2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT Convertible

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT Convertible 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT Convertible
Short Take Road Test

Cute and quick are words that rarely come together when describing an automobile. Few small cars possess the adorable appearance and quick actions of a jackrabbit. And big cars--well, cute isn't a description that applies.

Since its inception in 2000, the Chrysler PT Cruiser could definitely be described as cute. But it was by no means quick. In our first road test (June 2000), the 150-hp PT scuttled from 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds. Then came a turbocharged GT version (October 2002) with a 215-hp four and four-speed automatic that dropped the 0-to-60 time to 7.2 seconds. Cute and quicker? Definitely. Cute and quick? Getting there.

Now comes the brand-new convertible you see here. Would it take the "cute and quick" crown? We had our doubts, at least with regard to the latter part. There's no denying its charm. With its large, long doors and unusually high beltline, the convertible arguably does a better job than the wagon at mimicking the fender-bulging sedans of the late '30s that inspired the original PT's design. In profile, the convertible looks long; in truth, it's dimensionally identical to the wagon in length (168.8 inches), width (67.1), and wheelbase (103.0) and is only 2.4 inches lower at 60.6. Plus, with the power-operated, three-layer insulated softtop (fitted with a glass backlight) lowered and the color-coordinated "sport bar" fully exposed, the PT convertible looks sort of butch, almost enhancing its cuteness.

But cute only goes so far with us. So Chrysler wisely delivered its PT droptop in spicy GT form. The GT gets its powerplant from the barn where the zoomy Dodge SRT-4 is assembled. For the PT convertible, the 2.4-liter turbo spools up 220 horses (10 fewer than in the donor car), all of them dictated by a Getrag five-speed manual. In spite of its 3485-pound curb weight, the convertible ran to 60 in seven seconds flat and through the quarter-mile in 15.4 at 92 mph. Now that's quick. What's more, the PT's 0-to-60 and quarter-mile times match those posted by a 300-hp Chevrolet SSR (September 2003).

If you judge the PT GT against the $41,995 SSR, the softtop is a steal. But compared with its natural competitors--the VW New Beetle GLS 1.8T convertible (April 2004) and the upcoming Mini Cooper S convertible--the PT falls on the pricier side of the spectrum. With a base of $28,155, the GT droptop runs $2760 more than the turbo Beetle and likely $3000 to $4000 over the upcoming Mini. Our test convert, which came standard with leather upholstery, traction control, 17-inch wheels, and side airbags, also featured heated seats ($250), an in-dash six-CD changer ($200), and chrome wheels ($700), escalating the price to $29,305. For considerably less money, the PT convertible can be had in base trim ($19,995) with a 150-hp naturally aspirated four, and in Touring trim ($23,490) with a 180-hp turbo.

With the extra 70 horses in GT mode, our ragtop outgunned the VW by 0.7 second to 60 and 0.8 in the quarter-mile. In a straight line, the PT GT is undeniably a more enjoyable machine to scoot. But on curvy roads, it can't quite match the New Beetle's athleticism, displaying more body roll, understeer, and torque steer, the latter really noticeable in the first two gears. Burdened with an extra 279 pounds compared with the Bug, the PT held on for 0.79 g on the skidpad, which couldn't match a Beetle GLS 2.0 at 0.82 g (February 2003). The PT posted a 184-foot 70-to-0-mph stopping distance, which was 10 feet longer than our April Bug's. At least the steering, although it's rather artificial in feel, offers up linear response.

Despite its robust sport bar--which is not there for rollover protection, according to Chrysler, but to enhance the structure and cut wind noise with the top down--the PT tends to get the shakes over rough and uneven pavement, especially in the cowl. That said, the PT's less-than-stellar rigidity doesn't adversely affect the ride, which offers a pillowlike cushion over even large undulations. Furthermore, with the top up, the ride is serene, exhibiting only 71 decibels of noise while cruising at 70 mph--3 dBA less than in a Cadillac CTS-V.

Did we also mention that this convertible is roomy? Its luggage compartment will accept seven cubic feet of stuff, two more than the Beetle's. Rear-seat legroom is 40.9 inches, the same as the wagon's and 9.4 more than the VW's. Plus, with the split-folding rear seats both lowered flat, the PT can haul 13 cubic feet of dry goods.

We can argue that the GT is too pricey for a convertible derived, however distantly, from the inexpensive Neon. But we can't dispute that it is cute, quick, and practical. In the world of compact droptops, it doesn't get much better than that.