Hi there. I'm new and looking to buy a PT Cruiser for my first car.

[Wolfn]

I'm looking to buy a new car once I get a job. Since it first came out, I've been in love with the Chevrolet HHR. I love the exterior styling and the interior styling is nice and fresh with good materials. It's extremely practical and it does everything I need and want.

However, the HHR apparently has really good resale value and the cheapest ones I'm finding are like $9000. That's too expensive for me. However, I found 2006-2008 PT Cruisers (the refreshed ones with updated exterior and interior styling) for sale within my price range (under $6500).

The PT Cruiser almost has the HHR's good looks, and the interior looks pretty cool and it's nice and retro. I really like retro cars and the PT Cruiser looks like one of the best examples.

My only complaint is that the PT Cruiser doesn't get as good gas mileage as the HHR (PT Cruiser gets 19 mpg in the city, the HHR gets 22 mpg in the city). It's still better than my brother's Pontiac Grand Am's 17 mpg in the city.

Would the new PT Cruiser be a good substitute for the next 5+ years until I'm actually able to afford an HHR?

[slayerdarkcross]

The money you save with buying a pt cruiser can pay for better mileage.

We have a PT in the club who gets 30 to the gallon! =P

[chris15]

My personal advice:
They're good, solid cars so long as you know the history of the car you're buying, OR you buy from a reputable dealer that offers a warranty. Next time you're due for an oil change, go full synthetic (you'll never look back) and make sure to stay on top of your oil changes. Also, stick to a maintenance schedule:

(Just a quick example)

• Oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. ($20-30)
• Rotate/balance tires about every 5,000-10,000 miles and check coolant levels, replace when necessary. (Depends on shop)
• Approximately every 20,000 miles you'll want to replace your brake pads (Depends, but expect to spend somewhere around $60-70 for a full set of OEM-quality replacements) and also change your transmission fluid.
• Every 30,000 miles, change the air filter and spark plugs, and you might as well change the wires while you're at it. ($15 for filter, $15 for plugs and $30-60 for wires)
• At 50,000 miles you'll want to have your transmission fluid flushed, and filter replaced. (Depends on shop)
• At around 60,000 miles you'll want to replace your rotors, flush your coolant system, add new coolant. ($200-250 for a set of OEM-replacement rotors, and coolant maintenance depends on the shop)
• And at around 90,000 expect to replace your timing belt, water pump, tensioner etc. (Typically ~$1,200 for parts and labor)

Just want to be sure you know what you're getting into before you take the leap.
Don't get me wrong-- they're great, solid cars, and you'll find a LOT of pleased people roaming around these boards.

[Travis2k7]

Originally Posted by Wolfn

I'm looking to buy a new car once I get a job. Since it first came out, I've been in love with the Chevrolet HHR.

The PT Cruiser almost has the HHR's good looks, and the interior looks pretty cool and it's nice and retro. I really like retro cars and the PT Cruiser looks like one of the best examples.


Would the new PT Cruiser be a good substitute for the next 5+ years until I'm actually able to afford an HHR?

You've got it backwards... the HHR almost has the PT's good looks... both were designed by Bryan Nesbitt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and as the article says he's been slammed for making the HHR look so much like the PT.

Personally, the HHR is ugly... it's far too boxy and has nowhere near the look of the PT. But to each his own.

[garner49]

If you're buying for MPG's, keep looking. If you want a car that stands out, is fun to drive, offers a lot of room inside, easy to work on, etc... Look closer at the PT C. Don't discount a 2005 and older with less than 50k on it (just get it checked out) and maybe the Turbo-Lite. The Turbo was a bonus when I found mine and glad it is.

I liked the PT the first time I saw one. Finally the time was right and I just happened to find what I wanted - so far we like it. No the MPG's are not what I'd thought, I do see 17 around town and 25 on the road; but have seen 31 on a couple fill-ups (not sure why).

The other car I was looking at is the Pontiac Vibe, close to the PT in size and space, but offers better MPG's. I looked at and drove a HHR, didn't like it, felt closed in and tight.

Hopefully your first car will be a good experiance.

[Travis2k7]

Originally Posted by garner49

Don't discount a 2005 and older with less than 50k on it (just get it checked out)

Or 2005 and newer

I took a vacation in '07 back to NY and rented a brand new black Touring Edition for the week... it had like 800 miles on it.. LOL I drove it for a week and enjoyed it, so when it came time to get a new used vehicle I went looking for a PT and found this one with 45k miles back in March. Retail value was $11k and I paid $9400.

I had it looked over by a mechanic friend before I bought it and he gave me the OK. I changed the oil when I bought it and again at 48k... (also rotated the tires at 48k). It came with virtually new tires, tread depth was 12/32. I've also replaced the downstream O2 sensor for $25 after getting 2 CEL codes. A couple weeks ago I changed the (original) plugs/wires and flushed the tranny.

Less than $250 peace of mind maintenance put into it so far.

Been a great car. AC is ice cold and man, when it's 100 degrees outside like it has been for the last week, that really helps. I'll admit the MPG isn't the greatest (20 in the city) but I didn't buy it for the MPG.

[hillbilly678]

well wolfen i have been in the car business on and off for 30 yrs and i have an ache fer a pt cruiser too but i love muscle cars and classic cars better my wife drives this one she loves it we do get 28.7 mpg on the road it has been checked and 24 in town she goes to work in it everyday she has a 2004 ford ranger but prefers the cruiser so i owe 2000 dollars on mine i purchased for 4800 4 months ago i dont know how u can get one a 2006 or 08 fer less than 6500 cause when i bought this one it was under the going price it had 111 ,000 now 120000 its silver automatic runs evcellent cause it had a service done on it at 111 ,000 new everything under the hood thats probably why it gets so good a gas mileage my wife took it to mountains tenn on a 650 mile trip there and back on 50 dollars but im gonna have to get her to let me sell it to get something else my friends got a 68 elcamino ss body only but its nice for 3 ,000 so i need to get the payoff on tghis car and another one for at least 2500 to buy that or if u know anybody that likes trading ill take their 2500 car and the 2 ,000 dollars to pay this one off or im not gonna sell this great car know what i mean/ tu wjh