2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser: Sunset Boulevard Edition

Pint-sized crossover with a hot rod attitude

By Nina Russin

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Sunset Boulevard Edition

Ten years ago, Chrysler rolled out the production version of the PT Cruiser show car: a compact crossover styled after classic American hot rods. The pint-sized Cruiser is the embodiment of what Chrysler does best: combining edgy styling with a versatile interior that takes minivan packaging into a whole new segment.

Other manufacturers have tried to mimic the PT Cruiser formula with similar products such as the Chevy HHR. But none of its competitors do the job quite as well as the original.

With a base price starting at $15,015, the PT Cruiser is an affordable, fun car that can hold everything from long boards to bicycles. Passengers sit higher up than in a conventional car: theater style seating gives everyone a good view of the road. The forward-raked roof makes for exceptional headroom in the back.

Built to customize

One of the coolest things about the PT Cruiser is that it’s built to customize. Since the first models rolled out, Chrysler has produced eleven factory custom editions. Businesses can use panel truck models to wrap graphics, while car buffs cruise in style with flames or woodie side panels.

An available turbocharged four-cylinder engine adds thirty horsepower over the base block. Buyers who want better fuel economy can opt for a five-speed manual transmission on the naturally-aspirated car: average fuel economy is 23 miles per gallon. The automatic model (tested) averages twenty-one miles per gallon for city and highway driving.

Sunset Boulevard edition pays homage to Southern California car culture.

Personally, I would have called it the Riverside Drive edition, since Riverside Drive in Burbank is home to Bob’s Big Boy: one of the greatest cruise night destinations in the country. For readers who have never been to one, cruise nights are where people who love cars go to find other people of the same mindset.

On Friday nights, the line to get into the parking lot stretches out for blocks. To protect the spot against future development, its fans had Bob’s registered as a historic landmark.

Getting back to the Cruiser, the Sunset Boulevard Edition is mainly a paint job: “sunset” red pearl coat, with some extra chrome accents, bigger wheels, and a couple of custom badges. The power sunroof, tinted glass and special wheels add $845 to the car’s base price. The special paint is another $150.

With the exception of the upscale Limited grade, antilock brakes are an option. I would recommend them, especially for drivers living in four-season climates. Traction control comes with the antilock brake option. Neither side curtain airbags nor electronic stability control are available on the Cruiser.

Music aficionados can upgrade the standard audio system to a Boston six-speaker acoustics system that adds Sirius satellite radio. A second sound upgrade replaces the single disc CD player with a six-disc unit. The standard audio system is MP3 compatible.

Cruising through Phoenix

Despite its styling, the PT Cruiser is no hot rod. But it is a pleasant car to drive. The standard four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission provide plenty of power for urban commuting. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly with a minimum of shift shock, though a five-speed unit would probably improve fuel economy.

The base LX does not come with power mirrors, which can be an inconvenience if multiple drivers are sharing the car. Small levers inside the car manually adjust the side mirrors. Manually adjustable seats are easy to position.

Lower back support is adequate, but not exceptional. Upscale Touring and Limited grades come with adjustable lower lumbar controls.

The high seating position is one of my favorite features about the PT Cruiser. Though the car itself sits much lower than most light duty trucks, the driver is able to see around the high-profile vehicles more easily.

Visibility around the car is pretty good. The high seating position enhances forward visibility and makes cornering on highway ramps much easier. Side mirrors do a pretty good job of compensating for blind spots to the sides and rear of the car.

Room for four adults and a variety of cargo

Despite its small footprint, the PT Cruiser has a remarkably spacious and configurable interior. Though Chrysler calls the Cruiser a five-passenger car, the middle seating position in the second row lacks legroom, due to interference from the center console and floor tunnel.

But four adults will be quite comfortable, even on long road trips. Both rows have access to plenty of cupholders and map pockets in the door. In front, a twelve-volt power point on the base of the center stack recharges electronic devices.

A tilt steering wheel adapts to drivers of different sizes, as does a sliding center armrest. A two-piece bin under the center console holds compact discs in one section and small electronic devices up top.

The optional moonroof brings ambient light into the rear of the car, which would otherwise be rather dark. Front row passengers get dual overhead reading lamps. There is also a small light in the cargo area to the right of the liftgate.

Second-row seats fold flat by using a levers on the seatbacks. A pull strap on the seat cushions releases the seats so they can tumble forward, and be removed. Tumbling the seats forward creates an uninterrupted load floor large enough for a road bike with the front wheel removed.

A rear shelf panel installs in horizontal guides in the cargo bay to create an extra horizontal shelf, a table for tailgate parties, or a vertical divider. Upscale models come with a fold flat front passenger seat that further extends the load floor, and can also serve as a work surface.

Lifetime powertrain warranty

As with all Chrysler products, the PT Cruiser comes with a lifetime powertrain warranty that protects owners against repair costs due to manufacturing defects. The warranty includes three years of 24-hour towing assistance.

Chrysler builds the PT Cruiser at its Toluca, Mexico assembly plant.

Likes: A small affordable car with room for four passengers and a configurable interior. The high roofline maximizes headroom for rear passengers and vertical load-in space. A low liftover height makes it easier for small people to load up the back.

Dislikes: Base model does not come with standard power windows, air conditioning or antilock brakes. Electronic stability program and side curtain airbags are not available.

Quick facts:

Make: Chrysler
Model: PT Cruiser LX: Sunset Boulevard Edition 
Year: 2008
Base price: $15,015
As tested: $18,475
Horsepower: 150 Hp @ 5100 rpm
Torque: 165 lbs.-ft. @ 4000 rpm
Zero-to-sixty: N/A
Antilock brakes: Optional
Side curtain airbags: N/A
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Towing: No
Off-road: No
Comments: Base price does not include a $640 delivery charge.

Going Green to Save Green

By Nina Russin

Honda eco assist system

The recent hike in gas prices has made drivers think seriously about limited oil resources. New car technology–including gasoline/electric hybrids, electric cars, clean diesel and fuel cells–not only promises to stretch existing oil reserves; they reduce the amount of harmful exhaust emissions in the air we breathe.

As athletes, we’re especially aware of the importance of clean air: it’s essential to our way of life. But do the new generation of green cars help us preserve our limited financial resources as well?

Cost of Going Green

The fact is that green car technology costs money. Many gasoline/electric hybrids, such as the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus 400h, cost significantly more than gas-powered equivalents.
 
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a base sticker price of $34,200, versus $27,500 for the gasoline model. The Lexus RX350 sport-utility vehicle starts at $37,700, as opposed to $41,580 for the 400h.

Not only do buyers pay a premium for the hybrid technology: these hybrids are only available as fully-loaded cars, adding to the base sticker price.

Clean diesel has been popular in Europe for some time: the low-sulfur fuel wasn’t available in the U.S. until last year. As a result, there’s less of a price difference between clean diesel models sold in America and their gas-powered cousins.

For example, Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC models cost a little more than base gas-powered models, but are less expensive than 4matic all-wheel drive grades. The base M-Class starts at $44,875 as opposed to $45,875 for the BlueTEC clean diesel, while the 4matic version costs $53,625.

Diesel cars average twenty-five to thirty percent better fuel economy than comparable gasoline models, but the diesel is more expensive. At the beginning of July, 2008, the national average for a gallon of diesel was $4.70, versus $4.06 for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline, according to the Energy Information Administration.

There are a couple of reasons for this: limited demand here in the States, and subsidies in foreign countries that increase demand for diesel internationally.

Avoiding the Fuel Pump

Electric cars require no gasoline, but buyers need to install recharging devices at home. The other limitation is driving range, which is shorter than for gasoline cars. The new Chevy Volt has a range of 64 kilometers: about 40 miles.

Engineers plan to introduce an on-board generator to recharge the Volt’s battery pack on the go: no word yet as to whether that generator will be standard equipment on the car.

Fitting Technology to the Driver

Having mentioned some hidden costs in going green, the question remains: is there any cost benefit? The answer is ‘yes’, if the driver chooses technology according to his needs.

Hybrid cars are most beneficial for people who drive in crowded urban areas. On most hybrids, the gasoline engine shuts off at idle while electric motors run the accessories. Some hybrids can also run on electric power at low speeds: the Chevy Tahoe and Dodge Durango hybrids are two examples.

Hybrid fuel economy in stop-and-go driving is significantly better than for gasoline cars. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid averages 27 miles-per-gallon in the city, as compared to 18 miles-per-gallon for the gasoline model. The Toyota Camry Hybrid gets 33 miles-per-gallon in the city, compared to 21 mpg for the four-cylinder gas car, and 19 mpg for the V6.

While these cars also get excellent fuel economy on the highway, the advantage over gasoline models is not as significant. The exception is the Toyota Prius: it averages 45 miles-per-gallon on the highway, and has better overall fuel economy than any other Toyota model.

Diesel for Any Driving Situation

Drivers who spend most of their time on the highway should consider clean diesel. Diesel fuel economy gains are consistent for both city and highway driving, and are big enough to more than offset higher fuel costs.
The bigger the car, the bigger the benefits. The full-sized Mercedes-Benz GL320 sport-utility vehicle averages 17/23 mpg city/highway when equipped with the clean diesel engine, versus 13/18 for the gas-powered model. The smaller M-Class sport-utility vehicle gets 23/32 mpg with the diesel engine, compared to 13/18 mpg for the gasoline model.

Chrysler offers a V6 diesel engine on the Grand Cherokee sport-utility vehicle: it averages 18/23 mpg city highway. The Grand Cherokee with a gasoline-powered V6 averages 15/20 mpg city and highway; the V8 gas engine averages 13/19 mpg.

Tax Credits

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 rewards buyers of hybrid, fuel cell and alternative fuel vehicles with a tax credit, ranging from $250- $3400, depending on the vehicle’s weight and fuel economy. But there’s a catch: the tax credit disappears in stages after the automaker sells 60,000 units of a particular model.

Future Prius buyers are out of luck. But shoppers considering the new VW Jetta TDI may save some money come tax time. A good source of information on federal tax credits is Edmunds.com’s Green Car Advisor.

Small Carbon Footprints

Buyers who can’t afford a hybrid or clean diesel can still go green and save gas by driving a smaller car. The Nissan Versa, Scion xD, Kia Rio, Suzuki SX4, Volkswagen Rabbit and smartfortwo all have MSRPs under $16,000, and all average 30 mpg or better on the highway. Cars that use less gas pollute less: it’s as simple as that.

Do the Math

Despite a recent drop in the cost of fuel, the general trend in the future will be towards more expensive gas. The myriad of green car options gives buyers with different budgets and lifestyle needs the ability to minimize their fuel expenditures, and do something good for the environment at the same time.

New car shopping is all about doing the math: green cars are no exception. One place to start is by creating a log to record important information about current driving habits, including average annual mileage, and city versus highway driving. Keep track of the number of passengers who typically share the car to see if downsizing is a possibility.

Buyers considering alternative fuels need to make sure that their local infrastructure supports those types of vehicles. Clean diesel is widely available, but supplies of biodiesel and E-85 are more limited.

Find out whether any of the cars on the short list qualify for a federal tax credit. And don’t forget to factor in the trade-in value of the current car. Kelley Blue Book is a reliable source of information on resale values. Edmunds has a tool to help big truck owners determine how much it will cost to go green.