My Dad never liked the PT. But my Mom got one in "candy apple red" and drove it for almost 20 years. She passed a couple years ago now and guess what Dad drives? That damn red PT Cruiser. ❤
That guy who said “I love it because it was my mom’s car” is so awesome. I respect anyone who loves and takes care of the car, no matter the make and model. The car community is so awesome, and it’s cool to see people having emotional connections with their car and sharing that passion and love with others. Awesome video guys, keep it up! 👍
Seriously. I drive Toyotas because it's what my parents drove. They never had a car that was important enough to pass down. Though I might still be driving my original 99 Camry that was handed down if my brother hadn't totaled it...
@@kuebby i know that feeling. My dad totaled our 93 corolla. It was in immaculate condition because my mom took very good care when it came to keeping it clean and my dad was always on top of the maintenance. I saw it sitting in the junkyard a couple days after the accident and I almost cried.
A friend of mine, Curtis, passed suddenly last year. My own dad had passed over 20 years ago, and Curtis had been a father figure, and certainly a mentor to me. I asked his widow if I could buy his truck. It's nothing special, an 18 Silverado Texas Edition, but it means the world to me.
I don't always agree with the direction that Donut is going but this is honestly one of the best videos you guys have ever made. Loved hearing all these people talking about something they feel such passion for and sharing their memories about it. That's what it's all about.
"Haha of course its an old lady that loves the PT!" "Fran" : "I like it because it reminds me of the old days, trips with my husband, all the friends we've made" "😐😢"
8:36 As a car guy we all know what realm PT's belong to. LOL. But to be honest.... hearing that lady talking about her husband, the trips they had, the friends they made.... Also the way she talks about it gives you a glance of how important this is in her life and how happy it made her along the way. Made me tear up a little. Shame on you Donut putting in that melo music....
"He made the adventure so interesting." Beautiful. Life isnt just about the destination, its about the road you take to get there, and sometimes you drive that road in a PT Cruiser.
This is the first Donut video to make me tear up. My dad loved this car for the same reason as the old lady in the video. "reminds me of old times, the styling". He loved all the old style cars, at one time he had PT Cruiser, Plymouth Prowler and Chevy SSR. I respect you guys so much for doing this video. Made me miss my dad so much. I hope there will be a re-found love for these forgotten cars, not fast, but they invoke memories of the "old times".
Just like '80s and '90s cars are huge right now, I'm sure the 2000s stuff will get its own resurgence and someone will come along to create an event like Radwood to celebrate that era before long.
I have a similar story, but with a dear family friend and serious movie guy (he built a 40 seat theatre inside his RV barn). He owned a turbo PT that he cherished for a very similar reason. Growing up he was poor but was a gear head. He never got to soup up a car back then, so when he saw the PT Cruiser, he saw his chance. He upgraded the turbo and supporting mods, ecu, new head unit and speakers, 5% tint all around, and a slick paint job. He loved the car (and was actually on that colorado cruise that was mentioned among many others). He has since passed away and his grand niece now drives it and takes great care of it.
My son just bought one about a year ago its 06 turbo. He catches shade everytime he goes to buy parts which is often lol. But he likes it and and he is learning how to work on cars with it so I'm sure he will have fond memories of it in the future. The pt community has potential to live on.
Damn this is hitting the feels. PTs are easy to make fun of but after this video I won't throw so much shade so quickly. These folks are awesome and love their cars, and thats what matters most.
It was so much fun hanging with Jimmy, Nolan and the crew!!! The video turned out so great. So cool to see my car in one of these vids... (Mine is the 04 Limited Silver)
I still have my dad’s ‘01 in the garage. It’s funny because the form factor (5dr wagon) is in favor now. You can fit so much stuff in a PT. It’s a great novelty car.
I have been driving since 1966. I have owned many classical cars. I own a 2004 PT Cruiser, Base Model with 5 Speed. My PT Cruiser had just over 97,000 original miles, when I bought it, and is in showroom condition. I love the dash confiuration; the cabin has plenty of head room, (I am 6' 4"). I am impressed by the excellent overall fit and finish of this vehicle. Doors, Windows, Locks, are all made rock solid. The ride is solid, and quiet. The handling is tight and sporty. The 2.4 delivers excellent smooth power, and has a high redline limit, (But I rarely exceed 3,500 RPM). . My PT Cruiser has had its timing belt, thermostat, and water pump replaced. There has been no oil burning; absolutely no coolant loss after more than 1,000 miles of driving, since I bought it. With a new set tires, no other repairs have been needed. The cargo room is impressive, and quite useful. It is a true mini cargo truck. My PT Cruiser was garage kept by an elderly couple. The Butter-Cream paint-finish is flawless, and after a hand/paste wax job, shines like new. This is a true collectable American Classic!
One of your best videos IMO, guys. Great job. "There's a place for everyone under the sun." That line sums up perfectly how the car community should work. Way too much hate out there.
Meh. I paid fifty bucks four years ago, for my 02 woody. Never expected to enjoy it, let alone plan on keeping it long term. Its so uncool, its cool.@@stevenbennett6598
@@arobinscott Fantastic! You must be so proud of her!!! Everyone needs a Grandma like Fran!!! I would love to see Donut do a whole episode on your Grandma & her story 👍🏽
Didn't expect to drop a tear from a Donut video. My mom passed away 5 years ago and she loved those damn PT Cruisers. Now you got me looking on FB market place lol.
My grandpa had a purple pt cruiser for years and he is one of the biggest car enthusiasts I know. Always have respect for them. My grandpa was one of the first people in Illinois with a VW. He ordered a beetle out of a magazine if I recall correctly.
I really appreciate that they were respectful in this, they could have been mocking or giving him a hard time but they were truly respectful throughout.
It’s honestly made me a tad emotional to listen to how such a silly car (to us) can make someone so happy. It’s really keeps me in the “if they are happy, who cares what they drive”
Throughout its history, Donut's usually been really respectful of all corners of the gearhead community-I'm thinking of classic episodes of _Up to Speed_ (including the one on the PT Cruiser), or how Nolan was covering Formula E years ago-they may look like "Bros" but they've consistently been _brothers_ to every car enthusiast out there, no matter who you are or what you drive.
@@GSBarlevmost, I'd say most. James seems to hate truck culture, be it lifted offroaders, lowered Minitrucks, or squated desert racers, he pretty much hates them all... IDK, maybe growing up in Kentucky jaded him.
Yes but not in California, my car would be state reffed even though it's a Kentucky car, I hate the anti-everything state of commie-fornia they hate everything about car enthusiasts there
I was in 5th grade when my dad bought an '03 Dream Cruiser Series 2 (the tangerine orange one) new. Some great memories. We used to get so many looks and waves. It was so fun and I used to feel so cool riding around with him in it. We went to a pt meet in SoCal in like 04 and I remember thousands if modded PTs. Chryler had their own concepts there too like they do for Easter Jeep Safari. Later I took my drivers test in it and passed first try. Then took my girlfriend (now wife) to prom in it. He had it for for like 15 years, even through an engine rebuild. Then the timing belt went and it was time to move on. It was a great car.
@@davidwilmot9895if you hate Saturns then you don’t know that’s mostly all we use on the dirt track lmao. So cheap to fix and who cares of you get a big dent if you hit someone no one gets mad it’s normally hilarious you can barely get fast enough on the track to get hurt
This is spot-on. My grandparents bought a 2002 PT brand new. One has since passed away, the other stopped driving, and the purple PT sits today with expired tags from 2016 in the driveway. At this point, it's a sentimental artifact. I totally agree, these vehicles hit their peak a dozen or so years ago. Major respect to anyone still continuing the enthusiasm.
i had a PT cruiser and the thing was an absolute tank, took a massive beating and kept on keepin on. it was also fun to drive, kind of felt like a go cart. i used to love opening up all the windows and the sun roof at the beach when cruusing down PCH in SoCal. As lame as it may be to some people, i miss that car.
My dad was a car salesman his whole life, and when the Saturn brand was completely new, he signed on to be a salesman for the first Saturn dealership in my city. The car meetups they would have were the best way to get excited about their cars, and they were a lot of fun. BBQ, activites for the kids, door prizes, simple but good stuff. It's a silly thing, but the appreciation you have for you car, shared with others, is a great way to break the ice and meet people. It sets a common point between people from the start. I may not be a fan of the PT Cruiser, but when I see those meetups it brings back good memories for me, and I am happy for them.
I remember the Saturn dealerships when they first came around and they would have popcorn and stuff but they also sold aftermarket parts for them like flamethrower exhaust and stuff back when the first f&f movie came out 😂
I had a 2001 Saturn SL2. Put some snow tires on it and that little car got me all over Colorado snowboarding. Manual transmission too, that was nice. Kind of liked that car. Pretty easy to work on too.
I started getting feelings watching this video because it reminded me of my experiences in the car hobby starting when I was a teenager and how it has changed. In 1987 my dad bought a 1970 Charger and my parents and I used to go car shows and were really active in a local Mopar club. We did cruises, a newsletter, traveled to national car meets, and made a lot of friends and memories. But eventually people move to new cities, take up new hobbies, or pass away. When the core group of car friends moved on it was hard to keep up the enthusiasm of the club and car shows. Today that Charger is gone. Good for Fran and others for carrying the torch for the PT Cruiser and the automotive hobby.
Oh man, I had a 2002 and I loved it. Got me through college as a commuter. I’d take out the back seats and made a little bed of it. I knew it wasn’t the coolest car, but boy did I love it when I saw it at the Chicago Auto Show. Great memories!
My first car was a 2004 purple woody PT Cruiser and owning that car for 11 years left me with a sense of nostalgia from an era I didn't even get to experience. I'm a car enthusiast BECAUSE of that car. I currently drive a '94 woody Roadmaster wagon and it feels like an homage to my old PT
I grew up as the step-son of a hardcore PT guy. Sure, my mom's second husband was a dweeb and his purple PT was pretty meh, but that was my first intro to a true enthusiast group of car owners. They were all so chill, and had so many varying builds. Donut really painted a very good picture of what this was all about
@@darksu6947 I'm very certain the difference between what you said being a joke and being an actual expression of your feelings were completely dependant on what other people would react to it. And also, no. I don't know what humor is, thanks.
My wife has a Limited here in Brazil. She always loved the car and nowadays, I use it the most. It is very practical to remove the seats to carry things. It's really cool to see a video that really tries to understand the community and not just make fun of it. Congrats!
I'm in the middle of a Pt Cruiser build myself... you guys really need to work on boosting the love for this car for sure!!! Believe it or not, it shares a lot of parts with the neon srt4, and as such, I've been working on slowly swapping in srt 4 performance parts where I can and have been working on doing what I can to make it a truly beautiful and fun car
In Germany, the PT Cruiser was never a car for older people. Young and hip families cruised around in it. We had two, but both with Mercedes diesel engine, manual transmission, leather, chrome rims and tinted windows. It was practical, nice to ride and just different. There were the famous three: New Beetle, Fiat 500 and PT Cruiser. Old look with ( rather ) new technology, but only one offered space for shopping and kids.
import some Chevy SSR's and youll be sitting pretty when the love for those neo-retros comes back around! corvette power in a small pickup truck? can you say "Berlin burnouts"?
"In Germany, the PT Cruiser was never a car for older people. Young and hip families cruised around in it." - Der Bruder lebt in ner anderen Zeitachse als wir.
I just found out recently these came with a diesel motor. I've had a few, one with an actual SRT4 swap, and I'd much rather have had a diesel than any other option.
I had an '05 PT GT 5spd that is still my favorite car I've ever owned. GT35 and an e85 tune made over 500whp, and nobody ever expected it. It got totaled on Christmas in 2013, and I've been trying to find another one in decent shape ever since
I thought this was gonna be another video that just exists to poke gun at the PT. Then Donut went and threw a ton of respect in the PT Community. I appreciate that. I'm not a PT owner but I do know they're probably tired of being constantly hated. It's nice to see someone show the PT people some love 😎
Seeing that picture of all of them in a line travelling together was emotional. That is what cars do to people. PT people would have met friends, met husband/wives it must have been an amazing time back when it was thriving. Jimmy please put the horn on yours, that would sound awesome. Great video can't wait to see the green goblin evolve 👍👍
I have an '05 PT convertible with a turbo and stick, and it's absolutely my favorite car out of any I've owned - and there have been many. The PT community is awesome - thanks for making this.
Dude! Totally! When I saw a video about a car, AT THIS CHANNEL... I was like, no way brozo... I watched and also noticed it was fun and nice, very distinct from the usual Donut vibes! These guys lost there minds on this one, I'm certain!
they're moving away from regular builds because they cost too much to produce. prepare yourself for more lists and "culture" features that cost next to nothing to produce
@@StanleyKubick1better than them not being able to pay their employees and or have to cut back on production like most TH-cam channels have had to do… post-pandemic, people have less time to consume content so you’re seeing this across the board. Don’t hate on them for trying new things to keep the dream alive
@@bakerfx4968 Highly disagree with both takes. First off, moving away from regular builds? They have the current Ranger build, and just completely built James BMW. They're not moving away from them. Secondly, id rather have quality over quantity. I dont want a bunch of trash list videos and "we bought crap on Temu" videos. Gimmie car culture, builds, weird idea videos, racing, etc.
@@StanleyKubick1I mean up to speed and wheelhouse were entirely studio based shows, but yeah they are starting to stretch builds over a longer timeframe. TBF all the behind the scenes work for the Baja is probably pulling resources too. I don’t mind, they’re still making kick ass content
Growing up as a teenager in the early 2000's PT's were literally EVERY WHERE. People would often make fun of the way they look and that the drivers had terrible taste in cars. This is a great video showing the real story behind the culture of this car... I wont be laughing in my head every time I see one anymore, RESPECT to you PT people... I think videos like this opens minds to appreciate something they didn't really understand prior.
As someone with what could only be described as a 'curious' taste in cars, this hit home. It's not about the brand, the engine, the power, the status, it's about joy. And that's why I buy and build the cars I do. They make me happy. Sure, other people don't always get it, but they don't need to. This video is a lovely acknowledgement of that. Well done to all involved in making, and well done to Jimmy for being so lovely and courteous throughout.
I appreciate Nolan's commitment to the bit for wearing a shirt and tie while hidden away in a hot van, but I'm loving his dad look later at the big show with that tucked in polo and khakis!
Growing up, my mom had a PT Cruiser and our neighbor accross the street had three of them, one of which was the turbo GT version, two of which were limited editions. Bright orange, yellow, and blue cars. Both our families were part of the local PT Cruiser Club, and we often did Laps for Charity at Texas Motor Speedway and lots of other meets and shows specifically for PT Cruisers. This was in the early 2000s as well, so there was all these wild PT Cruisers with huge subs and sound systems, all the bright colors and decals and neon lights and underglow, airbruishing, etc.. Maybe growing up around a niche car scene is what ultimately planted me into the old 90s Camry scene, which is kind of similar- small, niche, tight knit, and the oddballs out. We've travelled halfway accross the country to meet up with our group members and run the Tail of the Dragon, that type of thing. Anyway, having grown up among the PT scene, it was definitely neat.
I had a PT for a while. My Aunt left it to me when she passed away. She had bought it brand new ans then spent a year driving across Mexico in. I'm a diehard camper van guy so any car is always too small for me but honestly if I was going to have a car, the PT would be on my short list. I loved how the seats folded, flipped and popped out. It was kinda like a tiny van inside. I hauled so much stuff in it. It may look a little silly trying to pull off classic car looks but I'd take that over most other sedans that you couldn't tell apart without the badging. The PT is a car that doesn't take itself too seriously and just has fun.
I have a thriving sidebusiness fixing PT Cruisers. People LOVE them and just want to keep them alive, and they are general not “car people” but much more the type youd expect to buy a old Beetle. I love my turbo stick PT for daily driver use though!
This makes me so happy. I'm not a PT guy but I can really get behind and appreciate the following it had. Do your PT right and make it fast and look cool doing it!
Used to have a '01 PT Cruiser. I needed a car after my used '96 Intrepid got totaled. I wanted a manual and the only one they had at my nearest CarMax was this red PT Cruiser. It surprisingly was roomy and came in handy for hauling weekend project stuff from Home Depot or Lowe's. But I was not heartbroken when it got totaled.
Such a genuine community that is there for the love of their somewhat wacky cars, and the people they meet along the way. So much nicer than 99% of other car communities.
This really drives home the idea that I will watch anything if it involves passionate and knowledgeable people. It could be any number of subjects I wouldn’t normally be interested in a PT cruiser, but good people make for good content. TH-cam is such a wild place and in here for it.
Awesome episode! The wrap and wheels made it look great. I hope to see some on the road. This is the best part of car culture, the friends and community.
I think PTs are still a good looking car to this day. They nailed the retro look in a nice little package. The reason they became hated was they were a cheaply made Neon with a different body, and was LOVED by the older generation. They were everywhere, and all driven by middle age + drivers, so it was the cool young hip thing to make fun of them. My moms first ever brand new car was a PT cruiser, and she loved it. Put a spoiler on it, pin stripes and thought it was great. Sold it to get something bigger after many years, but she still misses it. I remember the ice cream shop owner had PT Cruiser nights, and the local car shows always had a few show up. People who just loved the cars. To be honest, I think the PT community might be the most wholesome car community. They don't bash like JDM, they don't get snooty like Classic car guys can get, and they were all just Happy to have a car they liked. Most of the cars became their kids / grandkids first car and beat up and trashed. I think the PT Cruiser will be a car that we will miss in 10-20 more years
I just had a flood of memories come back, thanks Donut. my dad had two PT's when I was a kid and we bonded over it. So many car shows, so many trophies on top of my closet. My mom and half brother had one too, I inherited mom's with a stage 1 upgrade from Mopar and intake/exhaust. Thing got 13mpg back when premium was $5 a gallon and I was making minimum wage driving 2 hours a day.
I was 5 years old when I saw my first PT cruiser. It was the first car I really cared about. I remember telling my parents I would own one one day. 23 years later, my tastes have changed, but I still appreciate the PT Cruiser for starting my journey as a car enthusiast.
My best friend in high school picked up a PT right after we graduated in '06. Upgraded the intake, turbo, camshaft, and suspension. Thing was actually a beast on the road, just looked goofy. Oh and of course, the most ridiculous sound system I'd ever experienced in a car. Definitely have permanent hearing damage from those days.
I had 2 of them over 18 years and met some of the most incredible people who remain dear friends to this day. FYI when I bought my first one I was 27 years old. My 2-tone purple and vanilla 2004 GT Turbo is still on the road and looks like it just came out of the show room, although I don't own it anymore. The current owner lives in the same area so I am lucky enough to catch glimpses of it now and then! Yes, they were graviating. You loved them or hated them. For those of us that love(d) them, we found a community of wonderful enthusiasts and found adventures together. We traveled to many shows over the years and even drove them on race tracks en masse.
i LOVED this! 2 years ago we bought a 2006 PT turbo convertible (Dream Cruiser edition) with a manual transmission for a cross-country road trip. I was obsessed with the PT when it first came out and now that i'm old, I wanted a retro-hoopty. I put a K&N intake on it and am about to drop a cheap, DNA cat-back exhaust on this sucker. Of all the cars I've owed (from S2000 to Mini Cooper to Fiat Abarth) it's easily towards the top of the 'fun as hell to drive' list. For $4k with 70k miles, couldn't beat that deal!
Ages ago I once saw a pic of a tan PT w a bumper sticker saying: "Cool PT Cruiser... Said no one ever!" I totally appreciated their combo of silly self depreciating humor & self awareness. Ever since that, When I'm out and about & spot a PT from my (Big but not ridiculously BIG)TJ Wrangler .... I wave like CRAZY because ... Well... Just because I guess they might enjoy a wave lol. A friendly wave might make their day 😎or it might simply make them wonder 😋 Either way it's harmless & free fun & it's a habit by now.
Glad to see a non-hating video on these. When I was 7, I went to the Detroit Auto Show in 2005 with my father where they had a setup for the newly released convertible model of the PT Cruiser, and I sat in the back when they closed the top. Since then Ive always liked them. I think the biggest blunder they made was giving the car a very of-the-time interior; other retro-revival cars like the Nissan Figaro had a vintage inspired interior, and those cars are beloved. Id love to see a video on the Chevy HHR or SSR, both are similar ideas to the PT Cruiser, or if youre looking for something weird, even the Plymouth Prowler. One was in the background of a shot; people get bespoke trailers for them! Fun fact, the Prowler is essentially a bodykit for a Jeep Wrangler!
My first car was a 2001 Patriot Blue PT Cruiser. Put a cd player and a cold air intake on it I found at the junkyard . Drove it many years before it sadly ended up in a ditch. I miss it. The sun roof, the big steering wheel, the comfortable leather bucket seats, the chrome rims, the satisfaction of the rumble from that 4 cylinder when I got on it. It was a comfortable car and it glided down the road. My insurance categorized it as a station wagon lol. I told myself if I ever won the lottery or came into a stupid amount of money, I would buy one like my first car and modify it into an absolute monster.
The steering wheel was on purpose. Most of the 40s/50s car the PT Cryiser took its design ques from lacked power steering, thus, steering wheels back then were much larger to provide the extra leverage to steer at low speeds. Thus, the PTC incorporated that as part of the vibe
I have a love of Toyotas and Subarus because when I was a kid, one day my parents came home with 2 new cars. A 97 Toyota Tacoma and a 97 Subaru Outback. Both red. Those were our first brand new cars. My mom actually drive the subaru into our porch and cracked the fog light the day she brought it home lol. But the amazing memories I have in those vehicles in the snow and the mountains of NC were special. I remember one day we were going to our friends house. It dumped snow all night and the tacoma tried to make their steep driveway and wouldn't but the subaru went right up. Imagine being a kid and playing in fresh snow and all your friends are out of school hanging out and playing and riding in the snow in a Tacoma. Nothing better.
This is one of the most wholesome videos in a while. Please upgrade the car but make it a genuine "2024" build, modern style like you started, I think it could be cool again
I'm proud to be part of the PT community. We're an awesome group, there is genuinely no hatred between us. We're all out to help each other with issues. I've been in other car communities, and this is by far the most chill.
Jimmy.. this was truly great journalism. Your tone, your inflection, your seriousness and care in the conversation with the other owners. This was a truly awesome video and I'll be honest... That PT does look dope as heck
I remember in middle school one of the staff had a bright blue PT Cruiser with long neon yellow flames, in the bubbly 90's style, with yellow tint and orange accent lights. 13 year old me thought it was the coolest thing, especially since I got to see it up close every day.
Very wholesome video. The lady taking about their road trips with her husband and friends, we all dream of that regardless of the car we'll be driving.
I owned one for a short time. Most poorly designed car I’ve ever worked on. I tore an engine out of a pickup truck, rebuilt it, put it back in, and got it back in the road, quicker than replacing the head gasket on a pt cruiser.
Really? I pulled the whole engine from one in a junk yard in 2 hours it was a personal best for me at the time. It had some front end damage so bumper & grill were gone n that helped a bit but I didn't think it was to bad
the vw new beetle community is a lot like this. really nice people and a chill time. I've done the annual tail of the dragon meet/cruise a few times but haven't made it back for a few years. It's a shrinking community too sadly, mostly older folks than me who all got hyped for the new beetle back at the turn of the century (when I was a little kid who wanted one!)
Great video. My mom had a first year model and then a later model PT cruiser. She passed away this last year. She wasn't a car person in general but she sure liked those PTs. Very interesting car and was early in the "retro" revival of the early 2000s.
My mom had an 06 silver Limited edition, first car I’ve ever driven, she had it for many years, I used it as my second car so many time to transport stuff around or when my Volvo was in the shop (many times). A lot of memories, a lot of fun, thing was driving well, ounce the exhaust line fell a mile away from home, had to drive back making sparks in the neighborhood 😂 I sold the car for her on marketplace took no time. I remember standing in the driveway seing the PT driving away. It meant something to me, so many moments that car was present for me. Thank you PT Cruiser
In my 2001 Limited, I hauled a stove, a bathtub (twice), a washer, a dryer, lots of lumber, a pressure washer, tons of people, etc. It was cavernous inside and SO practical. I miss my Purple PT.
I'm gonna be honest, I teared up a little hearing Fran talk about her memories and how the community was dwindling. Fran seems great. If an SRT-4 engine swap into that PT can be done... I think that would be pretty cool and on brand.
I didn't like where this was going at first. Like, let's laugh at all folks who drive PTs and find out what's wrong with them. But in the end, this video was respectful. It was really heartwarming to see this woman bring old pictures of a PT rally. Just wanted to give her a hug. You can feel the sadness of people when their world falls slowly apart. Well, i guess that what i'm trying to say is, this video got me emotional for various reasons and I want to thank you guys for showing respect when it could have gone south. - A new subscriber
I had a 2001 PT cruiser when I was in my early twenties. It was the only car I could afford, it was a manual transmission, and every time something would go wrong with it I could open the hood and fix it myself. I fixed my transmission with skateboard parts and a wire hanger once. I hated that car and when I finally got a ford fusion to replace the PT, I realized how much better the PT was. I wish I kept it. The seats folded down so I could fit as much as a pickup truck in there and it always got me to where I was going.
"You can't offend me, look what I drive." I wish everyone in other hobbies was that chill.
I wish everybody had that mindset in general. :)
@@lukasadamson6091 Agreed. Especially nowadays.
What about furries
@@squidikka Everybody said "nowadays" in every days.
@@lukasadamson6091 "And I love it because it was my mom's car!" damn right in the feels
The weirdest cars have the chillest communities
Reminds me of the Reliant Robin meetup from Top Gear.
Well, it kinda makes sense when you think about it. There's nothing for them to be enthusiastic about.
Fr. No hate towards each other
except cadillac allante club..they are fierce !
Unlike Subaru owners 😂. Ask me how I know
This was actually quite heartwarming. They’re enjoying the PT, not hurting anyone. Leave them be.
Yeah right. They'll be in a lot of trouble if they are.
And no one's hurting them lol, you're so dramatic
@@deluge6479 its an axiom
My dad passed away back in 2007 and I remember him saying that he liked this car. Getting a little teary eyed watching this. RIP Dad.
My Dad never liked the PT. But my Mom got one in "candy apple red" and drove it for almost 20 years. She passed a couple years ago now and guess what Dad drives? That damn red PT Cruiser. ❤
@@_ilynux Cheers.
@@trobe23z so did this person die? I want their chrysler
@@_ilynux I want the PT cruiser when they're done with it
Jimmy parked about 16 inches over the line. He's an official PT cruiser guy now.
PT owner at heart lol
He fits right in. Just not into the car park.
😂😂😂😂
Lines don't matter at car meets
He's a "special" agent, not a driver
"That car is a piece of crap!"
_Yes, but it's MY piece of crap_
"... you know what, I respect that."
Is the vibe this whole video gives me.
You just described the MINI community...
That's how I feel about my Echo.
CALL IT CRAP, CHRYSLEER AND CRUISLEER WILL TEACH YOU MANNERS
Gta 3 aah looking car
@@SuperfluousIndividual your face is a poc
That guy who said “I love it because it was my mom’s car” is so awesome. I respect anyone who loves and takes care of the car, no matter the make and model. The car community is so awesome, and it’s cool to see people having emotional connections with their car and sharing that passion and love with others. Awesome video guys, keep it up! 👍
thats so dang sweet, I feel the same way about '91 nissan sentras
Seriously. I drive Toyotas because it's what my parents drove. They never had a car that was important enough to pass down. Though I might still be driving my original 99 Camry that was handed down if my brother hadn't totaled it...
I got emotional watching this video. Not really a “car person” but this made me feel like maybe I can be. Fantastic video!
@@kuebby i know that feeling. My dad totaled our 93 corolla. It was in immaculate condition because my mom took very good care when it came to keeping it clean and my dad was always on top of the maintenance. I saw it sitting in the junkyard a couple days after the accident and I almost cried.
A friend of mine, Curtis, passed suddenly last year. My own dad had passed over 20 years ago, and Curtis had been a father figure, and certainly a mentor to me. I asked his widow if I could buy his truck. It's nothing special, an 18 Silverado Texas Edition, but it means the world to me.
I don't always agree with the direction that Donut is going but this is honestly one of the best videos you guys have ever made. Loved hearing all these people talking about something they feel such passion for and sharing their memories about it. That's what it's all about.
I just wish the video was longer
"Haha of course its an old lady that loves the PT!"
"Fran" : "I like it because it reminds me of the old days, trips with my husband, all the friends we've made"
"😐😢"
Yeah that whole interaction there was very wistful. :(
Me crying during a donut video... friggin jerks
That’s so sweet it broke my heart.
Yeah this video was way more wholesome than i was expecting. I came here to laugh, not to FEEEEEEEEL
Came for the memes, stayed for the feels
Nolan in the backseat “Don’t turn around” had me laughing to tears
12:33
😂 hahahahaha You’re right
Just fucking died at this scene and had to pause haha.
Oh man, yes !
I lost it..
Fran was so wholesome and was truly passionate about her love for the car which is awesome no matter how crappy people may see the car being.
Hearing her talk about that car and the memories her and her husband made it put such a huge smile on my face
I thought they were cool as a kid. Like hot rod but in the future
The way Nolan said "we got some STUPID ideas" got me real fired up lol
8:36 As a car guy we all know what realm PT's belong to. LOL.
But to be honest.... hearing that lady talking about her husband, the trips they had, the friends they made....
Also the way she talks about it gives you a glance of how important this is in her life and how happy it made her along the way.
Made me tear up a little.
Shame on you Donut putting in that melo music....
it kinda made it more sweet, idk just me
@@Rio_SenpaiYT Yeah I meant positive feels.
you could say that it melt our hearts. somber but really sweet
The music helped drive the point home. People like their cars for their own reasons that you don't know. Just give a smile, thumbs up, and "cool car!"
I felt that too. Her husband felt like he wasn't in her life anymore, the car is what ties her to him and her friends. It made me tear up too.
"He made the adventure so interesting." Beautiful.
Life isnt just about the destination, its about the road you take to get there, and sometimes you drive that road in a PT Cruiser.
❤
Anyone who says a Pimped out PT Cruiser is not cool is Trippin lol. ❤
Agreed@@smith5796
Love this...I love mine❤
This is the first Donut video to make me tear up. My dad loved this car for the same reason as the old lady in the video. "reminds me of old times, the styling". He loved all the old style cars, at one time he had PT Cruiser, Plymouth Prowler and Chevy SSR. I respect you guys so much for doing this video. Made me miss my dad so much. I hope there will be a re-found love for these forgotten cars, not fast, but they invoke memories of the "old times".
Those prowlers look so cool I don’t care how hated they are by a lot of the car community
Thank you for sharing your memories.
Just like '80s and '90s cars are huge right now, I'm sure the 2000s stuff will get its own resurgence and someone will come along to create an event like Radwood to celebrate that era before long.
I have a similar story, but with a dear family friend and serious movie guy (he built a 40 seat theatre inside his RV barn). He owned a turbo PT that he cherished for a very similar reason. Growing up he was poor but was a gear head. He never got to soup up a car back then, so when he saw the PT Cruiser, he saw his chance. He upgraded the turbo and supporting mods, ecu, new head unit and speakers, 5% tint all around, and a slick paint job. He loved the car (and was actually on that colorado cruise that was mentioned among many others). He has since passed away and his grand niece now drives it and takes great care of it.
I might buy one now since the older generation says it reminds them of old school cars. I always love old school look
My son just bought one about a year ago its 06 turbo. He catches shade everytime he goes to buy parts which is often lol. But he likes it and and he is learning how to work on cars with it so I'm sure he will have fond memories of it in the future. The pt community has potential to live on.
I know a guy that had one, he did some simple mods and was running mid 12s in it. It was a quick little thing.
Nightmare to work on but the meme potential is unreal with PT GTs
Damn this is hitting the feels. PTs are easy to make fun of but after this video I won't throw so much shade so quickly. These folks are awesome and love their cars, and thats what matters most.
this 🙌
What car culture is all about. I try never to make fun of someone's car. They love it for some reason.
Then you get the realization that people like different things. If it isn't hurting anybody, then its stupid to make fun of them for it.
💯
@@83mk18except when the mods make their car more dangerous for others (like squatted trucks). They deserve ALL the ridicule.
Fran is a phenomenal example of car community passion.
I love Fran!!! Let's make her and her car famous!!!
@@ericmojo9192I'm on board for this.
It was so much fun hanging with Jimmy, Nolan and the crew!!! The video turned out so great. So cool to see my car in one of these vids... (Mine is the 04 Limited Silver)
How did you get into PT cruisers? The community or just the car itself?
Sick car 🔥
I still have my dad’s ‘01 in the garage. It’s funny because the form factor (5dr wagon) is in favor now. You can fit so much stuff in a PT. It’s a great novelty car.
Nice!!!
The one with the flames?
I have been driving since 1966. I have owned many classical cars. I own a 2004 PT Cruiser, Base Model with 5 Speed. My PT Cruiser had just over 97,000 original miles, when I bought it, and is in showroom condition. I love the dash confiuration; the cabin has plenty of head room, (I am 6' 4"). I am impressed by the excellent overall fit and finish of this vehicle. Doors, Windows, Locks, are all made rock solid. The ride is solid, and quiet. The handling is tight and sporty. The 2.4 delivers excellent smooth power, and has a high redline limit, (But I rarely exceed 3,500 RPM). . My PT Cruiser has had its timing belt, thermostat, and water pump replaced. There has been no oil burning; absolutely no coolant loss after more than 1,000 miles of driving, since I bought it. With a new set tires, no other repairs have been needed. The cargo room is impressive, and quite useful. It is a true mini cargo truck. My PT Cruiser was garage kept by an elderly couple. The Butter-Cream paint-finish is flawless, and after a hand/paste wax job, shines like new. This is a true collectable American Classic!
One of your best videos IMO, guys. Great job. "There's a place for everyone under the sun." That line sums up perfectly how the car community should work. Way too much hate out there.
I was thinking the same thing man.👌
My car taste is better than yours though. Why aren't you doing your vehicles how I want mine done?! Bigot...
Alright but the PT Cruiser is disgusting.
💯
Meh. I paid fifty bucks four years ago, for my 02 woody. Never expected to enjoy it, let alone plan on keeping it long term. Its so uncool, its cool.@@stevenbennett6598
Man.... Fran had me in bits.😢
What a lovely lady. Respect to Fran.
Fran must be protected at ALL costs!
That’s my grandma!! She’s amazing
@@arobinscott Fantastic! You must be so proud of her!!! Everyone needs a Grandma like Fran!!! I would love to see Donut do a whole episode on your Grandma & her story 👍🏽
@@arobinscottno way
@@arobinscottlike really or like she reminds you of your grandma
Didn't expect to drop a tear from a Donut video. My mom passed away 5 years ago and she loved those damn PT Cruisers. Now you got me looking on FB market place lol.
Get a GT it's basically an SRT4 lol
@@YvngQ I didn’t know the Celica was made by Chrysler
@@benscott3603he’s talking about the neon srt4
@@benscott3603what?
❤get one bro, slap a lil tv in it ❤❤
My grandpa had a purple pt cruiser for years and he is one of the biggest car enthusiasts I know. Always have respect for them. My grandpa was one of the first people in Illinois with a VW. He ordered a beetle out of a magazine if I recall correctly.
I really appreciate that they were respectful in this, they could have been mocking or giving him a hard time but they were truly respectful throughout.
It’s honestly made me a tad emotional to listen to how such a silly car (to us) can make someone so happy. It’s really keeps me in the “if they are happy, who cares what they drive”
Throughout its history, Donut's usually been really respectful of all corners of the gearhead community-I'm thinking of classic episodes of _Up to Speed_ (including the one on the PT Cruiser), or how Nolan was covering Formula E years ago-they may look like "Bros" but they've consistently been _brothers_ to every car enthusiast out there, no matter who you are or what you drive.
Yep! It may be weird car, but they have cool owners. Car people are always receptive to other car people. We just get it.
@@GSBarlevmost, I'd say most. James seems to hate truck culture, be it lifted offroaders, lowered Minitrucks, or squated desert racers, he pretty much hates them all... IDK, maybe growing up in Kentucky jaded him.
@@firefighter1c57 if I had to see squatted trucks everyday of my life I likely would hate trucks too
“Don’t turn around, status report” had me howling 😂
real😂😂
It was very well done.
Mason, the numbers!
There needs to be a part 2 to this.
Donut needs to make the ultimate PT Cruiser get together.
THIS
Yes but not in California, my car would be state reffed even though it's a Kentucky car, I hate the anti-everything state of commie-fornia they hate everything about car enthusiasts there
I'd watch it, can't wait for PT Fest
Or infiltrate the fiat multipla community
And invite fran 🫡
I was in 5th grade when my dad bought an '03 Dream Cruiser Series 2 (the tangerine orange one) new. Some great memories. We used to get so many looks and waves. It was so fun and I used to feel so cool riding around with him in it. We went to a pt meet in SoCal in like 04 and I remember thousands if modded PTs. Chryler had their own concepts there too like they do for Easter Jeep Safari. Later I took my drivers test in it and passed first try. Then took my girlfriend (now wife) to prom in it. He had it for for like 15 years, even through an engine rebuild. Then the timing belt went and it was time to move on. It was a great car.
RIP PT Cruiser
I thought they were gonna mock these people but it ended being really sweet and respectful ❤
First donut video to make me cry
The only community we hating around here are the Saturn people 😂😂😂
@@davidwilmot9895Oh that’s happening? I don’t see them though.
@@davidwilmot9895if you hate Saturns then you don’t know that’s mostly all we use on the dirt track lmao. So cheap to fix and who cares of you get a big dent if you hit someone no one gets mad it’s normally hilarious you can barely get fast enough on the track to get hurt
@@davidwilmot9895nothing wrong with saturns
I love how car lovers can turn boring cars into badass cars.
Link us to the video where you saw that 😂
@@GTIFabric 1:23 a 440 swapped pt gasser is pretty badass ngl.
@m4rauder same as Honda civic. Use to be a little groceries getter now a huge cult community for these fast lawnmower
"Any car can be an enthusiast's car if you're enthusiastic." -Abraham Lincoln
@@jjwrx8 the bell housing would be sitting in inch from your waist, but YES
This is spot-on. My grandparents bought a 2002 PT brand new. One has since passed away, the other stopped driving, and the purple PT sits today with expired tags from 2016 in the driveway. At this point, it's a sentimental artifact. I totally agree, these vehicles hit their peak a dozen or so years ago. Major respect to anyone still continuing the enthusiasm.
Hey maybe try cleaning it up for them, maybe get it inspected and take your left grandparent for a ride on it. I'm sure they would love it. :)
You have a responsibility now. A mission!
Bring it back to life!
Dude get that car back on the road!
Bro you need to fix it up and get her back on the road 💯
i had a PT cruiser and the thing was an absolute tank, took a massive beating and kept on keepin on. it was also fun to drive, kind of felt like a go cart. i used to love opening up all the windows and the sun roof at the beach when cruusing down PCH in SoCal. As lame as it may be to some people, i miss that car.
My dad was a car salesman his whole life, and when the Saturn brand was completely new, he signed on to be a salesman for the first Saturn dealership in my city. The car meetups they would have were the best way to get excited about their cars, and they were a lot of fun. BBQ, activites for the kids, door prizes, simple but good stuff. It's a silly thing, but the appreciation you have for you car, shared with others, is a great way to break the ice and meet people. It sets a common point between people from the start. I may not be a fan of the PT Cruiser, but when I see those meetups it brings back good memories for me, and I am happy for them.
I remember the Saturn dealerships when they first came around and they would have popcorn and stuff but they also sold aftermarket parts for them like flamethrower exhaust and stuff back when the first f&f movie came out 😂
I grew up around a Saturn dealership nothing but fond memories
I had a 2001 Saturn SL2. Put some snow tires on it and that little car got me all over Colorado snowboarding. Manual transmission too, that was nice. Kind of liked that car. Pretty easy to work on too.
Fuck yeah dude 💪 Saturn life
It's NOT about the cars, it's about the PEOPLE! A car show without people is a parking lot! Car communities bring people together great video!
I started getting feelings watching this video because it reminded me of my experiences in the car hobby starting when I was a teenager and how it has changed. In 1987 my dad bought a 1970 Charger and my parents and I used to go car shows and were really active in a local Mopar club. We did cruises, a newsletter, traveled to national car meets, and made a lot of friends and memories. But eventually people move to new cities, take up new hobbies, or pass away. When the core group of car friends moved on it was hard to keep up the enthusiasm of the club and car shows. Today that Charger is gone. Good for Fran and others for carrying the torch for the PT Cruiser and the automotive hobby.
Oh man, I had a 2002 and I loved it. Got me through college as a commuter. I’d take out the back seats and made a little bed of it. I knew it wasn’t the coolest car, but boy did I love it when I saw it at the Chicago Auto Show. Great memories!
My first car was a 2004 purple woody PT Cruiser and owning that car for 11 years left me with a sense of nostalgia from an era I didn't even get to experience. I'm a car enthusiast BECAUSE of that car. I currently drive a '94 woody Roadmaster wagon and it feels like an homage to my old PT
Great taste in cars. That’s awesome. Keep that wagon as long as you can.
those wagons are magnificent! cherish that beauty, I yearn for a roadmaster stronger than children for the mines
Aw man, the Oldsmobile version of your wagon was my first car! They're so comfortable! Take it to the drive in sometime.
I grew up as the step-son of a hardcore PT guy. Sure, my mom's second husband was a dweeb and his purple PT was pretty meh, but that was my first intro to a true enthusiast group of car owners. They were all so chill, and had so many varying builds. Donut really painted a very good picture of what this was all about
Is your mother looking for her third husband yet? Tell her I said hello.......sorry, I couldn't help myself 😂
@@darksu6947
Why are you so interested in a stranger's mother?
@@9a_23_tyrantqiu7 Ever heard of a joke? Perhaps a thing called humor? 🤔
@@darksu6947 I'm very certain the difference between what you said being a joke and being an actual expression of your feelings were completely dependant on what other people would react to it.
And also, no. I don't know what humor is, thanks.
@@9a_23_tyrantqiu7 Man your one of those guy on the interweeb that get offended by every joke and comment isnt ?
My wife has a Limited here in Brazil. She always loved the car and nowadays, I use it the most. It is very practical to remove the seats to carry things. It's really cool to see a video that really tries to understand the community and not just make fun of it. Congrats!
THIS! This right here is the true meaning of a car community and I'm all for it. Props for everyone who owns one and stylizes it their own way.
I'm in the middle of a Pt Cruiser build myself... you guys really need to work on boosting the love for this car for sure!!! Believe it or not, it shares a lot of parts with the neon srt4, and as such, I've been working on slowly swapping in srt 4 performance parts where I can and have been working on doing what I can to make it a truly beautiful and fun car
Iirc the GT model borrowed the SRT4 from the Neon.
The fact that they upgraded this PT cruiser whilst working on their off-roader is prime Donut.
Pretty much all of the upgrades in the PT are PnP. Still an amazing task though, shows how their schedule are crafted perfectly.
In Germany, the PT Cruiser was never a car for older people. Young and hip families cruised around in it. We had two, but both with Mercedes diesel engine, manual transmission, leather, chrome rims and tinted windows. It was practical, nice to ride and just different. There were the famous three: New Beetle, Fiat 500 and PT Cruiser. Old look with ( rather ) new technology, but only one offered space for shopping and kids.
If I had the option to buy a PT with a diesel and 3 pedals I would have felt differently about them too.
import some Chevy SSR's and youll be sitting pretty when the love for those neo-retros comes back around! corvette power in a small pickup truck? can you say "Berlin burnouts"?
@@matthewharr6372 Could get the 2.4 Turbo and 5 speef manual from the SRT4 neon in them. Basically makes torque like a diesel.
"In Germany, the PT Cruiser was never a car for older people. Young and hip families cruised around in it."
- Der Bruder lebt in ner anderen Zeitachse als wir.
I just found out recently these came with a diesel motor. I've had a few, one with an actual SRT4 swap, and I'd much rather have had a diesel than any other option.
I had an '05 PT GT 5spd that is still my favorite car I've ever owned. GT35 and an e85 tune made over 500whp, and nobody ever expected it. It got totaled on Christmas in 2013, and I've been trying to find another one in decent shape ever since
GT's are sleepers, if you know you know!
I’ll sell you one
I thought this was gonna be another video that just exists to poke gun at the PT. Then Donut went and threw a ton of respect in the PT Community. I appreciate that. I'm not a PT owner but I do know they're probably tired of being constantly hated. It's nice to see someone show the PT people some love 😎
Once she pulled the pictures out, it was over for my eyes lol. Great video about the PT and just general communities!
Why am I crying when Fran is talking about the Colorado Springs trip. Damn you Donut and your emotional music insert
Seeing that picture of all of them in a line travelling together was emotional. That is what cars do to people. PT people would have met friends, met husband/wives it must have been an amazing time back when it was thriving. Jimmy please put the horn on yours, that would sound awesome. Great video can't wait to see the green goblin evolve 👍👍
I have an '05 PT convertible with a turbo and stick, and it's absolutely my favorite car out of any I've owned - and there have been many.
The PT community is awesome - thanks for making this.
What state are you located in? I'm in Kentucky, I'm trying to get more pt cruiser people in my life
@@damienfaust2108 NY state.
That’s somehow both ironically and unironically awesome 😂
I hope you have a blow off valve, that would complete the build!
Such a random topic I love it 😂
Watched the video; did not expect it to be this positive and wholesome. Great video!
Dude! Totally! When I saw a video about a car, AT THIS CHANNEL... I was like, no way brozo... I watched and also noticed it was fun and nice, very distinct from the usual Donut vibes! These guys lost there minds on this one, I'm certain!
@@gurabirierosanopara620 Uuuuh yeah totally
Love the evolution of the channel. I still miss money pit and up to speeds, but the newer content has also delivered. Keep it up guys!!
they're moving away from regular builds because they cost too much to produce. prepare yourself for more lists and "culture" features that cost next to nothing to produce
@@StanleyKubick1better than them not being able to pay their employees and or have to cut back on production like most TH-cam channels have had to do… post-pandemic, people have less time to consume content so you’re seeing this across the board.
Don’t hate on them for trying new things to keep the dream alive
What could be more "money pit" than a PT Cruiser?
@@bakerfx4968 Highly disagree with both takes. First off, moving away from regular builds? They have the current Ranger build, and just completely built James BMW. They're not moving away from them. Secondly, id rather have quality over quantity. I dont want a bunch of trash list videos and "we bought crap on Temu" videos. Gimmie car culture, builds, weird idea videos, racing, etc.
@@StanleyKubick1I mean up to speed and wheelhouse were entirely studio based shows, but yeah they are starting to stretch builds over a longer timeframe. TBF all the behind the scenes work for the Baja is probably pulling resources too. I don’t mind, they’re still making kick ass content
Growing up as a teenager in the early 2000's PT's were literally EVERY WHERE. People would often make fun of the way they look and that the drivers had terrible taste in cars.
This is a great video showing the real story behind the culture of this car...
I wont be laughing in my head every time I see one anymore, RESPECT to you PT people... I think videos like this opens minds to appreciate something they didn't really understand prior.
As someone with what could only be described as a 'curious' taste in cars, this hit home. It's not about the brand, the engine, the power, the status, it's about joy. And that's why I buy and build the cars I do. They make me happy. Sure, other people don't always get it, but they don't need to. This video is a lovely acknowledgement of that. Well done to all involved in making, and well done to Jimmy for being so lovely and courteous throughout.
This is like 3 or 4 good Donut episodes in a row, no trash filler "Lists" or "we bought stupid shit" episodes. Is Donut back???
This one feels a little rushed but I do like the recent content
They never left
Calm down Charlie Brown
Donut never left.
I love the lists and the we bought stupid shit episodes 😂
I appreciate Nolan's commitment to the bit for wearing a shirt and tie while hidden away in a hot van, but I'm loving his dad look later at the big show with that tucked in polo and khakis!
Growing up, my mom had a PT Cruiser and our neighbor accross the street had three of them, one of which was the turbo GT version, two of which were limited editions. Bright orange, yellow, and blue cars. Both our families were part of the local PT Cruiser Club, and we often did Laps for Charity at Texas Motor Speedway and lots of other meets and shows specifically for PT Cruisers. This was in the early 2000s as well, so there was all these wild PT Cruisers with huge subs and sound systems, all the bright colors and decals and neon lights and underglow, airbruishing, etc.. Maybe growing up around a niche car scene is what ultimately planted me into the old 90s Camry scene, which is kind of similar- small, niche, tight knit, and the oddballs out. We've travelled halfway accross the country to meet up with our group members and run the Tail of the Dragon, that type of thing. Anyway, having grown up among the PT scene, it was definitely neat.
I had a PT for a while. My Aunt left it to me when she passed away. She had bought it brand new ans then spent a year driving across Mexico in. I'm a diehard camper van guy so any car is always too small for me but honestly if I was going to have a car, the PT would be on my short list. I loved how the seats folded, flipped and popped out. It was kinda like a tiny van inside. I hauled so much stuff in it. It may look a little silly trying to pull off classic car looks but I'd take that over most other sedans that you couldn't tell apart without the badging. The PT is a car that doesn't take itself too seriously and just has fun.
I have a thriving sidebusiness fixing PT Cruisers. People LOVE them and just want to keep them alive, and they are general not “car people” but much more the type youd expect to buy a old Beetle. I love my turbo stick PT for daily driver use though!
Also they are making a comeback, many people are actively buying them in good shape now. I can sell them just as fast as I can fix them
This makes me so happy. I'm not a PT guy but I can really get behind and appreciate the following it had. Do your PT right and make it fast and look cool doing it!
Used to have a '01 PT Cruiser. I needed a car after my used '96 Intrepid got totaled. I wanted a manual and the only one they had at my nearest CarMax was this red PT Cruiser. It surprisingly was roomy and came in handy for hauling weekend project stuff from Home Depot or Lowe's. But I was not heartbroken when it got totaled.
Such a genuine community that is there for the love of their somewhat wacky cars, and the people they meet along the way.
So much nicer than 99% of other car communities.
This was such an S-tier video. Really out of left field with it starting absolutely hilarious and ending incredibly wholesome
this is really wholesome. it's cool to see all these people meeting up and making meaningful friendships
This really drives home the idea that I will watch anything if it involves passionate and knowledgeable people. It could be any number of subjects I wouldn’t normally be interested in a PT cruiser, but good people make for good content. TH-cam is such a wild place and in here for it.
Awesome episode! The wrap and wheels made it look great. I hope to see some on the road. This is the best part of car culture, the friends and community.
I think PTs are still a good looking car to this day. They nailed the retro look in a nice little package. The reason they became hated was they were a cheaply made Neon with a different body, and was LOVED by the older generation. They were everywhere, and all driven by middle age + drivers, so it was the cool young hip thing to make fun of them.
My moms first ever brand new car was a PT cruiser, and she loved it. Put a spoiler on it, pin stripes and thought it was great. Sold it to get something bigger after many years, but she still misses it. I remember the ice cream shop owner had PT Cruiser nights, and the local car shows always had a few show up. People who just loved the cars.
To be honest, I think the PT community might be the most wholesome car community. They don't bash like JDM, they don't get snooty like Classic car guys can get, and they were all just Happy to have a car they liked.
Most of the cars became their kids / grandkids first car and beat up and trashed. I think the PT Cruiser will be a car that we will miss in 10-20 more years
They would probably have a massive following if they were RWD
@BrianEugeneLee-xq2hyno they don’t dude let’s not get crazy here lol
to me it looks ugly, impractical and posh. Reminds me of the cybertruck.
@@ChrisWijtmans I have no idea if "posh" is a compliment or a criticism, and "ugly" is subjective. But they are about as "impractical" as a minivan.
@@jefferystillwell2121 yep my opinion is mainly subjective.
I just had a flood of memories come back, thanks Donut. my dad had two PT's when I was a kid and we bonded over it. So many car shows, so many trophies on top of my closet. My mom and half brother had one too, I inherited mom's with a stage 1 upgrade from Mopar and intake/exhaust. Thing got 13mpg back when premium was $5 a gallon and I was making minimum wage driving 2 hours a day.
I was 5 years old when I saw my first PT cruiser. It was the first car I really cared about. I remember telling my parents I would own one one day. 23 years later, my tastes have changed, but I still appreciate the PT Cruiser for starting my journey as a car enthusiast.
My best friend in high school picked up a PT right after we graduated in '06. Upgraded the intake, turbo, camshaft, and suspension. Thing was actually a beast on the road, just looked goofy.
Oh and of course, the most ridiculous sound system I'd ever experienced in a car. Definitely have permanent hearing damage from those days.
Ok, i didnt expect to be jealous of Pt Cruiser owners when i started watching. Such a nice group
I had 2 of them over 18 years and met some of the most incredible people who remain dear friends to this day. FYI when I bought my first one I was 27 years old. My 2-tone purple and vanilla 2004 GT Turbo is still on the road and looks like it just came out of the show room, although I don't own it anymore. The current owner lives in the same area so I am lucky enough to catch glimpses of it now and then! Yes, they were graviating. You loved them or hated them. For those of us that love(d) them, we found a community of wonderful enthusiasts and found adventures together. We traveled to many shows over the years and even drove them on race tracks en masse.
When nolan was in the back and said "dont turn around " made me spit out my food 😂
i LOVED this! 2 years ago we bought a 2006 PT turbo convertible (Dream Cruiser edition) with a manual transmission for a cross-country road trip. I was obsessed with the PT when it first came out and now that i'm old, I wanted a retro-hoopty. I put a K&N intake on it and am about to drop a cheap, DNA cat-back exhaust on this sucker. Of all the cars I've owed (from S2000 to Mini Cooper to Fiat Abarth) it's easily towards the top of the 'fun as hell to drive' list. For $4k with 70k miles, couldn't beat that deal!
Ages ago I once saw a pic of a tan PT w a bumper sticker saying: "Cool PT Cruiser... Said no one ever!"
I totally appreciated their combo of silly self depreciating humor & self awareness.
Ever since that, When I'm out and about & spot a PT from my (Big but not ridiculously BIG)TJ Wrangler ....
I wave like CRAZY because ... Well... Just because I guess they might enjoy a wave lol.
A friendly wave might make their day 😎or it might simply make them wonder 😋
Either way it's harmless & free fun & it's a habit by now.
Glad to see a non-hating video on these. When I was 7, I went to the Detroit Auto Show in 2005 with my father where they had a setup for the newly released convertible model of the PT Cruiser, and I sat in the back when they closed the top. Since then Ive always liked them. I think the biggest blunder they made was giving the car a very of-the-time interior; other retro-revival cars like the Nissan Figaro had a vintage inspired interior, and those cars are beloved. Id love to see a video on the Chevy HHR or SSR, both are similar ideas to the PT Cruiser, or if youre looking for something weird, even the Plymouth Prowler. One was in the background of a shot; people get bespoke trailers for them! Fun fact, the Prowler is essentially a bodykit for a Jeep Wrangler!
My first car was a 2001 Patriot Blue PT Cruiser. Put a cd player and a cold air intake on it I found at the junkyard . Drove it many years before it sadly ended up in a ditch. I miss it. The sun roof, the big steering wheel, the comfortable leather bucket seats, the chrome rims, the satisfaction of the rumble from that 4 cylinder when I got on it. It was a comfortable car and it glided down the road. My insurance categorized it as a station wagon lol. I told myself if I ever won the lottery or came into a stupid amount of money, I would buy one like my first car and modify it into an absolute monster.
The steering wheel was on purpose. Most of the 40s/50s car the PT Cryiser took its design ques from lacked power steering, thus, steering wheels back then were much larger to provide the extra leverage to steer at low speeds. Thus, the PTC incorporated that as part of the vibe
Those wheels, wrap and exhaust are so money! Definitely the coolest PT Crusier I've ever seen.
I have a love of Toyotas and Subarus because when I was a kid, one day my parents came home with 2 new cars. A 97 Toyota Tacoma and a 97 Subaru Outback. Both red. Those were our first brand new cars. My mom actually drive the subaru into our porch and cracked the fog light the day she brought it home lol. But the amazing memories I have in those vehicles in the snow and the mountains of NC were special. I remember one day we were going to our friends house. It dumped snow all night and the tacoma tried to make their steep driveway and wouldn't but the subaru went right up. Imagine being a kid and playing in fresh snow and all your friends are out of school hanging out and playing and riding in the snow in a Tacoma. Nothing better.
This is one of the most wholesome videos in a while. Please upgrade the car but make it a genuine "2024" build, modern style like you started, I think it could be cool again
I'm proud to be part of the PT community. We're an awesome group, there is genuinely no hatred between us. We're all out to help each other with issues. I've been in other car communities, and this is by far the most chill.
Donut needs more videos like this again where it’s about a community and not a silly idea
Yo I fucking loved this. Thanks for going the wholesome route when you saw how genuine these people were
Jimmy.. this was truly great journalism. Your tone, your inflection, your seriousness and care in the conversation with the other owners. This was a truly awesome video and I'll be honest... That PT does look dope as heck
as a proud neon owner, that shares a lot of parts with the pt, i welcome them. hope that all the pt owners out there are having fun
I graduated in 2008 and PT's were everywhere. My sister's friend had one as well and his sound system was insane lol
I remember in middle school one of the staff had a bright blue PT Cruiser with long neon yellow flames, in the bubbly 90's style, with yellow tint and orange accent lights. 13 year old me thought it was the coolest thing, especially since I got to see it up close every day.
Very wholesome video. The lady taking about their road trips with her husband and friends, we all dream of that regardless of the car we'll be driving.
*Timestamps for the video*
Start: 0:00
End: 15:40
Can't thank you enough, you saved me so much time
People like you save me so much time 🙏
real one 👏
Thank you
God I needed these timestamps today 🥵🙂↕️🙂↕️🙂↕️
I owned one for a short time. Most poorly designed car I’ve ever worked on. I tore an engine out of a pickup truck, rebuilt it, put it back in, and got it back in the road, quicker than replacing the head gasket on a pt cruiser.
Really? I pulled the whole engine from one in a junk yard in 2 hours it was a personal best for me at the time. It had some front end damage so bumper & grill were gone n that helped a bit but I didn't think it was to bad
I made the dumb mistake of treating it like an old Chevy and I replaced the head gasket with the engine still in the car.
the vw new beetle community is a lot like this. really nice people and a chill time. I've done the annual tail of the dragon meet/cruise a few times but haven't made it back for a few years. It's a shrinking community too sadly, mostly older folks than me who all got hyped for the new beetle back at the turn of the century (when I was a little kid who wanted one!)
Great video. My mom had a first year model and then a later model PT cruiser. She passed away this last year. She wasn't a car person in general but she sure liked those PTs.
Very interesting car and was early in the "retro" revival of the early 2000s.
I think it is ironic and weird (just like the PT) that this is, in fact, the BEST and most sentimental video by Donut to this day.
My mom had an 06 silver Limited edition, first car I’ve ever driven, she had it for many years, I used it as my second car so many time to transport stuff around or when my Volvo was in the shop (many times). A lot of memories, a lot of fun, thing was driving well, ounce the exhaust line fell a mile away from home, had to drive back making sparks in the neighborhood 😂 I sold the car for her on marketplace took no time. I remember standing in the driveway seing the PT driving away. It meant something to me, so many moments that car was present for me. Thank you PT Cruiser
In my 2001 Limited, I hauled a stove, a bathtub (twice), a washer, a dryer, lots of lumber, a pressure washer, tons of people, etc. It was cavernous inside and SO practical. I miss my Purple PT.
Jimmy is the best dude, this was wholesome as hell
How you managed to carry the cadence of emotion for such an obscure car niche, was gold. I Felt. I am currently looking at PT cruisers on marketplace.
I'm gonna be honest, I teared up a little hearing Fran talk about her memories and how the community was dwindling. Fran seems great.
If an SRT-4 engine swap into that PT can be done... I think that would be pretty cool and on brand.
From my knowledge the 2.4 turbo version did have that engine from the factory. Maybe detuned but still the same
Yeah they made a factory turbo version.
The pt cruiser gt got the srt-4 motor
I heard about people dropping in hemis in them.. woulda been nice to own one back in the day
@@elitesniper923 Oh? surprised I didn't see more of those. Did they get the full treatment with LSD and no de-tuning?
Thanks for being awesome about this. I hate that car, but everyone should get to love what they love
I didn't like where this was going at first. Like, let's laugh at all folks who drive PTs and find out what's wrong with them. But in the end, this video was respectful. It was really heartwarming to see this woman bring old pictures of a PT rally. Just wanted to give her a hug. You can feel the sadness of people when their world falls slowly apart. Well, i guess that what i'm trying to say is, this video got me emotional for various reasons and I want to thank you guys for showing respect when it could have gone south.
- A new subscriber
"DONT TURN AROUND...don't turn around." 🤣
Only Donut could only make me respect and feel nostalgic about PT Cruiser. My dad used to have one for a while. Amazing video ❤
I had a 2001 PT cruiser when I was in my early twenties. It was the only car I could afford, it was a manual transmission, and every time something would go wrong with it I could open the hood and fix it myself. I fixed my transmission with skateboard parts and a wire hanger once. I hated that car and when I finally got a ford fusion to replace the PT, I realized how much better the PT was. I wish I kept it. The seats folded down so I could fit as much as a pickup truck in there and it always got me to where I was going.