I am thinking of buying a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser and would appreciate any comments on them,...?

Question 1
I am thinking of buying a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser and would appreciate any comments on them,...?...  ...both pro & con
I will be trading in my car this year and am considering buying a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser (sedan model) with Automatic Transmission. I have already test driven one and found them to bo comfortable to drive and to have good driver visibility (few blind spots)

I would appreciate your comments, good & bad, on PT Cruisers, such as... are you happy with yours? Reliability, Gas Mileage, Repair costs, Handling, Winter driving (I am in Western NY), Recalls, disappointments

Thanks in advance

Answers
1)   there is nothing good to say about pt cruisers - just about anything else is better - alex

2)   My son-in-law bought the same year PT Crusier with low mileage. It was a mechanical nightmare. Look on the road. You will see very few of them. - Norma

3)   have owned one since 2003 gas mileage not so good everything else no problems just routine maintenance live in CT no problem with snow - pickmefirstplz

4)   I have had a 2005 PT Cruiser for about a year and a half now. I love it!
It is very comfortable, and I like the fact that although the car appears to be low to the ground, the seating is actually rather high. It's much easier to get in and out of then many low riding cars. We have been on several trips in the Cruiser and it was very comfortable, even at long distances. Even the back seat is comfortable. The ride is relatively smooth, even at higher speeds.
Gas mileage is so-so...about 20 mpg or so. I guess not too bad, except at today's high gas prices!
Handling is good, and haven't experienced any problems with winter driving. I'm near Chicago IL and we have some pretty snowy, cold winters.
As for repairs, I can't really answer that because I haven't had to have any. So that would also answer the reliability question: So far I would judge the PT Cruiser to be very reliable!
I hope you enjoy yours as much as we are enjoying ours :) - quintic

5)   I liked the look of the PT but I did find that the engine seemed to be
under powered for the size of the car.

I don't know if this has been improved or not

I also used to live in upstate western New York
and found that I had a lot more control in a car with
a manual transmission. You get better handling and much better
gas mileage.

At the moment I am driving an older (98) Ford Escort with manual 5 speed
and am getting 34-37 mpg - illegitimacy

6)   PT Cruiser offers great gas mileage and is fun to drive. It has a big engine for a compact car and offers great handling. All at a low price tag. It doesn't, however, offer the greatest looks, in my opinion, the wheels are small and car looks too retro for my taste. Like many other Cryslers, it is very reliable, much more reliable than any Fords or GMs. It is not the best car to have in the winter, since the small wheels don't have the greatest traction, but you can always get winter tires. - encroach

7)   If you listen to no one else please listen to me!
I am a prefessional automotive technician and lead tech in a Chrysler Dealership.
You DO NOT want a PT cruiser!
I am very proud of most of the Chrysler products I see and work on every day but that is the one mistake even I wish Chrysler had never made. They were poorly designed in the Neon body and then wrapped in the PT body which just makes repair costs double or tripple. Just Junk!
The 2.0 L engine is prone to ring siezure for no reason and the 2.4L cant not leak oil. Both have the 42RLE Trans which has a MAJOR history of solenoid pack failure which is NOT cheap to fix.
Worst of all they made the whole damn car so hard to work on that repair costs are astronomical compared to similar vehicles. I charge 8 hours just to change an A/C compressor in one of those, it 's usually 1 to 2 hours in a normal car. All Chrysler mechanics HATE PT's and I reallly hope you look for a different vehicle.
Best of Luck - Dave

8)   *2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Highlights*
Minor styling revisions mark Chrysler's retro compact for 2006. PT Cruiser comes as a five-passenger 4-dr wagon and as a four-seat 2-dr convertible with a power-folding soft top. Wagons come in base, Touring, Limited, and GT versions; convertibles in base, Touring, and GT guise. All have 4-cyl engines of 150, 180, or 220 hp, depending on model selection. The 180- and 220-hp engines are turbocharged. Automatic transmission is standard on 180-hp models; others offer manual or automatic. The GT's automatic includes a manual shift gate. ABS is standard on GT, optional on others. GTs add traction control and sport suspension. Front side airbags are standard on Limited and GT, optional elsewhere. Curtain side airbags are unavailable. All '06 PTs have revised front fascias and dashboards.

*Competition*
Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Compact Cars comprise the smallest passengers cars. These vehicles range from tiny economy models to slightly larger, popularly priced sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons.

Our Best Buys include Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix twins. Our Recommended picks include Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Spectra, and Toyota Corolla.

New or significantly redesigned models include Chevrolet HHR, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Volkswagen Golf and Jetta.
News
A fully redesigned PT Cruiser is now expected for model-year 2008 or '09. It's likely to be a retro-style reskin of the 2007 Dodge Caliber sportwagon, which should mean identical powerteams, including a possible first-time all-wheel-drive option. No word yet on the convertible, but we expect it will take a brief vacation, then return by 2010.


2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Road Test
Pros Cons

Acceleration (turbos) Acceleration (nonturbo w/automatic transmission)

Passenger and cargo room


Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration

Limited, auto. GT wagon, man. GT wagon, auto. Touring conv, turbo Class Average
4 7 7 6 4.4

Base engine fine for around-town cruising, but weak on hills or in highway passing. Base manual-transmission wagon did 8.9 sec 0-60 mph; automatics are significantly slower. Little lag noted in turbo models, which are stronger at all speeds; expect about 7.0 sec 0-60 with GT wagon. Automatic transmission responsive, despite some lurching downshifts.
Fuel Economy

Limited, auto. GT wagon, man. GT wagon, auto. Touring conv, turbo Class Average
5 4 5 5 6.7

Test 150-hp wagons averaged 18.5-23.0 mpg with automatic transmission, 18.3-22.1 with manual. With 180-hp turbo, wagon averaged 19.5 mpg, test convertible 18.0. Test GT wagon with manual averaged 17.2 mpg, 19.0 with automatic. GT convertible averaged 16.1 mpg. Chrysler recommends 91-octane fuel for 220-hp turbo, 87 octane for other PT engines.
Ride Quality

Limited, auto. GT wagon, man. GT wagon, auto. Touring conv, turbo Class Average
6 6 6 6 4.9

All models easily absorb most bumps. Limited's slightly tauter suspension feels more controlled over freeway dips and humps. GT suspension and tires firmer still, provide more road feel without undue stiffness. Convertible feels less prone to body flex than many four-seat droptops.
Steering/Handling/Braking

Limited, auto. GT wagon, man. GT wagon, auto. Touring conv, turbo Class Average
6 7 7 6 5.6

Good grip in turns from 16- and 17-inch tires. Fast corners induce noticeable body lean, but no tippiness. Steering responsive. Manual-transmission versions suffer mild torque steer--unwanted pulling to side--in fast acceleration. Wide turning circle frustrates low-speed maneuverability. All models tested had ABS, with strong stopping power, good pedal feel.
Quietness

Limited, auto. GT wagon, man. GT wagon, auto. Touring conv, turbo Class Average
5 4 4 4 4.2

Coarse pavement induces some road roar. Wind rush starts to intrude at 65 mph. Convertible only slightly noisier top up, and fairly calm top down. Engine in all versions never really sounds smooth, is coarse above 4000 rpm.
Controls/Materials

Limited, auto. GT wagon, man. GT wagon, auto. Touring conv, turbo Class Average
6 6 6 6 5.9

Restyled instrument panel carries on retro theme, contemporary ease of use. Hard plastics abound but don't look cheap. Odd dashboard-mounted power-window switches continue; convertibles add a handy "all up/all down" button. Available UConnect wireless cell phone link easy to use, allows drivers to keep both hands on steering wheel.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Limited, auto. GT wagon, man. GT wagon, auto. Touring conv, turbo Class Average
6 6 6 6 5.5

Just adequate head room for tall drivers, despite high body build. Chair-height seats comfortable. Seat-mounted pull-down center armrests replaced by conventional console box with built-in armrest, which is more convenient. Wide doorways allow simple step-in entry. Clear outward sightlines in wagon, though rear headres - unwonted


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Question 2
Thinking of buying a 2003 PT Cruiser.?...  Can anyone tell me about gas mileage? I've read that the car is too heavy for a 4 cylinder auto so it gets lousy mileage. Is this true? Is a 2003 too old for an inexpensive car like this, so it won't last much longer? Would anyone recommend buying a 2003 PT Cruiser with 102,000 miles on it? Anyone have a 2003 PTC that can answer my questions? Problems with them? Thank you in advance.

Answers
1)   That car is junk. Do not buy it. - Kenny

2)   no no no - sky6256gshdeudwdjdjgdjshdjhsjdhs

3)   DON'T! It's based on the Neon! Under powered, cheap materials, JUNK! Front ends constantly fall off them! Stick with a GM or Ford - Bob S

4)   I hate to say it, because in most cases Chrysler products are superior to other US comparable products by far, in my opinion.
But the PT is defiantly an exception.
What a pile of crap!
Please don't buy one, everything about them mechanically just svcks!!!!!! - Dave

5)   The truth about PT Cruisers: The front suspension bushings may be worn out. This will be evident in a test drive if you here a knocking noise from the front end. At 102,000 mile the timing belt will need replacement. If this has not been done, factor this into the price since it cost about 800 to replace with the water pump and assorted seals and tensioner. Expect mileage in the 20-23 city range and about 25-28 highway. Compared to other small cars this is low, but the PT Cruiser is larger and more comfortable and thus heavier than your average Civic or Corolla. Make sure all the electric items work as you would on any used car. The rear seats fold and remove so make sure the mechansism still works. If it is taken care of you will get plenty of use out of a PT or any used car. If it is neglected or abused, walk away. This goes for any used car. Good luck. - C-Tech


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Question 3
Whats a cool color blue to paint my chrysler sebring convertible?...  I want to change the color of my car from green to blue but im not sure what shade of blue would look best with a tan convertible top.

Answers
1)   electric Blue or one a those honda blue - Smart

2)   Smart is right on the color, but you had better think long and hard about a repaint, remember that when a car repaint in done in most cases, what you see is what is painted, NOT the inside of the car nor the engine compartment,nor the trunk, that is a lot extra money and blue and green do look weird - rick b

3)   Petty Blue!!!! - Johnny Rotten

4)   i think you should go with like a midnight blue color. that would look real good - dustinb

5)   Im with Dustin on the midnight blue, the electric blue or intense blue is nice but I dont think it would go as well with your top color. Hope it turns out great whatever you decide. - marv


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Question 4
Where is the control module for the heater motor blower speed on a 1999 Plymouth Breeze?...  Blower does not work in any switch position other then high

Answers
1)   the switch itself - robert d

2)   dirty switch most likey if it works at all other contracts dirty can remove switch clean with can of air or contract cleaner most likey fix it

grease or lube on switch on back side collects dust loses contract ive repaired a few this way have a look at back side of switch where is slides each speed as a point of contract some are dirty i d bet - kelly_f_1999

3)   You are looking for the blower resistor. It is under the passenger side of the dash, to the left of the blower motor. If you follow the 2 wires from the blower motor, they will lead to the blower resistor. Good luck. - C-Tech

4)   This is a classic symptom of a bad blower motor resistor. The switch itself is rarely the cause of this condition.

The blower motor resistor is pretty easy to change out, it's mounted under the glove box at the very bottom of the A/C heater case, right next to the blower motor. It's held in by 2 screws and has 1 wire connector going to it. If you can't find it, or are unsure, ask the guy at the parts department counter to show you where it is. The Mopar replacement resistor should only be around $25 or $30 for your car.

To change it, all you have to do is unplug the connector, remove the 2 screws, and pull it out of the case. If you're just checking it, once it's removed look at the resistor coils inside, under the metal shield, chances are at least one of those coils will be broken where it mounts to the sides.

You should also check the connector and wires going to the resistor to make sure there are no burn marks on it as they will sometimes get burnt or melted form overheating.

To install it, simply put it back into position in the case, tighten the screws, and plug the connector back up.

If it needs a new connector installed, you may want to let someone else do that for you, especially if you've never spliced wires together. - Mark B

5)   agree with chrysler tech - wondering


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Question 5
i have a 1997 chrysler concorde 3.5L 6cylinder. i was driving and noticed there was smoke. what do i do?...  

Answers
1)   Was it blue smoke? If it's blue smoke you're burning oil. If it's black smoke something is on fire. Go take it to the mechanic. - QueenGiraffe

2)   Where was the Smoke?? not enough detail. - nosdda

3)   well you need to be real specific about this when you see the smoke you need to locate it and determine the smell also. mot always will oil burn blue really only when it is going out of the exhaust after being burned. it could be your coolant, power steering fluid, or tranny fluid could be leaking on something hot, aldo brake fluid could be leaking on something hot, i need to know what type of sound the car makes or if their are any ride handling changes as well. if none of the above it also could be that the engine could be too hot or the fact that you don't have enough oil and the existing oil is over heating its burning it off not through bad piston rings but rather you only have 1-2 quarts when you should have 4-5 and the oil is over heating.

here is what you do first check all of your fluid levels, engine off for the tranny you need the engine on, if they are all good than let it run for a few min if no smoke still than you need to drive the same way that you were when you first saw it, when you see the smoke pull over immediately and pop the hood to see the source (check the temp gage if its running hot you need to turn it iff so you wont lock up the motor). this is what a shop will do. once you know the source than you can fix it. i recomend take it to a shop that way you get a warrenty with the work, but if you know the source of the smoke you will knock off alot of time you will have to waite in the shop, and you will not have to pay for something that isnt broken - redneck_pride13

4)   first thing is to find out where exactly is that smoke coming from. - mrws303


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