2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Touring review from UK and Ireland

Rear passenger door does not always unlock 1st time using the remote control.

I bought this one new for my wife (she fell in love with a secondhand one at a local used car dealer). We've only done 2,000 miles in 6 months and our feelings are positive. I tested an older 2.0 litre auto model, but that was a SLUG. With a 2.4L auto performance is much better (almost brisk)

Outstanding styling combined with a good driving position and very comfortable seats make this a usable, practical and fun car to own.

There's only two of us, and we use my other (much bigger) car when transporting the grandchildren as the PT is not overly spacious, but it suits us well - I have managed to get some quite bulky items in the trunk with the rear seats folded, but cavernous it is not.

Normally used for local trips (that's all my wife does) I would baulk at using it for anything more than 40 miles (80 miles round trip) because of its appalling fuel consumption of about 25mpg (UK gallons) - worse again when the air-con is in use (22mpg).

Other negatives are a turning circle almost the same as an oil tanker, brakes that MIGHT stop you when needed (leave more time for this, believe me) a handbrake that does not work well on hills.

For gentle local trips its fine.. try to "push on" on twisty English roads or drive over 85 / 90 on a motorway and you need nerves of steel or seat liners! In a straight line, its great - OK for you Americans, then :-)).

Don't let the negatives overwhelm you, this is an OK car with great looks, just don't expect a hot rod with great handling... and don't forget to haggle the dealer, I got £3k (almost $6k US) off of mine.