unclescott58 Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 When did PT Cruisers move over to the embarrassing car list? I thought they were cool when they first came out. And I still think they are today. Especially the convertibles. I'm disappointed that Chrysler didn't do a second gen Cruiser. Scott
jbwelda Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 HHR SS from 2008 VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon ESTIMATED PRICE AS TESTED: $26,000 (base price: $22,995) ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injectionDisplacement: 122 cu in, 1998ccPower (SAE net): 260 bhp @ 5300 rpmTorque (SAE net): 260 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual DIMENSIONS:Wheelbase: 103.6 in Length: 176.5 in Width: 69.1 in Height: 62.5 inCurb weight: 3321 lb C/D TEST RESULTS: Zero to 60 mph: 6.2 sec Zero to 100 mph: 15.1 sec Zero to 130 mph: 31.0 sec Street start, 5–60 mph: 6.8 sec Standing ¼-mile: 14.8 sec @ 99 mph Top speed (drag limited): 143 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 178 ft Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.88 g FUEL ECONOMY: EPA city driving: 21 mpg just a small notch above "can't get out of its own way". jb
Tom Geiger Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) When did PT Cruisers move over to the embarrassing car list? I thought they were cool when they first came out. And I still think they are today. Especially the convertibles. I'm disappointed that Chrysler didn't do a second gen Cruiser. Yea... I didn't get copied on that memo either! I like PT Cruisers! It took me a while to warm up to the convertible model. I thought it looked like they just hacked off the wagon roof, since the sides and back are pretty much the same. I thought it would have been much cooler with a 1930s bustle back (think Anglia back!) But I have since agreed I like the design and am on the lookout for a nice, low mile and way too cheap example! I am kinda glad they didn't do a second generation PT Cruiser. I do like the later model smooth bumper look better than the original car, with the black spot bumpers. I hated when aftermarket people put chrome covers over those! But I do think that later model look is perfect. I cringe that they would have ruined that on a second gen... in fact I was worried that the Dodge Caliber may have been considered the successor to the PT. What I would've liked was seeing the PT produced a few more model years. They never got to the van version, although Chevy did with their HHR. The van version would've been cool. And I would've liked a few years with Mopar muscle car colors... they never really got past a bland color pallet except for some of the Dream Cruisers. In reality, the PT still had a few years left in the program, but that got sacrificed to save the company. The production capacity in Mexico was needed for the Fiat 500 line, part of the Fiat takeover that has saved the Mopar future! I don't know if the Fiats have been successful enough to justify the loss of the PT and it's potential, but I can say that my daughter's Fiat 500 Lounge Convertible has been flawless and she loves it dearly! Edited August 10, 2014 by Tom Geiger
Joe Handley Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 Same here, wouldn't mind one of the GT Turbo models. I've also heard the 3.8l V-6 minivan motor is a viable swap into those too. Should scoot when you consider that stock 2dr JK's with that motor were mid-high 15 second rigs.
Lunajammer Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 ...I do like the later model smooth bumper look better than the original car, with the black spot bumpers. I hated when aftermarket people put chrome covers over those! But I do think that later model look is perfect. I cringe that they would have ruined that on a second gen... in fact I was worried that the Dodge Caliber may have been considered the successor to the PT. The redo in 2005 is considered second gen and the changes were perceived by enthusiasts as hackneyed. Especially when the vertical, retro grill was basically lopped in half and the lower part was just a horizontal gash in the bumper and the stylized running lights were replaced with boring round ones. Some didn't like the dented (splitting embryo) headlights, though I can appreciate it was consistent with the look of other Chrysler models at that time.
Ace-Garageguy Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 I realize this isn't a styling-analysis thread, but I have to agree with Lunajammer that the earlier PT "face" is interesting and unique, with most of the lines and forms related, and the mo-better, later version is bland, insipid and un-inspired, and certainly less coherent.
Tom Geiger Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 Here's the one I object to... argh! I don't like the black bumper rub strips, but add chrome to it and yuk! I don't mind the photo Luna Jammer posted of the early model since that one has smooth bumpers.
Harry P. Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 Here's the one I object to... argh! I don't like the black bumper rub strips, but add chrome to it and yuk! I don't mind the photo Luna Jammer posted of the early model since that one has smooth bumpers. If you throw enough cheesy chrome accessories on it, you will make any car look tacky.
Ace-Garageguy Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) If you throw enough cheesy chrome accessories on it, you will make any car look tacky. Yup, and don't forget to include shiny-sparkly bits in the interior too, to finish out the look... Edited August 10, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy
Pete J. Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) Holy stuff! now that is ugly. I guess you can make a pigs ear out of a silk purse, but it takes a lot of work and bad taste. Which middle eastern oil magnet bought that thing! Edited August 10, 2014 by Pete J.
62rebel Posted August 12, 2014 Posted August 12, 2014 would a forest green 1968 Road Runner be embarassing to drive? sure it would. especially when it stalled repeatedly in traffic, as MINE did. how about a beauty of a 1969 Coronet 500 2dr hardtop that needed a tow from a semi the last hundred miles into Orlando? that car was so stock it still had the window sticker in the glove box. then there's the '67 Coronet 500 4dr i drove to Great Lakes NTC with a busted wheel cylinder, no heater, in the dead of winter 1987..... cold blooded beast refused to start without ether. funny how those first two would probably make a great down payment on a house now. here's the thing; if it runs and gets you from A to B safely, what's there to be embarassed about? are we still in middle school comparing lunch boxes?
jbwelda Posted August 12, 2014 Posted August 12, 2014 there used to be this place called Cruiser World or something like that here in Walnut Grove, specialized in, uhh, "customizing" only PT Cruisers. The above would be a mild, tasteful example of what came out of there. amazingly they existed a good few years though the last two or so always had the "Out Cruizin'" sign in the window. I used to chuckle in amazement that a place like that could even exist, not to mention 35 miles from the nearest metro area. anyway, in summation, ANY car that comes home on a hook is embarrassing if you ask me. possible exception: initial arrival of the barn find. jb
Mark Posted August 12, 2014 Posted August 12, 2014 I have yet to see the accessory that improves the appearance of a PT Cruiser or HHR. I'll exclude wheels and tires from the discussion. The stick-on portholes, fake wood, stick-on '57 Chevy style side trim, pinstriping stickers with an inch of clear carrier sheet all around the designs, replacement grilles, chrome overlays for bumpers and door handles, and (my favorite) the stick-on hood scoops serve only to fuel the fire for those who hate those two vehicles. The PT in particular has a couple of unflattering views at the front, caused by the wide grille, itself necessitated by the transverse engine, wrong-wheel drive layout. But, the designer (same guy did both) still did okay with them, and they generally look best when left alone. At least I haven't seen one with a fake convertible top with a sunroof in it...
Ace-Garageguy Posted August 12, 2014 Posted August 12, 2014 I have yet to see the accessory that improves the appearance of a PT Cruiser... This may be a start...
Tom Geiger Posted August 12, 2014 Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) At least I haven't seen one with a fake convertible top with a sunroof in it... Oh yes we have! A few years ago I saw what appeared to be a commercially done package called "Phaeton" (it had chrome logos of that on it) on a PT Cruiser. It was the full padded top with the wagon side windows covered, which made it look like a hearse for midgets. The window frames were painted black as if they weren't there. Scary! Edited August 12, 2014 by Tom Geiger
sjordan2 Posted August 12, 2014 Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) Zimmer Golden Spirit. Requires wearing a hat with a 24" brim. White trenchcoat with an ermine collar is optional. Edited August 12, 2014 by sjordan2
Kit Basher Posted August 12, 2014 Posted August 12, 2014 OK, Skip. I think we have a winner! I wouldn't pee on that thing if it was on fire!
Tom Geiger Posted August 12, 2014 Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) I had a friend who wouldn't be seen dead driving a four door car. My father had come into my grandfather's low mile Crown VIc so he wanted to get rid of two cars. We had two 1978 LTD IIs, one being my old 4 door sedan that had over 200,000 miles on it and the second one being a very nice coupe with low miles. My father had bought it at a police auction and was planning on driving it until he came into the Vic. We figured we'd get $500-750 for the sedan and around $2000 for the coupe. My buddy had fallen on hard times, and aside from being close to homeless, he didn't have a car. So he had no way to get around to find a job. I knew him since I started high school so my father felt sorry for him, and decided to give him the 4 door for free. So here's this dead broke guy looking at a free car... he comes to my father's house and sees the two cars... his first remark to my father? Well, he wouldn't be caught dead driving that 4 door, but he'd take the coupe for free! Oh, my old man went crazy on him! Clear chased him off the property! End result? We sold the 4 door to some guy for $1000. It ran well and there was nothing wrong with it so the guy wasn't scared by the mileage. And I did see it on the road over a year later! Edited August 12, 2014 by Tom Geiger
unclescott58 Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 (edited) Whoops, see post below. Scott Edited August 13, 2014 by unclescott58
unclescott58 Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 OK, the last four above in particular are way over the top. I also suspect the top two and bottom one maybe photoshopped. Real or photoshopped, the people who thought those two vehicles up, should be embarrassed for even contemplating such things. The one second from the bottom is not my taste. But, embarrassing? Scott
Joe Handley Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Zimmer Golden Spirit. Requires wearing a hat with a 24" brim. White trenchcoat with an ermine collar is optional. Is that thing running all terrain tires?!
Draggon Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 There's something similar to this steaming pile in my town. Believe me, it gets even "steamier" in person, if ya know what I mean.
DynoMight Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 There's something similar to this steaming pile in my town. Believe me, it gets even "steamier" in person, if ya know what I mean. eewwww
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