it on 27lbs of boost, SBE, no tune. Is any surprised it died?
Neons interior is waaay easier on the eyes, materials still leave a lot to be desired. Throw that drivetrain in like a '97 Neon Expresso coupe. They weigh nothing, would be an excellent swap... a difficult swap due to the electrical, but once it was done it would be just about the most desirable Neon around ...
If you can even find an 97 Neon that isn't a total rot box. I haven't seen one on the road in a LONG time. The same goes for any 90's American econo-box. I haven't seen a Ford Escort (other than mine) in a long time either. I seen some Cavaliers once in a while but they made them through 05 so it's not a 100% accurate comparison. Cobalts and early Focuses are getting scarce too. If you can find one though, you would have the advantage of it being emission exempt in a lot of states.
@@madmatt2024 I still see tons of Focuses around me, especially the '05-07. Thinking of picking up a ZX5 or ZXW Focus I can find one.
@@hakeemsd70m IIRC, those years can pretty easily be swapped to the 2.5L out of a Fusion.
I like the neon blue.
How is the Auto? Is it worth it? It's real hard to find a 5-speed PT GT.
From what I have heard, terrible
Need to find the manual
Ive owned both. The auto is a turd and can't handle much more than stock hp. The manual is stout and way better gearing. If you want one don't settle for the auto
Both these cars have always made me laugh when I see them.
For that reason I do like to see them.
Absolutely disgusting. He's waiting > 😈
Is this a used car lot that you have there ? Just wondering because if so how much are you selling the SRT 4 ?
Yeah I own a lot.
It's 4500 bucks
Love it
Is there a "sporty" trim of the dodge stratus?
In this Era. There was an R/T with a Mitsubishi derived 3.0L and 5speed
@@SparksNWreckreation oh wow! Never knew that. Did it share parts with the eclipse as well?
Yep! Like 75% of the car is interchangeable
yup, basically an Eclipse GT from 2000-2005@@SparksNWreckreation
Mexico got a 2.4 turbo stratus r/t that predates the SRT-4 a853.
I want to know who is the person that needed to know this info
Around 22,000 persons so far, which is quite shocking.
@@SparksNWreckreation that’s Wuz up man
how do you get that sound out of your turbo?
Straight pipe, and a blow off valve
The art-4 was straight pipe from the factory
My cheap speed from the early 2000s late 90s is the Mercedes e430, 4.3v8 275hp, 0-60 in 6.5 and will do 155 mine also used to average 26 mpg
Those are awesome cars!
Yes there is a difference I’ve owned both and both modded I prefer the ptgt. Ptgt had a stronger trans.
I'LL TAKE THE PT CRUISER NOW TO FRENCH KISS THANK YOU!
Did the SRT 4 have a air leak?
Its something to do with the bov, not sure entirely but it has a strange whistle from it.
@@SparksNWreckreationif an srt4 is stock turbo with an intake. They all make that sound on acceleration. One of my favorite things about them actually.
The PT Cruiser GT has a speed govenor. The SRT4 probably not.
The PT is the go to if you want a sleeper. In all other ways the SRT-4 is better. I reliably find multiple SRT-4s for under $5K, every time I look. They're not expensive, they are in fact cheap.
I rem in the 2000s these became all the rave. Now I haven't seen one In a decade or more
The srt4 is a budget srt4
i like both , but for me the srt4 sound better
Haha awesome! I had a quick clean and cream 2006 2.4na PT Cruiser straight piped that ripped. Yup fast asf boiii shitty back seats tho
Send it brother!
It’s a damn sin that my dart never got an SRT variant, it was built, confirmed and cancelled. BOO DODGE
Seems slow for a H.O Mine spins in 2nd on dry roads W/traction off. Stock with a drop in K&N filter
😂😂😂 weight at the scrapyard differences is what the scale is pitched towards. Scale at kne job was +/- 80 lbs.
Imagine getting gapped by a pt cruiser bro 😂
This is Impressive ! the srt4 almost has a similar quarter mile time as my 2001 S2000 ! , but with the S2000 I have 50:50 power to weight ratio with world class handling and I can handle the corners going 3 times the speed limit ! I doubt you can do that with a Neon or GT PT Cruiser , thats Why My car was $50 g brand new and the Neon $25 , but still in todays market ! for $4000 id buy a Pt Cruiser GT just to mess around as a daily driver ! its a total SLEEPER !
Absolutely, it may actually be the best bang for your buck in 2024
50:50 weight distribution..
The PT Cruiser GT only has 210 horsepower and srt-4 230 horsepower
They offered the GT at 180hp or GT High Output that was like 210 or 220hp. This is the HO. Either way a basic tune will put you at SRT #s. The majority of the power level difference between SRT and PTGTHO was intake manifold and tune.
I had both PT Cruiser GT had smaller injectors a smaller throttle body to but I had a stage one srt-4 lol
Now here is the answer to the question nobody ever asked.
Accurate
Not a great drivetrain, good lil' turbo 4 though. Good engine for a buildsy...
The GT is not loading any pound of boost.
Yes the PT Cruiser if fugly!
A SRT 4 is the fastest car I've been in..161mph,I wasn't driving though. The 2nd fastest was a 2015 Vette Stingray at about 155.
Lol the srt4 took 40 minutes sting ray did it in 6 seconds
@@utahcountypicazospage5412 Hahaha! That SRT4 was faster than a Vette.
GIVE ME THAT PT CRUISER NOW DON'T EVEN THINKING ABOUT TRASHING IT. IT'S VINTAGE
You know who else see’s what they sound like from behind?
My MOM!
Ok fam
I spent over 20 years with CJD and the PT we’re horrible to work on I’d take the SRT4. Dodge should have put that motor and a 5speed in the Stratus RT.
This^
A fast stratus could have been fantastic.
Though the Mitsubishi 3.0L 5MT of this Era was decent
They did in Mexico. The stratus r/t predates the SRT-4 a853.
@@black99rt Chrysler made some cool cars down there. Back in the day when I messed with the 2.2 and 2.5 they had a Mexican head for that motor that was for non US market.
@@SparksNWreckreation this was my personal car last turbo Mopar I built
ruclips.net/video/W-8RVTAZ7Ng/видео.htmlfeature=shared
Canada also had some non US heads on some as well... Probably the same ones from Mexico can't remember the exact numbers
Yep, sounds like need for speed! 👍
There's one big difference: The Neon isn't a fuckin PT cruiser
Srt4 got bigger turbo and intercooler big aftermarket turbo intercooler injectors tune down pipe pt will kill
Those PT Cruiser's had the worst engines and were way too heavy. They had a 4 cylinder that only got 19 mpg. The turbo got 15 mpg. My 6 cylinder Toyota Tacoma gets 19 mpg.
Srt-4 the most uncomfortable seats I’ve ever sat in! Way too much bolster!
I never grasped why PT cruiser is so despised. I realize it's a crappy car same as a Neon but the retro look of the PT cruiser doesn't offend me the way it does others . It's no worse then the SUV CUV thing today .
I guess it's considered too fake in its design and how it was marketed as cool and perhaps custom old hot rod being FWD ,4 cyl and cheap architecture and craptastic plastic interior and seats that fall apart and garbage steel that starts rusting in showroom.
OK , but the general shape of it doesn't offend me perhaps the way the public would tell me i should be . OK the fake woody ones maybe . But to be truthful . For the time , if you were gonna buy a low end 4 cyl domestic car the stylingbwas at least bold .
The Prowler was an Odd bird .
Everything with Chrysler was off being a broke company with so much stuff half as. The prowler besides being weird had a terrible Power train with a weak 6 cyl and slush box because they didn't have a proper powertrain for it so for its looks and price it didn't fit and was all show with no go . If it performed and sounded better, maybe looked at differently.
Even the Challenger which was another one of their retro designs , a concept and I development forever and finally released was crap IMO . I NEVER was so excited for a car then when following the show car to pre production developement to release with EVERY BIT OF INTENT TO THROW MONEY AT DODGE thinking they were building the ultimate american car with best possible retro design from muscle car era with modern amenities like ability to stop and turn as well as be fast and be more on par with european cars in these ways while taking advantage of big HP and TOURQUE !! all while appearing in modern way to meet standards and regs like the best looking cars in American design .
But Chrysler being poor they had to skimp and use an ancient chassis from their partnership or being owned by Mercedes and given a hand me down of a big chunky heavy luxo sedan chassis that was already outdated . This meant it was a fat pig . The Hemi designation to engine didn't mean squat and it was just a basic of the day pushrod V8 that was OK and in a lighter car with a better chassis and easier to put more rubber on it would have been up to snuff so that you wouldn't feel like you were driving something old and un refined compared to a BMW or something like in a mustang or camaro . Instead when released I was devastated to find out that despite healthy power #s it wasn't faster then anything else or slower because of pig fatness and inability to put all Power down In classic muscle car fashion and in regards to handling all the fatness and other issues meant despite a NEW CAR it had no improvements to the segment to add competence as a drivers car to allow you to follow your friends in BMWs who looked down on you on backroads or lose them when the road straightened witn V8 power .
You got this really great design . The best retro design ever pulled off , designers achieving the overall aura and look of a cuda more then Challenger in some ways in my opinion with the old Challenger being longer then Cuda and modern Challenger looking less lean because of proportions to meet safety standards and modern restrictions but recognizable as mopar pony car with the right cues . but in the end all the " magazine " #s for acceleration , braking , lateral Gs and performance metrics were meh to sucky and no improvement or worse to what was on offer from Ford and GM and not shining except for more back seat and styling .
THE STYLING was now a problem in my mind . It looked the part but was Same old same and not modern with the style and advantage of V8 . cost a fair amount and in the end didn't return better #s then something like an SS camaro or the garbage car with insane power of the Terminator Cobra that had the disgusting interior, heaviness and lack of refinment but at least had the muscle thing down with insane power/ acceleration.
It made the Challenger somewhat like the PT cruiser and Prowler being a design thing and parts bin thing rather then what looked like Chrysler pulling off the impossible and something great.
The excitement surrounding it was huge and I had it personal . After the first test results and reviews I knew I couldn't spend on it and feel like a poser plus actually lose something in regards to proper driving . But people bought them and fell for the " hemi" named V8 not at all special enough to use the name and an obvious ploy and settled for mediocre car with great looks and OK engine rated for power but of no use to setting it apart from anything because at its core it was an outdated big heavy sedan chassis not egineered for the application .
I did NOT want a car that looked like a Modern Cuda with the name Hemi associated with it to not only be the worst handling but also meh as a drag car and feeling like a poser . I was pissed off and let down . Like both the Neon and PT Cruiser people bought them up though .
Of course the Challengers style and not being a budget car and having V8 sound etc allowed it to stay viable forever despite the already old chassis when new despite always under performing In so many ways because of compromises from day one and they just kept throwing more power and adding even more weight and trying to compensate by bolting on stuff and then tacked on looking wide bodies to try and increase traction , cornering and braking but always hamstrings by platform and just advertising big power #s for traction limited cars that In real world rarely performed as great as hyped despite rediculous engine ratings . I never got past the initial let down and despite loving the shape and some of the models with different classic hood designs etc couldnt ever bring myself to buy a compromised car not good at anything besides looking / spunding nice and destroying tires In a car that fits fat people and rides OK. At least Camaro on Alpha Chassis had some dynamics even if also a bit too heavy and not dialing in retro as spot on and achieving what level of camaro it did with the pill box thing you could get one that was a drivers car .
Chrysler had fallen , was traded around and always on budget and had some hits despite working with very little but no real home runs . I Don't consider Demons etc, despite some decent sales and hard core fans home runs .
The SRT4 neon is an example of working with what you got and has its following.
But , regardless of how crap a PT cruiser is the styling isnt what i find the worst and I think it's goofed on past where it should be , for cost of used one it would be a fine car to play with or use if you weren't considered the least hip person on the planet . Certainly getting one and making power for rolling power where you can troll people in the goofy car has some appeal . I DID initially think they looked OK in that signature color shared with prowler of the dark metallic purple. If I had to have a PT cruiser, make it purple , turbo and manual .
Only thing I remember about these was they had some go on a roll for what they were for the time .
I love vans , panel trucks, old bread trucks made into shagging wagons so the design isn't as awful to me. If it had no back seats and flat space with padding behind to fuck in with blacked out windows I would forgive it for sure .
But the Challenger broke my heart . Was like a beautiful girl with great body you COULD date but had a reocurring yeast infection that was just a shame because it looked so inviting and if you held your nose, whatever, but just never the full package to enjoy . But I was expecting something different having followed it in pre production for years and many people were thrilled with the looks, sound , Making smoke and banging gears like a 60s car that was better driving then 60s car even if nothing special for modern era , I wanted it all .
I mean imagine the Challenger on something like the Alpha Chassis or something even better weighing less with better suspension and contact patch that had that look and Power .
thought they were sniffing coke but turned out laced with fentnyl
Lol😂
It's not "GEE trag" 😂
Gah treg
I'm slow and from redneck new yerk. We call it what we want.
Take a turbo, manual HHR over either of them.
Would be a great 3rd car to add to the mix
Wasn’t the hhr ss offered in a 6-spd too?
the main difference is dignity
Indeed.
SRT peasants trying to bask in the King PTs Glory
Haha
They are the same girl with a different dress. Sure they look different but they are still the same.
The difference is pt cruiser is garbage and the neon is a lil less garbage
I think that both are decent bang for your buck as an entry level performance car.
Gt more fun
srt4 is better
Just wind out second, then shift to fourth.
PT cruisers are Regardless the ugliest cars ever made.
The neon was a fast motor in a plastic crap car.
Yea one is a Neon & the other is a PT ..
A man of immense observation.
Cabriolet 🍻🏆 other 🤬💩
So a bolt on neon is slightly faster than a stock pt loser, cool, got it. Don’t buy either…
hmmm...both ugly usa design...buth awful gas milage and oil leaks...same same