But I have a confession to make: I drove the 2000 model, and while I grooved on its 1930s styling and spacious interior, I secretly thought, “lawn mower.” The PT’s four-cylinder engine was just too puny. With a full load of passengers, I’d step on it and find myself mumbling, “When you get around to it, that is.” But in the new Cruiser GT, DaimlerChrysler has added a lot more juice in the form of a much-needed turbocharger on the same-size engine. Zip! Corner! Pass! And all with no coaxing or cussing. This Cruiser is a beaut inside and out. It’s classified as an SUV but really resembles a tall station wagon. Inside, there’s loads of room: 1,202 cubic feet. The front seat folds down, so you could transport lumber in a pinch, and there’s a latch-ready anchor system for child seats. And the Cruiser can still turn heads. “I thought Jimmy Cagney had moved on to my block when I saw you in that thing,” said one of my neighbors.
