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PT Cruiser
PT Cruiser exterior
2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser - enlargeComplete 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser New Car Reviews listed below
The 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser compact is available in wagon (MSRP: $15,285 - $22,930, Invoice price: $14,409 - $21,366) and convertible (MSRP: $18,430, Invoice price: $17,346) versions. The PT Cruiser was on Car and Driver's Ten Best list for 2001 and won the North American Car of the Year award that year. 1 It is assembled in Toluca, Mexico and Graz, Austria.
Models competing with the hard-top wagon are the Audi A3, Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Ford Focus, Kia Spectra 5, Mazda3 5-door, Mazda5, Mini Cooper, Mini Cooper Clubman, Pontiac G5, Pontiac Vibe, Scion XB, Subaru Impresa, Suzuki SX4 Crossover, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe, Volkswagen New Beetle, and Volvo C30, while competitors for the convertible are the Mazda MX5 Miata, Mini Cooper Convertible, Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, Pontiac G6, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, and Volkswagen EOS. The PT Cruiser convertible comes in only one base trim level, while the PT Cruiser wagon comes in base, Touring, and Limited trim levels.
Both come with a 150-horsepower, 2.4-liter I4 engine (mated with a five-speed manual transmission) and an optional 180-horsepower, turbocharged I4 engine (mated with a four-speed automatic transmission). The PT Cruiser has a front-wheel drive system.
The 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser wagon and convertible have a front independent suspension, a front stabilizer bar, a MacPherson strut front suspension, and a torsion beam rear suspension.
Exterior features of both the wagon and convertible include 15 x 6.0 inch steel wheels (16 x 16.0 alloy wheels for the convertible version), all season tires, a temporary spare tire, and a steel spare wheel. This model has full wheel covers, an inside-mounted spare tire, and variable-intermittent wipers. It is also equipped with a rear defogger, a rear window wiper, and a rear spoiler. The convertible version, in addition, has a power convertible roof and a glass rear window.
Instrumentation in the PT Cruiser include a tachometer, a trip computer, a clock, and an external temperature display. It is also equipped with low fuel level warning and a compass.
Interior features for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser wagon include a four- or five-person total seating capacity, bucket front seats, and cloth upholstery. It has a removable, split-bench rear seat, a split-folding rear seatback, and rear ventilation ducts. The convertible version has premium cloth upholstery, a six-way power driver seat, a height-adjustable driver seat, and a driver seat with manual adjustable lumbar support. It also has a bench rear seat, a split-folding rear seatback, and rear ventilation ducts.
Power features for both the wagon and convertible versions include remote power door locks, power windows, and two one-touch power windows. The convertible version also features power mirrors.
Convenience features in the PT Cruiser wagon include power-dependent steering, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, remote driver and passenger exterior mirrors, and front and rear cupholders. The PT Cruiser has front and rear door pockets, front seatback storage, a 12V front power outlet, a front console with storage, and retained accessory power. The convertible version has cruise control, remote trunk release, manual rear seat easy entry, and 12V front and 12V rear power outlets.
Comfort features for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser wagon are dual vanity mirrors and a cargo area light. The convertible version has air conditioning, front reading lights, front and rear floor mats, dual illuminating vanity mirrors, and a cargo area light.
Entertainment features for the PT Cruiser include an AM/FM in-dash single CD player, CD-controller with CD MP3 Playback stereo, four total speakers, and a mast antenna. The convertible version, in addition, has six total speakers and 66 watts stereo output.
The 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser wagon has the following safety and security features: ventilated front disc/rear drum brakes and dual front side-mounted airbags (with head protection chambers). It also has passenger airbag occupant-sensing deactivation, front seatbelt pretensioners, and rear door child safety locks. The PT Cruiser, has child seat anchors, a rear center three-point belt, two front and two rear height-adjustable headrests, an engine immobilizer, and tire pressure monitoring. The convertible version has these additional features: integrated headrests, front fog/driving lights, and a remote anti-theft alarm system.
More features on the PT Cruiser Touring are 16-inch alloy wheels, a privacy glass, front fog/driving lights, and a remote anti-theft alarm system. It has premium cloth upholstery, a six-way power driver seat, a height-adjustable driver seat, and a driver seat with manual adjustable lumbar support. The Touring trim level features a fold flat passenger seat, air-conditioning, a fold-down front passenger seat, a power driver seat, and power mirrors. It is also equipped with front reading lights, dual illuminating vanity mirrors, front and rear floor mats, cruise control, a Sirius satellite radio, and an auxiliary MP3 audio input.
Additional features for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser Limited wagon are 17-inch polished alloy wheels, a touring suspension, heated front seats, and leather upholstery. It has a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power glass sunroof, a 4-wheel Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), and traction control. More features are electronic brake-force distribution, multi-level heating driver and passenger seats, and a universal remote transmitter.
A safety report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser wagon received four stars out of five in frontal crash tests, four stars out of five (front) and five stars out of five (rear) in side crash tests, and four stars out of five in rollover tests (2WD).
A reliability history report from ConsumerReports.org showed how the Chrysler PT Cruiser held up mechanically. The Chrysler PT Cruiser received the following ratings for the year 2007 (major redesign year was 2001): Excellent ratings for its engine, transmission, drive, electrical and climate system, suspension, brakes, exhaust, paint and trim, and squeaks and rattles; Very Good ratings for its fuel and audio system; a Good rating for its body hardware; and a Poor rating for its power equipment.
Click here for more information on 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser car prices, auto insurance, auto loans, car dealers, and car leases.
Chrysler's PT Cruiser convertible is all about retro fun. It's great for putting the top down and listening to the Beach Boys -- especially their "Good Vibrations" when you hit bumps. Body-color panels and lots of chrome make the PT's interior look like a custom hot-rod, only without the custom quality.
•2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Compact Convertible Station Wagon
The ragtop derivative of PT Cruiser looks like the lid of a conventional Cruiser was pried off and a shapely roll bar added to arch across the 2+2 cockpit like the curvy handle of a basket.
•2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Compact Station Wagon
The wild five-door wagon from Chrysler appears in four versions for 2006 with two powertrain choices. Models include the base PT Cruiser, Cruiser Touring, Limited and GT.
•2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Compact Station Wagon
You'd be hard pressed to notice the difference, but Chrysler's PT Cruiser got a facelift for 2006. The new headlights look like a biology lesson on cell division, but the car remains unchanged in spirit. An all-new interior in the PT Cruiser is different but not necessarily better. The biggest improvement can't even be seen: sound insulation that keeps the cabin quieter on the highway.
•2006 PT Cruiser Compact Station Wagon and Convertible
If it’s true that this is a woman’s world, then the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser is her car.
•2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Compact Convertible
Another ragtop from Chrysler comes to market as the 2005 PT Cruiser Convertible. It looks like the lid of a conventional Cruiser was pried off and a shapely roll bar added to arch across the 2+2 cockpit like the curvy handle of a basket. This open-sky edition gets a power convertible soft top with the rear glass window wired with an electric defroster.
•2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Compact Sedan/Wagon
The wild five-door wagon from Chrysler appears in four versions for 2005 with three powertrain choices. Models include the base PT Cruiser, Cruiser Touring, Limited and GT.
•2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Compact Convertible
Chrysler's 2005 PT Cruiser convertible gets more attention than virtually any car in its price range. Two of the hardtop Cruiser's four doors were dropped for the ragtop version, but it remains a practical and stylish alternative to the mundane look of minivans. Inside, the PT Cruiser convertible has colored panels that are painted to match the body. It makes the car look almost like a custom hot rod.
•2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Five-door Compact Wagon
The wild five-door wagon from Chrysler shows three different powertrains for 2004, including two with turbo-charging.
•2003 PT Crusier Five Door Wagon
Chrysler's wild five-door wagon appears in four trims for 2003 including the new PT Turbo.
•2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser and PT Cruiser Turbo Compact Hatchback Wagons
This five-door wagon looks like no other vehicle, a boxy body tipped forward like a dragster with exaggerated fenders and a chin-out grille plus massive roll of sheetmetal wrapping the top-heavy rump.
