- 97,807
- 99,999 overpriced
- Billings, MT
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- autoshopper.com
2008 chrysler pt cruiser review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Retrowagon, and gangster convertible. introductionthe chrysler pt cruiser combines the retro look of late-'30s american iron with modern performance, efficiency and features. The pt cruiser comes in two body styles, a versatile five-door wagon and a not-so-versatile two-door convertible. the five-door model's tall body boasts lots of room for people and cargo. In fact, its interior volume and versatility compare well to a small suv. Yet the pt cruiser is small and easy to park. it's also easy on gas. The lower-level models are competitively priced, and we think they make the most sense. the pt cruiser convertible is one of the least expensive convertibles on the market. Its trunk is tiny and awkward, however; in fact, we can't think of a trunk that's less convenient than the one on the cruiser convertible. the pt cruiser doesn't fit within existing automotive marketing segments, but competes on some levels with the chevy hhr, the scion xb, and the mini cooper. Like them, it is essentially a car: the pt cruiser is based on the dodge neon, a compact car noted for sprightly performance. So it drives like a car, though the handling is not as good. Cruiser is an appropriate name. chrysler has dropped the high-performance gt models for 2008. Frankly, we thought they were over-priced and favored the standard model that is still available. new for 2008, a tire-pressure monitor and front side air bags are now standard on all models and the base wagon is now called lx. The 2008 limited model now has 17-inch wheels, the 2. 4-liter turbocharged engine, abs and traction control as standard equipment. lineupthe 2008 chrysler pt cruiser comes in two body styles: a five-door hatchback/wagon chrysler calls a sedan; and a two-door convertible. In all but the limited model the standard engine is tuned to deliver 150 horsepower. Many of the standard features on higher-line models are also available as options on the less expensive models. safety features include dual front airbags; torso-protecting front side-impact airbags; and a tire-pressure monitor. The front belts have pyrotechnically charged tensioners, just like in luxury cars, to tighten the belts for the initial stages of an impact. The rear bench is equipped with child-seat tethers. Antilock brakes and traction control are standard on limited. They are also included with the optional turbocharged engine and are available as a $625 option for other models. walkaroundthe chrysler pt cruiser blends the retro look of a late-1930s or early 1940s american sedan with new-age styling cues such as dual-beam flush headlights and teardrop-shaped taillight lenses. the look was refined beginning with the 2006 models, but not drastically changed. The horizontal-themed grille does not extend below the bumper as on older models and it's topped by a prominent chrysler eagle and flanked by gently scalloped headlamps. Round foglights frame a horizontal slot in the bumper. Around back, a body-color spoiler on the liftgate is said to improve aerodynamic efficiency. exterior dimensions indicate the pt cruiser is quite compact. It's shorter in overall length than most compact sedans, but it's relatively tall. Measuring 63 inches from the pavement to the highest point of its roof, it's nearly as tall as a minivan. That height is a crucial element of the pt cruiser's design. the design of the convertible is quite a bit different from that of the wagon. The convertible looks shorter than the wagon, but it isn't. Maybe it's the single long door on each side that creates this illusion. It's lower, however, by almost three inches, which certainly alters the looks. But there's a lot more to it than that: close examination reveals that the windshield is raked more radically and uses a different a-pillar design. with the top up, the convertible looks like a custom chopped-top hot rod. And it looks pretty cool. Drop the top and the gangstermobile turns into a chick car. With its top down, the pt cruiser convertible's high tail and integrated sport bar remind us of the old volkswagen cabrio. But where the vw's side windows sealed against its sport bar, the chrysler's windows seal against each other for a more modern convertible profile. Its slightly narrower and color-keyed sport bar sits behind the windows, inside the car, and is aerodynamically designed to minimize wind noise. A nice boot is provided that dresses up the appearance with the top down. interiorthe chrysler pt cruiser pulls its exterior styling themes into the cabin, although here, too, the retro theme is tempered by a modern-looking center stack that visually splits the vintage-styled dashboard. the driver faces three white-faced gauges set in individual cylinders, with speedometer center, tachometer right, and fuel and water temperature left. Accessory switches are concentrated in the center panel, with radial-type climate control dials at the bottom. Window switches are high in the center stack, inconvenient for quick operation, forcing the driver to search for them. The door levers have a nice action, and the switches operate with good tactile feel, though they're not world class. The standard stereo sounds tinny; we haven't tried the boston accoustics system. Also, there's a separate set button for the station presets. It's fussier than simply holding the preset down. a bonus of the cruiser's tall profile is its upright seating position, with a fairly high view ahead, somewhat like a sport-utility vehicle or minivan. The front seats have a reasonable amount of bolstering to keep driver and passenger from sliding side to side. The pt's console also includes a covered tray for concealing small items, a storage bin that holds six cds, a coin holder and fold-out cupholders for rear-seat coffee consumers. roominess is a virtue in the cruiser. The wagon's 120. 5 cubic feet of interior volume is comparable to that of large cars such as the mercedes-benz s-class or lincoln town car, though it certainly doesn't have the ambience of those cars. Much of that space is a function of the cruiser's height. to take advantage of this, the rear seat bottoms are higher than those in front. This theater seating, as it's called, affords the back-seat passengers a better view forward. Rear passengers also can stretch their legs underneath the front seats, which are mounted on tall boxes. A 6-foot, 9-inch passenger can fit comfortably in the front or rear seats. the cabin of the pt cruiser wagon can be configured 26 different ways. This flexibility stems from three features: a 65/35 split rear bench that can be folded flat, tumbled forward or removed, a movable parcel shelf in t.
99,999 Billings, MTBillings, MT at autoshopper.com