2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser "Woodie" Car Reviews
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2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser "Woodie" Car Reviews |
| Review Notes: 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Woodie Automatic | |
| Gas mileage | 19 city, 25 highway |
| Above Average: | Interior space for size, handling, style, comfort, stereo quality, ergonomics |
| Needs Work In: | Automatic transmission, gas mileage, a/c control |
Recently, we had the opportunity to try out a PT Cruiser once again - this time, a Limited Edition with the "Woody" treatment. (Our first cruise is on the ptcruizer.com site) The plastic wood sides seemed perfectly natural on the Cruiser, despite its diminutive size - another styling triumph, admittedly at a price of over $800, more than we could justify if we actually had to pay the bill. The payback is in stares from passers-by and many unsolicited "nice car!" comments from people in the high school age range, pretty good for a car that's been out for well over a year, and costs only $16,000 (base). To be fair, the faux wood sides probably had a lot to do with those comments and stares, and that costs an extra $900 or so.
There were several differences between this seven-day cruise and our last test. First, of course, the PT Cruiser has been out for over a year, and there are three examples sitting on the curb within five blocks of our house - so exclusitivity is hardly an issue, though ours is the only one with the Woody treatment (we do hear that people still stop and stare at PTs). Second, this model has had the benefit of a number of running changes, including a new feature which provides the serial number during the computer self-test and a standard passenger seat storage bin. Third, the cab seems to have been adjusted a bit, with the power window controls moved up to the dashboard (a second set for rear passengers is between the front seats). Fourth, and perhaps most important, it came equipped with an automatic transmission which quietly and politely sapped a great deal of power, and made us feel like a great rubber band stretched between the engine and axle.
The terrific handling and parkability of the PT Cruiser was as good as we remembered, if not better - keeping in mind that we've driven about fifty different cars since the last ride in the Cruiser, including a Volkswagen Jetta and GTI, Chevy Corvette and Camaro, Honda Civic and Accord, Toyota Celica, and just about every small SUV. No, the PT Cruiser won't outhandle a Corvette, but it certainly whips around the turns with undue speed and composure, more like a sports car than a tall wagon. The combination of ride and handling is incredible for a car of this price, and we think journalists would rave about it if the BMW logo was plastered to the back. As it is, the Chrysler emblem seems to bring only a focus on its outward appearance and when the "fad" will end - something not often mentioned when, say, the Mini is discussed. (The Mini sells for roughly the same price, and base models have fairly low acceleration. Interior room is certainly far better in the PT. On the other hand, the Mini Cooper S has great acceleration and is available now - in very limited quantities - while the GT Cruiser seems to have taken forever to get approved, and then to actually get produced).
Getting back to the point, the PT Cruiser remains a great deal, even without rebates or other discounts, and the new seven year - 100,000 mile powertrain warranty only helps, alleviating any fears of head gasket failure (which has been relativey rare on the 2.4). Quality has been high, with a large consumer reporting magazine ranking the PT Cruiser as the second best bet in small car reliability after the less-than-desirable Toyota Echo, a car whose capabilities are even smaller than its price. The PT ranked far, far above the "high quality" Honda Civic, as well as pretty much any Mercedes, in those reports.
Interior space is quite good, with lots of room for front and rear passengers, and decent cargo space. The hatchback/wagon design means that the cargo area, while not very long, is very deep, a more useful configuration. (We've owned in succession a car with a long, shallow trunk and a hatchback with a short, deep trunk - both of similar area - and found the hatchback more useful overall). The rear seats fold down, with a 10/20 split so you can hold four passengers and one moderately long object. What's truly a triumph of packaging is the fact that, even with the generous interior room, the PT fits easily into any parking space you can find, being both narrow and short - smaller than Dodge's smallest car, the Neon. Parking is incredibly easy.
The seats are comfortable and supportive, with your choice of a manual or power height control on the driver's seat. Given that the power height control costs about $800, we recommend the manual version. Neither comes with driver memory, and in both cases the fore-aft and back angle adjustment is manual.
Hidden features abound, and not just in the usual areas of flexible seats, clever storage compartments, and that sort of thing. We discovered, through a quick read of the manual, that we could shut off the horn-honking that normally accompanies locking the door with the key fob; could shut off the automatic door locks that take affect when you hit 15 mph; and, it seemed, alter other functions of the Cruiser without visiting a dealer. We'll miss those attributes when Chrysler moves over to less-friendly Mercedes systems in the next decade.
Our Touring Edition included a compass and temperature gauge built into a
small overhead console, which also housed two map lights and the controls for
the optional moonroof. This control included an automatic open button (one press
opens the moonroof completely, so the driver doesn't need to keep their hand
away from the controls) and a "V" button which opens the moonroof vertically to
vent air without having the wind rush in, or leaves fall in. Pressing "V" again
does not, however, lower the roof.
We were once again pleased with the ease of having this car. The height is just right for easy exit and entry, not to mention dealing with child seats. We like the retro door handles and locks, with the practical chrome rings around the locks - there to avoid scratching of the paint, but replaced long ago on most cars with painted body-color trim - and chromed door handles which you grab and then push with your thumb to open (once again, avoiding paint scratching and discoloration from use). Our model had unpainted bumpers, which also helps longevity of the appearance. Even the faux-wood trim seemed resistant to age and abuse, though only time will tell.
One
interesting feature of Chrysler cars, often ignored by other reviewers - though
to be fair, it's hardly obvious - is the way that anyone can get the computer
fault codes from the engine. Every modern car is constantly monitoring its
systems to detect possible problems, from misfiring to sensor failure, even a
loose gas cap. In the PT Cruiser, accessing these codes is particularly easy.
Just put the key into the ignition, then push in the odometer reset button while
turning the key to RUN. You will first see the car's serial number (the last six
digits of the VIN), then fault codes (which now start with the letter P) in the
odometer. For a complete list of codes, you can visit allpar.com or
ptcruizer.com.
Armed with that information, you can prevent abuse by Chryler dealers and, once the warranty is over, troubleshoot your own repairs (saving thousands of dollars, in some cases), or make sure your own mechanic is not pulling a fast one. And, if your mechanic does not use the computer's fault codes with his own scanner or this method - get another mechanic. (This feature is common to all Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth cars and minivans, with trucks and Jeeps using a moderately different system designed more by the AMC/Jeep people). Again, the entire system is due to be junked by Mercedes, which has insisted that Chrysler convert to its own electronic architecture - but we can enjoy it now.
The odometer panel also includes warnings for things like open doors
and whether the cruise control is activated.
Another cool feature is the adjustable roof rack, which is a terribly overpriced option. However, it allows you to easily slide the roofrack supports so that, when not in use, it looks like a rear spoiler and not a roofrack. That also makes it more adjustable to carry different size loads.
One feature often overlooked in reviews is the vent system, which turns out to be very important in day to day driving. The Cruiser's innovative circular vents are very easy to aim and shut off, and allow for a quiet, strong fan with minimal use of space. The stereo, another important area for many drivers, is also very good, with strong, clear sound and good stereo separation.
Handling with the Touring Edition is surprisingly good, making the tall Cruiser handle more like a sports car than a, well, whatever it is. The Limited Edition provides a smoother ride, but the Touring Edition still insulates the passengers from nasty shocks and bumps, quietly taking rough surfaces and minimizing their impact. The suspension is world-class in its ability to provide both handling and ride, without any expensive electronic stability aids.
Acceleration is interesting, often giving the feel of having a giant rubber band between the engine and the road. The manual transmission got the most out of the engine, even at low rpms, making acceleration good compared with other cars of this price class, but the automatic is a hindrance. Acceleration is still acceptable with the automatic, but one gets the idea that the engine is not the weak point. The automatic also tends to shift early, even under full throttle.
We liked the door handles and locks, which, being made of chrome,
don't scratch easily and end up with a poor appearance after a couple of years.
Normally, reviews of Toyotas and Hondas are almost required to mention that the controls all had a feel of quality missing from American vehicles. We are happy to say that the PT Cruiser's controls feel as solid and satisfying as anything coming from Japan, and, indeed, seem to be the same ones used by Toyota in some cases. That includes the cruise control, which is the extremely convenient "dedicated stalk" system - push a button on the end to activate, move up to resume or accelerate, down to coast or set, and pull to temporarily cancel. It feels good and works well.
When all is said and done, the PT Cruiser is still a bargain, even though the options push the price up and Cruiser-mania has been superceded by the latest two or three fad cars. Unlike, say, the Volkswagen Beetle, the PT Cruiser's style hides a remarkably practical car, one which seats four in roomy comfort or five in a pinch, can haul their baggage, and take a sharp turn, for a reasonable price and in reasonable comfort. A large number of comfort and convenience features will help you to keep your Cruiser long after your friends have traded their Beetle for a Thunderbird for an SSR for the next big thing, and you can do it for less than a loaded and relatively uncomfortable Honda Civic. If that large consumer magazine is accurate, the PT Cruiser is also the second most reliable small car you can get, after the Toyota Echo - surely not a desirable vehicle! - and far ahead of the aforementioned Civic, so you can buy with reasonable confidence. Chrysler also intends on continuing to produce special editions with flames, chrome treatments, a turbocharger, and other special effects, to fan the flames of PT lovers and keep rebates away.
So if you like the PT Cruiser, try one out, and see if it's something you'd like to live with. Even if you don't particularly like it, add it to your list of cars to test drive. You'll be glad you did - even if it only means experiencing the PT for yourself.
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