manual

[lenny]

I am about to purchase a PT Cruiser. I am only considering purchasing the 5 speed. I hear that it has better pick up and gas mileage. Any suggestions for a new owner?[^]

[Sci-Fi]

quote:Originally posted by lenny

I am about to purchase a PT Cruiser. I am only considering purchasing the 5 speed. I hear that it has better pick up and gas mileage. Any suggestions for a new owner?[^]

Welcome to the forum!!!

What questions do you have since you stated you are only considering a 5-speed? I would suggest test driving several PT's along the same course/route and at varying speeds (street and highway). When I bought my 5-speed, that's what I did and chose the one with the smoothest engine. Some PT's I test drove had an engine strain at about 40-50 mph, while the others were fine but weren't equipped like we wanted.

[IRPT]

Welcome to the forum lenny.

[Ed Lim]

Hi Lenny

I bought my cruiser in May 2002 with the original intent to purchase a Sebring. Test drove two PTs at two different dealers. The first had manual the second auto. I dont know much about cars, but it seemed to me that the manual did have better pickup, quicker acceleration and better response than the automatic. I was told by one dealer that manual was standard on a PT, the other dealer said that I would be lucky to find a manual PT in the US. I got lucky and the dealer that said the latter found a manual PT at a dealer in a nearby suburb, with all the features that I wanted, including the color and flame job (one of three in the country, they say...) Alot of folks I talk to seem surprised that my PT is manual. I bet there are more manual PTs out there than some people think.

[2sb]

Manuals are more likely to be found in base models. Our selection was small because we wanted a base model automatic. Likewise, manuals may be rare in NA Limited Editions.

[Mean Green]

Welcome to the forum, lenny. [?]

[hyracer]

Welcome to the forum Lenny!

One of the biggest complaints of the 01's and 02's is lack of horsepower. If get-up and go is any priority at all to you...then do yourself a favor and drive a Turbo. Both the auto and 5-spd Turbos are close in acceleration times, but the 5-spd does get better mileage. I average 27 MPG highway with my 03 GT.

Deen

[quicksilverdon]

Welcome, Lenny.
Suggestions? Go on Chrysler web site and "build" your PT Cruiser with what you want and get the MSRP. Then, click "get a quote" and put in your zip code and radius in miles, and get all the dealers in your area. Send them emails asking for price with the options you want. I found a range of $2,000 between dealers. When I went to the "winner", I had a copy of email, signed papers, no hassle.
Yeah, the 5-speed is faster & better mileage. Also more fun. Wife nixed it. [:I]

[Jimbo]

lenny, welcome to this forum.[^]

[KingKole02]

Welcome to the forum lenny.[?]