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#32 of 105 Re: I believe....... [cntrygurl] by m1miata Mar 25, 2006 (7:48 pm)
Replying to: cntrygurl (Jan 05, 2006 8:30 am) Be sure to check the oil every thousand miles. My car was down a quart at around 1,900 miles after the oil change. My car had less than 10K miles on it at the time. Going in on Monday to see how much it used this time, and what they say needs to be done to the car. I checked it this time at just under 1,000 miles, and I would say it looked like it was down about 3/8 or so on the stick. Will see what they say at the dealership on Monday. The stick is hard to get an exact read of, and the car could be slightly less than level, but one thing for sure, the first time it was down a quart, as I added a quart before they did the oil consumption test and oil change, and it was at that time less than full at 3,000 miles between the oil change. I am 90% sure something is really wrong here.   Decided to see if I could do a trade up, since this one may be a lemon ready to die an early death. Well I ...... Tried to do a trade-in to get a 300, but they wanted to give me less than trade-in Kelly Book --- just great. Once you have a Chrysler, I guess they got you. Good bye Chrysler! First offer was $8,500 for my 2005 PT.   I know better. Never buy anything but Japan makes new, unless you are sure you can live with them for ten years. Well, maybe a Mustang or Corvette will have some resale, but forget the rest. Japan makes for resale is the only way to go. -Loren Replies to this message: m1miata (Mar 27, 2006 12:51 pm) micweb (Mar 28, 2006 3:13 pm) m1miata (Apr 08, 2006 9:22 pm) carbugs (Jan 23, 2008 7:59 am)
#33 of 105 Re: I believe....... [m1miata] by m1miata Mar 27, 2006 (12:51 pm)
Replying to: m1miata (Mar 25, 2006 7:48 pm) Follow up. Last test indicates no oil consumption, though it looks like it is down on stick to me. The worst was a quart down, though it could be due to shorting me on an oil change. In that case, it means sloppy service, but a good engine. I do hope the engine is A-OK. Sure looks like it used oil again, though they swear it shows full. At least with a good write-up, I am free to re-sell the car, as it passed the test. With little to no resale value, it won't be a Chrysler next time around though.   PT has its good points, and may be worth holding on to few years, or maybe even longer as a second run-around car. -Loren Replies to this message: micweb (Mar 28, 2006 3:13 pm) m1miata (Apr 08, 2006 9:22 pm)
#34 of 105 Re: I believe....... [m1miata] by micweb Mar 28, 2006 (3:13 pm)
Replying to: m1miata (Mar 27, 2006 12:51 pm) Just a couple of differences of opinion on the PT Cruiser.   First, on the oil consumption issue: it is not unusual for cars to use oil. I had a 2001 VW Golf which was fine in every respect except for using a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. Many owners reported up to one quart being consumed every 600 miles. Oil consumption is related principally to the manufacturer's philosophy about oil use - some, like VW, believe an engine should use measurable amounts of oil, or else the upper cylinder and valve guides are not getting proper lubrication.   In the old days lubricant companies even used to sell so-called "top end oils" which you would add to the gas (like a 2-stroke) to make sure the top cylinder and valve guides got some lubrication.   VW puts a robust catalytic converter in their cars, and isn't worried about early catalytic converter death due to scant use of precious metals - early death usually occuring due to oil burning off and trace metals in the oil additive package contaminating the converter.   Other manufacturers don't want the possible warranty expense on their converters, and build such tight tolerances that little measurable oil is used. The tolerances are so tight that 5-20 oil is required (as well as for fuel efficiency).   Second, PT Cruisers hold their value very well, with two caveats. You need to be careful for what you buy a new one for - they go on sale, and the used market price is clearly based on the discounted prices, not the MSRP. Second, the early PT used to be "novelty" vehicle and sold at full sticker (which was full indeed) or at a premium, so as the PT has become more plentiful (and taken for granted), and prices have come down, that affects the prices of all the used ones - even the ones bought by early adopters at a premium. That happens to every manufacturers' popular vehicles.   We got a great price on both our 2004 and 2006 PT's. When we traded in the 2004, it didn't seem like we got as much for the PT as for a Scion xA traded in at the same time - until we compared actual purchase prices to trade-in allowance, then the PT was doing fine (the dinky Scion xA cost us about $2,000 more than the PT of same year).   Where can you get a nicely equipped, solid, quiet vehicle with all the utility - and nice styling - of the PT for under $13k? They are a steal! I am really very appreciative that Chyrsler took the time, and spent the money, to make a mid-cycle product refresh (much better soundproofing, better standard equipment) this year, knowing that the PT would still need to be discounted heavily to compete with the Scion xB, the Honda Element, and the Chevy HHR.   It's a great time to be a PT owner. And it's shopping paradise for American car buyers. With rare exceptions, American cars are a bargain these days compared to imports, and the JD Powers and Consumer Reports indicate quality is certainly acceptable - the defects are measured in terms of 3-7 defects per 100 vehicles, which means it is more likely than not than most owners will have no defects at all, regardless of country of manufacture.   Sorry to go on. I have been buying way too many cars over the past 5 years (I was car-deprived before that, taking the bus in the city), and at first negative reports like yours would scare me off. Now I know that most people have positive experiences, and that these boards attract more complainers (who have legitimate gripes, in many cases) than pure fans (who are happy to just get on with their lives). Replies to this message: m1miata (Apr 08, 2006 9:22 pm)
#35 of 105 Re: I believe....... [micweb] by m1miata Apr 08, 2006 (9:22 pm)
Replying to: micweb (Mar 28, 2006 3:13 pm) Well if the dealership where you bought the car from will not give you the Kelly Blue Book for trade-in price on a deal for a more expensive 300 Touring auto, I assume that they don't value a PT or their customer too much now, do they? The car, eight months ago, was bought for around 13,600, and they wanted to give me $8,500 for it on a trade. This is much less than trade-in value. Low mileage and eight months old, the car is like new condition.   I will likely just keep adding a quart of oil between changes and keep the Chrysler until I get another brand of car. So far, only the noisy fan was replaced. Replaced with a fairly quiet one. Or I may keep the little guy as a second car for running around town and hauling and get another sports car some day for fun and travel. If the car is worth like $10K, there isn't too much to lose in keeping it. Keep it for five years of more, it will be a great investment, if the engine doesn't blow. Oh yeah, I have the 7 year plan on that - so tow the puppy!   The car is fun enough to drive, though the too high seat position makes it slightly awkward for shifting. Body and interior seem tight. Other than the engine, the car is pretty close to Japan quality.   I looked up Consumer Reports on the PT. Interesting that the engine reliability is acceptable, but less so than the first couple of years. Interesting. JD Powers indicates something it falling: 2005 Initial Quality Ratings (0-90 days) definition J.D. Power Overall 3 / 5 J.D. Power Mechanical Quality 2 / 5 J.D. Power Body & Interior Quality 2 / 5   2 out of 5 rating is less than previous years.   -Loren
#36 of 105 ...and by m1miata Apr 08, 2006 (9:30 pm)
..and may I add, a quart consumed per 2,000 to 3,000 miles I guess I can live with. As to VW using some much oil, I am aware of that. Sounds more like a problem to me. How do Japanese engines last for 2ooK or even 3ook miles and not suck oil like a VW does?   I will agree the price is low enough on a PT. Thank goodness for that. Would not want one for more than $14K. -Loren
#37 of 105 Well by m1miata Apr 19, 2006 (2:02 pm)
Well I checked it again. Appears to be using at a rate around a quart per 3000 miles. Hummm, not exactly Japan standards for 4 cylinder engines. And this time I stood there when the service rep. looked at the stick. Can not believe they said before that it was not going down, as it certainly was. Now it is just another inch along the way down. -Loren
#38 of 105 PT Cruiser changes for the 2007 model??? by nortsr1 Apr 24, 2006 (7:11 am)
Does anyone have any info at to what changes are in store for the 2007 model????? Replies to this message: micweb (Apr 24, 2006 3:36 pm)
#39 of 105 Re: PT Cruiser changes for the 2007 model??? [nortsr1] by micweb Apr 24, 2006 (3:36 pm)
Replying to: nortsr1 (Apr 24, 2006 7:11 am) No hard information, but my guess is that changes will be light since 2006 had a heavy update and the platform will apparently be migrating to the AWD capable Caliber platform for '08.   Changes that MIGHT happen: adding side air bags to more trim lines; folding the Limited and Touring into a single model - or ditching the base and having it go Touring, Limited, GT; adding more power equipment to the Base model if the trim lines are not condensed (but that makes it hard to use the Base model as a loss leader to get people out to Chrysler lots).   The upcoming major platform change makes it very unlikely we'll see more than a change in ordering options in '07. In '08, though, the sky could be the limit - the new engine series from the Caliber; a CVT transmission instead of a 4 speed, if the public accepts the CVT in the Caliber; possibly (but not likely) the availability of the 2.7 small v-6 in the PT (not likely since Chrysler has historically preferred the turbo route to the v-6 route, and the Caliber is coming out soon with a turbo version of its new 2.4); AWD; standard side curtain and side torso airbags; bigger wheels and tires, standard (think: Caliber).   In fact, I'd study the Caliber carefully, and assume that the mechanicals and features of the new Caliber will be an accurate guide to the mechanicals and features of the new PT.   The good news, is that the Caliber is "so" Dodge (the Ram front end, for example) that Chrysler needs a small vehicle of its own (the PT) so I don't think they will discontinue the PT. It WILL be interesting to see what they do with the rear suspension, since the suspension on the PT is expensive, but allows a very low trunk floor, while the Caliber has a high trunk floor (less efficient) but a better (in traditional thinking) handling style rear suspension.
#40 of 105 2007 Changes by nortsr1 Apr 25, 2006 (5:35 am)
Thanks, micweb!!!

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