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"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 02/09/2016 at 16:54 • Filed to: None

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Chrysler !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! the brake cooling ducts in the bumper that the pre-facelift PT Cruisers had.

M54B30 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/09/2016 at 17:15

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My dad had a turbo in this color. Actually a pretty fun car - quick and had a great exhaust sound. Loved hearing the turbo spool.

Very comfortable too. We collectively shit on PTs, but the early Turbo models weren’t bad.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/09/2016 at 18:39

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I’m wondering what’s special about their system that allowed them to patent it. I don’t think I’ve ever owned a car without the brake cooling ducts, and they’ve mostly been older than pt cruisers.

Boxer_4 > M54B30 02/09/2016 at 18:45

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The PT wasn’t a bad car when it was new. It was right in line quality wise with the average economy car at the time, and was unique enough to at least capture everyone’s attention. It was even a pretty big sales success for Chrysler.

The problem was that Chrysler didn’t make any significant changes during its nearly 10 year production run, failing to keep it relevant and up-to-date.

M54B30 > Boxer_4 02/09/2016 at 19:11

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+1 to that. It was a tough design to evolve and I think thats why a lot of retro cars fade away quick. PT, HHR, SSR couldn’t evolve, but the Camaro and Mustang could because they have a long lineage of different styling to draw from. VW deserves a LOT of credit for figuring out how to do a 2nd gen New Beetle.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Boxer_4 02/10/2016 at 00:48

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And according to my parents they, quote “rode like a hay wagon”. in 2003 my parents overnight test drove a PT, the next day they bought a Focus wagon instead. For 4 reasons. 1 the Focus rode more comfortably, 2 the Focus was a stick, 3 The Focus was peppier, possibly because it was a manual, also the Focus had the larger 2.3l Zetec, and 4 the Focus was green.

QCGoose > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 02/10/2016 at 09:12

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Actually the 2.3L on the ‘03-’04 Focus was a Duratec, a PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) engine with a bunch of additonal emissions crap on it, sold in the “green” states.

Boxer_4 > M54B30 02/10/2016 at 13:21

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To be fair, VW has a lot of experience selling similar designs for long amounts of time.

In the case of the Camaro and Mustang, it helps that they they continued to evolve since their ‘60s introductions (lets forget about 2003-2008 for a moment), and that they both have a huge following as enthusiast cars.

Boxer_4 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 02/10/2016 at 13:23

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Well, the PT was designed to qualify as a light truck...

Of the American economy cars at the time, the Focus was definitely the best.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > QCGoose 02/10/2016 at 17:35

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i did not know that. I remember the dealership told my Dad that the bigger engine was only sold in a few states, but they also told him it was more powerful. And yeah. Form wheat I found the 2.0l Zectec made 130hp, where the 23E mada about 144hp. A noticable difference.