PT is history

[prettybluewoody]

So let me see if I've got this right:

1. Chrysler developes this oddball-looking little car with a throwback design and lots of interior space.

1. The vehicle is so successful that Chrysler sells one heck of a lot more of them than they ever expected: a car so enticing to buyers that there was a waiting list of several hundred thousand, as well a car club dedicated to it, BEFORE the first one was even sold.

3. Therefore, Chrysler is gonna stop making them.

I guess it all proves I'm just not crazy enough to make it in the corporate world, because I do NOT understand their reasoning.


The even sadder part is, I found some pictures of the prototypes for the possible 2010 in-name-only Cruiser: the thing looks very much like a Saturn Vue. That sucker is NOT a Cruiser, no matter what they call it!

[CREWZIN]

There's so much more they can do with the cruiser and not loose the distinct look of what they have. The two door coupe and the panel van to name just a couple.

[prettybluewoody]

All I can say is that I feel about my Cruiser the way the NRA feels about guns: you can have my car keys when you pry 'em from my cold dead hand!

[bados]

The current issue of "Motor Trend" lists the PT for 2008, but only with the standard engine and light turbo. The GT is gone!

[ptjoe]

Originally Posted by prettybluewoody

The even sadder part is, I found some pictures of the prototypes for the possible 2010 in-name-only Cruiser: the thing looks very much like a Saturn Vue. That sucker is NOT a Cruiser, no matter what they call it!

My wife drives a Vue and its very nice with decent gas miliage to boot.
And there lies the problem..
In this day and age, for its size, PT is a great reto looking keeper with a horrible MPG deficit. PT does not need another design change..
IMO, the ONLY thing PT has ever required from the start is a better tranny either 4 speed or with overdrive capability to boost up highway MPG..
Looking at that RPM guage hanging near 3 RPM's while driving 65, you can almost feel that small engine suffering while gas is being wasted away...
Joe

[SR-PT4]

Originally Posted by prettybluewoody

I guess it all proves I'm just not crazy enough to make it in the corporate world, because I do NOT understand their reasoning.

Simple. The PT does not share a platform with anything else built by the Chrysler Group. Even the engine is being obsoleted by the new 2.4L World Engine. Sure, they could probably drop that engine in the existing platform, but again, there is no sharing of this platform anywhere within the company. New platforms need manufacturing space and it's far easier to retrofit existing facilities for new platforms than to build a new facility from the ground up.

I agree though, there's plenty of life left in the PT and it really is a great little car. The two examples shown in CREWZIN's post would certainly breathe new life into the model too. In fact, the blue and silver one is very close to the vehicle that was presented at a consumer feedback session I attended two years ago. Same squared shape to the roofline and fender flares, same Crossfire-esque hood strakes, etc. I saw it and thought "wow, so here's the new PT Cruiser!!!" I assumed it was two years out at the most, but obviously that is not the case. More's the pity too.

[mjb457]

LET IT DIE!! If Chrysler is to survive as we know it ,,,remember all the great cars they made...Charger in the 60's & early 70's,GTX, Roadrunner, Challenger, Dart-Swinger,Cuda,Prowler,,& now the PT..on and on..... all great styles,Chrysler always has had the best look on the planet but they need to take it up a notch & deliver outstanding performance,style & ECONOMY to make it& survive! Thats the future,,, A new PT getting 50 MPG and 0-60 in under 7-seconds! Can they do it? Sure if they try,,& goodbye foreign !!

[Black_Sunshine98]

Chrysler will survive....dont forget about the 80's bankrupcy and havin not a cent to there name....it wil come around,and youll see something new and impressive rollin out of the assembly line....soo n enough

[ptjoe]

Originally Posted by Black_Sunshine98

Chrysler will survive....

The issue here is not Chryslers survival..
Its all about the demise of the PT...
Speculation around dealership seems to be production will end when the 2008 model year is over...
Whenever that is.. who knows...
Joe

[Black_Sunshine98]

well i was a HUGE neon fan,for its easy upgrading for more power,ultimate AutoX car,and just all around ease of maintaining and driving.When they stopped making them i was hugely bumbed but found other vehicles of interest within Chrysler.So i mean the Pt is a great automobile but there will be others that will be just as innovating and fun.....Again i know the Pt is the purpose of this site(which is great) but there will be others....and you will always have people that love em.....like the neons,look at neons.org...that site is HUGE.and they havent made neons for 1 yr now