PT CRUISER THE WAY TO GO

Personally, I liked the foot operated dimmer switches better than the stalk ones. The only downside there was that they tended to corrode after a few years in our PA winters.

Matt

I remember those too. I don't remember a corrosion issue with them though. Actually, I don't like controls on a stalk at all. In addition to the floor dimmer switch, I prefer all controls mounted on the dash. I want the stalk to only operate the signals.

Depends on where you live. A few trips across a salted parking lot and then depress the switch a few times with your salt and water covered shoes, and after a few years you are ready for a new switch. The good news is that they were cheap and easy to replace. no need to disassemble half of the steering column.

Matt

I like foot switches with automatics, finger switches with manuals.

I was amazed by the ease of replacing the multifunction switch in my daughter's '95 Neon -- comparing that to my son's '87 Le Baron....

Ayup, and there were like three part numbers for all cars made in the US. (I'm exaggerating a little, but not much.) Peel back the carpet, undo two screws and one electrical connector, reassembly is the reverse etc. etc. etc.

I personally like the dimmer on the stalk, I've grown used to German cars with one stalk for directionals/high beam and the other for the wipers. It's very easy, once you figure it out. What I do hate is the typical GM turn signal stalk controls just about everything except the seat heaters deal... what an ergonomic nightmare. Why bother to put the control for the wipers on the stalk when you still have to take your hand off the wheel to turn the little knobby thing anyway?

nate

I recall the first car I had that had the stalk dimmer for the headlights. It was a 1980 Buick Skylark, one of the GM X-Car models. I bought it new. The first time that I drove it at night I turned on the lights and the headlights were on bright. I poked around the floor for the dimmer and couldn't find it. Then, I recalled that the dimmer was no longer on the floor in these newer cars. But, where was it? I looked around the dash for it and couldn't find anything. Then I remembered a joke that was going around at the time about these new dimmer switches. It was about Polacks, and why they didn't like the new dimmer switches: it was because they kept getting their foot caught in the steering wheel. So, I looked around the steering wheel and the column, and finally moved the turn signal lever on the left of the column, and found the dimmer on that by pulling it up toward me.

If the base model seems too slow, get the GT (turbo). It will out sprint most other cars on the road including most Mustangs (including the '85 GT' and '68 V8), Mercedes C320 sport, Porsche 944 (and 928), BMW 750, '96 Thunderbird LX V8, and an '85 Nissan 300 ZX Turbo. But you're right about the lousy mileage and turning radius.

The PT Cruiser wouldn't be too slow for you. Here are some 0-60 and

Mileage and turning radius are not so great though. Although it parks pretty well despite the turning radius thanks to the rounded front end.

Read more at my PT Cruiser photo gallery:

I love walking up to it, I love sitting it, I love driving it, I love the higher seating position, I love hitting the accelerator, I love catching a glimpse of it from a distance, I love loading it with stuff. What can I say, I'm in love with my car.

Funny thing is I didn't care for them when they first came out. I thought they were gimmicky, but I didn't realize how practical and fun they were to drive.

I agree 100%. The dimmer switch is ergonomically better on the floor. I hate having to take one hand off the wheel (or slide it around the wheel to reach the stalk) in the middle of a curve when a car approaches. I never found that the dimmer switch conflicted with using the clutch, but it SURE does interfere with steering.