Note the commentators comments on how Motor Trend doesn't recommend how they achieved the 0-60 times and some slight comparisons to a GTI and Focus ST (which is faster per their test on a figure 8/Handling Track):
I've never had anything against the PT Cruiser, and have always been curious about the hatred that some people seem to have for them. When they were first released, the retro-styling was interesting, and the interior seems to be quite versatile. I will ding it for having a low-rent interior, or at least that's the impression I got from my rental. Elements of my WRX's interior are also pretty low budget.
It wasn't intended or sold as a performance or luxury car, so I wasn't surprised and angered when it wasn't either.
All that said, apparently Chrysler really cut some corners on the car as it came to the end of its run.
I've never had anything against the PT Cruiser, and have always been curious about the hatred that some people seem to have for them. When they were first released, the retro-styling was interesting, and the interior seems to be quite versatile. I will ding it for having a low-rent interior, or at least that's the impression I got from my rental. Elements of my WRX's interior are also pretty low budget.
It wasn't intended or sold as a performance or luxury car, so I wasn't surprised and angered when it wasn't either.
All that said, apparently Chrysler really cut some corners on the car as it came to the end of its run.
I owned a 2005 PT Cruiser GT Turbo...the 2 door Convertible in Candy Apple Red with White leather interior, 230HP/245 LB-FT of Torque, 5-speed Getrag transmission, and FWD LSD.
The car was DAMN fun to drive...especially on a hot summer day with the top down. Had a unique "Sport Bar" that made this car look like no other car on the road then...
As far as the Dart goes, it looks so good in print and video, then I see one on the street and think yuck what happened to that Neon... and then it dawns on me because I am dim.. oh.. its a Dart. I hope it does well, it should as I still see Neon's all over the place. My friend had a Neon SRT4 for about 3 years, bought it new and within a year we were figuring out ways to keep trim pieces inside and out in place with dozens of little fixes. When she handed in the keys for a Civic it looked like it was 10 years old. I hope Dodge has sorted that issue. But given it is being assembled at the plant outside Rockford IL (where Neon's Calibers and the Jeep Compass were assembled), I wouldn't hold my breath. It is good they are still working at least, they were dealing with 20% unemployment before the Dart moved in.
It is nice to see small tuned cars having a wider market share here in the States. The fact that people can actually choose between several cars is great news. I will keep my AWD though. Having had the pleasure of torque steer in my life for 100k miles I will pass on FWD from here on out. I don't get the fuss about RWD either. As long as the interior stays in place I don't have any preference between the shades of ugly they all seem to bring at the same price point. It all pales to a Spyker interior to me.
And not to pile on the PT Cruiser but no... There is nothing good about that car in any incarnation. It was a good retro styling concept that fell apart at the assembly line or shortly thereafter. It was made as a disposable car and should only be remembered as a cautionary tale. Whenever someone mentions the GT version of most cars I cant help but remember a friend in high school put a 305 in a Yugo (because racecar?). It was ungodly quick... but it was still a turd of a car. I am glad someone enjoyed their PT Cruiser purchase and had no regrets but there is no way I can be convinced it was a good car. There is so much more to driving than HP/Torque.
Oddly enough, I enjoy putting around under 3k rpms in my WRX with my son yammering away in the back seat more than pedal to the metal in any other car I have been in.