Rented car story

AUTHOR

Balavan43

Added 1 story
STORY CAR

This is car I tested renting

Chrysler, 2005, PT Cruiser PG MY2005 Wagon Classic 4dr Auto 4sp 2.4i
STORY PHOTOS

I like this car for its unusual appearance. My car I own is Subaru Outback but this I gave for rent when I visited my relatives in America. I always was interesting in comparing these two cars and when rent assistant offered me this car I agreed not even looking at others. Generally these cars have similarity characteristics, engine 2,4/2,5L power 143/165hp (Cruiser/Outback), almost equivalent in weight…so I was waiting for the same handling, but… it was the thing that spoiled first good impressions.

I hadn’t used it for a long time only about one week the distance about 300 miles round California, Orange County district. So I can’t add something about its reliability, and besides I got almost new car 750 miles at the mileage recorder. The things wondered me was its weak acceleration and big turning radius. Before I thought that my car Outback has excess turning radius because it’s long body, however Cruiser’s is almost one with half meter bigger, however the wheelbase of Cruiser is severely shorter than Outback’s, this it strange. And dynamics for the first I even can’t believe that it has 2,4l displacement, because according the visual impression it seems to be about 2,0l, I even opened the hood to sure that there are really 2,4l. For first two days I really got used to driving it with enough reaction. After several days it wasn’t so strange for me and I even got succeeded in driving it more or less smoothly. However my car is quicker still.

The word that describes this car is oddity. And when you talk about appearance this is good thing but taking into consideration the inner comfort this is not so good… Big steering, long brake’s pedal stroke, bad noise proofing from the engine (or too noisy engine), not comfortable cruise control and headlight control systems. However this is all small details. The really annoyed me is fuel consumption (it wasn’t if car was quicker) and slowly automatic gearbox. In fairness for its money it is reasonable and there are positive too. It is as I mention before vivid appearance, high seats, comfortable seat belt, comfortable front driver and passenger place, I don’t tried rears though and the last enough big trunk. But anyway it is not number first in your garage and even not second. I would buy it as third car for unhurried weekend evening party driving.

Added on 03-20-2006 by Balavan43