Model Year Distinctions

[Nova69]

The leather on the '01 seats is much better than that on the '02's. We have both an '01 and an '02, and the leather seats on the '01 look brand new while the 02's seats are already quite wrinkled. Looking closely, you can see that the leather on the '01 is thicker and the stitching down the middle is decorative, while the seats on the '02 are pieced in the center.

[PT Frank]

Originally posted by Cruisin1
My 01 base model (1T3) has the 2 window switches on the dash & no head rest on the rear seats.........

That's because your Cruiser was an 'earlier' 2001. Regardless of model, all of those 'first' Cruiser's had the 2 window switches on the dash. Later 2001 PT's (a mid-year change) came equipped with the four window switch.

[Marc]

Strange...I also have an Early Edition and I do have the Rear Headrests...
Are the holes for the rear head rests present?
I think your Cruiser got missed when the Rear Head Rest guy went around putting them in the Cruisers. Maybe it was Siesta time???

Originally posted by Cruisin1
My 01 base model (1T3) has the 2 window switches on the dash & no head rest on the rear seats.........

[PT_Sean]

From the DCX media site, there is a PRODUCT CHRONOLOGY thingy- timely if not interesting:

2004 FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

• New 2.4-liter turbo with 180-horsepower (134 kW), 210 lb.-ft. (285 N•m), and four-speed automatic transaxle powertrain option, available on Touring and • Limited models. Includes special power-assisted disc/drum brakes and large-diameter chrome exhaust tip
• New exterior colors: Deep Plum Pearl Coat replaces Deep Cranberry Pearl Coat; Bright Seamist Green Metallic Clear Coat replaces Steel Blue Pearl Coat; Cool
• Vanilla Clear Coat replaces Stone White Clear Coat
• Sirius® Satellite Radio Receiver option available on all models; includes 1-year subscription
• UConnect® Hands-Free Communication Option (late availability) on Touring, Limited and PT Turbo models
• Liftgate-mounted spoiler: optional on Base, Touring and Limited; Standard on PT Turbo
• Chrome Accent Group expanded with leather-wrapped steering wheel with Bright Silver painted spokes and bright pedal package
• New 16-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheel for 2.4-liter Turbo applications

(back to top...)


PRODUCT CHRONOLOGY

2003 MODEL YEAR

• New PT Turbo price class, includes:
• 2.4-liter, I-4, DOHC intercooled High Output Turbo engine
• Heavy-duty five-speed manual transaxle
• Optional automatic transaxle with AutoStick®
• Satin Silver painted shift knob on Base Model
• Satin Silver shifter bezel (automatic transaxle only) on Touring Edition
• Body color front and rear fascias (unique from Limited Edition)
• Performance seat with Fresno cloth
• Driver seat manual lumbar adjuster
• Silver cluster gauge and cluster bezel
• Gauge cluster includes 140-mph speedometer and tachometer with “2.4L Turbo” graphic
• Performance-tuned suspension
• Performance ABS with four-wheel disc brakes and traction control
• 17-inch silver painted five-spoke cast-aluminum wheels standard, chrome optional
• P205/50HR17 all-season performance tires

CPOS (CUSTOMER PREFERRED ORDERING SYSTEM) PACKAGES

• New CPOS R Package, optional on PT Turbo, includes:


• Leather seating surfaces with perforated leather inserts
• Driver’s seat power height adjuster
• Front-seat-mounted side air bags
• Unique, leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Power moon roof
• 17-inch chrome cast-aluminum wheels
• AM/FM stereo radio with cassette and CD player

EQUIPMENT GROUPS

• Chrome Accents Group, optional on Touring and Limited Edition models (late availability)

CHASSIS

• New Wheel Treatments:
• 15-inch bolt-on wheel cover with bright lug nut caps — Standard on PT Cruiser
• 16-inch painted cast-aluminum wheel — Standard on Touring
• 16-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheel — Standard on Limited Edition, optional on Touring (2002 running change)
• Traction control is available as a separate option on Touring and Limited Edition models (requires ABS)(a)

BODY

• Body-color Monotone Front and Rear Fascias — Standard on Limited Edition
• Accent-color Bodyside Moldings — Standard on Base models
• New Exterior Colors: Electric Blue Pearl Coat and Onyx Green Pearl Coat

INTERIOR

• New Interior Color added: Dark Slate Gray/Light Slate Gray
• New Bright Silver Metallic cluster and passenger side air bag door for Light Almond Pearl Metallic, Bright Silver Metallic, Black and Stone White exterior colors and Dark Slate Gray interior color

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

• AM/FM stereo radio with in-dash six-disc CD changer is optional on all models

2002 MODEL YEAR

• Three Price Classes replace Equipment Groups:
• Base
• Touring Edition
• Limited Edition
• AM/FM Stereo Radio with CD Player and changer controls — Standard on all price classes
• Front Passenger Underseat Storage Bin — Standard on all price classes
• New Front Passenger Seat Inboard Armrest — Standard on all price classes
• New Rear Seat Trapped Occupant Release Handle

2001 MODEL YEAR

July 2000 Production

• Heated Driver and Front Passenger Seats (includes driver manual lumbar adjuster) — Limited Edition (running change)
• Front Passenger Underseat Storage Bin — Optional on all models (running change)
• Five-gang Window Switch (controlling all four windows) in instrument panel center stack replaces three-gang switch — Standard on all models
• AM/FM Stereo Radio with CD Player and changer controls — Optional on all models

At Introduction (March 2000)

• Unique Package — Flexible cargo-carrying capability, flexible front and rear seating arrangements, abundant interior space relative to overall size, easy entry and exit, comfortable, upright seating position and exceptional roominess
• 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve SMPI four-cylinder engine — 150 bhp (112 kW) at 5500 rpm and 162 lb.-ft. torque (220 N•m) at 4000 rpm
• Low-profile, twist beam axle rear suspension with trailing arms, Watt linkage for lateral motion control and stabilizer bar
• Optional Roof Rack with U.S.-industry first continuously variable fore/aft adjustable crossbars and side-by-side stowage
• Fold, Tumble and Remove 65/35 split, three-passenger rear seating with unique quick-release removal latches


• Chrysler Group’s first center rear seat three-point Unibelt restraint system
• Available Supplemental Side Air Bags
• Front Seat Belt Pretensioners Standard
• Rear Seat LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) System Standard

[Cruizin Chic]

It seems there have been no real changes on the exterior, only painted - unpainted bumpers and the spoiler on some. That's good. I think part of the Cruiser's charm is the distinct style. I heard there are no major changes in style planned until 2007. I hope they just add models and don't change the base design.

[PT_Sean]

Also changed (exterior) between the 2001 and OTHERS is the small strip at the back-end of the rain gutter- its color-keyed in 2001, BLACK in all others.

The Dream 1, and all turbos, have a different LOWER fascia, AND front bumper cover. That bumper cover is smooth, the rest have the little indent on each side.

[TangerineDream]

Originally posted by Cruizin Chic
It seems there have been no real changes on the exterior, only painted - unpainted bumpers and the spoiler on some. That's good. I think part of the Cruiser's charm is the distinct style. I heard there are no major changes in style planned until 2007. I hope they just add models and don't change the base design.

also on the 03 they have droped the key hole on the right door if you have power locks as well they have changed the mirrors they no longer fold back and are no longer heated and only the base model in the 03 didn't have painted bumpers ... on the inside a few changes such as not putting lights on many of the bottons that had lights on the 01-02

[JOEM]

Originally posted by Marc
Strange...I also have an Early Edition and I do have the Rear Headrests...

Yow!

I just checked the PT Rod ('01) and it not only doesn't have the rear headrests, it doesn't even have the rear seats!!!

Oh...that's right. I took them out. Never mind.

[Dave dFW]

Also changed (exterior) between the 2001 and OTHERS is the small strip at the back-end of the rain gutter- its color-keyed in 2001, BLACK in all others.

The Dream Cruisers (1 & 2) have the color-keyed strips.

[GretchenKohl]

My dealer just showed me a "California" model PT with completely different rear tail lights - has a light for turn signal and another for stop/tail light but they're sort of in retro-like pods.