2001 PT Cruiser

The other day, we were cruising the streets of L.A. and couldn’t help but notice that a certain popular model of car had been given an update in the styling department. Trouble was, it was tweaked to look a heck of a lot like the hot-selling competition to its left, to the right, up front, and at the rear. It’s becoming darn near impossible to tell most late-model cars from one another at a glance. Sometimes even staring for several minutes concludes in a list of five possibilities. That’s one reason why the PT Cruiser stands out from the crowd--because it stands out from the crowd.

A year old and counting, the Personal Transportation vehicle still grabs attention as it rolls down the road. Sure, hidden beneath the old-is-new looks are Neon-car remnants, but the hip hot-rod appearance tends to numb people of that minor detail. New for 2001 isn’t much: yellow as a color option and limited-edition seats with more flexibility. Carryover for the new year are the low-buck pricing (about $15,000) and the argument as to whether it’s a car or a truck. For now, that’s your pick.

The PT is powered by a 2.4L DOHC mill that’s hooked to either a standard five-speed manual (with a cue-ball shifter, we might point out) or a four-speed auto tranny. The four-cylinder makes 150 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 162 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. A chrome exhaust tip highlights the departure of spent gases.

The suspension is made up of an independent MacPherson-strut and a twist-beam, coil-sprung rear; touring-tuned is standard on the Limited Edition model. It also has rack-and-pinion steering, 15- or 16-inch wheels depending on the model, and front-disc/rear-drum brakes. The optional ABS system with disc brakes includes low-speed traction control.

Inside, standard features include air conditioning, door-trim storage pockets, power windows, a fold-and-tumble rear seat, and an AM/FM/cassette/CD changer.

Ready for the stats? The wheelbase is 103 inches, while its overall length is 168.8 inches. Ground clearance is 6.5 inches, and the overall height is 63 inches. Fuel capacity is 15 gallons.