PT X 2 = Personal Transportation x Power Top With this summer turning out particularly hot and dry on the west coast, I jumped at the opportunity to spend a few sun
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| With all the warm weather lately, I jumped at the chance to spend a few sun filled days and warm evenings behind the wheel of Chrysler's latest PT offering. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
filled days and warm evenings behind the wheel of Chrysler's latest PT offering. When Chrysler surgically excised the roof from the immensely popular PT, they also severed two doors in the process. The end result: a sporty two-door, four-seater with looks, road manners and performance well beyond its entry level pricing. Interestingly it wasn't that long ago that I spent time romancing a sunny-weather Swede, the Saab 9-3 Convertible. Sure this little turbo'd beauty could leave the
PT Cruiser behind on the track, but at twice the capital needed to secure Chrysler's soft-top. And if it happened to be a PT Cruiser GT with a turbocharger of its own, the Swede's getaway may not be as clean as expected; with only
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| Picking up groceries or just blasting down a turnpike or two, the PT Cruiser GT rewards on many levels. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
210-horsepower versus the PT's 220, the Chrysler drop-top may be the one saying goodbye. The immensely popular retro-look PT - short for Personal Transport - Cruiser hit the market in the 2001 model year and was an instant smash with folks hoping to reclaim old memories by getting in touch with a bygone era, as well as younger folks who just liked the car's funky styling and extreme versatility. As the next few years passed the addition of a turbocharger transformed the compact PT into a very competent performer. Whether undertaking kid-hauling duties, picking up the weekly staples or just blasting down a turnpike or two, the PT Cruiser GT rewards on many levels.
