Not at all bad actually. I quite like the looks, but the important thing from the user's point of view is the proportions. The tall hunched stance gives the interior a spacious feel, not entirely imaginary as there is decent rear footroom. Leather and suede upholstery and trim, heated seats with electric height adjustment on the driver's side, shiny chrome-finish wheels and many bells and whistles came for the original 18k price (phew!). Short bonnet and high floor make it feel a bit like a Transit.
It's running sweetly at 55,000 miles, distinctly better after being booted a bit on the road, but a slight fluffiness from time to time suggests that new plugs and leads might not be a bad idea. These come in cheap and expensive options, and there's a coil pack - also a bit dear - which is supposed to give a couple of extra horses. K&N air filter might be another sensible change. The car runs quietly enough, although not silently, but will only pick up its skirts and hustle along with a fair amount of foot. A zipmobile it isn't, but a couple more horses and cleaner running could reduce its thirst while sweetening its driveabilty.
It does about 24 or 25 mpg in London and about 34 on the road. Last 290-odd miles, 170 or more in London, it returned 29.25 mpg. After paying 47 quid to fill the tank I realised that the amount was a bit under ten gallons... a slight shock, that. I still haven't done a long motorway trip on cruise.
All in all I quite like the thing. Its 2 litre engine is less intrinsically refined than the Ford 16v in my other car and its soft suspension and low front end mean it can scrape its chin on the road coming off speed bumps, forcing one to mimse. As bell boy warned me, it has a lousy turning circle. It rolls more than the Ford too, but it handles all right in a working-class mid-Atlantic way. You wouldn't want to get it sideways. The nicest things about it are the controls, trim, doorhandles and so on. It's a pleasure to open a thick, solid door with a big solid chromed handle and button and climb up into it. Driving it after that, gearchange apart, is a slight let-down, but you can't have everything.
I am still unused to the higher profile it gives one on the road and the ambiguous sort of respectability it confers. Much aftermarket bling is available for it but it doesn't seem to need that. Indeed I would prefer the wheels to be anodised black or something. However it had got a bit muddy so I actually washed it by hand the other day. Am I going gaga?
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Maybe...
I've been striving after ambiguous respectability for decades. ;-)
Enjoy!
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At least it is genuinely different, and not just your typical French "character" (in other words a bland hatch in a frock).
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Started growing the "ZZ Top" beard yet ?
;-)
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I drove for nearly 2000 miles last year in one in the US. Sounded like a six pot and drove reasonably well - Satellite radio was my favourite feature ! Seems like an honest enough motor. Boot space was a bit limited, even for two on holiday.
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A work colleague has the diesel version (uses the 220CDi Mercedes engine) and he really likes it. I think it's only needed front suspension arms outside of routine servicing in about 50,000 miles. His is black. Funky looking thing IMHO, and as above, genuinely different.
Cheers
DP
Edited by DP on 14/08/2009 at 17:38
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Shampoo or washing up liquid, Lud?
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Friend of mine had the 2-litre auto for quite a few years; absolutely loved it but eventually the high fuel consumption meant he traded it for a Mercedes estate, diesel of course.
I'm often wary of this prediction, but in this case I suspect well-kept original ones will attain classic status sooner rather than later.
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I have a soft spot for the retro styling but it badly needs a V8!
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>>> I have a soft spot for the retro styling but it badly needs a V8! <<<
If they can shoe-horn a V8 into a Ford Prefect (sit up & beg) it can be done to a PT Cruiser!
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It would move along rather smartly with a V8 Hemi
Never understood why they put a V6 in the Plymouth Prowler
Quite like the PT Cruiser, nice to have something different that stands out from bland euroboxes and japs
Only thing that would put me off owning one would be main dealer servicing costs and spares prices, though I would get my parts from somewhere like rock auto in the states for a fraction of what Chrysler UK are asking
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Not only am I car mad but I'm also a mad axeman being the owner of 4. The best axes are made in the USA closely followed by Japan then Mexico ... The PT Cruiser is also made in Mexico and for that one reason I wouldn't be buying one.
I have a mighty fine 62 reissue axe with a rosewood neck made in Japan and you would do well to differentiate between it and one made in the states, but the Tex Mex are carp in comparison.
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Yes, the Cruiser would be nicer with more engine and more cylinders. Is there a V6 one?
The 2 litre will deliver some poke, but it's at relatively high rpm and a tiny bit strained sounding. Comes in from about 3,500 and improves over 4,000. But it isn't very pleasant driving it like that. Something lazy with low end torque wouldn't necessarily be much thirstier these days. PU said the one he hired in the US sounded like a six. I wonder if it was?
I suspect the front suspension bushes are a weak point on the Cruiser.
Edited by Lud on 16/08/2009 at 20:57
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