Getting ready to buy PT Cruiser

[taterbug]

I am getting ready to buy a used PT cruiser. I have been looking at models
with less than 20K. Are there certain years I need to avoid? Do I need to
go turbo vs non turbo? Seems from the specs there is a big power differance
between the two. Also the wife wants a convertible. Any help will be appreciated. I have been searching autotrader already. Thanks

[CREWZIN]

Welcome to the forum.

As with any year car, the newer with less miles, probably the better. There weren't very many changes throughout the years. The biggest being the introduction of the Turbo Lite and High output Turbo and of course the convertible.

The Turbo Lite has 180 hp compared to the non-turbo 150hp and then a jump up to about 220hp for the High Output. The non-turbo and Turbo Lite take regular gasoline, the High Output should use Premium.

If your a normal driver, the non-turbo will drive just fine. Probably the best of both worlds would be the Turbo Lite. A little more power while still using regular fuel.

If you can, have a mechanic look over the PT your looking at for front suspension wear, hub and bearing play and steering play. Look for any signs of leaks and test out the A/C. Let it idle for 20-30 minutes with the A/C on and watch the water temp. It should stay right in the middle.

Good luck in your choice.

[taterbug]

Thanks for the info. Will the high output turbo run on mid grade gas?
Also are all of the convertables cloth tops instead of vinyl?

[CREWZIN]

Someone else will have to answer about the tops on the Verts. On the other question, and I don't mean to sound condescending, but if you can't afford to put premium gas into the High Output Turbo, don't consider buying it.

[Hooligan]

taterbug, welcome to the Forum .

If my memory serves me right convertables only comes with fabric tops, at least the ones I've seen were fabric. Do you have a problem with fabric?

[bobs turbo pt]

welcome to the board !!

[taterbug]

I have no problem with cloth. I was told to make sure the top is cloth and
not vinyl by a friends. I thing I would also like to know is the room in
the front of a convertible the same as a coupe? I am a big guy and
need all the room I can get. Actually this is going to be my wifes car and
she will have no problem fitting in the car but I would like to drive it
every once in a while especially if we get a turbo

[careyk]

The HO Turbo with a 5speed is certainly FUN

[MINIHEMI46]

taterbug, I have had 3 pt's, 2 coupes and convert. The leg room in the coupe is better, the front seat with side farther back and a little more head room when the convert top is up because the convert is not as tall, it's about 3 inchs shorter on top and the windsheild is shorter on top so stoplight can be hard to see. I now have an 07 GT convert but the seats in my 03 gt where more comfortable on longer trips. But the rear seats in the convert are better leg room than the coupes but the rollbar can be a pain for older people to get in and out of and you can only get two people back there but better leg room.
If you want power then go with the GT or stage one lite. GT 5 speed is fun and a blast to drive but a pain to drive in town and stop and go driving is a killer on the knees. The auto is slower then the 5 speed and on the freeway the auto is about 1 to 2 miles less MPG.
The 06 to 08 will grow on you if you don't like the dash and front clip and the front seat puller on the pass dash is really nice but the 01 to 05 doesn't have that but the 06 to 08 doesn't have the cargo bin under the pass seat.
Gas mileage isn't bad on any of them, as long as I don't have any fun and drive like a blue haired old lady and freeway speed @ 65 it will do about 28 to 30 mpg. But if you use the fun meter pedal it will drink fuel like it's coca-cola.
Hope this helps but the cruiser after all these years (past 7 years) always puts a huge smile on my face when I drive it. I can't say that about any car I've had unless it was my 78 trans am.. I miss my bandit.

[taterbug]

Thanks for the info that was very helpfull. We have out eye on a 2006
Limited with a sun/moon roof and it is turbo. May go look at it tommorrow.
The gas mileage sounds really good.