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2003 PT/Cruiser TURBO GT – Review
By Al and Carol Kerklaan
 I have always admired the retro styling of the PT’s (although my wife does not), but this was my first time to drive one. The Turbo GT model eliminated the two things that I did not like about the PT’s from day one and those were the black bumpers and the bright white instrumentation cluster.
The designers obviously targeted active 'lifestylers' who don't like to be lumped with the minivan crowd or who feel that SUVs have become far too common and still wanted something youthful, charismatic and a little bit shocking.
Although it appears to be a mix of minivan, SUV and sedan, it really resembles a London taxicab, those tall, ungainly but tremendously comfortable old Austins that allowed you to climb into the cab practically standing up.
 We test drove this vehicle with four fair size adults and the interior space is quite good, with lots of room for front and rear passengers, however the conclusion was that this car would not be able to handle four six footers. The driving position is relatively high and visibility is very good except for a small blind spot on the right hand side, towards the back. The windshield is large and gives a feeling of space.
We are surprised by the flimsiness of the hood prop rod, a tiny little thing. We guess it does the trick, but it doesn't feel very sturdy. The rear trunk opens when you pull up on a Chrysler logo, which feels perhaps less solid than it should.
 Our GT included a compass and temperature gauge built into a small overhead console, which also housed two map lights and the controls for the optional moon roof. This control included an automatic open button (one press opens the moon roof completely, so the driver doesn't need to keep their hand away from the controls) and a "V" button, which opens the moon roof vertically to vent air without having the wind rush in, or leaves fall in. Pressing "V" again does not, however, lower the roof.
Absolutely loved the storage space available and the access to it. The hatchback/wagon design means that the cargo area, while not very long, is very deep, providing decent trunk space, considering the length of the vehicle, and I finally figured out how to use the picnic table feature of the rear cargo cover.
 Configuration of the seats is quite impressive. The instrumentation was well laid out, however it took a little while to get accustomed to the window controls in the center console. The four-cup holders were well appreciated, although the second one for the rear is not accessible to any normal rear passenger.
The rear seats fold down, with a 10/20 split so you can hold four passengers and one moderately long object.
The molded seats were extremely comfortable and I am sure that if I drove this car in the winter that the front heated seats would be well appreciated. The Turbo 215HP along with the suspension package, ABS, 17” wheels and four-wheel disc brake package made driving this car an extreme pleasure. The only things that lessened the experience were the turbo lag in the rush hour stop and go traffic and the need for premium fuel.
 Backing up is rather difficult, since my method of backing up is to look over my shoulder, and the view is not especially good. The rear headrests do not help - we raised ours to so we could see more of the critical behind-car area. That goes with the territory of the "tall car," SUV, and minivan. The rear pillars are also wider than we would like, for visibility. It is hard to get used to the short length of the Cruiser, and I tend to leave two or three extra feet behind it when backing up. Still, it's a very small car on the outside, so one can get away with sloppy parking.
Future improvements should concentrate on an automatic lighting system and an all door unlock system when the engine is shut off.
This is no hot rod and doesn't claim to be in spite of its hype as a VIV (Very Interesting Vehicle). It drives and performs like a regular car, and after a while you forget about the retro stuff and just enjoy the PT Cruiser's casual roominess and comfort.
 The PT Cruiser's style hides a remarkably practical car, one which seats four in roomy comfort or five in a pinch, can haul their baggage, and take a sharp turn, for a reasonable price and in reasonable comfort.
We were once again pleased with the ease of having this car. The height is just right for easy exit and entry, not to mention dealing with child seats. We like the retro door handles and locks, with the practical chrome rings around the locks - there to avoid scratching of the paint, but replaced long ago on most cars with painted body-color trim.
 The company claims that their styling direction was not retro but a combination of the familiar and the future. Well, grandma and grandpa will find it just as appealing for its 1930s look as for its removable back tumble seat that can be wheeled into their garden and sat upon.
I have heard that Chrysler calls it a duffle bag because you can stuff all sorts of things into it, from people to plants. Whether it creates a new segment called Truck Unplugged remains to be seen.
PS: Although my wife is still not fond of the retro style, she did enjoy driving the vehicle and was impressed by its handling and comfort.
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