This is the thing about PT Cruisers: they defy characterization.
Combining elements of the streamlined styling of the 1930s, the feel of mid-century hot rods, and the overall look of a panel truck, the Cruisers were developed by Plymouth and sold as Chryslers when Plymouths were discontinued.
The first PT Cruiser hit the market in April 2000 as a 2001 model, at a time when other auto companies were also marketing retro-inspired designs. The original thought behind its construction was to build a truck that got good gas mileage in order to improve the average of the entire production line.
What resulted, though, was a funky crossover, something resembling a tall station wagon, a multi-purpose vehicle with a car-like feel and a lot of cargo space. Seating five, the front-wheel drive Cruiser was introduced as a four-door hatchback. From the beginning, it was widely accepted and fondly embraced by the American car-buying public. A fun-loving convertible was added to the line in 2005.
“It?s a very capable car,” said John Boland, a salesman at Heritage Chrysler Jeep in Parkville. “The back seats fold down, or you can remove them, and with a lot of headroom, you can really fit a lot in that car.”
If that weren?t enough, Boland continued, PT Cruisers are “very affordable. It?s a great first car. Even the base model has power windows, power locks, a CD player ? all that good stuff.” People realized it was right for them even when it was first offered, he concluded. “When they introduced the Cruisers, there was a six-month wait.”
When her sport coupe died, Susan Weber shopped around and placed an order for another car. While she waited for delivery, she leased a PT Cruiser, loved it, and canceled her original order. The Baltimore woman purchased a 2006 model and has never regretted her decision.
“I absolutely love my car,” she said. “It sits high, so when I?m at an intersection, I?m not staring into the wheel wells of other vehicles.”
She also said the car is a comfortable ride. “Getting in is like sitting down on a dining room chair,” she said.
For the record, her Inferno Red baby answers to the name “Bonnie.”
As in Parker.
