2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser By:  ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net  PT Cruiser.  There’s no doubt – when someone mentions the name, you immediately picture that funny-looking retro wagon in your mind.  We know what it looks like.  We recognize it.  It has become an institution, but has it burned itself out?  I don’t think so.  I still like it.

   The PT Cruiser was introduced back about 1999, and first released as a 2001 model.  It became an instant success and has made a lot of money for Chrysler, with well over a million of them sold.  The break-through design captured the attention of everyone from small business owners to car enthusiasts, to small families needing a lot of room. It had universal appeal.  The mystique and hype may be faded, but the practicality and usefulness is still alive and well.  The PT Cruiser might not be competitive in all areas, but it certainly has distinctive styling, a roomy interior, and is very affordable.

The PT Cruiser for 2009 continues to be a four-door wagon with three trim levels and two engines.  There is a 2.4 liter four cylinder that has 150 horsepower.  The Limited model has a four-cylinder turbocharged that puts out 180 horsepower.  The base models have a five speed manual transmission and an optional four-speed automatic.  The Touring and Limited models only have the automatic.

The versatility of the PT Cruiser is legendary.  There is a lot of cargo space, sufficient seating space, and adequate headroom.  Small businesses continue to use the unique and easily identifiable shape for rolling advertisements.  Chrysler has offered a number of special editions including a Dream Cruiser, a Woodie, a Route 66 model, and a convertible.  Some were okay.  Others were not okay.  The convertible was dropped from the 2009 offerings, replaced by a Dream Cruiser Series 5 with contrasting two-tone paint, a rear spoiler, and leather seats. 

The drive is fun.  It handles about the way you would expect and overall, the ride is fairly smooth.  It grips the road fairly well during turns and curves, although a fast turn on a sharp corner will give you a very strong lean.  The turning radius is not as tight as expected.  There is a big push among automakers to provide more quietness for all the vehicle interiors.  The PT Cruiser has a little wind noise and some road noise, but not excessive.

Mileage figures for the PT Cruiser ranges from 19 to 20 mpg, occasionally better.  The base price is about $18,720, but with the options and upgrades, the average price approaches the $24-$25 thousand area.  There is a lot of talk about 2009 being the last year for the PT Cruiser.  I hope not.  I like it.  It is distinctive in appearance and highly versatile, especially for small businesses.  Maybe I like it because it might be the type of vehicle Bonnie & Clyde would drive if they were alive today, establishing their mark as folk heroes and bank robbers.  Maybe it just looks like a gangster wagon. 

Whether you are looking for a great deal at a low price, need a distinctive silhouette for advertising your business, or just want to pay cops and robbers on the weekend, check out the PT Cruiser at a Chrysler dealership before they disappear from the scene.