http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/ Autoblog Comments for Dead Again: WSJ says PT Cruiser indeed short lived http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/Nov 18th 2007 8:27AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/Nov 18th 2007 2:05PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/There already is a boosted I4 PT Cruiser- same engine as the Neon SRT-4. It's a fantastic drive, actually-- to the point that I'd trade in my own SRT-4 for one.]]>Nov 18th 2007 6:36PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/
The fact that you already have a Dodge says it all. The rest of us think the PT is a hunk of trash and should have been shot long ago.]]>Nov 19th 2007 12:55AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/Nov 18th 2007 8:27AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/Nov 18th 2007 11:14AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/
Chrysler shouldn't have strayed so far from the Pronto concept:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Pronto]]>Nov 18th 2007 11:38AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/
Wait. Nah, it's perfectly fine. Carry on. ]]>Nov 18th 2007 9:12AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/Nov 18th 2007 9:29AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/--
It's called a hatchback, bud.]]>Nov 18th 2007 9:31AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/Nov 18th 2007 9:53AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/33k smiles]]>Nov 18th 2007 9:48AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/
you think GM makes the PT Cruiser?


HAHAHAHAHA]]>Nov 19th 2007 8:24AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/Nov 19th 2007 8:38AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/Nov 19th 2007 9:21AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/
Personally, I thought the original execution (especially notable was the interior) to be one of the best from the domestics (perhaps only topped by full-size pick-up). Note, I didn't say "theme"; As for the retro theme, I was left feeling cold and always felt that, if they did a modern-themed 5-door off of the PTC platform for Dodge, with the same high level of execution, it would be a great replacement for Neon.

So, instead, there's a completely new (and exceedingly poorly executed) 5-door at Dodge, the Caliber... and the Minor Model Change for the PT Cruiser inexpicably changed hard tooling on the interior, resulting in an I/P that's got a square-edged alien-piece center stack in place of the cohesive look of the original... and I'm driving a Mazda3 5-door, instead...

PT Cruiser was a lost opportunity for Mopar (glad they didn't sell Mopar, BTW). If they aren't careful, they'll do the same with any/all of the product with which they've had some hits (LX, anyone?)... The execution is the key, with the themes actually part of the reason they had some success even with poorly-turned-out product like Caliber. ]]>Nov 18th 2007 10:05AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/
They are a nice little car with very good build quality. And it has the headroom I need; this is lacking in many other cars. But economical? Hardly.]]>Nov 18th 2007 10:45AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/ So I guess the Chevy HHR will enjoy higher sales since it will have no competition. I will really miss the PT Cruiser.]]>Nov 18th 2007 10:52AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/Nov 18th 2007 11:07AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/18/dead-again-wsj-says-pt-cruiser-indeed-short-lived/
As the PT Cruiser is the first to suffer, it will be interesting to see what happens with the Mustang, HHR, and Beetle.
Beetle has long legs just because of its history of longevity though the charm is long gone.
Ford will have a tough time but it has a history of reinventing the Mustang's look so it can do several things.
The HHR will have a challenge as to how it handles a second generation.]]>Nov 18th 2007 7:02PM