We test drove a PT Loser back right before we bought our old '02 Taurus SEL new. That PT Loser was a total POS.
You must have got a bad one. Ours doesn't get the best mileage, about 24, but that thing runs like a scalded ape and corners like a slot car. It's got the 2.5 4 cyl with the automatic. We looked at the Chevy HHR, but it was so underpowered it was pityful. Ford didn't have any thing to compare with, styling or price wise. I think the PT looks like a 37 Ford Sedan, so at least the styling was there. Oh well, to each his own. But why are we discussing PT cruisers on the Maverick board? Just shows how easygoing and diverse bunch of people we are!