Test Drive Chrysler Pt Cruiser 2000 - 2006 Minivan

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Chrysler Pt Cruiser: When the image is all
Passion on Chrysler Pt Cruiser, raging in the second half of summer (the car was represented by journalists in early July) on the pages of the automotive press, gradually lay down. However, his fancy silhouette flashes in the transport stream, still turns around the surrounding in genuine amazement. Some take Pt Cruiser for a carefully renovated auto half-a-wood limit. Others, on the contrary, see a guest from the future in it - a certain means of movement of cosmic aliens. Classify PT Cruiser by type of body makes it difficult even specialists: the car is equally reminded of minivan, and a wagon, and hatchback. The creators of the machine are not without pride state that it is simply impossible to attribute it to any particular class, since PT Cruiser is precisely what he wants to receive the owner from him. Check this bold statement was taken by the wheelter wheelter Andrei Tsybulsky.
For six months, who have passed from the January debut of the commodity version of the PT Cruiser on the Detroit Auto Show, where the novelty won the title of the most important car, interest in the car surpassed the most bold forecasts of marketers. Daimlerchrysler North American dealers did not have time to declare the start of sales, as their offices were subjected to a real siege of the distraught fans of trendy novelty. The assembly line in the Mexican toluok with a capacity of 180 thousand cars per year is provided by orders for several years ahead: the desire to purchase PT Cruiser has already expressed more than 900 thousand people, and their number is growing steadily. Structuring and on the other side of the Atlantic (in the Austrian Graz) is preparing in a hurry order. Judging by the first reaction of Europeans, the creators of PT Cruiser managed incredible: for the first time since the time of Henry Ford, the old world market meets the American car with open arms.
What makes hundreds of thousands of people spoiled, among other things, the best examples of world automotive industry, dying in a sweet toast or fight in ecstasy when mentioning a pich camp? What is the cause of the unprecedented popularity of the car, in a matter of months who has become the subject of almost religious worship?
The first thing that comes to mind is extravagant appearance. Yes, in the fantasy and art of drawing up stylistic cocktails, designers of the concern will not refuse! Once again confirming the beaten truth that everything new is well forgotten old, PT Cruiser is a rat mixture of nostalgic retro and rampant futurism. It is possible to argue about the legitimacy of such stylistic solutions, one can consider this car by the embodiment of perfect beauty or absolute deformity, but it is impossible to remain indifferent to it. What, in fact, and sought his creators. However, quite walk around and about! In contrast to the affiliation of ZEWAK, doomed on the admiring Cocan with the tongue and risking to roll her neck, looking after the removing Pi-Tyusari, I am destined to try it in business. Light pressure on a luxury chrome-plated knob button - and the driver's door is widely swallowed, inviting the place to take place behind the wheel. Without a hint of inconvenience, it is (yes - yes - it is in the way, and not penetrate or I get) inside. It must be said that the landing in a spacious five-seater salon of the Pi-Tych is equally comfortable for people of almost any growth and a set. All doors open almost for a straight angle, the openings are wide, the steps (what kind of retro-car without the footnight?!) Are comfortable, and the perts are high. In general, in part of the free space above the head PT Cruiser, except for the London taxi-keba, where the gentleman according to tradition should be placed without removing the cylinder.
Sit down for an elegant four-spin steering wheel with a round core (again, the tribute retro is true, not without curtsy in the direction of modern technologies: under the winged Chrysler's emblem is hidden not only Klaxson, but also a airbag), trying to get on a driver's seat. So ... under the seat - a big bracket, pulling for which you can move the chair forward-back. On the left groping the lever, controlling the position of the back. Is everything really? No, shining skew toward the sacramental retro developers was avoided. In addition to rude mechanical adjustments, the driver's seat of the Cruiser has a thin - electric. An inconspicuous button that allows you to move the armchair up-down diagonally, it was found on the left, next to the lever mentioned. Nehutstly, of course, but I'll do without unnecessary pick-up. In the end, I am not in limousine. And, running forward, assured that the seats here allow the driver to withstand how long a long journey.
Settled. I master the torpedo. White analog dials, deeply depressed in three cylindrical niches on the instrument shield, and a stylish metal cover repeating it and shape, as if the glove box is also from the discharge of greeting from the past. However, the dwelling box itself is below. A elegant bright red cover for calibration is plastic panel. Under it is hidden another airbag - for the passenger. By the way, the side shots of the driver and the front passenger also protect the pillows hidden in the backs of the seats.
On the central console - everything is traditional: air conditioning control panel, regular radio tape recorder. The picture only the windows buttons are enlivened, successfully inscribed between the round heater deflectors, and the socket at 12 V. Judging by the niche, secluded right below it, the socket is designed to connect a mobile phone.
Before the lever of the selector of the automatic transmission - the cup holders, in one of which the round ashtray with a folding lid is placed. It is very uncomfortable to use it. And it is dangerous: focusing on a difficult task - to get into a small cup, completely lose control over the road.
Continuing the study of the cabin, looking at the rear seats. According to the passport, three people should freely accommodate here. In reality, the place for the legs of the central passenger is somewhat limited to the protruding console, on which the indispensable cup holders and the control panel of the rear doors are placed.
If desired, a comfortable PT Cruiser quickly and naturally turns out of a car in the cargo. In the advertising booklet, the transforming salon is dedicated to several pages. First, the luggage shelf is removed. Moreover, unlike the owner, say, Togliatti Samara, the owner of the Pi-ti of the Cruiser will not have to break her head over where to attach this shelf (in addition to the standard it can be fixed in four positions). Secondly, the backs of all passenger seats overturn forward, significantly increasing the already quite spacious luggage compartment. However, the retelling instruction manual would be completely unjustified, do not prepare the designers another pleasant surprise. The folded back seat strongly resembles a suitcase equipped with wheels and a comfortable handle, grasping it for which it can be removed from the cabin and roll back to the garage. Due to this successful technological solution, the luggage can be scored almost the entire salon, and its volume is 3.4 cubic meters!
However, it would be time to see how this thing goes. Smoothly go, gradually adding gas. Electronics gently switches the transmission, the engine is almost not heard. But, frankly, the overclocking speaker is not impressive. I change the way of driving, starting with the crossroads with a sharp press of the pedal. PT Cruiser reacted to the shock therapy of the engine, and the tachometer arrow rushed into the red zone. The rate of speed and indeed increased slightly, but there were no revolutionary changes: overclocking until hundreds remains dying long. Oh, no wonder in the appropriate graph of the manufacturer's data column costs an expressive dash!
Finally upset the maximum speed. Heat the rustic highway to 165 - 170 km / h, I stupidly pressed the pedal to the floor, refusing to understand (and then believed) that for a car with an aggressive appearance of hot-kind and speedometer, taught to 240 km / h, this limit. By reflection, rather such a blatant inconsistency of the form and content on the account of a two-liter 140-strong engine borrowed from a much easier Chrysler Neon. Apparently, for the car with a complete mass of 1805 kg, it is weak. And the lazy dynamics will spoke on the features of the automatic transmission.
But in terms of manageability and predictability of PT Cruiser behavior at height. Thanks to the successful suspension design, the machine not only perfectly holds the road on a straight line and shows commendable stability in turns, but also (which is no less important) it reconciles with the disgusting quality of our roads. Punch the suspension on typical urban obstacles like tram tracks or windows in the asphalt, which so love to cut the repairmen, is almost impossible. And the small errors of the road surface do not notice at all. Loyed to PT Cruiser and to the middle breakdown of the primer with a shallow (ground clearance of only 140 mm) of the river.
There are no complaints and from the point of view of acoustic comfort. Silence in the cabin does not violate neither tires, no wind whistle. Yes, and the engine becomes audible only with the described focus with a sharp decrease in gear.
In general, despite the character, which turned out to be unexpectedly peaceful, turn away from Pt Cruiser, right, not worth it. Only you need to wait a bit: by the end of the year, a version with a more powerful (2,4-liter 150-strong) engine will appear in Europe. Or just choose a car with a five-speed manual box.
And then, maybe God with her - at speed. Also known: you go quiet - you will go further ...
Andrei Tsybulsky
 

A source: Wheel (Company)