Chrysler PT Cruiser - History, Major Flaws, & Why It Got Cancelled (2001-2010)
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- Опубликовано: 19 май 2024
- In today's episode we are taking a look at the Chrysler PT Cruiser! This was an infamous, retro, weird car that people either loved or hated. It lived through 10 model years across the world, getting various special editions, a turbocharged GT model, and even a 2-door convertible. It wasn't exactly a failure, as it was an affordable, practical, compact car that sold over 1.4M units. However, Chrysler discontinued the model in 2010 and never looked back. Watch along for a full history of the PT Cruiser!
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SKIP AHEAD! (Being Updated)
1. Overview: 00:57
2. PT Cruiser History (2001-2010): 03:22
3. GT Model Overview (2003-2007): 10:03
4. Flaws and Reasons for Cancellation: 13:33
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#PTCruiser #PTCruiserFlaws #PTCruiserCancelled #PTCruiserConvertible 
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![Love It or Hate It? Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible GT! [Review & History]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LN4TyRMb3Fw/mqdefault.jpg)
![Love It or Hate It? Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible GT! [Review & History]](/img/tr.png)
I had a PT Cruiser for almost 20 years! It was my daily driver for my family and I was able to haul just about everything in that thing from sofas to everything else I needed to move from my small apartment to my house. I had a manual which I really enjoyed. I had planned do a "resto mod" on it but after it kept breaking down it was time to let it go especially since it was my only car. 20 years is a long time to daily drive a Chrysler but I did love that car. Even though it became a money pit, in the end, I was a little sad to see it go when it was hauled off. I commend Chrysler for having the courage to do something different.
Get a life
@@chudthug Take yer own advice!
@@chudthug Grow up kid.....what do you do, play video games all day? He expressed his opinion, while you
were being a typical loud mouth. smh
@@konstantinakatsiaba2004 You are wrong,it was based on a 1940s Chrysler Airflow.You are talking about the Chevrolet HHR which was Chevys version of a PT Cruiser.Theirs was based on the 1940s Suburban.Both the PT and the HHR designed by same designer.
@@konstantinakatsiaba2004 You're a damn fool.
Read the article before quoting it and making yourself look very dumb, on a global scale.
I currently own 3 PTs, 2002 Dream Cruiser, 2004 Dream Cruiser Turbo, and a 2009 Touring. I love them all. I've had 6 all told and they are great little cars. The cargo room is fantastic. And the turbo is super fun to drive.
Question do you still own them idk why I’m curious but I am
Addiction is a serious problem and u might wanna get that checked out.
Jk my aunt has one I was driving it today, a surprisingly fun little car
@@KR0TE7 But, tell me, please, be who has actually worked on one?
We still have a 2002 PT Cruiser. My daughter grew up in the back seat. She told me never to sell it because she wanted it as her first car. So I kept it alive. It still runs great with only 113,000 miles. She says she’ll never sell it because of all the fond memories. It is very fun to drive.
Wish I could post a picture of it.
I still drive my 2002 Pt Cruiser. I love it. Had zero issues. Took out the rear seats (as only I'm ever in it) and I can haul pretty much anything. I managed to get a full interior door into the car AND close the hatch.
Gonna keep this car till it turns to dust.
I have 2 a convertible gt tuned to about 400 HP and full-sized lightly tuned for a daily driver/work truck
Me too. If it blows up while driving, I just leave the key, take my junk out of it, and walk away.
Myself! I still drive my woody. Having simple issues lately but it still rolling. It will jump any car on take off at a stop light😂
@@emitindustries8304 I'd have to have a funeral...
Mine is my inheritance from my Mom...passed in January 2017...❤
@@kimberlycary2722You poor lady, same here, my mom passed 2/23 and I had to pay 3k just because I have a problem on my truck and need back-up wheels until I resolve issue on my truck. If I wasn't lazy and had a quick fix for my truck, I would have bought something so much different!
If you're wondering about the 1 sale in 2018, sometimes there can be leftover inventory that someone buys years later at a big discounted price, counting as a 'new' sales. These are known as Zombie cars, since they obviously lived on way past the death of the car. So someone bought a brand new, 'discounted' PT in 2018
Dang! ..wonder about the config on it?
that'd be cool af. go in and buy a 'new' car that old, lol.
wonder what the $ was, too.
That’s what Lexus dealers did with the Lfa they marked them up so that they would get more foot traffic into their dealership and would be able to sell their other vehicles I believe that’s what happened
that's fascinating, i wish i could find info on it
Zombie cars! 😅 So zombies really do exist - in this way only, it seems.
How did the sales numbers you listed add up to a million cars sold in the U.S.? When can we expect video about special editions? I own a "Sunset Boulevard"?
Still have one 20yrs old 100k plus, and everything works, no issues, no rust. Best car I’ve ever owned!
My 2006 PT Limited Edition just went over 140,000 miles and the only thing I've replaced so far: one fuel pump, and one battery. That's it. Driven 2,000+ mile trips it, slept in it, hauled furniture in it, it's been a great car! Comfortable (but not plush), higher sitting position than your typical car, TONS of room inside, lots of storage places, bins, and cup holders, removable rear seats, a passenger seat that folds flat (great for dining inside the car) TONS of legroom (important to this 5'11" tall girl!), roomy and reliable. Love my silver 2006 with factory chrome wheels and sunroof! I even drive this instead of fixing my 2000 Jaguar XK8 convertible! Oh, my PT Crusier has NEVER overheated, btw.
Mine's been great and I've had it since 2004. Always liked the styling and practicality, and its hella fun to drive with the turbo especially. Also found it to be mechanically. The only thing I really had go wrong out of the ordinary was rough idling, but that was due to Chrysler's incorrect spark plug gap recommendation that was erattad years ago to not be as large. The only real negative in my mind is being front wheel drive, but with this car it allows the interior volume/design to be what it is, so it can be forgiven.
Also fantastic in deeper snow with correct tires!!
My daughter owned two and I got very envious and bought my first PT Cruiser last November, a black 2008 convertible. I know its not exactly an engineering masterpiece, but its so cool looking, fun to drive, and economical, that I love it. Since I'll never own a hot rod '40 Ford, this is the next best thing for this old retired soldier.
Like it. Still own our 02 after almost 18 years and a 169.000 miles. Still going strong.
My mother had a 2007 model. She loved it very much and had it almost 10 years. It still ran perfectly when she traded it in with no rust or mechanical issues. She still misses it to this day. She still reminisces about her favorite part of the car oh, well actually two parts. The window controls in the center and the swivel air vents that you could point in any direction with ease.
i beg to differ on the crash worthiness:
my ma slid off a hwy in the winter, down an embankment and hit the edge of a field that was angled up at the edge.
as the ground was frozen, it was as if the car hit a 2' high concrete barrier at 40 mph!
this was a few months after she bought it new.
the car was straightened out on a frame rack, repainted, new fascia & a front wheel and was fine for another decade.
till she slid off once more, this time bc of a road hog driver. when a guy gave her a ride home, we called a wrecker.
in the mean time, an old lady slid off and hit the PT above the bumper and pushed it back 50' through the deep, heavy snow in the ditch.
crumpled only the hood and one fender! Broke one head light lens, lil door ding.
..and ppl say this car is under built.
keep reading...
on top of that, i have talked to nurses that stated the PT was unsafe.
"Oh? how so?", I ask?
"They take a lot of extra time for the jaws of life to hack through", was the reply.
Lol..some "Under built car" there.
..hb how they are becoming a frequent Demo Derby champion?
..maybe these car testing ppl skewed results? Ran the car faster than the test reported?
Not an unprecedented deal, different outfits lying about cars..ie Volvo reinforcing their cars for rollover tests?
Idk..but real world info and repeated and in diff scenarios by different ppl over rules some lab test by a mile.
I'd rather be in a PT in a crash over many, many other cars.
Lastly..when folks started dropping V8's (YES!:) in them, they found out the torsional rigidity of their chassis was better than many classic muscle cars.
Boom.
I bought one as my first car. It's a crystal red pearl 2006 base model auto. The only problem I had with it was the radiator, it has 2 fan speeds and one died which made the car overheat when stopping. Replaced it for like 50$. All the parts are reasonably priced actually. Other that that no issues, here in Poland people really like it because it's something different, everyone compliments the interior room and overall design. It has 75k miles from new(previous owner bought it new in the US, imported it, then a couple years later he bought a new 2011 Chrysler 300 and loved the PT so much he didn't want to let it go so he gave it to his daughter who was a translator so it wasn't driven much). I really do like it, it's value for money is unbelievable, doesn't look 14 years old at all. Best thing about it is how spacious it is, I got a dishwasher in it once lol
Planning to buy a second one when I'll have some free garage space, this time a GT or some sort of special edition(would absolutely love to get the woody)
that's cool! thanks for the honest note.
enjoy your neat PT!
My 07 started overheating too. I have tons of issues with mine. I hate this car
That’s what I love about it, the space. It’s like almost having a minivan but with all the features of an economy car. I have the 17” wheels and snow tires and this thing drives through snow like butter. Don’t forget it was classified as a truck because of the chassis and suspension.
I purchased my PT in June of 2000 drove it off the showroom floor. The first year I owned the car a lot of people approached me and we had some great conversations...it was one of the first PTs on the road. I owned that vehicle for 16 years and It never broke down, never left us stranded, never did any of the things people accused this vehicle of.
My daughter parked in a parking lot and someone ran in to it and because of the age it eas totalled. My family actually mourned when the vehicle was towed away ( 1st time and last time on a tow truck). I lowered the car 3 inches added a Borla exhaust and a cold intake the first year. We used to call it Pete affectionately.
Our PT is an 06 ruby red,185k miles on the clock. The anemic 150 hp motor boils those front tires any time I stand on it. The small flaws were always an easy fix, no money pit ! New light switch, new wiper switch, new tailgate gas piston struts that hold the tailgate up. Just sips fuel and does not burn oil! One tail light was taking on water, silicone around the lens, fixed. And the brake light switch solved the so-called alternator problem/issue! It was sticking on. My wife is 80 and I am 82,we do our own repairs, we LOVE our PT CRUISER. We keep her clean and shinning with mothers ceramic shiny stuff! GOD BLESS AND THANK YOU FOR A GOOD SHOW,very informative.
Own a 2003 electric blue pt cruiser GT, runs great and has never broken down on me. 157,000 miles and going strong.
I have 2004 base model,love it,bought it with 75k miles,had it since november..no complaints..easy to work on..have changed motor and trans.mounts.i take care of it as much as i can..just love this car!!!!
I have an 06 PT and I love it . My wife has an 03 it needs some body work but I am going to take it over and this will be my project car. It's a turbo. Say what you want but I always wanted one of these . PT lover
The PT was ahead of its time! FCA should bring it back and get rid of the Journey!
Agree all the way
The PT Cruiser and the Pacifica where both well ahead if there time. Today with some modern work done to them for weight and efficiency they would sell like hot cakes.
I own a 2005 PT Cruiser. Bought it new and love it. I've put 80,000 miles on it and no problems with at all. Very nice car.
I bought a 2006 Convertible Touring model two years ago with 110,000 miles on it. I had the timing chain redone and the brakes as well. That’s been it. It’s a wonderful car with plenty of power and it gets lots of look sees. I love it’s appearance and the way it drives as well! I plan on keeping mine for years to come because it’s such a great car🚘❣️👌🏼
A lot of people made fun of it...but I absolutely loved my 2005 PT Limited. It cost me no money outside of standard PMs from the time I bought it until it was well over 160K. It was comfortable, drove well, got decent mileage...not as good as you'd expect, but still satisfactory. I had to move back from Florida to Michigan and once I flipped the seats all the way forward, and put a car top carrier on it...it was only the furniture that stayed behind in storage. Great car.
I own a manual 2005 PT cruiser, and I personally enjoy owning such a controversial car. It’s so practical/spacious, and fun to drive
Think mine is a 2005 pt cruiser. 65,000 miles and it just randomly drops gears on the hi-Way it's so weird
I owned one for seven years. Loved it and never had a minutes problem with it
I still have my 2001 (build in Aug 2000) PT Cruiser Limited fully loaded with grey leather interior and Satin-Silver exterior from a Chrysler owned dealership so I paid only the MSRP at $21,604 out the door. A lot of private dealers were jacking the price for one in the first two years because of the ultra high demand for the model. My car is all original, the only repair work besides normal maintenance intervals as covered in the owners manual was for a blown head gasket at 116,000 mile. I simply had the head and block decked, new hi-pro gaskets set and new valves, springs seats and guides in stalled. it still gets well over 25 per gallon and is still cruising down the road at over 200.000 miles. The paint is all original and looks factory fresh because I hand wash it regularly and apply Nu-Finish car polish every spring and fall without fail at a minimum. I'll never sell it, only maintain it in as new condition.
I bought my PT 2006 in that same year. Paid off 2012 and still have it in 2021. Runs well and only time I broke down is if the battery died, or had to get battery jumped in cold weather and that wasn’t often. Stickler about maintaining and giving it only mid grade or best gas and only problem I have with it is that the brakes freeze easily. It’s great in snow.
Still own a 2003 gt model no problems plenty of mods .. she runs 9 flat in an 8th mile and upsets a lot of people with newer supposedly performance cars... And I love that so many people hate it 💋
I've had my 05 PT Cruiser for 4 years now and I Love IT. I love the design, it's fun to drive and it stands out among the best‼️ Who cares if you hate it. I LOVE IT..... Open up your mind & embrace the concept
I'm impressed that Chrysler sold over a million units of the PT Cruiser. Now that's impressive.
As much as I hate this car, I guess not everyone thought it was the Worst Car
I mean, it's a retro looking modern car 👌 if a little more was put into it. I'm sure I would have been worth double
They should have scrapped the Prowler because it eclipsed the whole PT line
Yes for such a piece of crap it certainly is
The PT Cruiser was based on the 1940s chevy suburban, look it up in wikipedia
It always impressed me as the most practical of the various retro-style cars that were popular at the time it was launched. I would still be interested in owning one just for the interior in which the seats could be configured in a number of different ways or removed completely to accommodate large awkward objects as long as they weren't to heavy. It was frustrating to witness Chrysler's inability to market its practicality after its initial appeals a retro model faded.
The Daimler deal..ruin the best car company around for their own gain.
well, that and loot the $10-12 billion in surplus cash Chrysler had & use it to intro a new car for Mercedes.
I always loved these. They were so weird and off the norm. I applaud Chrysler for doing it. I wish however they had put the Pronto cruiser into production. Because that would have sold like crazy. Even now it still looks so futuristic!
I had one a 2002 Woodie and loved it it was the most practical car I have ever owned how sad they killed it if I could I would buy another.. Thank you for the video
If you're serious....keep looking around. One will pop up out of nowhere. We found a one owner PT fully loaded on Craigslist about an hour away from us. It had only 17,000 miles on it and the lady that owned it told us that she got it as a gift from her late husband and rarely drove it (keeping it in a separate garage and using her other vehicle instead). She said it had been out in the rain maybe 3 times in it's life and only because it started raining on her way home from somewhere! We jumped all over that car and it's only got 86,000 on it to date. It's a keeper for sure.....
Owned two of these for over 10 years each concurrently: 2001 Ltd 5-speed and a 2004 GT 5-speed. I still daily the 2001 but the 2004 was sold in September last year due to leaking exhaust valves - not inclined to get it fixed. I miss the GT; it was fast as hell and Doug Demuro even posted a review of the GT 5-speed.
I still enjoy my 2004 PT Cruiser GT 5 speed. As a matter of fact, Doug Reviewed mine! I emailed him if he wanted to review my 2006 Magnum SRT8, he was into it, but when i sent him a photo of my Magnum, he said he doesn't review modded cars (I have Dodge Viper Rims on the Magnum). So i jokingly replied to his email saying that I daily drive a PT Cruiser GT and he actually wanted to review it! lol.
@@alexapplegate619 did the rims have the same bolt pattern i got a pt gt also and a 300srt8 🍻
@@timothywebb6689 Nice! Sorry, I should have clarified. I have Viper Style rims, not directly from a Viper, so i'm not sure if they share the same bolt pattern.
@@timothywebb6689 the pt gt has 5 by 100 with a high positive offset you're not gonna find many times of of anything that bolt up with out spacers or something
I drive a 2007 PT Cruiser in marine blue pearl. I love the car! The only thing I truly dislike is the slow 4-speed automatic transmission. The 2.4l 4cylinder has plenty of HP, but the transmission makes it feel slower than it really is. For the rest It is reliable for me. I love the design and it's very versatile and spacious. In the Netherlands, some people tend to think it is quite an expensive car. Probably because they have become a novelty over the years. In the end, it was quite cheap for me to pick one up and to live with. I hope to drive my PT until it totals. I think I can easily drive for another 5-7 years with it. Thanks for the video, Marspeed!
i think she will make it!
they like non-ethanol fuel (ethanol eats everything from fuel filler necks to fuel pumps & fuel injectors) and Mobil 1 oil of 10w-40 or 15w-50 if summer..ignore the 5w-20..miniscule mpg gain, less engine protection. diesel spec Mobil 1 (Lucas Oil & Amzoil are fine, too..just cost more than is needed, unless you're into racing) have more Zinc in them, protecting the valve train esp.
tire quality affects drive feel/handling a lot..buy the best tire you can afford.
make sure to use ONLY ATF+4 synthetic transmission fluid..very critical to trans life..no chance it'll go far without it..probably why some ppl talk of trans failures..wrong fluids/abuse will do it, every time.
ATF+4. some shops will say that's what they'll put in..then don't! make sure.
Hey I've got an '07 in Marine Blue as well, very interesting color! Mine's a limited, with the optional detuned version of the GT's turbo engine (180hp). Although I recently installed a Mopar Stage 1 PCM so now it's more like 240hp lol...
@@zachsterosu dude, that's LiT!
I have three of them. Love em’ but they squeezed that engine into the pointed nose making repairs difficult.
I love it. Ordered the 2001 classic. Still have it with only 107000 miles. It has been kept in garage when my wife wasn't driving it to the post office or store. Looks like new. I also have a 2005 gt turbo convertible with 117000 miles. Its had a few problems but still a fun car to drive.
We had two PT Criusers. A 2003 woodie and a 2005 convertible GT. Loved them both. Traded the woodie in 2015 for a Town and Country. The GT was fast and surprized many a tuner driver! Traded it just recently for a Challenger RT 6 speed. I hope the Challenger will be as fun as the convertible GT was!
maybe?
depends if is a fair & sunny day :)
love my '93 LeBaron drop top.
ofc..a Hemi 6 spd should NOT be dull, ahaha.
GR8 trade
Mopar, or No car
Say what you will about the styling, but from what I remember of the ones my friends had, it was so easy to get in and out of, surprisingly comfortable, hauled a ton of crap for the size, got decent fuel economy (for the time), and was fairly easy to fix, which was a good thing because they needed to be fixed a lot. For those that didn't want an SUV and wanted to avoid the stigma of driving a station wagon or minivan, it was the best alternative. While not for me, I still understood it's place. Kind of reminded me of London Taxis.
My partner and I have owned two Cruisers, 2002 manual puple & a 2004 Silver auto, silver still going strong with 95k miles so far! We love them very few cars have a smiley face but the PTC does! They did a special Yellow model, would love one but they are very rare here!
i have 3 of the yellow ones ones been wreaked but the other two is still going on strong and one has 53k mile btw its the dream cruiser series 1 and the color is called inca gold
I drive a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT. I had it for 8 years and the turbo engine makes the car very powerful and fast.
I just bought three of them for some reason...I think they look cool though :)
Fabulous small car. Great style and performance!!
I loved mine for 10 years.
Boomers loved them. My father had one, as did my FIL. They were comfortable driving cars, albeit with a an upright minivan driving position.
Weird thing for me was how owners waved to one another. And my FIL had rules about it. “If they bought the later model with the changed bumper, they’re posers and you don’t wave to them!”. He wasn’t kidding
That's hilarious, but as an owner of a "first gen" for almost 10 years, and having driven a "second gen" cruiser, I have to say I STRONGLY prefer everything about the "first gen" cruisers.
I own one and love it. Very reliable and comfortable. People and different opinions based on different experiences. It's a unique piece of work.
I oddly love these cars 😂 I can’t be the only one that’s not 50+ years old.
I can appreciate them but wouldn’t be caught dead driving one 😂 maybe the GT those look a lot better haha
Marspeed agreed. Plus they’re a sleeper most people wouldn’t think are quick.
@@MarspeedCars Most PTs are ugly because they have bright colors that do not fit the design + unpainted plastic bumpers + those cheap large headlights with shiny plastic.
If you get GT or other one with painted bumpers, for example in dark patriot blue, AND you change stock headlights to ones with black housing, it looks much better.
This one is not in the best color, but it has painted bumpers and black housing of headlight (big improvement):
www.ptcruiserlinks.com/gallery/data/500/MFS_Change_Out21.jpg
Here is patriot blue, unmodded one without black housing headlights, but still better than typical pt:
images.gtcarlot.com/pictures/36401190.jpg
Here is the worst one, red with unpainted bumpers and everything burnt by sun (what most people think when they hear pt cruiser):
i.ytimg.com/vi/4fYsdDbia0g/maxresdefault.jpg
Tomasz Kolowca I work for a small Dealership here in Southwest Missouri and we just had a Red Limited PT Cruiser that had its front and rear bumpers painted, and that was a really clean looking car. The people that bought it had a Pt Cruiser last week that they totaled. People love these cars and the way they look. The ones left on the road just happen to be very ugly and not well taken care of. Here in Missouri it’s seen as a “crackhead” car and it’s honestly kinda sad because there really wasn’t anything quite like them on the market. It takes a certain person to find them attractive, but working on them is a different story and mainly why I understand they were discontinued. Some engine maintenance was a nightmare.
@@robertpurvis7921 here it seems to be primarily a garage kept grandma's car
Great video!! I thought the PT was truly ugly when they came out. Many many years later after my divorce I needed a versatile used car that I could afford to buy (under $10K) and my research brought me to the PT. I have owned two of the 2.4L non-turbo models since, a 2008 which a tree fell on and destroyed and a 2009 with 135K miles which I still own and LOVE. The thing is the Swiss army knife of cars... I tow a boat with it, I carry my canoe and kayaks with it, I have moved countless friends by taking the rear seats out. I have mounted a removable cargo box on an aftermarket roof rack. My only complaints are the gas mileage (20MPG IF rolling downhill with the wind to my back and the AC off) and that I get small water leaks after mounting an aftermarket roof rack. As it ages, I start to consider what to replace it with - but the only answer is nothing could. The PT Cruiser is one of a kind, it a piece of automotive history - and yes, it is also called the "PT Loser" and worse by some - but not me :-)
I'm completely in your court on this topic!!
Well put and thank you!!❤
These models are the shit!!!
I love mine!!!
And yes...they do all that!!
@@kimberlycary2722 Thank you Kimberly, that was so very kind of you to say : -)
@@male42nfree Not a problem...bummer now is not wanting to have timing belt changed...only 113kmi on '04 base model...
Will be looking at options after Holidays.
I do love this rig, though.
Best snow car, ever...like a Volkswagen, kind of...
Montana/North Idaho/Eastern WA travel...
@@kimberlycary2722 Mine is a 2009 PT Crusier, non turbo, with 150,000 miles on it.
I have taken good care of the car mechanically, but a few months ago it started throwing a "check engine" light error (O2 sensor). I changed both O2 sensors, but still have the error. Likely a wiring or ground issue- but it runs okay. I had planned to đeal with O2 error in the spring.
However tonight I lived through a hit & run which has likely totaled my 2017 Subaru Outback, my primary car, so I will be breaking out my multimeter earlier than I had planned.
The 2004 PT Cruiser GT was the first brand new car I've ever owned. I'm not going to lie it was plagued with several issues including transmission (5-speed Getrag manual), clutch, struts, and several electrical Gremlins. However... That being said I absolutely LOVED that car and would still buy another one today. They are definitely a love it or hate it vehicle but it was so practical, fun to drive, genuinely quick, and it never seemed to look old since they never updated the design really. I still miss and love that car!
Mine is absolutely amazing on gas and none of the problems have happened to minds so far. I have the limited edition 2002. Very very little repairs have had to be done to this vehicle and it still runs like a tank.
Had the touring edition in Black with the chrome package (2004 or 5 can't remember). I did get 260k miles on it, mostly highway. Replaced the trans at 180k with a Jasper. Middle daughter took it to school with her for 4 years, then the youngest used it for a few years. Ending up selling it for 600 bucks, everything still worked. It was a reliable cool looking car for me.
bc ya'll didn't beat/neglect it!
Thank you!
Fab cars, indeed.
..I bet Chrysler engineers pull their hair out sometimes, hearing about things ppl say & do to cars, just based on when some report fails..as in..there's no way, unless______.
neutral drops, curb jumping, redlining low on oil etc etc.
Ya'll be blessed!
Did you do the timing belt every 100k? Water pump at the same time? My 2001 has 188k, needs another belt soon!
Love the PT cruiser! Have had 3... 02 limited, 05 convertible 5spd, and now 04 GT. If you take care of them, they run great. Had the 05 from 38 miles and went to 252k miles before I sold it. Still had original clutch that worked without issue. Flew 1200 miles to Florida to get current GT. Wanted one with no rust, as here in Michigan they can be covered. Now I'm always looking for another for backup....
I'm curious how long the clutches would last in these PT's. I had an early addition '01 and was on the original clutch at 215K when I sold it late last year. I sure miss that car...
My 2001 has 188k, needing another timing belt soon. Water pump kit at the same time? Advice please!!
@@denniscastle936 Yes, always do them together. They'll usually come in a complete kit with belt, tensioner, water pump and gasket.
I have a 2003 Limited, bought new that currently has over 210k miles. It runs great, although it does have the persistent rough idle that showed up after I replaced the engine/transmission mounts-but I've heard that the aftermarket mounts are much stiffer than the factory ones were. The interior has held up remarkably well and shows very little wear. If taken care of-and that means change the timing belt every 100k-there is no reason that they won't last. I've just replaced the shocks, struts and watts linkage and it rides like new again. No reason not to keep it around as it always starts. I wonder how many 200k-plus PTs there are running around out there?
I have 283,000 miles on a 02. Maintenance done as Chrysler states. Do my own rustproofing every year before the snow fly's with motor oil.
Mine is 19 years old now bought New Spring 2002. Still running lots of TLC. currently 289k kms Canada Car, goes through snow like a butter :)
The one issue I had was that it would not go through snow. It was scary on ice, had it for 10 years.
@@ronsteltz7538 That might have to do with the tires you have on it during the winter......
Seen some people mention the 300M, that would be a cool topic, the 300M is still one of my fav models they have made along with the LHS.
i still want a 300M.
had a chance at one awhile ago, but it was just too beat, lol.
still flew and drove fab, tough..despite 150k hard miles from prev. owners.
@@gzuzsavz yeah I'd be worried about the automatic transmission mostly.
I had a 02 Inrepid, like the 300m's sister car. The 2.7 could barely move itself, and the transmission was gone by 75,000 miles. My mom bought it with 27,000 miles in 2004. Passed it on to me around 2011. It was gone a year later. I was young then (18 years old) and didn't know maintenance on these cars. If I changed the transmission fluid it may still be here this day, if the 2.7 didn't nuke itself. I now own a 2001 Sebring 2.7, and a 2006 PT as of a few days ago.. I think Chrysler's may be slightly addicting.
I have been patiently waiting for Marspeed to post a video on the PT. Nice Easter gift amongst all this COVID -19 misery. Thank you so much. Very appreciated!
I've always admired the PT Cruiser much in the same way as the VW New Beetle. I really like its design. I think I drove a 2007 or 08 model that my mom rented while our car was getting worked on.
Firstly I love them, I own several and my channel is largely dedicated to them. I enjoyed the video overall but do feel the need to point out a few small flaws: There is some debate on what the project was originally referred to as, I have heard your “Platform Tall” theory from others but the more accepted version is that PT stood for “Plymouth Truck” & they later revised that to “Personal Transport” when they dropped Plymouth, that is the theory I believe. Also spoilers were not included in the GT package, it was still an option, I’ve seen many GT’s without spoilers. The standard leather package did not have the swede inserts, that only came on the Limited package. The convertible seats are not the same as GT seats since they tilt ahead to allow rear seat access. The platform was very different from the Neon platform, it had drastically more structure and despite what the crash test suggest they hold up very well in real world crashes. Sales dipped because they made it perfect to start with, the ‘06 redesign killed it, should’ve left it alone like the Volkswagen Bug... They should’ve also ditched the base engine and made the turbo lite the base engine, these cars perform really well with the turbo and handle great but they got a reputation of being slow because of the 150hp base engine. Oh and the oil consumption... that is a normal thing for the 2.4’s, they all burn a bit, but it never gets any worse and they will run forever if maintained, a lot of people who bought them new didn’t know this and freaked out that it would drop a liter between changes. I’ve never really had electrical issues with any, they are pretty reliable cars overall.
I've someday 01 for about a year, 1 owner, has 188k. Needs another timing belt chg at 200k, will do kit including wtr pump, etc. Any advice?
Dennis Castle Continental belt kits are best imo, do everything, belt, water pump, tensioner, idler, cam & crank oil seals, don’t skip the oil seals or it’ll bite you I promise. I normally change the thermostat and radiator cap as well.
hey Matt i love your channel and i do watch and learn from your videos, thanks!
John Scott Thanks for watching!(-:
@@denniscastle936 Stay calm.
There is no room to access anything.
Probably a 3 day job at home.
Belt supposedly due ever 102,000 miles.
I loved my PT. Was deep black with spacers, 2 inches lower and chrome wheels. The car was all black. Since it was in Europe, it came with a 2.2l turbo diesel from Mercedes and had very fun 320nm with 1800rpm. With easy tuning (like most turbo diesel) I had it later with 450nm...with 7.5l on 100km
I still see at least 15 of these a day!
Same, I see them all the time where I live
They're everywhere and as troll triggering as they are?
I am one happy guy!
plus bc they're cool :)
My Mom had a '03 PT GT, she loved it. She had it when she passed away in 2017. I don't recall her having any major issues with it. I hated the long turning radius.
I had the original 1st year Limited with every option including rear spoiler. Overall it was an excellent vehicle. The problem with the mid term facelift is they went cheap and never really added anything to make one want to buy another, unlike the Dodge Challenger, a retro car that continues to sell because every year they offer something different
I've owned 3 of them over the past 15 years and loved them all. We currently still have 2 of them. Thanks for the unbiased review......quite a bit different than the "hater" vids I've watched by people who've probably never even owned one!!
We have one it’s been an extremely reliable vehicle and the cost of ownership has been amazing. It’s not fast not the most comfortable car we’ve owned but I would say if your on a budget and need a reliable vehicle then i Would recommend check this car
one of my favorite cars allways wanted one
One of my friends called them a midget hearse.
I had an 02' blue one,my cousin called it a "Smurf hearse" 😂
AHAHAHAHAA! dang :)
Lol! :-)
They need to bring it back!
We bought our Limited Turbo hatchback in 2006. Still have it. Rides nice and its quiet, (when we owned Buick Lesabres and a Volvo T5 station wagon we actually preferred to take trips in the PT), a reasonably peppy, pretty reliable, practical hauler. Turning circle is too wide and gas mileage is not as high as one would expect.. I can't fathom why it is so hated.
As he said The PT Cruiser was a love it or hate it car and for me I liked it.
Sinner
What's that supposed to mean???
We liked are PT cruiser! The only thing I hated on it was the stupid placed water pump. $700 to have a mechanic do a part that cost $25 . I had to do the job twice in 10 years my self.
I had a 2litre touring model here in England for two and a half years ,loved it ! I've now got a 16 year old 2 litre limited edition. I enjoyed the first one and I am enjoying this kooky car makes me smile every time I drive it.
My wife is driving a 2003 Dream Cruiser with 180k miles. She loves it! The unique color (candy tangerine) still makes it stand out. We've had some repairs over the years, but it has been her faithful little hot rod.
I currently own a 2002 Pt cruiser base model (manufacture date of 8/2001) with the manual transmission. Your video was well done, and unlike other videos I've seen, did not go out the bash the cruiser. Mine had aftermarket flames put on it (previous owner) and they look much better than the factory ones I've seen. As far as issues, most of mine have been normal wear and tear for a 19y old car with 117,000 miles on it.
I have a 2007 manual PT 1.6 (BMW/mini) engine. It works fine, no rust, looks good, practical, cheap to buy, smooth & slow ride (my wife and grandparents loves it), not so great fueleconomy. I have a sportscar as a second car when I get bored ;)
That's the proper approach. Some people expect PT cruiser to be like Porsche or Lamborghini, only because it is different. Then they are disappointed and hate on it. I don't get that.
@@cytrynowy_melon6604 good insight.
i often struggle to figure out what is wrong with ppl?
your comm. is right on.
plus ppl cant be bothered to say, pop in a fresh radiator or something when it needs it..so..cook a head gasket, smoke the trans bc some discount crap fluid..stuff like that & blame the car.
super annoying.
I own a pt 2010 bought it at an auction at 12100 miles for $1,000 i changed the motor oil, sway bar bushings front struts and rear, breaks, spark plugs, lower control arms I've had the pt for 4 months and it now has 12700 miles, I've driven it to Las Vegas and back to Los Angeles, and also San Francisco and back to Los Angeles, all has been an amazing experience working and traveling with my pt, and I love it. Hope they can bring it back 2020 I will definitely buy another 🙏💙🚘
Just did all that on my 2001, at 188k it's going to need a timing belt. Have you done that?
I haven't yet, I've heard that we're supposed to change them at about 13000, I've seen videos on the timing belt change and it looks like a piece of 🍰 I've looked at mine, and it looks good still, but I do wanna change it jus cause 🤷♂️ lol. With all the tensioner !!! Good luck on yours 👍 and let me know how that goes 🙏
Still own a 2006. Love it
Hi, do you have a review on it. I just bought an 06 and hope to find a review just for 06.
I have owned a 2001 woody since 2014. I have loved it every day!
Great video mate. A suggestion for the next video u could possibly do is a dodge shadow
My parents got me one back in high school. It was a 2002 limited edition and I got picked at for having one but became cool after putting a loud sound system in it competing in bass competitions.
I just bought a elderly owned PT with 63,000 miles. It's a laughable car, especially coming from big V6 engine cars. But man! The sound system hits lmao.
My first car was a PT Cruiser, a hand-me-down from my grandma, and at that time I was in high school and I wanted to make it cool, so I swapped it with and srt4 motor and manual trans. I gave up on that car because it had way too many issues and now I own a 2003 PT GT. Its fully built now and pushing around 500 hp, and I absolutely love it. I'm planning on modernizing the interior and making it really nice.
I've been watching for a long time at least 2, I never have clicked faster to anyone else videos. Keep it up!
I currently own a 2007 PT Cruiser Limited. I recently bought her 6 months ago so no real problems other than a few sounds she makes when starting and turning off the vehicle. It does sound like something is hanging from the bottom and scratching against the road when I drive her, but it is my first car so I'm more than happy with my purchase so far. I love how it feels when I drive and the comments I get everytime I take her out. 🙂
I just bought one a few weeks ago, they have quirks. If you hear any clunking from the passenger side/engine area. These are known for motor mounts going bad and control arms. Also these engines are ran on a timing belt. Timing belts need to be changed every 75,000 miles or 10 years. Most likely your past due for it unless you have receipts/something from past owner proving so. If the belt breaks, it will take out the whole engine. Just FYI. Most other cars use timing belts too. Nothing out-of-the normal
@@tylerc7037 my 2005 pt cruiser has 65,000 miles but randomly drops gears on the hi-Way it's so WeiRd! Now you got me thinking about my timing belt lol
@@dronereviewman9580 at 60,000 miles your due for it's transmission filter and fluid change. These cars are needy as hell. Do what I do. Get a fluid transfer pump from Walmart (like $8), or harbor freight wherever is closer. Pump 2-3 quarts out. Replace exactly what you pumped out. I use 2 milk gallons to measure out the old fluid and the new.
@@dronereviewman9580 also timing belt, wouldn't have anything to do with it dropping gears on the highway. You'd hear a rubbing sound, or clanking coming from the engine.. if your lucky before the belt goes.
Got a 2005 with incurable door lock problems.
Apart from that, it drives nice.
I own a 2008 non turbo as my first car. After doing some routine maintenance to bring it up to par, the car has been quite reliable. It does not burn oil and has always gotten me to school even in -40 Celsius. It's slow but very practical, if you keep up on maintenance (like any car) it will last you a long time.
I have an 01 and I love it.
Pros: I have bad knees and the seats sitting up like they do are perfect for me. I love the room in the interior. Especially when I have someone in the back seat as they don't complain about leg room. Even behind me. I'm 6' tall. Removable rear seats are also great for when I'm hauling stuff or camping. I can get everything inside. It doesn't have a problem running on the interstate. It loves to run at about 80 mph. or faster if I'm not watching. It has over 170,000 and tie-rods needed replaced. The right tool and they were a breeze to change. About 15 minutes a side. I think they are wrong about the mileage. It seems I can drive forever on the full tank. Haven't done the math yet but I know it's a lot higher than stated. These are just a few of the pros about it.
Cons: I have the base model. No cruise control! This really sucks when on a 60 or 65 mph speed zone. It wants to climb up to 80! So I have to constantly check my speed. Changing spark plugs! It's a nightmare for those who aren't that mechanically inclined. Actually for me it's easy just a pain to have to remove the intake manifold. Aftermarket parts are kind of hard to get. Those black and red trimmed rims aren't in my size unless I want to buy new tires as well.
I plan on using this one and customizing it as far as I can then, get another in a bit better shape and taking the custom parts off of this one and completing the next one. See what works and what don't on this one first.
That's my 20 cents!
BTW My mom has a 2001 Lincoln Towncar and brags about the leg room in it compared to my PT. She don't brag anymore after riding in it! lol
Get video!
Still have an 01 and drive it still. Maybe not everyday, but still do. Has 208000 and still runs good. Love it!
I had a 2001 PT cruiser an I loved it
I had a 2002. The only issue was the transmission gave out at 100,000 miles. Probably didn’t help that when it was brand new I didn’t break in gently, but was driving it pedal to the metal on the Autobahn in Germany. I love the car and had fond memories driving all over Europe and the US in it. People who hate it judge it back today’s standard, forgetting this car came out in 2001. Today the survivors are in rough shapes because many of the current owners don’t care about their car and often don’t do proper maintenance. When these cars were new, the owners took care of them and gave them plenty of love. It certainly compared very well to other compact cars of early 2000. The flexibility of the interior design was something not common in 2001, well before the era of the cross over SUV.
...almost like i wrote this note!
lol, but truly well stated.
some ppl neglect & beat cars and it's annoying.
there is then less nice ones around and eventually there is a rarity..ppl think they're cool again
and the price goes way up, lol.
yes, they don't look at things like original price point and the Daimler screw over era and
..well..they don't care, you're right..they never did.
glad you do!
thnx for the cool note.
Mine is a 2005 LE Vanilla automatic that is close to 100,000 miles. We bought it new and I had wanted one since I'd seen the concept car by Chrysler. When we saw it at the dealer's I loved that I could easily get our old huge Golden in the back easily, my mother-in-law and her wheelchair in without a lot of trouble, put groceries in the back without lots of lifting, fit a Christmas tree in it, load plants and garden soil inside, it was a great car for hauling all the stuff I needed to now that I was a real adult with responsibilities but it didn't look like a "family car". I love cars from the 30's and 40's so this was perfect. It's comfortable to drive, has never left me stranded, and we haven't had the many repair problems others have talked about. My sister has an '07 bought used and she has had to do a lot of repairs but it's hard to tell if that's from the prior use or the model she has. Her's has a nicer interior - I do like her heated seats and the extra cup holders and trim details inside, but I'd rather have mine. This will be my last car, I love that I get to drive it and that it doesn't have all the tracking stuff on it that new cars do. Thanks for the history you shared.
Love my cruiser. I'm a master auto tech, retired, and use it to drive to my part-time job. Looks easy to work on.
I had a 2005 Touring convertible. I always loved the look of cars from the 1930's, and it was the cheapest new convertible out there so I bought one on impulse (my mid-life Chrysler). The base engine struggled to push all the extra weight in the convertible body around, so the turbo was a must for the ragtop. It always ran and handled well enough, but there was no mistaking that this car was built to a price. Plenty of cheap hard plastics on the interior, and plagued by front suspension problems during the 80,000 miles I had it: control arm bushings, tie rod ends, steering rack, wheel bearings. But for those 15 days a year in New England you can put the top down, it was really a fun car. For the other 350 days, it was only adequate.
Very well documented and a great presentation of the car’s history
Love/hate...your video is amazing!!
Thank you.
I'm an owner of an '04 Base model automatic.
Your time and attention to this informative and educational video is truly appreciated and so incredibly rare.
Thank you so much!!❤
We've owned two PT's, a 2004 base model 5sp bought new, and a 2003 GT model bought used in 2015. They're wonderful cars, love the way you sit upright with great visibility, and the GT was super fast, but had been modified a little with bolt on's. Didn't like the safety numbers which I was aware of at the time, but love the car anyway. Chrysler could have gone on to sell a million more of these had they recognised they already had a winning refreshed model in the Project One car. Had they released that in 2012 they would have another fortune. Heck, they could release the Project Model One now, and it would sell like hotcakes!
I have a 2006 or and I love it. My husband bought it for me brand new so we have had it for 15 years now. It is so easy for him to work on the car.
These were HUGE money makers. Dollar wise not just percentage of margin.
There was two GTs. A base, first year old, painted vs chrome wheels, and cloth vs leather.
Jus bought my 1st PT 3 weeks ago! An let me say, shes n better hands now ! 👏👌😎
I just bought my first one today i am happy to see how she gonna treat me.
I bought a 2008 model off a friend of mine for $500. It had 160,000 miles on it. His father used it to deliver "Meals on Wheels". It had regular oil changes literally every 3,000 miles at the dealership (with the paperwork to prove it). I had to fix a bunch of age related stuff that wore out and had the timing belt, water pump, and tensioner replaced for peace of mind. That's the one thing I couldn't find a receipt for. My mechanic told me that for the amount of miles on it, the belt didn't look bad. I used the car as a daily driver, took it on vacation road trips and it never left me stranded. When I sold it, It had 180,000 on it and it was still running great. I'd say it's a pretty reliable vehicle. Maintenance is the key. I found another one (a 2007 model w/a manual transmission, that only had 36,000 miles on it). Hopefully it will be as trouble free as the last one. 😁
That was such a clever project planning - make unsellable packaging into a massive hit by allying it into Americans' cultural passion and mind. If it was released as Plymouth like its original plan, that could keep Plymouth meaningful for some more years.
Great point, it was definitely a smashing success if you look back on it. Still has that cult following today. Too bad Daimler wanted to pull the plug on Plymouth
@@MarspeedCars Daimler was to Mopar what Corona V is to humans!
@Rick James5678 s
my ma slid off in the winter, down an embankment and hit the edge of a field that was angled up at the edge.
as the ground was frozen, it was as if the car hit a 2' high concrete barrier at 40 mph!
this was a few months after she bought it new.
the car was straightened out on a frame rack, repainted, new fascia & a front wheel and was fine for another decade.
till she slid off bc of a road hog driver. when a guy gave her a ride home, we called a wrecker.
in the mean time, an old lady slid off and hit the PT above the bumper and pushed it back 50' through the deep, heavy snow in the ditch.
crumpled only the hood and one fender! Broke one head light lens, lil door ding.
..and ppl say this car is under built.
on top of that, i have talked to nurses that stated the PT was unsafe.
"Oh? how so?", I ask?
"They take a lot of extra time for the jaws of life to hack through", was the reply.
Lol..some "Under built car" there.
..hb how they are becoming a frequent Demo Derby champion?
..maybe these car testing ppl skewed results? Ran the car faster than the test reported?
Idk..but real world info and repeated and in diff scenarios by different ppl over rules some lab test by a mile.
I'd rather be in a PT in a crash over many, many other cars.
Lastly..when folks started dropping V8's (YES!:) in them, they found out the torsional rigidity of their chassis was better than many classic muscle cars.
Boom.
@Rick James5678 My 2003 PT with 293,487 miles begs to differ.
I've driven my 2008 PT for 12 years and not had any problems with it.
@Truth Defender 72,000
@@cuguy2000 damn dude you rarely drive. I have 09 patriot i bought in oct 08 it has 150,000 miles
@@teknowil yea but I have three other vehicles I drive for work, errands etc. The PT is used for special occasions LOL
My 2007 has 130k miles
I have a PT cruiser it's a 2007
I have a 2001 Limited and I love it. They can be a little expensive to maintain, but it is more reliable than my 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan
drridge1 funny i got a 2010 grand caravan and a 2001 limited PT as well!
Over here in germany it is not really hard to get spares for the pt at a descent price. There was even a company called startech who offered straight dealer installed tuning and body styling kits for the pt. On the other hand my grand caravan I had to import most of the stuff I want for it
All the Caravans have problems I hear...😩
Walked into my living room in 2001, and my husband said, I found the car he want. When I saw my Car and Driver on the cocktail table, I wondered what was up. Sure enough, It was the P.T. Cruiser. Wound up with a 2002 Touring, with the only option being a sunroof. After 120,000 miles, and fearing a failure from a bad timing belt, I got him into a used 2008 Touring. A used rental, It has performed relatively well. Today, I put in the 2nd battery since we owned it, a PCV, and did a throttle body cleaning, and at 130,ooo miles, it is long overdue for a timing belt. I am surprised how well these cars have held up. I grew up in a MOPAR household, and had several myself, A 72 Challenger, An 87 LeBaron turbo coupe, and a 96 Dakota extended cab pickup, V-6, 5 spd., with rear wheel drive. I had it 15 years and put 150,000 miles on it. I will have to get him to do the timing belt for 2 reasons, I) he can't afford to replace it right now, and he LOVES it. It's like me and my 2002 Mustang GT, 4.6l, 5 spd convertible! I LOVE it! Don't ask why! Lol!
I have one of the special edition dream cruiser series 1 that I've modified but i haven't really had any big problems with mine probably of the extremely low miles and I also love my pt