Is the 2009 PT cruiser a good car?

Question 1
Is the 2009 PT cruiser a good car?...  On the website it seems perfect for me but is it a good car that wont break down, wont waste gas, and is just a fun car? I cant think of any good car that's inexpensive but has good features like this car. Ive been getting a lot of mix reviews like people say they love it and others say they hate it sooo yea! Thanks:)

Answers
1)   no lol - *Michael*

2)   No PT cruiser is a good car. - Hallie

3)   personally i dont like them at all. you can find the same if not better features in a better car for cheaper probably. PT cruisers are for dikes. no offense. - Anthony G

4)   I believe they are not making them any more. Need I say more? - Bobo

5)   You want the truth? No.

There are much better cars out there. The PT Cruiser is very unreliable - go on eopinions.com and read reviews about it. It looks fun, but it's really just a cheap Chrysler product.
I remember a few years back, they were selling PT Cruisers for $7-8,000 Brand New in Florida.
So unless you can get such a good deal on them, there are much better, and more reliable products in this class.
Look into a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic.
But, if you must stick with domestic, go with a GM (General Motors) car like Chevy or Pontiac.
At least these have better reliability and build quality.

Chrysler is just a bad car in general - poor reliability, poorly built, and just doesn't last long and breaks down often. I've heard the power steering go on PT Cruisers after just 30,000 miles!

So my advice, do your research. - Tony

6)   You also should compare car insurance quotes for cars before buying one, for example here - carinsurance.yoll.net - David

7)   You actually answered your own question. The thing about the PT cruiser is it is all about the style of the vehicle. That doesn't take away that it is indeed a fun and versatile vehicle. Personally I love my 2002, that has just hit 99000!

As far as some of the other answers there are plenty of opinion sites out there, and they are all full of people complaining about one thing or the other. That's not to discredit them, but look at some of the "Cruiser" fan sites as well. This way you'll have the info you'll need to make that decision. As far as them stopping production. This really has to do with styling as well. With the Cruisers selling point being retro, you have to question where would they go from there. As you know other manufacturers of retro styled vehicles have also ended production on those vehicles. Look around though you still see plenty of Cruisers and those other retro styled cars still out on the road.

As far as the guy pointing out advertised $8000 cruisers etc...Key word there is advertised, I think we all know that scheme.

So if you like the styling of the Cruiser, and want a versatile vehicle, I say go for it. - Wendell


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Question 2
Any good and inexpensive ways I can "MAN UP" my 2006 chrysler town and country?...  Just looking for a few ideas from the peeps out there, ya know, so I don't feel like such a minivan drivin daddy...

Answers
1)   Sell it.

Or get over your ego, and realize that it's a source of transportation, not a reflection of how much, or how little of a man you are.

Seriously. If you need your vehicle to announce that for you, you're not much of one to start with.... - Vipassana

2)   lol, hell yea, i feel ya. the cheapest upgrade to an engine is exhaust and intake. get aftermarket exhaust and airfilter and thats the cheapest upgrade that makes a difference. im not sure how much of a upgrade thats gonna make on a minivan though. maybe you should talk somebody into letting you get a toy, or maybe a motorcycle. lol. - POKE

3)   cut off the roof with a chain saw and cover it with atarp when it rains or jack it up and remove the van portion and install a corvette portion. - TAG

4)   You should sell it and buy a four door charger!!!If not sell it then bolt on a set of spinners and curb feelers will help...Maybe some white wall tires too!!! - Johnny Rotten


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Question 3
PT Cruiser over heating?...  2001 PT Cruiser LE 2.4L, red line over heats when driven. Will boil out the coolant threw the overflow tank while driving down the road. Running the heater reduces the heat slightly. Fan works properly. I removed the thermastat in hopes to keep the temperature down, which did not help. The radiator does not get hot, but it does get lightly warm. Could this be a clogged radiator? the radiator does not show any external damage, and there is no leakage.

Answers
1)   PT Cruiser is the most stupidest car you can ever buy. - Rosettii

2)   Bad water pump or the block is cloggedd. Take it to a reputable shop YESTERDAY! Theconsequencess could becatastrophicc to the engine. - anotherdamnmemberid

3)   From what you say it seems the only thing left is the radiator or a faulty water pump, I have only seen a pump go bad once, The impeller came loose from the shaft but this was on an old truck. remove the radiator yourself, if you are capable, and take it to a radiator shop. Not being familiar with the car, is the radiator plastic or metal, it does make a difference. I would call the shop first and explain the problem and an estimate on the cost - John P

4)   If the radiator is only getting slightly warm then the radiator is clogged, it will have to be replaced. If the coolant got so hot that the coolant boiled over you may have warped the cylinder head which opens a whole other can of worms.Have it TOWED to a shop and have them check it out. - Gregory A


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Question 4
can i run my 66 barracuda with a 273 v8 without a thermostat in las vegas summer?...  

Answers
1)   Yes. - doane_nut

2)   Sure but why? If you have a over heating problem during the summer then you have a problem all year long, if you can afford it you need to fix it - rick b

3)   The purpose of the thermostat is to control the flow of the coolant out of the radiator. The longer the coolant remains in the radiator, the more it can recover its heat capacity before flowing back through the engine block. Thermostats have little to do with cold weather and a lot to do with maintaining a steady state system in the radiator over all temperature ranges.

Without the thermostat, the flow rate of your coolant will be at the mercy of engine RPM's (which is directly tied to water pump function). Without that valve if you will, the coolant will never reach capacity in the radiator at highway speeds, and you will overheat.

Removing a thermostat during the summertime is a surefire way to guarantee a warped head / damaged head gasket. - Delamothe


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Question 5
How much does it cost to fix a broken timing belt on a 2002 PT cruiser?...  

Answers
1)   It all depends on a few different scenarios. It is possible that the valves were bent which means the cylinder head has to come off and sent to a machine shop. 8-10hrs labor plus parts. Belt and tensioner should be around 150.00 plus 4-6hrs labor. So anywhere from 600.00 to 1800.00 - Gregory A

2)   It depends. The 2.4L engine is a semi-interference motor and the intake valves may hit the tops of the pistons when the belt breaks while the engine is running. If the valves are ok, then the repair is probably going to cost around $600-800 dollars to replace the timing belt, seals, and the water pump (most techs will replace the water pump at this time because if it leaks later, you are going to have to pay almost the same amount to change the water pump ! ). If the head needs new valves or worse a head, the costs go up by $400 to 800. Good luck. - C-Tech

3)   We've seen quotes for timing belt replacement between $250-$750, depending on how much labor is involved (based on the make of the car) and the hourly labor rate
Replacing timing belts can take as few as two hours and as many as six hours. We've seen hourly labor quotes from $40 an hour where there is a low cost of living, to over $110-$150 an hour at dealerships in urban areas. In the , we've seen ordinary repair shops with rates from $55-$80 an hour, and ordinary dealerships with rates of $80-$90 and to the to tec that works for dodge dealer that the dealers rates dont go to the dealer to get your pt cruiser fixed they will rip you off and evey one knows dealer are much higher then any one i have 2003 pt cruiser and and it was $250 - kingtiger_6


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