PT fever cooling off?

[Grouch]

The PT Cruiser was never mean't to be a limited production car At most events the number of cruisers keeps getting bigger.
The reason the cruiser has become popular It is a blank canvas that can be molded many different ways. At any event you go to other than bone stock every one is a little bit different. What has happened the I have to have it crowd have moved on to the next hot car. People that paid way over sticker are in for a rude awakening. The car will remain popular but will never be a collector item. The gloom and doom crowd forget that car sales in general are way down. Just look at the diuscounts and rebates that are beng offered. Just my 2 cents



Greg Gavencky
N.J. State Director
PT Owners Club

Edited by - Grouch on 02/28/2002 11:16:35

[CRUZIN NW]

The 2001's might hold their value in the years to come. The first year production models always seem to do alright, even if it takes 25 years as with most collectibles. In my opinion, the ones, that even today will hold their value, are the ones that have gone basically unmolested. The PT's that have gone through extreme, and sometimes garish levels of customizing will suffer the worst. They'll look..really dated, down the road. I hope, and please, no offense, that the people who have gone with ground effects, "cow-catcher" air dams, different grills, hood scoops and the like, will have saved their stock parts.

[rayspt]

If they cool off, us pt owners now will be just getting started. Here in so. cali it's still a good seller. Customizing is the fun part.

Chillin, bangin the loudsounds in the southern cali desert.

[TXWolf]

The Cruisers are still really popular here in Texas. I finally bought my wife her Dream Car ... a 2002 Inferno Red Limited ... on Valentine's Day. AND ... I paid $200 UNDER DEALER INVOICE!

<img src=icon_smile_clown.gif border=0 align=middle>

TXWolf

[CRUZIN NW]

I totally agree..customizing is fun. Never in my life have I seen a car that's driven people to this level of customizing a factory car. The problem is..some people just don't know when to stop. I saw a picture of a PT on another site..a Cranberry one, that had fender skirts, lakes pipes and dual exhaust, dummy spotlights, chrome bumpers and grill, billet antenae, wide-whites, a carson-style cloth top with a roof rack, sunroof, spoiler and visor, a continental kit..and..a woody vinyl application highlighted by chrome molding. To top it off..euro tail light lenses. This car didn't even look like a PT anymore. It was so "over the top" with so many conflicting styles thrown together, that I was embarrassed for the owner. Customizing doesn't mean just applying every accessory on the market..less is definatley more with these cars.
Everyone wants their PT's to be unique, but just the fact that you have one, makes it unique. There's not anything out there with it's personality..why go to such extremes to change the look that was so cool about the car to begin with? If you saw a 1937 Ford slant-back sedan street rod (which is what the PT most resembles) going down the road with all those things added on, most people would be appauled. Sorry..just had to get that off my chest..I'll be alright now..ha.

[Grouch]

If you think that is over the top send me an e-mail and I will send you pictures of one that the guy spent $35.000 on mods too many things to decribe. The problem is one person beauty is someone elses ugly. I know a car the person keeps making changes to win a trophy. It in my mund keeps getting uglier but different strokes for different folks.


Greg Gavencky
N.J. State Director
PT Owners Club

[boblatz]

quote:
Where I live.(eastern Washington state) and also in northern Idaho..I'm seeing new, 2001 PT Cruisers all OVER the place, for sale in dealerships, some that aren't even Chrysler dealerships. There's even a dealership in Couer d'Alene, Idaho that has at least twenty 2001 PT's, all colors and all trim levels for sale, and have had, for several months now. I'm seeing base models sell for, get this, $13,900..and full-boat, every option offered, Limiteds for $17,995! Does this mean the popularity and the frenzy to get one is waning..did Chrysler fudge a bit about availability of the 2001 to get that frenzy going last year..were all of a sudden a ton more pumped out to meet the demand that wasn't really there..hmmmm. When I bought my 2001 Touring Edition last January, I was told that it was one of the last, hard-to-find 2001 models, and that if I wanted to order a 2002, I would have to wait till February, and then wait till Spring before it would be delivered. I opted to pay $500.00 over MSRP and get the 2001, then and there. I'm curious to know if other people from other states are seeing this many new 2001's for sale now, too.

[boblatz]

Yes , dealers are starting to get glutted with them, I am associated with a dealer in Ohio and they have really slowed down. There are so many other vechicles like Pt to choose from, the new Pontiac Vibe, Saturn Vue which is a 4 X 4, V-6 equiped very well for $22000, almost price of Limited PT. They will have to do something and quick with the Pt, they do have a factory rebate of $1000 in the Midwest and East. I saw 2 P.T. G.T's ( turbo) running around Detroit the past few months, so something is being done..

[idssa]

Well, time to weigh in! The sales numbers I have seen seem to indicate demand is still strong, selling at a little higher rate than last year. Not bad considering the auto industry as whole had a lousy year if you can believe the news. The difference is that the 2002 model had time to fill the pipeline and now production capacity is keeping up with demand. I don't see the enthusiasm dropping off, just the pipeline finally filling up. So, if you paid a premium, you did so with the benefit, although short lived, of having what you wanted when you wanted it while others were watching from the sidelines with envy! (like me...I waited 8 months for mine!) Humm...8 months vs $500 bucks; not a bad premium to pay. Of course, those that have waited 18 months to place there order can now go to a dealer and take their pick. But hey, they don't have the satisfaction of waiting for their very own personal PT, concieved specifically to fill their order (remember tracking the rail delivery??)

[barold]

Pt's(2001) r selling here 4 22k 4 the touring model...thats less than
$15000 USD...ba