Ever Try to Trade PT Off?

[semar]

Why did you buy the cruiser in the first place? Probably because it was fun. Stick with it. If it becomes REALLY uneconomical to trade, keep it. Mothball it. Think of all the guys that sold their 65 Mustangs or 56 BelAir convertibles. I worked in a dealership when a guy wanted to trade his 56 BelAir conv ( absolute mint) in for a 64 Pontiac convertible. The dealer offered him 750 (wholesale) then upped it to 1000. The guy bought his Pontiac but now probably kicks himself. If he would have stored the 56 BelAir conv. he could have got maybe 60000 for it now. Who knows what the cruiser is worth 30 years from now. Your kids will have a ball with it.

[Basset Hound]

Some of us won't be around in 30 years to worry about future value. For us the PT Cruiser may be one of the last new vehicles we buy. For those worried about resale value, no car these days that is highly produced and around $20,000 is going to retain value. Chrysler and the other car companies have to sell a lot of them to keep the price down. That translates into high availability for new models. Why should someone pay top dollar and interest rate for the car you have used when they can pay less, because if the interest rate, for a new one?

DB aka Basset Hound


Pics at: http://members4.clubphoto.com/don284358/

[tcruiser]

Wow! Interesting. I have just read all the comments regarding WuWu's longing for a truck. Everyone has good valid reasons to stake their claim to the Cruiser. But I can certainly identify with WuWu when it comes to missing the truck. Even though I still have the pleasure of seeing my truck every day (my 17 year old got his license and drives it now), I seldom want to drive it myself, because of all the "stuff" he has added to it (it's not a truck any more). Don't get me wrong, I took very good care of my truck for 10 years and had many offers of people wanting to buy it, but I fell in love with the Cruiser from day one. I was in the market for a small car and the retro look and feel of the Cruiser just appealed to me...still does. Without some really expensive mods, will it ever become a real hot rod? I doubt it. Don't forget, it does have that stigma of sitting on a Neon frame, having front wheel drive with a 4-cylinder engine. So, even though I'm still running with all those souped up rice burners, but the one stand out distinction I have is my looks unique. One last note (sorry, and I'll shut up). How much will the Cruiser be worth in 30 years? How much is a 40 year old VW beetle worth right now? And if you had one in mint condition, would it be as much fun to drive as the Cruiser?<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

[PToholics Anonymous]

There is a difference between 'trade-in' value (or wholesale) and resell valve (retail). If your PT is modified that limits appeal to certain folks and few dealers need limited appeal. If you want out and you've modified your PT then your best bet is to put it on the market yourself and find that person that wants a PT done the way you have done it.

Most PToholics I know are in it for the long term. Want a truck...buy one and keep the PT for the real fun. (PS; I still have my Ford 4x4 Pickup for when I need a truck but rather drive the PT)

The PT Grin says it all.

http://ptoholic.ptenthusiasts.net

[2sb]

WUWU20 you stated the the solution to your problem. Keep your PT and buy an old Dodge truck. With Chrysler's loss of value maybe you can find one for $.50! If you get a'94-'00 version you'll have a retro- truck to go with your retro-car.

[car guy]

I read with interest the reply,s to low resale value.
my resent experence has been just the reverse.
Started out looking for a used 01 or 02 Pt cruiser.
#1 surprise their are not many used pt,s to be had. At lest not in the Phil.,Pa /South Jersey area.
Surprise # 2 Every one I found both private party and dealers carried a price of $ 14,000 { with up to 48000 miles] to $17,500.
Folloowing six weeks of looking made the no brainer to jkust add a little bit more to it and purchase new.
Using the internet to 'shop' for price.
that worked out very well, picked one up for $100.00 under invoice[ obtained both dealer invoice prices and copy of a dealer invoice from web.
compared both to dealer invoice at time of shopping .they matched.
Add to that the Chrysler $1500.00 rebate in December, Plus for what it was worth the Sony $500.00Gift cert.deal going at the same time I could not affort to buy used.
I had just sold my 1967 Mustang convert. that I had the past 21 yes twenty one years Kept in 'mint condition.
With full knowledge that the Mustang will appreciate in value every year and the PT will depreciate in value at the same time.
Butdo what you enjoy when ever you can, the Years go to fast not to.
Auto,s depreciate at a rate of 40 percent every 4 four years.
being stronger the first year of course.
Keeping in mind that when you trade in a car the dealer can not pay any way near retail or full value price and stay in buiness.
He does not have that much profit in sale of new to work with.

I do think however the PTwill be come a 'Cllasic' in time. and will be what is termed a Keeper. As is the case with cedtain year Mustangs
and other cars.
Car Guy

[car guy]

Correction on depreciation on my above statement. I ment to state 50% percent every four years [not40]
Interesting as that same figure will repete it self every four years
Untill the car reaches $200 or $300.
Thats a broad average, however some car models of certain years will
hold value to a surprising degree.
The PT,s have been doing that to date, But we have a ways to go yet.

Sill my gut feeling is they will hold up above average on the market.
For several reasons.

Again tho that is not our reason for buying in the first place.
Lets all enjoy

[flashbk2]

James, got a solution for you...get married ! We ordered first cruiser 4/2000 and rec'd 11/2000. That was wife's and I was driving plymouth breeze . 3/2001 I spotted local dealer selling used pt's and bought mine. All was well until last year when we drove her cruiser to Ohio for vacation with our 2 children for a 5 day trip....wife announced she was getting a bigger family car for trips and traded hers for 2002 Jeep Cherokee Larendo . We actually broke even on trade-in....but come December 30 the Jeep has been replaced by a Chevy Avalanche ( her newest "dream" vehicle). Not so lucky on trade-in this time !!!!! But she's happy and she's making the payments ! 285 horsepower w/3.73 final drive unfortunately gross vehicle weight is 5600 lb! All in all she still loves cruiser's and drives mine but has her "truck",too! By the way nice 2-tone paint job !!! {"Be cool"
} Jeff aka FLASHBK2

01 Aquamarine base 5sp,B&M sport shifter,crane -10 cams,ignition,wires,air aide intake,hedman 4-2-1,bassoni single catback,weitec lowered (1.4"f and 2.0" r),addco sways(1"f,.75"r) wildfire strut bar,16"ssc wheels/conti tires,e&g billet grill

[Winot]

oh for heavens sake....... what did you think you were buying?
No one in their right mind would buy a PT for its resale value...duhh!! did'nt you know it was like a marriage, - expensive, testing, unpopular....god, anybody who bought the PT as an investment needs some serious help.......if....like the rest of us you bought it "because you could"....then I rest - happy.....lolol

uwant1

[WUWU20]

flashbk2...LoL...been married 19 years this June, but sounds like your wife like myself like to trade to much..hehehe, and Winot, no need to act like a ass, maybe my first post was alittle in haste, but I'm used to having Hondas and full size trucks, they hold they're value much better then most any car, my problem is I get bored with cars to fast, and I'm bored with my PT and have had to may times when I not only needed, but have missed having a truck, everyone thinks different, I think resale does have alot to do with buying a car only because I trade about every 1 1/2 to 2 years, now if I bought a car to run till the wheels fell off then it don't matter, but that aint me. LOL, and (expensive, testing, unpopular) is that what you think of having a wife?...sad, very sad indeed.

be cool, James <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>



Edited by - WUWU20 on 01/07/2003 06:33:43