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2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT Turbo Road Test

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Khatir Soltani
A special $2,655 'R' package features the AutoStick automatic transmission, side-impact airbags for front seat occupants, a height-adjustable driver's seat, power glass sunroof, a cassette player and built in equalizer for the audio system, driver's seat height adjustment, leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather seats. Additionally, $375 will buy you 2-way heated front seats, $465 will get you chrome alloy wheels, plus an integrated dash-mounted 6-disc CD changer can also be ordered for only $260. If you want to go completely wild an exterior flame decal package will set your GT apart for an additional $395. This sub-total of options totals $2,725 and when added to the R package brings the total GT price to $33,080.

Unlike the regular PT Cruiser no roof rack is available. Its leather seat option with Preferred Suede inserts isn't available either, which is a bit of a shame as the extra grip provided by this material's tenacious surface would be appreciated during extreme cornering. Instead the GT comes standard with cloth seats and allows those who prefer leather to opt only for the smooth surface variety.

In the end there will be a few who don't get as excited about the GT's 215-hp and 245 lb-ft of torque. They won't care how well it handles, what size wheels it has or the fact that the top-of-the-line model boasts cool GT badges throughout the inside and out. They'll fall for it just because of its body-color bumpers, chrome door handles and fun-loving design. They'll appreciate the fact that they can virtually stand up in the rear seating area, making getting junior in and out of the child safety seat really easy. They'll love all the handy grocery bag hooks that keep their apples, frozen juice cans and bottles of milk from crushing their eggs. They'll be absolutely ecstatic about its practicality and versatility, part of the reason the stylish model sold so well in the first place.
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada