Here's what Edmunds.com has to say about the Chrysler PT Cruiser: "Distinctive styling inside and out, spacious cabin with multiconfigurable rear seats, smooth ride, spirited acceleration on turbo models, reasonable pricing. Strong and reassuring brakes round out the PT's compliant road manners."

The PT Cruiser made its debut in 2001, inspired by the old panel vans of the1930s. It was an instant success as one of the first vehicles ushering in the new "retro" trend.

Now many years later, while the initial buzz has faded, this vehicle's usefulness and versatility have not. Car buyers looking for an affordable, roomy vehicle that also happens to be fun to drive and stands out in a crowd, should give the PT a look.

Chrysler's PT Cruiser is available as a four-door wagon or two-door convertible. There's four different trims and three engine options on the wagon. A 150-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine comes standard with the Touring and base models. The GT has a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine that produces 230 horsepower. There's also a 180-horsepower turbo that's an option on the Limited and Touring models.

The convertible has the Touring and GT models with the same three engine choices. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on all of the models, while a four-speed automatic is optional.

We find the PT Cruiser to be a sporty drive, especially when compared to entry-level SUVs. The handling is excellent, there's really surprisingly good steering feedback, and the overall ride quality is quite smooth. While the convertible matches the wagon's drivability, it's the GT model that has the most impressive performance.

Looking back, there was a Dream Cruiser trim that was produced from 2002 to 2004. The convertible debuted in 2005 and interior and exterior upgrades took place in 2006.

If you're interest in getting a PT Cruiser, we have two suggestions to help you save.

You see, we're Car Wholesalers, not a "Retail Car Dealer". This means we're able to purchase cars at Dealer-Only auctions. This is called the "wholesale price", but better known to consumers as "trade-in" value. True trade-in values are the current prices Dealers are paying for vehicles at their own auctions.

Then, because of our low-overhead, "no frills" distribution system, we're able to resell vehicles with a modest markup. The bottom line is that you can purchase your PT Cruiser at or near its trade-in value, depending upon just how well we did at the auction. Savings are typically in the $2,000 to $3,000 range.

ONE: We're always on the lookout for the nicest PT Cruisers for sale at the wholesale Dealer-Only auctions we attend ... and we can buy one specifically for you. Here's where to discover more about our very simple Car Buying Service.

TWO: You can go to Public Car Auctions in your own geographic area. While this will take some additional time and effort on your part, there are indeed truly outstanding buys for those who shop these events.

Here's an article with additional information on locating these auctions and the key issues in using them to your advantage: Find A Chrysler PT Cruiser At Public Auto Auctions In Your Area.

Also ...

If you're interested in a "Brand New" PT Cruiser: People swear by the interesting method detailed in this article for getting the absolute lowest price on a new car.