Chrysler PT Cruiser Finally Dies, World Rejoices

For such a poorly built and engineered car, the Chrysler PT Cruiser was well regarded by many. Consumers loved its retro styling (well, for a little bit at least), Car and Driver named it to its 10 Best List and it won North American Car of the Year.

Despite the accolades, it wasn’t much fun to drive, hardly eligible for the adjectives “well-built” and “reliable” and had the turning circle of the RMSQueen Mary 2.

Consumers were able to ignore its flaws, and the PT Cruiser sold 1.3 million units in 11 years. Now the PT Cruiser is finally being laid to rest, and the last car is set to roll off the Toluca, Mexico, assembly line.

The PT Cruiser has been granted a couple stays of execution previously (namely because the car was a money maker for Chrysler, with the tooling and platforms paid off long ago). But the PT has been growing long in the tooth, and is being euthanasia to make way for another retro compact car, the Fiat 500.

We have little doubt that the 500 will be better in every single respect, but nonetheless, Autoguide salutes the PT Cruiser for 11 solid years as cheap transportation and a more interesting alternative when it comes time to select a rental car.