ode to my PT Cruiser

posted June 17, 2010 in About

Tonight’s photo shoot was one of the hardest I’ve ever done. After washing my PT Cruiser for the last time, I photographed it like a 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year…. in reality it was a 2001 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

For ten years and 138,000 miles, my Cruiser has brought me astounding reliability, utility, style and joy. While many car owners give their cars a name, my Cruiser remains nameless. It has traveled with me living in DC, Evergreen, Lakewood, and Denver and safely brought me to many trips to DIA, Crested Butte, snowboarding trips, weddings all over Colorado, and a few trips to Oklahoma.

I still remember seeing it for the first time in June 2000, the day it rolled off the trailer. It was the best graduation gift I could ask for. I trailered it DC through OK to CO, driving to the Air Force Academy to steal my brother Sean for the a free weekend. In the Cruiser, I picked up Nicole for our first date. We drove away on our wedding day in it with “McGroom” on the driver’s side and “McBride” (Nicole’s maiden name) on the passenger side.

The 18″ chrome wheels, lowered suspension, subwoofer, interior and exterior paint, tinted windows made what was once blank canvas my work of art. While never a hot rod, I got my fair share of speeding tickets, along with several tickets for not displaying a front license plate. I mean, who would display a front license plate on a car with flames? 47 other states would look the other way. But noooooo, not Colorado.

I’m proud to have kept good care of it, despite hauling speakers, photography equipment, IKEA furniture, oversized Costco furniture, dog crates, snowboard equipment, a few brides & grooms, taekwondo gear, bikes, and moving boxes. Each trip astounded me with all I could squeeze inside my five-door hatchback.

I’ve been teased about my Cruiser by strangers, friends, and even family. I’ve also had countless of 5-year-olds and 55-year olds give me two thumbs up.

But the time as comes to say good-bye to my friendly Personal Transportation (PT) Cruiser. And if you are interested in it, contact me.