Iconic vehicle was hit with consumers, but didn’t change with timesThe PT Cruiser, one of Chrysler’s most successful and iconic vehicles, ends production Friday after a decade of service.
The retro-looking vehicle was launched in 2000 at a time when nostalgic car design was all the rage, inspiring a raft of revamped vehicles, from the redesigned Volkswagen Beetle to the updated Mini Cooper.
Chrysler’s design move was bold and it paid off handsomely. The PT Cruiser was an instant success, striking a chord with buyers. Chrysler sold more than 1.3 million of the vehicles in total, according to the Detroit News, with sales levels never dipping below 120,000 during the first eight years.
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16 comments:
I love my littel PT...
They got terrible gas mileage.
What does PT stand for ??
In 2001 I saw my favorite PT, it was at Englishtown drag strip in Jersey. Stuffed with a Viper motor.
Love 'em or hate 'em, these distinctive-looking, retro-styled cars certainly made a splash when they were introduced in 2001 and won Motor Trend's Car of the Year award. And the secret to their name was surprisingly easy to uncover.
A targeted search on "what does the PT stand for cruiser" drove us right to your answer. As we learned from our results, you are not the only person who idly wondered about those mysterious initials. Although some source would have you believe it stands for "personal transport" or other variations, the official word is that "PT" stands for "personal transportation."
Whether the initials assumed this meaning by design or chance is another matter. According to the PT Enthusiasts web site, the "PT" is also the company's internal designation for the platform. Apparently, the Cruiser was developed along with the Neon, which was built on the PL platform. The Cruiser platform was thus designated "PT" with the "T" standing for "Tall" to designate the tall profile of the vehicle.
When they first came out, dealers were charging a hefty fee on top of MSRP because people wanted them. I thought that was a little greedy, so I don't feel too sorry for them that they have suffered the last couple of years. If chrylser was charging the dealers more I could understand it, but it was all just greed. Apparently they haven't learned their lesson because they are doing the same thing with the new Camaro, and when the Gov't was giving the cash for clunkers, dealers would hardly negotiate price because they would say your already getting the cash for clunkers. Let them eat their cars.
I bought one of the first PT Cruisers delivered here to the Shore. I ordered everything possible on the vehicle and it was just over $12,000.00. I have always said from the very beginning, it has been one of the nicest vehicles I have ever owned. Granted, I'll agree that the gas mileage has always sucked but for $12,000.00, who cares! Leather interior, (still in almost perfect condition) and over over 100,000 miles and going! It has NEVER been into the Shop for a single issue with the exception of an oil change. We drive it every single day and when and if the engine blows, I'll replace it and keep on going.
So you also know, the Dealer in Salisbury did discount the vehicle because I ordered it 6 months before they started making them. Barrett in Berlin refused to cut any deal so I came to Salisbury and put in my order.
The only thing I wished they would have come through with was a 2 door. They claimed from day one that they would and they never did. I would have bought a second one and put it up on blocks.
It's a shame to see it go but I'll park it in the barn eventually, (like so many other vehicles I own) and wait for the day someone offers me a good penny for it and sell it. Then again, we've even been talking about having Garners Signs dor one of those wraps on it for Salisbury News. We'll see.
do one of those wraps, sorry.
I have an 07 pt,wasnt looking at time for one but was in accident and needed a car.It was the best looking and best deal i saw. Ive never been disappointed. The only thing i would have done different was to replace the wheels it has the sporty wheels ordered for it before i brought it(it was used)and they are hard to keep clean.sad to see them not making any more but im sure something else will catch our eyes.
I love my cruiser!! It stands for Pacific Touring. I will miss the cute cars.
Platform Tall. The Plymouth Horizon was Platform Short.
Bought one in 2007. 24 miles /gallon around town, 29 miles/gallon on the highway.
Paid 16,000 new.
Love it.
My wife has a 2001 touring edition. It has 120,000 miles and still drives well. I once put a dual exhaust on it, but it was too loud for her, so that came back off. I did replace the grill with an after market metal one to be a little different.
The thing I like best about it is the versatility. You can take out the back seats fairly easy and fold the front passenger all the way down and have plenty of cargo room.
The only major work I've done was to replace the timing belt. All cars with belts should be replaced between 80 and 100K miles. It was definitely a chore because of the close quarters in the engine compartment, but still not that hard.
I've tried to buy my wife new cars and she will not part with her PT! I call it the little go cart :)
They look like those gangster cars Al Capone and his buddies tooled around Chicago in back in the 20's .......you almost expect to see a roof mounted Tommy gun lol
Joe, the PT cruiser is viewed as a relative of the K-car by collectors. I would'nt waste the shop space and store it hoping someone will want it. Have you ever seen a Chevette at Barrett-Jackson? No.
anonymous 12:57, I was talking about a PY Cruiser they proposed as a 2 door. To me, that would have been a collectors vehicle.
Awww....dont hate on the K-cars.They served as decent used "first cars" for alot of people in my generation.My sisters 1st car was a bright red Plymouth Reliant K that we called the Cherry Bomb.Some police depts even used Aries and Reliants for cruisers in the early 80's.
Also,wasnt there another car that rolled out with the PT's called a Prowler???A sporty prototype car if I recall.
and last but not least,what size engine did the PT offer? Im thinking 3.3 v6???
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