PT CRUISER THE WAY TO GO

No, I think the European makers won that war hands down back in the 80s.
Some of those cars didn't have a single important control left on the
dash, and have extra stalks added to the column to carry all the
switches

 

Personally, I liked the foot operated dimmer switches better than the
stalk ones. The only downside there was that they tended to corrode
after a few years in our PA winters.


Matt

 

I remember those too. I don't remember a corrosion issue with them though.
Actually, I don't like controls on a stalk at all. In addition to the floor
dimmer switch, I prefer all controls mounted on the dash. I want the stalk
to only operate the signals.

 

Depends on where you live. A few trips across a salted parking lot and
then depress the switch a few times with your salt and water covered
shoes, and after a few years you are ready for a new switch. The good
news is that they were cheap and easy to replace. no need to
disassemble half of the steering column.


Matt

 

I like foot switches with automatics, finger switches with manuals.

I was amazed by the ease of replacing the multifunction switch in my
daughter's '95 Neon -- comparing that to my son's '87 Le Baron....

 

Ayup, and there were like three part numbers for all cars made in the
US. (I'm exaggerating a little, but not much.) Peel back the carpet,
undo two screws and one electrical connector, reassembly is the reverse
etc. etc. etc.

I personally like the dimmer on the stalk, I've grown used to German
cars with one stalk for directionals/high beam and the other for the
wipers. It's very easy, once you figure it out. What I do hate is the
typical GM turn signal stalk controls just about everything except the
seat heaters deal... what an ergonomic nightmare. Why bother to put
the control for the wipers on the stalk when you still have to take your
hand off the wheel to turn the little knobby thing anyway?

nate

 

041215 2005 - James C. Reeves posted:

I recall the first car I had that had the stalk dimmer for the headlights.
It was a 1980 Buick Skylark, one of the GM X-Car models. I bought it new.
The first time that I drove it at night I turned on the lights and the
headlights were on bright. I poked around the floor for the dimmer and
couldn't find it. Then, I recalled that the dimmer was no longer on the
floor in these newer cars. But, where was it? I looked around the dash for
it and couldn't find anything. Then I remembered a joke that was going
around at the time about these new dimmer switches. It was about Polacks,
and why they didn't like the new dimmer switches: it was because they kept
getting their foot caught in the steering wheel. So, I looked around the
steering wheel and the column, and finally moved the turn signal lever on
the left of the column, and found the dimmer on that by pulling it up toward
me.

 

If the base model seems too slow, get the GT (turbo). It will out
sprint most other cars on the road including most Mustangs (including
the '85 GT' and '68 V8), Mercedes C320 sport, Porsche 944 (and 928),
BMW 750, '96 Thunderbird LX V8, and an '85 Nissan 300 ZX Turbo.
But you're right about the lousy mileage and turning radius.

 

The PT Cruiser wouldn't be too slow for you. Here are some 0-60 and
1/4 mile times (in seconds)
http://www.albeedigital.com/supercoupe/articles/0-60times.html :
2003 PT Cruiser GT (Turbo) w/auto 7.2; 15.7
1989 Porsche 944 7.5 15.7
1980 Porsche 924 Turbo 9.3 17.0
1991 Toyota Supra Turbo 7.1 15.6
1991 Nissan NX 2000 7.8 16.1
1985 Nissan 300ZX 8.2 16.4
1985 Nissan 300ZX Turbo (auto) 7.4 15.7
2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT 7.0 15.4
1990 Mazda RX-7 GTU 8.6 16.7

But try fitting a load of 8 foot long 2X4's in any of the others, and
yo're out of luck. They'll fit nicely in the PT Cruiser GT with the
hatch closed.

Mileage and turning radius are not so great though. Although it parks
pretty well despite the turning radius thanks to the rounded front end.

Read more at my PT Cruiser photo gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/robinjoe/pt_cruiser

BTW, I LOVE my PT Cruiser GT.

I love walking up to it, I love sitting it, I love driving it, I love
the higher seating position, I love hitting the accelerator, I love
catching a glimpse of it from a distance, I love loading it with stuff.
What can I say, I'm in love with my car.

Funny thing is I didn't care for them when they first came out. I
thought they were gimmicky, but I didn't realize how practical and fun
they were to drive.

 

I agree 100%. The dimmer switch is ergonomically better on the floor. I
hate having to take one hand off the wheel (or slide it around the wheel
to reach the stalk) in the middle of a curve when a car approaches. I
never found that the dimmer switch conflicted with using the clutch, but
it SURE does interfere with steering.