2004 CHRYSLER PT Cruiser Convertible 2.4L 5MT (143 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The PT Cruiser was initially launched in 2001, and customers queued in front of dealers’ showrooms to grab one. That led to an increase in prices way above the MSRPs.

But the PT Cruiser frenzy was far from over, and Chrysler noticed an increasing interest in an open-top version. Thus, in 2004, it launched the Convertible.

While the front fascia was clearly carried over from the hatchback version, with tear-shaped headlights and a V-shaped grille that resembled cars from the ’40s, the PT Cruiser convertible showed a different styling from the A-pillars to the back of the vehicle. Yes, it still had those flamboyant fenders, but it only sported two doors. To increase the car’s structural rigidity, the carmaker added a C-pillar with a roll-over bar. Yet, the back of the vehicle featured the same rear-end styling of its hatchback sibling, albeit with a different trunk lid. Last but not least, the canvas top didn’t completely fold and remained exposed behind the rear bench, like in the convertibles from the ’40s.

But Chrysler’s designers looked like they spent too much time creating the exterior and made the cabin at the last minute. Thus, they didn’t have the time to put high-quality materials inside. Moreover, the bean counters insisted that the car had to be affordable so the automaker could sell it to rental companies. So even if the GT trim level featured leather seats, the hard plastic parts from the rest of the cabin spoiled the haute-couture look of the car.

Under the hood, Chrysler installed the same inline-four powerplants available for the Neon range and paired them with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.