Does anyone out there own a Chrysler PT Cruiser. I'd like to know if it's a good buy.?

Wow... another case of "I hate the PT" vs. "I Love the PT"....

I have a 2001 PT Cruiser Limited - like Toby - all the options.... I'm the 2nd owner.... My mom has a 2002 PT Limited - also loaded - also 2nd owner... My cousin has a 2001 PT Limited - all the options - original owner.... My cousin also has a VW Beetle - 2000 or 01 - Turbo....

I've got nearly 70K miles on My PT... Mom is up there, too... Cousin's PT is about 90K.... None of us have had any major problems or issues with the car that were/are not based upon MAINTENANCE of the car.... I've had no problems... My mom had some power steering problems - but can be traced back to faulty maintenance by the original owner... My cousin hasn't had any problems that were not caused by faulty maintenance....

On the cousin's Beetle, though - she's had major issues - including numerous transmission replacements and some other major work - luckily covered under warranty.... She bought the beetle for the speed and the rush... the PT is her daily driver and her more useful car...

Mom also has a 1994 Chrysler Town & Country minivan (since new) and has only had the typical transmission issues (a fault of almost all Chryslers, Dodges, and Plymouths with that transmission)... Other than that - over 13 years of trouble free driving - and over 100k miles...

My own 1994 T&C minivan went to 153K miles without any major issues.... again, other than those caused by a known problem (the trans) or faulty maintenance.... But all was covered under warranty....

Some make the argument that all American cars are garbage or whatever - but they're just deluded haters.... Are Hondas and Toyotas reliable cars...? sure.... Do they break down? You bet! Or there wouldn't be Hondas and Toyotas in all those dealer service departments and independent shops all over the country....

Personally, I love My Cruiser.... can't imagine not loving it.... I go everyplace in it and have yet to be let down by a mechanical failure....

Great features include - easy to drive, fun to drive, equipment, comfort, roadability, features for the price and easy to modify and dress up... there is a great community of PT Cruiser owners out there and also of providers of great parts to make your PT your own.... and a great amount of safety....

Things I'm not so happy with...? Gas mileage - only get in the upper teens and mid 20s... but then again, I'm a lead foot... The PT Cruiser weighs about 3200 lbs - heavy for a small car... as a matter of fact, that's the starting weight of the Dodge Caravans!!! So it's a chunky car for it's size... sometimes, that can make the 2.4 liter motor feel a bit slow, but....

I've got over 20 years of Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth ownership under My belt... I've also owned/driven other makes during that time - inlcuding a Nissan Maxima (company car) and a Ford Ranger and an old Subaru and an old Puegeot... none of them were PERFECT - and no other manufacturer has made the "PERFECT" car yet....

Go with your gut.... do some research.... check out the owner's comments on places like Yahoo autos and MSN autos and Edmunds.com and other places... check out consumer reports....

are there more reliable vehicles out there...? Sure... but there are also those that are a lot worse....

When it comes to cars, it's always a gamble.... everybody - and I mean EVERYBODY - has made a lemon or two.... you pay your money and you take your chances....

The PT has been a strong seller for Chrysler. Even if they stop producing the PT tomorrow there will always be parts available. I wouldn't worry about Chrysler's cash problems either, somehow they will get through this mess and survive. Chrysler has always suffered with low resale values. This economy isn't to blame for that. It's just the way it is with that brand. I'd look for a turbo. Better performance and better resale value.

I have a 2002 Touring Edition 5-speed. 107K miles now and still going strong! I love it. Consumer Reports has rated it a best buy and given it better-than-average reliability ratings. If you get a '01 or '02, check the VIN with your local Chrysler dealer service dept and see if all the recalls were taken care of on a particular car. Early auto trans cars had an issue with the routing of power steering hoses, and a computer glitch that required re-flashing the computer chip memory. Also, there was a recall on many cars (mine included) for a fuel tank rubber seal, where the lines come out of the top of the tank.

As with any car, regular maintenance is key to keeping it alive and healthy. I use only Mobil 1 and service the car according to the book.

They didn't use platinum plugs at the factory, so expect to replace plugs around 40k miles. Also, the engine compartment is tight and accessing the timing belt and water pump are a little harder than usual, so expect to pay a bit more for these services than with most cars (I just did my timing belt recently). Except for those items, it's an easy car to work on, brakes and other parts are relatively cheap.

Personally, I LOVE my PT, and hope to drive it forever!

I bought one new in '01 and I still love this car, and have had no problems that weren't solved with a tune-up. Got all the toys, sunroof, heated seats, etc. and have no regrets. Stereo is great for stock, cargo room excellent (can't believe the stuff I have loaded into this thing!) My check engine light is currently on but car seems to be running fine, will have it looked at this week to see what that is. I kick my own butt seeing the deals you can get on them now!! Take it for a ride if you can. Good luck!

It's a 2003 or cruiser 200000 miles 2200.00 is thst to much

I absolutely love the LOOKS of the PT Cruiser, I wanted to buy one sooooo bad! So, I took a brand new PT out for a test drive...... it ran HORRIBLE, sounded like a piece of sh.... and boy am I glad I DID NOT buy one. Don't buy one. If you want the best car for your dollars, buy a Honda or a Toyota. They last forever, run great, have great mileage, have great re-sale value, and you will NOT be disappointed. Good luck with your search. LL

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If you are a Brit, seriously DON'T. Build quality is nothing compared to European / Japanese cars and it handles dreadfully. Also consider that Chrysler garages are few and far betweeen, so repairs / spares will be costly when compared to European counterparts.

May look quirky - go for a Beetle instead if it's looks you're after.

They are good cars unless you are working on them. There is no room at all under the hood and to replace anything you need to remove 4 other things first.

I prefer my Crossfire myself but my fella likes the PT Cruiser - do you not think they look like the cars out of Bugsy Mallone ?