Test drive Chrysler PT Cruiser 2000 - 2006 Minivan

All photos of Chrysler PT Cruiser 2000 - 2006

How the wind was blown away

Of course, both open Crossler and Crossfire Roadster and Pt Cruiser Cabrio in our latitudes are not as practical as in their historical homeland. In America, such a car can easily be the main that, in general, it is everywhere practiced there. And really, why not? There, rain is a pleasant surprise, not a harsh everyday life.

St. Petersburg, a dank summer morning. In my dreams of a warm and bright edition, I am sitting in a traffic jam on Sadovaya Street. Around the same as me: on dirty gloomy cars, bashfully fenced off tinted walls from curious neighbors, frostbitten people crawl to gnaw at the granite of work. The word of the day is an expressive interjection of BRR!. As, however, in most other days in this city, damned by the Egyptian sphinxes.

Am I too much to converge paints? Well, let! You can disagree with me, but I personally have sixty two sunny days, which, as they say, happen in St. Petersburg in the average year, to the offensive is not enough. I think that the owners of convertibles of good weather are not enough. But, you see, these people should be desperate optimists, since they decided to buy a weekend car. And I oh how I envy them!
You can, of course, console yourself with the fact that the open car and St. Petersburg is the same ridiculous combination as, say, woolen socks and slippers or jeans and opera. But damn it! As soon as the smiling sun again ascends over the city, and the air temperature becomes not just positive, but very positive, I want to put up with such difficulty the selected sunglasses and to envy all the agorafobas to mention interested girls somewhere on the coast of the Gulf of Finland.

Of course, both open Crossler and Crossfire Roadster and Pt Cruiser Cabrio in our latitudes are not as practical as in their historical homeland. In America, such a car can easily be the main that, in general, it is everywhere practiced there. And really, why not? There, rain is a pleasant surprise, not a harsh everyday life. In addition, in a civilized country, the probability of detecting a cigarette butt, on returning from a supermarket, is much lower than ours. Anyway: would you dare to leave an expensive convertible with a folded top and unattended even for a few minutes? I doubt. Scary.
It’s not for nothing that I wrapped it about the historical homeland. In fact, both of these cars are not American at all, as it seems, it should be. PT Cruiser Cabrio is produced either in Mexico or in Austria, which is quite cosmopolitanes on his part. Crossfire Roadster is completely German at all, because Karmann is produced at the Karmann factory in Germany from German parts at the heart of the machine is a Mercedes Platform with a motor together, which once belonged to the previous generation SLK relative. Such an entertaining economic geography.

As I already remember, I told, in my natural habitat, convertibles or their closest relatives of the relatives are primarily cars for every day. There are, of course, amazing exceptions in the form of cars that are not that unsuitable for everyday driving, but generally very difficult to use, for example, Caterham what without windows without doors. But this thing is clearly from the fan sector. And for ordinary people without pronounced extreme masochistic inclinations, all outcome amenities are provided at least in the open air. Yes, one hundred and fifty adjustments of everything, a lot of music and skin, climate control with on-board computers with nature should be primarily pleasant and thoughtful. Being open, and Crossfire and Pt Cruiser are supplied extremely full -fard. All inclusive, as in a good turpect. Once we live, gentlemen! So let's do it with dignity!

The very fact that in our raking hands were two such unusual cars at the same time, great luck. OPEN-Eir cars are still not too common with us, and therefore in dealers salons they are also rare. Moreover, having so much in common: brand, color, transmission type, level of configuration but differences in Crossfire and PT Cruiser are much larger than similarities. The first two -seater rubber, inevitably bearing the burden of the image of a sports car. The second cool four -seater convertible obtained through a surgical operation from an almost family minivan. Amazing nearby.

Here is a spectacular swift, like an Earth’s rocket, a thunderous Crossfire. Under him, not even established, the earth burns and melts, what inhuman efforts he should be an unbearable expectation of a miracle of movement! The design of the car is surprisingly whole, but it is made exclusively by the details ...

Here is a spectacular swift, like an Earth’s rocket, a thunderous Crossfire. Under him, not even established, the earth burns and melts, what inhuman efforts he should be an unbearable expectation of a miracle of movement! The design of the car is surprisingly whole, but it is made exclusively by the details: longitudinal ribs on the hood, gills on the front wings, fire -faced wheels, restless anti -wing, automatically advanced at high speeds

Pt Cruiser is different, completely different. He all the fushed went out purely for a walk, fit. Wow, I am all so cool and mannered! I like me? Highly! Croizer darling is jazz, a cane and varnished shoes. The past returned again with humor and without longing. Not a car, but a sort of modern antiques. The well -forgotten old does not even think to make up for a new one. It is like artificially aged jeans: not everyone is worn; But those who still decided to dress them look trumped.

Crossfire inside is not as formidable as outside. Only perforated pedals, plastic silver on the central console and the modest size of free space speak of sports. But the tightness here is extremely apparent: such an impression is created by high sides, a low windshield and a trunk evereto -like line. And with a raised top, you begin to understand all the feelings of a rabbit, awaiting a wizard of his exit in the hat. Both the ceiling is low, and in the intracassentous mirror, not a feature is visible like that, a light hint of the horizon. I won’t even comment on what happens after hundreds, when anti -wing grows from the trunk.

What are you talking about? Just think, you can't give a little bit! Who needs this view of this view at all? We have a sports car, and everyone else urgently admire the tail lights! Roadster is very fast, but this is not a sports car. A smooth automatic machine and a long steering wheel are given out in Krysler Mercedes. And as you know, even a sports Mercedes is primarily a polite, courteous and caring machine, albeit devilishly fast. Crossfire is the same: the car at any speed holds straight with the stubbornness of the bull terrier and at the same time behaves super -stabilly in turns, protecting the driver in every possible way from possible unforeseen circumstances. Here: excellent brakes are invented with a clear margin, and a dense and energy -intensive suspension looks very worthy even on our roads. At first, it is emphasized by the refined calmness of the car slightly disappointed, but then bribes to a much greater extent. You quickly get used to any good. Yes, the appearance of the car promised us at least the unbridled flight of the Helios fire chariot. In fact, we have a stuffed god of war with the character of Cat Leopold. Beautiful, defiant, but although not quiet, but peaceful.

The appearance of PT Cruiser is much more consistent with natural inclinations. He is more harmonious in everything. The theme of autostarin continues inside the machine.

The central console with inserts to the color of the body and round devices are obvious curtsy towards cars of seventy years ago. Unless the devices on old machines were more often located in the center. The cruiser, of course, is more human to the driver; True, sometimes it seems that not only the mood has leaked from the past, but also something in terms of ergonomics. To normally move the transmission selector, you have to reach for it, as on domestic nine when turning on the fifth gear. And in general, the landing in PT Cruiser seemed strange to me: on a high chair you sit with a gopher, and the pedals from such a height seem distant and located not where it is familiar, almost under the chair. It is worth a little more to raise this chair and you can sit, fully dangling your legs. But in general, it is tolerant, but there will be no problems at all for the growth of drivers. However, with the manner of driving that the car provokes, and I, the stunted, had no difficulties. The car starts confidently and, slowly moving the transmission of an automatic box, calmly gains move. The flight is normal: the wind walks in the cabin, joyfully flying into the ears and familiarly Erosh hair. The convertible, as in a ruler, draws a straight line, and as a transportation of turns. Not at speeds such as Crossfire, of course, but not in a whisper. Swells reliably and predictably. But you do not think about how the car rides, but you can imagine how you are going in it. What do you look from the side. What an impression. And it does not matter that Pt Cruiser against the background of a related relatives looks more clumsy. To health. Firstly, not everyone will succeed, like us, to reduce these cars face to face. And, secondly, it costs almost twice cheaper! Well? After all, it is essential! And pleasure is no less. This, however, is another pleasure, but it is also very valuable. It is important that the machine effect produces as stunning as Crossfire. Which, in fact, was required.

Both machines are equipped with a soft top, but the crossfire parted with a tarpaulin grinding is much more willing to. In total, it’s business that manually disconnect the roof lock from the windshield frame. But for other manufacturers, this process is also automated and does not require any additional actions. And in order to fold the roof of the cruiser, you will have to leave the place in a warm armchair, since the top does not hide in the bowels of the trunk, but is affirmed outside the cabin, it must be wrapped in a case of a young dermatin leather with a young dermatin leather, but it is desirable.
Crossfire trunk is a good help for a glove compartment: several liters of a niche inhabited by black carpet. Put a subwoofer there and the trunk will sink into oblivion. However, Rodister already has a subsion: the equipment in which the machines come to us already includes a cool audio system with acoustics infinity. The second car has a much greater place, a folding top is deprived of the right to visit the trunk. By the way, in both postcards on the back of the trunk cover there is a pen, pulling for which you can get out of the will. I won’t know what a living creature could fit in the crossfire

Well, what to say? Both cars are good, but each in its own way. They are so different, and yet they are together. Of course, the season of convertibles is already running out (although, they say, in Finland, individual hot personalities manage to drive cars with a lowered top even in winter), buying a car without a roof now, in the fall, is seen with a rather pragmatic step: dealers are ready to take serious concessions to those It will be decided to replenish the ranks of desperate optimists. Are you weak?

Autography
Chrysler Pt Cruiser Cabrio
Predecessor
Not
Premiere
august 2003
Prototype
Pt Cruiser Convertible (2001)
Engines
2.4 l (152 223 hp)
Production
Mexico/Austria
Expected replacement
not provided

Autography
Chrysler Crossfire Roadster
Predecessor
Not
Platform
Mercedes-Benz SLK R170 (Particular)
Premiere
january 2004
Prototype
Crossfire (2001)
Engines
3.2 l (218 330 hp)
Production
Germany
Expected replacement
2011/12

The car is provided by Aurore Auto, the official dealer of Chrysler/Jeep.

Text: Kirill Brevdo
Photo: Roman Ostanin