Test drive Chrysler PT Cruiser 2000 - 2006 Minivan

Time Machine

How can you modernize Chrysler Pt Cruiser, originally made in an old -fashioned manner?
 
When Chrysler Pt Cruiser appeared on the market a few years ago, in some countries lined up the lines. Now the car is no longer causing such a stir, and therefore, according to the laws of auto -ghost, it has come for restyling.
 
Restyling of any model of the car implies its stylistic changes according to the quickly running forward fashion. But how can you modernize Chrysler Pt Cruiser, originally made in an old -fashioned way? It turned out that it was very possible, however, to an uninitiated motorist, it will be difficult to find, as they say, ten external differences, because dramatic changes affected mainly the decoration of the salon of the machine. The retro-vehicle body retained the previous forms, and only the head lights became different, but the front bumper with the now-built-in fog-tullets received partly a move-Rodovsky grin. Chrome was added a little to the body, dressing the radiator bars and lateral moldings in it, thereby emphasizing the retro -stic machine. The headlights brought from below gave the front pt Cruiser a certain lightness and partly swiftness. The feed remained the same, only the texture of the rear lights acquired a newfangled pattern and color (yellow turns, for example, hid under white glass).
 
However, stop looking at Chrysler Pt Cruiser, it's time to enter the salon. Yes, it is, to enter, because the first acquaintance of the three years ago with this machine showed that thanks to the high body and rather wide doors, as well as the chairs raised from the floor, it is quite convenient to get in the car. You don’t have to bend at all, and you don’t need to lift your legs - the low threshold is not a hindrance. You press the button on the curved chrome door handle (like on the 21st Volga), open the door - and you get back into the future. Compared to the prerestyled version of PT Cruiser, the current interior looks even more stylish. As before, the upper part of the dashboard resembles a torpedo of old machines with its metal cover covers, painted in the color of the body. Of course, today these elements are made of plastic, because they are hidden by aerial works, which means that the cover material should meet safety requirements. But the central console has changed noticeably. The center is still in the center - the windows control unit - the designers decided to leave them such an original location. Many drivers will probably need time to get used to them, nevertheless, most cars have such devices at the door or, at worst, in the central tunnel between the front seats. The steering wheel became slightly more accurate, or something, in comparison with the old version, retaining the same features of the rometromesh lamb with a large radius and four knitting needles, which does not prevent it from being comfortable. The chubby bagel lies perfectly in the palm of your hand, and not in the knitting needles overloaded with buttons do not block the readings of the devices. The new, completely chrome lever of the automatic gearbox selector with a powerful knob in general, many did not like the former decoration of the cabin.
 
Unfortunately, quite decent front chairs retained old flaws - short pillows and backs. On a long trip, such nuances are strained, and if the passenger can fierce the seat in search of amenities, then the driver is forced to endure fatigue. True, the range of vertical adjustment of the driver’s chair is now noticeably increased, but you still can’t lower it very low, so the landing always remains high, rather Minivan. Yes, on the updated PT Cruiser there was also an important interior detail - a special handle on a torpedo in front of the passenger. This holder was inherent in almost all cars of the beginning of the last century.
 
Chrysler Pt Cruiser has retained obvious aerodynamic disadvantages inherent in many machines with an unusual design, such as the side mud of side glasses, through which you almost do not see pictures in the mirrors, but, fortunately, left good running qualities of the car unchanged. The modern character of the machine, hidden under the shell of replicar, manifested itself in full force. At high speed, controllability and smoothness are beyond praise. The suspension perfectly works out the hillocks. In turns, the steering wheel is filled with informative effort, and on the line PT Cruiser demonstrates enviable stability. Intermediate in motor range of a 2.4-liter engine with a capacity of 143 hp. (this is exactly what under the hood of a test car) allows Pt Cruiser to safely go to overtaking. The weakest with a volume of 1.6 liters (115 hp) is unlikely to please the same dynamics, and the turbocharged version of the security forces of 2.4 liters, which gives out 223 horses, easily disperses this miracle car up to 200 km/h. And this is not only the statements of the manufacturer - the pre -ray version equipped with a turbo engine, Mkobil also tested. By the way, the 4-speed automatic box installed on expensive versions does not at all strangle the impulses of both 2.4-liter power units-delayed are small, and switching upwards occur very smoothly. The original thinking machine seems to be adjusted to the driver. Although you can’t call it ideal, in any case, not all test pilots managed to make friends with him.
 
Much can allow Chrysler Pt Cruiser. Turning into a narrow snow -covered path, you can throw a car out of a skid into a skid and even start a scope for Chrysler sideways in a steep turn. It will not work to stretch it with gas - the front wheels stops the Traction Control. However, with the PT Cruiser disconnected system, it becomes more acute, more excellent. At the same time, I don’t really want to break into such a car (it's nice that it retains this potential), Chrysler Pt Cruiser is more likely to have a measured, calm movement. In fact, this is a great family car, although more expensive than most classmates. To make sure of this, it is enough to try all the options for transforming the salon, the description of which can take a whole page of our publication. Better, dear readers, look at the photos ...
 

A source: Mkobil magazine [13.03.2006]