There were no eulogies. No bagpipes were played or honor-guard gunshots fired. Few paid any notice, but on December 21, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible passed quietly into the night and was buried. And we doubt many will miss it.
The axing of the ragtop PT is part of the phasing-out of several Chrysler LLC products devised by its new owners in order to cut costs. Earlier we brought you the news that the Chrysler Crossfire ceased production in Germany. Before that, the Chrysler Pacifica ended its lifecycle in November. Although originally only the convertible version of the PT Cruiser was scheduled for execution, reports later suggested that the regular hard-top wagon version could also be discontinued.
While those Chryslers likewise won't be terribly missed, except by small pockets of devoted enthusiasts, the next to lie under the Chrysler LLC guillotine will be the Dodge Magnum, which is being discontinued in March. The gonzo wagon dropped 25% in sales in 2007 over the previous year. As Inside Line points out, however, if you're still keen on getting a Magnum (or a PT convertible, for that matter), some good deals are likely to be had from local dealers eager to sell the last remnants of a dying breed.
[Source: Inside Line]
Saleen makes new value-oriented Racecraft brand official
Officially Official: 2009 BMW 7 Series
Officially Official: 2009 Ford Focus RS
I want my FPV: Super sedans hit the desert in new TV spot
Happy Independence Day from Autoblog
Track Test: 2008 Roush 427R Trak Pak Mustang
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Porsche Cayman S
First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata Retractable Hard Top
In The Autoblog Garage: BMW 128i Convertible
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
David @ Jan 6th 2008 3:44PM
It's a shame to see a car like this going away but it makes sense the Chrysler has to trim its product line before it can improve.
Andrew @ Jan 6th 2008 4:30PM
You honestly believe the world would be a better place with more PT in it? Good riddance! Now if they could only stop producing the rest of them...
David @ Jan 6th 2008 5:24PM
Well I'm just trying to be general about it. If I had a say it would be far too soon if I never saw a PT again.
Robb @ Jan 6th 2008 4:04PM
Good riddance. I rented one of these convertibles during the christmas break, and it was one of the most dreadful cars I've ever been in.
Jaymez @ Jan 6th 2008 4:37PM
Who expects a rental car to be nice?
Andrew @ Jan 6th 2008 5:38PM
I think everyone expects a rental car to not be one of the worst cars ever made.
info @ Jan 6th 2008 6:45PM
Besides, it was butt ugly.
bobfranks @ Jan 6th 2008 4:34PM
Best decision ever. Hopefully GM will kill the HHR too! Wait, hopefully FORD will kill the Edge,Taurus and the Focus. What else.....
Matt Keller @ Jan 6th 2008 7:08PM
You're an idiot.
Matt Keller @ Jan 6th 2008 7:09PM
On both the HHR comment and the Taurus/Edge/Focus comment, I mean.
Andrew @ Jan 6th 2008 8:01PM
In all fairness, the HHR is a pretty ugly car. The Taurus (X I am assuming you meant), Edge, and Focus are not my favorites, but meh, they don't offend my ocular senses.
the law @ Jan 6th 2008 5:22PM
rented a 08 PT and was worst driving than my smashed 00 Vw Golf
digitalzombie @ Jan 7th 2008 12:23AM
dude... we had a PT as a rental because the benz was at the shop and wow. My father is 5 feet 7 inches and he complains how cramp it is. Yeah it's ugly because it reminds me of those funeral car...herz?
LX builder @ Jan 6th 2008 7:51PM
Oh yes please kill off all the cars I personally don't like, cause I'm the most important SOB, and if I don't like it, it should be gone! Chrysler sold a ton of PT Cruisers to people that love them. Not every car buyer is looking for a d--k extension, or thinking they're a race driver. Some people like cars that may not appeal to enthusiasts like us that read autoblog.
Andrew @ Jan 6th 2008 7:59PM
As an enthusiast, I have the right to bitch about said cars.
Besides, as everyone else has said, they were one of the fugliest cars ever made. Every time I see one I die a little more inside.
LX builder @ Jan 6th 2008 8:42PM
Yes and non enthusiasts have the right to buy whatever they like. And PT buyers numbered over 100k for seven years inspite of DaimlerChrysler ignoring them and the product.
bobfranks @ Jan 6th 2008 8:46PM
As a so called SOB, its all about helping the non-enthusiasts avoid buying lame cars.
If only people could see that, then the PT Cruiser would have never been made.
We are only trying to make the world a better place, not increase the penile enhancement market.
LX builder @ Jan 6th 2008 8:57PM
No you are only insulting people that bought these cars.
Andrew @ Jan 6th 2008 10:01PM
Right, but I never said "let's take away the right to buy a car". I just wish the car was never made, and had I been at Chrysler when it came across someone's desk, I would have stopped it. Now that it's slowly going away, I'm bidding it adieu.
Galley @ Jan 6th 2008 8:14PM
I loves me some PT Cruiser, but that softtop was rather ugly.