# Chrysler PT Cruiser: What were they thinking? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 26, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965 "2004-07-26T18:36:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/21 "2004-07-27T00:06:20Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Who the fuck cares what you would buy? They’ve sold millions of them so they must be doing something right. > > Haj No offense, but Ford sold several million Pintos and Chevrolet did the same with the Vega. Big sales ≠ Quality merchandise, especially when Chrysler is concerned. They sell “cool” cars like this (along with the Viper and Prowler (now defunct)) to take everyone’s mind away from the numerous crappy Sebring (formally Le Baron) variants and their other crappy cars. They should stick to what they do best, trucks and minivans. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/22 "2004-07-27T00:15:10Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > No offense, but Ford sold several million Pintos and Chevrolet did the same with the Vega. > > Big sales ≠ Quality merchandise, especially when Chrysler is concerned. > > They sell “cool” cars like this (along with the Viper and Prowler (now defunct)) to take everyone’s mind away from the numerous crappy Sebring (formally Le Baron) variants and their other crappy cars. They should stick to what they do best, trucks and minivans. No, but it does = good marketing, which seems to be what the OP was ranting about, since he didn’t say anything about the quality of the cars, only the fact that they sort of look like UK taxis. Styling is properly a marketing concern, not a quality concern. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/23 "2004-07-27T00:23:51Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > No, but it does = good marketing, which seems to be what the OP was ranting about, since he didn’t say anything about the quality of the cars, only the fact that they sort of look like UK taxis. Styling is properly a marketing concern, not a quality concern. My bad. Like I said, though, they need these types of cars. The PT Cruiser is based on a [modified Neon chassis](http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=418&page_number=2), so it’s relatively cheap to make. It gives the impression that you’re getting more “cool” for your money. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/24 "2004-07-27T00:35:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Did you ever stop to think of what a Taxi looks like in the bloody USA? It certainly don’t look like a TLI or a PT Cruiser… Oddly enough, there is a cab company in Pittsburgh called Cruiser Cabs that uses entirely PT Cruisers and bills themselves as ‘the only taxis in Pittsburgh you can hail.’ But commonly, yeah, the Taxis are your Caprices or Crown Vic type cars, yellow. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/25 "2004-07-27T01:07:13Z")
I believe [the classic Checker](http://www.cow.net/checker/photos/FRIENDS/hold/www.bcurtis.com/checkercab/images/CAB-700width.jpg) is still in active service in some cities. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/26 "2004-07-27T01:22:10Z")
You can now get [London Taxis in America](http://www.londontaxisna.com/index02.htm). Hey, I like the PT Cruiser. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/27 "2004-07-27T01:50:02Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Bob Lutz, the Chrysler executive responsible for the PT Cruiser, the Prowler, and the Viper among others, left the company after Daimler-Benz took it over and imposed their own culture. He’s now at GM, and so far has brought the GTO to market. What crap. The GTO is down-tuned, shit ugly version of the wonderful Australian built and designed Monaro GTS. The front nose is modified (in Australia) to have Pontiac pretensions. Bob Lutz can lay as much claim to the Pontiac GTO as Lee Iacocca. It’s an Australian designed and built car with an American badge. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/28 "2004-07-27T01:54:19Z")
Actually **Elvis**? Please accept my apology. I was unnecessarily harsh in my last post to you and you did nothing to deserve such harshness. Forgive my tone, please. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/29 "2004-07-27T01:58:12Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > Hey, thanks! Now I know the rationale behind [the picture here](http://www.uglycars.co.uk/uglycars.asp?offset=20). We’d better not let **Coldfire** see [the first page](http://www.uglycars.co.uk/uglycars.asp?offset=0) on that website! Of course, these folks also dissed the [Morgan Aero 8](http://smogthis.net/indexaero.html), so they clearly have some vision problems! ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/30 "2004-07-27T03:57:18Z")
People that think the PT Cruiser looks good, or is even, for god-sakes, “cool” need a prompt smack upside the head. But those taxis based off of the PT Cruiser are pretty cool. I’ve seen one around Boulder; every time I see it I want to run after it and ride in it just for the hell of it. Thanks for the links, I was wondering what it was. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/31 "2004-07-27T11:20:20Z")
**Early Out** , no worries. I know Citroëns aren’t for everyone. 😃 I was intrigued by the PT Cruiser’s styling when it came out, and was seriously contemplating buying one. Until I test-drove one: thing drives like a fucking VAN. The body roll in the corners was unbelievable. Seriously, there are tractors on the market that corner better than this abomination. The seating position was too “high-up” for my taste, it felt like driving a truck. It was rather comfortable, and had good seats, and the interior looked very spiffy, of perhaps not top notch quality wise. The engine (we only get the 2.0 liter here) was noisy, and underpowered for the car. So, I turned it in unimpressed, and walked away. Seeing as how I quickly got tired of the novelty factor the styling provided upon seeing more and more of them (there’s 2 in my street alone), I’m now glad I never got one. My current car is roomier, more economical, quiter (despite being a diesel!), and corners infinitely better. I’m saddened to hear they don’t make the Prowler anymore. Now THAT was a bad-ass looking car! ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/32 "2004-07-27T11:22:47Z")
Just to add: I was seriously disappointed in the Cruiser’s cornering skills, seeing as the Neon (on which its platform is based) is a car with excellent cornering skills. For an American car. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Keweenaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Keweenaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keweenaw)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/33 "2004-07-27T13:01:12Z")
Check out this new General Motors vehicle [The Chevrolet HHR](http://ptenthusiasts.org/images/news/hhr01.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/34 "2004-07-27T13:25:52Z")
I didn’t see anything to take offense at, \*\*Boo Boo Foo \*\* - I know the GTO is really a Monaro, and all I meant was that Lutz brought it to market _in the US_, which is true - that was something he could accomplish quickly. All Iacocca did for the Mustang was approve it for production, for that matter - Lutz’s contribution to the GTO exceed that considerably. He hasn’t been at GM long enough to do much more than that yet - but their product line is getting cooler and Chrysler’s isn’t. **Coldfire** , the PT Cruiser is actually classified as a truck for emissions-control purposes. That little shelf in the back qualifies it somehow. Bureaucracy run amuck, I say. There are a few “London Cab” operations in the States now, mostly offshoots of limo companies, but they’re still not the stereotype one thinks of as a taxi here. There are a few Chevy Malibu taxis and police cars now, though. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/35 "2004-07-27T14:19:42Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > People that think the PT Cruiser looks good, or is even, for god-sakes, “cool” need a prompt smack upside the head. That was always my take. When I see one of those things with flames painted on it and the driver with cool ‘neo’ shades and such I want to scream at them “IT’S A HATCHBACK! NOTHING MORE!” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/36 "2004-07-27T15:00:45Z")
> [@Keweenaw](#): > > Check out this new General Motors vehicle > > [The Chevrolet HHR](http://ptenthusiasts.org/images/news/hhr01.jpg) Great, now we’re going to see shrunken ['49 Suburbans](http://www.ckdeluxemag.com/showcase/post.php?post_id=515). > [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > That was always my take. When I see one of those things with flames painted on it and the driver with cool ‘neo’ shades and such I want to scream at them “IT’S A HATCHBACK! NOTHING MORE!” The people who get the ones with “wood” trim would be better off with a [Morris Minor Traveller](http://www.oldwoodies.com/img/uk/morrisminortraveller_dolph%27n1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/37 "2004-07-27T15:08:03Z")
:: severe look :: And exactly what is wrong with hatchbacks? That’s one thing I’ve never been able to understand about the US: the disdain for hatchbacks. Small 5-door hatchbacks or small wagons (the difference is not that clear sometimes) such as the Suzuki Aerio, the Chevy Aveo5 and Optra5, the Mazda 3, etc, are very popular here in Canada. Taxis here are mostly Ford Crown Victorias (often ex-police cars), also some minivans and Chevy Impalas. I have seen an increasing number of Toyota taxis (midsize Camry sedans) around town… ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/38 "2004-07-27T15:27:19Z")
One factor in the popularity of the PT Cruiser that hasn’t been mentioned yet is that the seats are more or less at normal chair height. I know four older couples who bought theirs just because of the seats – they can get and out without awkward (for the elderly with arthritis and such) scrambling down into and up out of ‘normal’ car seats. Roomy insides plus easy access makes it a winner for those couples. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/39 "2004-07-27T16:08:00Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > And exactly what is wrong with hatchbacks? **JC** was saying that putting [flames](http://www.superflames.com/74440b00.jpg) on the notoriously underpowered PT Cruiser is silly. ---
**Author:** ![diku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@diku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diku)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965/40 "2004-07-27T17:39:02Z")
Hey, I love my PT. 2002 Limited Edition. And I’m not an old fogey. I just happen to really enjoy it. No flames on it though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrysler-pt-cruiser-what-were-they-thinking/256965.md?page=3)