Weekend Athlete: 2007 PT Cruiser
I've rented the 2007 PT Cruiser several times to take me to races, so I know it well. I like the visibility from the driver's seat, and the seats fold down with a press of a button. A huge plus is the fact that its hatch opens high enough I can easily stand under it without hitting my head. (The last thing you want to have to do after a race is bend or twist to avoid a hatch built to accommodate a pipsqueak.)
However, I still rank the PT lower than the other Weekend Athlete cars I've tested. The cargo area is not flat, which can be a pain if you're carrying long items like bikes or skis. The hatch has a weird, light-touch switch that I just don't like. (Others might love that, but to me it feels flimsy.) Also, the hatch itself doesn't have a resounding feel to let you know it's shut, so you have to press on the hatch to be sure. Finally, it's fine for cruising, but it doesn't have enough pickup on the highway. In contrast, I thought the Honda Element had much more pep despite a smaller engine.
Rating: 7.5
It holds a fair bit of stuff in a small package, like the Scion xB, but it's not as fun to drive as the Scion. Its bi-level cargo floor puts it below the Mariner Hybrid and the reigning king, the Honda Element. It's not a bad car, and I think it's one you should have on your shopping list. The PT is much better than any sedan, that's for sure, but I think it's probably best for taking two people on a camping trip, rather than a jock on a weekend of racing.
Previous
Subscribe to our feed
Email us your tips!
I loved the pre-06 models until the dash board was redesigned. Now it looks silly with the plastic chrome design. Also, it seems the suspension has become more sport-like, thus making it a stiffer ride.
I agree. The redesigned dash really does look terrible.
for the record,,, Did you remove the rear seats entirely, or just fold them flat, when you made your observation that the floor isn't completely flat?
IIRC the PT's rear seats come out, so leaving them in and folded is like adding to suitcases to begin with.
And can you do that with the Scion? I know the Element's rears fold up against the sides of the cargo area. But I can't recall if they come out, at least not without tools.
Good questions, Infosaur.
I didn't remove the seats in the PT or the Element and I don't plan to for any vehicle going forward either. What I'm looking to test is how well the car fits into your lifestyle, not how you should alter your lifestyle to accommodate the car. So, to me anyway, the hassle of removing the seats and finding a place to store them outweighs the extra cargo room you gain from doing so.
You are absolutely right that if you remove the seat, you gain more room, but there are other vehicles that allow the seats to fold flat. To me, those vehicles deserve praise. As for whether you can remove the seats in the Scion, my answer is the car handles cargo so well that you don’t have to.
Thanks,
Bill
On the seats folding flat: you can put the shelf in the lower position and it makes a flat floor with the seat backs. You can then stuff smaller object user the shelf and have a flat "floor" with the seat backs (also folding the front passenger seat forward if you need the extra length).
And ya, I realize you're talking rental PTs here, but my PT GT (with the turbo) has a LOT of get up and go... I can see how the normally aspirated engine would feel underpowered though.
Buy [url=http://rxvid.us/item.php?group_id=131&id=177][b][size=10]Levitra[/size][/b][/url] in Professional Drugstore! US Drugstore is the most trusted online pharmacy. You dont have to worry about the quality of our drugs, we want to assure you that we provide you with the best possible quality for affordable prices. [url=http://rxvid.us/item.php?group_id=131&id=177][img]http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg325/pharmapic/Levitra.jpg[/img][/
[url=http://members.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=1euro-viagra]achat viagra[/url] =)) Les prix les plus bas . viagra dosage Acheter de viagra sur internet. =] [url=http://members.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=1euro-viagra]acheter viagra[/url] acheter viagra concernees par cette [url=http://members.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=1euro-viagra]acheter viagra concernees par cette[/url]