Is the PT Cruiser for my wife and me? That was the question. For the past ten years, we have been faithful Honda SUV owners and recently owned an older Mercury Villager Van. In reality, the van was sort of a clone of the Nissan Quest.

So, both of us were searching for a vehicle with leg room, comfort and decent cargo space. We were also looking for a vehicle that did not make you feel you were sitting on the highway, or the street on which you were driving.

Another important element in our search was price. We did not want to break our bank.

Internet sites such as epinions and other automobile rating sites gave us some direction. The PT cruiser was generally given average to high marks for potential used car purchasers. And, I made my almost nightly treks cruising the used car lots. One extremely cold and ice laden day, I stopped at a local lot and made the deal. So far, we have not been sorry.

Well, the looks of the vehicle are obviously great. But, there is more. The leg and head room is outstanding. Front seats offer comfort, especially the back rest portions. The vehicle is very easy to get in and out of, even for someone with occasional back and leg problems. There is also enough room for average size adults to ride in the back seat. The cargo space is convenient and optimum. With the folding seats, we were able to transport a very large piece of sporting/exercise equipment home from a weekend trip. I noticed some previous reviewers had concerns with the gas cap, but I personally think it works great. The interior is adequately designed. Dials are easy to read. Knobs and electronic window switches are OK to operate. But, all operate from the middle of the dash. We do not understand why they were not located on each door. But, we are not engineers, just consumers. Overall, I guess the best way to describe the dash and interior is the word jazzy or fun.

The vehicle is quiet running. General pick up and acceleration is good. We have not been on the highway a lot, but passing has not been a problem. I will update this epinion this summer after our driving trip to Florida.

Potential but not serious concerns may include the following... The spare tire requires you to crank it from the trunk, and it will lower from underneath the vehicle. I wonder if that will work properly in mud or snow conditions. Sight for backing up may be a concern. And, the turning radius is a little wide. I have recently noticed brake squeaking noises especially when I first start out or when it is wet. I drove my dads Neon and noticed the same noise. This concerns me and I will keep you informed.

I guess my overall concern is I never get to drive it! My wife always has it.


Amount Paid (US$): 6500
Condition: Used
Model Year: 2003