It has been reported for quite a while that Chrysler was going to eventually kill the PT Cruiser. The latest reports had slated its death for this summer, but since the automaker now has a new owner it looks like the little wagon will continue in production for a little longer.
The PT Cruiser officially went into production at the end of 1999 and now ten years later the vehicle has remained largely unchanged. According to new reports the PT Cruiser will continue to be produced until the end of 2010 at Chrysler's Mexico plant. Once production is stopped, Chrysler will start retooling the plant for the Fiat 500 and a Jeep version of the Fiat Panda. The Fiat 500 will start production at the Toluca plant in the summer of 2011.
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Comments (23)
The PT Cruiser will never die.
Posted by Da Boss | June 17, 2009 1:54 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 13:54
The only purpose I can see continuing production until then would be for fleet purposes.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | June 17, 2009 2:25 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 14:25
I am not surprised there are two dealers near me selling pt cruisers for 9990 for about a year now and I see so many in my area.
Posted by Lonewolf5460 | June 17, 2009 5:17 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 17:17
"Remained unchanged for 10 years"
No matter we hardly see them in Canada anymore.....this car needed an update 3-4 years ago at the latest
Posted by Paranoyd | June 17, 2009 5:33 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 17:33
"Remained unchanged for 10 years"
No matter we hardly see them in Canada anymore.....this car needed an update 3-4 years ago at the latest
Posted by Paranoyd | June 17, 2009 5:34 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 17:34
I know someone who has one, and it's "alright". I don't like how "high" you sit. Not high as in relation to the ground, but it's very upright. It feels weird.
At least he got the 2.4 turbo, fine it's an auto, but it's something.
If I HAD to choose I'd take a PT over an HHR anyday.
Posted by Brian | June 17, 2009 5:51 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 17:51
Is the 500 being built at the Toluca plant intended for the US or overseas?
If the Ka makes it to the states too, we're looking at the same platform under 2 different brands. In which case, i'd rather have the Ford version.
Oh yeah, forgot about the PT Snoozer. If Chrysler had just retooled the damn thing a couple times, it probably wouldn't need killing.
Posted by Trooper Bri | June 17, 2009 6:48 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 18:48
My parents have one. We make fun of them and call it the Loser Cruiser. 2.4 Turbo, pretty peppy.
Posted by chmilz | June 17, 2009 7:02 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 19:02
Well I guess the one thing that the majority of people are forgetting is the fact this vehicle has managed to survive in a very competitive marketplace for 10 years! That's 10 years people! Most vehicles don't last this long, especially considering that it only received minor changes throughout its lifespan. In my opinion that is the ingredients for a successful vehicle. Love it or hate it, the proof is in its longevity.
My previous employer had a 2006 model as its company vehicle. I drove it quite a few times and must say that I thought it was quite a versatile vehicle. Lots of cargo room, seating was nice, the ride was firm, but not stiff, and the fuel mileage really wasn't that bad.
My two cents.
Posted by Mr. D | June 18, 2009 4:20 AM
Posted on June 18, 2009 04:20
We have an '05 Cruiser and it's done quite well for us the 2 1/2 years we've owned it. Started getting more than a little cramped once we had the 2nd daughter come along tho. All hail our mini van :)
I hated the Cruiser when it first came out, but I was living in Iowa at the time and no one out there would shut up about them. It's a good vehicle.
Posted by Hagen | June 18, 2009 5:45 AM
Posted on June 18, 2009 05:45
A few months ago I saw an ad in my local paper for a free PT Cruiser with the purchase of a Jeep Commander.
Posted by Cashmoney | June 18, 2009 6:40 AM
Posted on June 18, 2009 06:40
Jeep version of the Fiat Panda? Really? Apparently Fiat hasn't learned from Chrysler's mistake the Jeep Compass.
Posted by Smoothdog | June 18, 2009 9:43 AM
Posted on June 18, 2009 09:43
Happy for you owners that are happy. I had experience with year one of the Cruiser. Needed about another 100hp to make it 'fun'. Little stuff marred its dependability. LIke the mirror light with a bad switch, that had the map light come on after shutting the door, during the day, come out the next morning, dead battery. Or an overheating problem and having to replace the water pump (the engine is a real bear to work on).
Almost to the suggested life mile for replacement, the timing belt failed. The failure event cracked the cylinder head, bent half the valves, and cracked one piston (the engine is of design that if the timing belt fails, the valves WILL hit the pistons). Daughter was waiting to pick up the grandkids from school, it was idling one moment, then dead the next.
Repair cost was much more than blue book. Be aware.
Posted by WVO | June 18, 2009 12:29 PM
Posted on June 18, 2009 12:29
@ WVO,
That's called an 'interference' engine design (for obvious reasons).
en.wikipedia$org/wiki/Timing_belt#Interference (replace the $ with a period)
My beloved first car (Eclipse GSX- 4G63T, same as the Evo) engine was an interference design, but luckily the timing belt just skipped a couple of teeth on the cam sprocket instead of snapping (though rebuilding the engine with a ported head, SS valves and forged rods and pistons would have been a fun project in my high school auto class).
Posted by Noya | June 19, 2009 1:10 AM
Posted on June 19, 2009 01:10
Nooooooo! Just die already! Why can't this fugly vehicle just die? Please.....
Posted by Just die already | June 20, 2009 5:41 AM
Posted on June 20, 2009 05:41
Nooooooo! Just die already! Why can't this fugly vehicle just die? Please.....
Posted by Just die already | June 20, 2009 5:44 AM
Posted on June 20, 2009 05:44
Long live the Cruiser
Posted by patman08 | June 22, 2009 9:58 AM
Posted on June 22, 2009 09:58
Why oh why? The PT Cruiser drives poorly and gets terrible gas mileage. Even the rental car companies are tired of hearing the gripes when they offer one of them to a customer.
Posted by Richard | June 22, 2009 9:06 PM
Posted on June 22, 2009 21:06
The updating of the PT Cruiser in 2006 was a mistake. It lost some of that retro feel (both inside and in the nose) and wasn't needed. What was needed (and still is) is better gas mileage from the power plant. This is where the money should have been placed, not in re-designing a perfectly styled vehicle. If Chrysler would invest in a new engine with better gas mileage... then the little 'wagon' would have a better chance at competing in the current auto market. I would hate to see the car dumped, but with Fiat intent to produce their very small '500' out of the PT plant, I think the PT Cruisers' days are very numbered now, even though each one sold provides great profit margins for the company... i.e.: production costs low and all the tooling is paid for.
My PT has been an excellent little car... just needs a nice compact V6 under the hood instead of the underpowered, bad MPG engine it has.
Here's hoping the PT Cruiser stays!
Posted by TAZ CRUISER | July 29, 2009 11:20 AM
Posted on July 29, 2009 11:20
I, for one, and thrilled at the news of the PT living on until the end of 2011. I remember when they first came out. Dealerships were getting rediculous money for them. It is a fantastic little car. I have owned mine since 2007 (2007 Limited) and have only had one problem to date. A blown fuse. I drove it from Southern California to Virginia Beach, VA without a hitch and got good mileage. The refreshing the Cruiser went through in 2006 was a great thing. Better turning radius, interior update and front end changes. The PT is the car that began the retro revolution in the auto world. Everyone else has copied it.
Posted by Arden Fierman | August 14, 2009 12:42 PM
Posted on August 14, 2009 12:42
I, for one, and thrilled at the news of the PT living on until the end of 2011. I remember when they first came out. Dealerships were getting rediculous money for them. It is a fantastic little car. I have owned mine since 2007 (2007 Limited) and have only had one problem to date. A blown fuse. I drove it from Southern California to Virginia Beach, VA without a hitch and got good mileage. The refreshing the Cruiser went through in 2006 was a great thing. Better turning radius, interior update and front end changes. The PT is the car that began the retro revolution in the auto world. Everyone else has copied it.
Posted by Arden Fierman | August 14, 2009 12:43 PM
Posted on August 14, 2009 12:43
I, for one, and thrilled at the news of the PT living on until the end of 2011. I remember when they first came out. Dealerships were getting rediculous money for them. It is a fantastic little car. I have owned mine since 2007 (2007 Limited) and have only had one problem to date. A blown fuse. I drove it from Southern California to Virginia Beach, VA without a hitch and got good mileage. The refreshing the Cruiser went through in 2006 was a great thing. Better turning radius, interior update and front end changes. The PT is the car that began the retro revolution in the auto world. Everyone else has copied it.
Posted by Cruiser1 | August 14, 2009 12:45 PM
Posted on August 14, 2009 12:45
Better get one now. Rumors have it that Chrysler will be out at the end of the 2010 model year. Fiat is having second thoughts on what they have gotten themselves into. If you really want a Cruiser, get one while the getting is good.
Posted by Arden Fierman | October 21, 2009 3:26 AM
Posted on October 21, 2009 03:26