Chrysler PT Cruisers are great cars that nobody buys. When it first debuted, the car sold for sticker price or more, and people waited months for the chance to own one. Today, well, rebates are fat and dealers are overstocked, despite the addition of a new convertible model for 2005. That makes the summer of 2005 a better time than ever to try the spunky PT Cruiser.

Like the original flavor, the new PT Cruiser Convertible seats four adults comfortably, and is available in a wide variety of trim levels at affordable prices. Choose from Standard, Touring, GT, and Dream Cruiser models ranging in price from the low 20s to the low 30s.

Our favorite is the GT model, with its standard, turbocharged, high-output, 220-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Keep the revs high, and the PT GT whooshes about with verve while delivering combined fuel economy above 20 mpg. And though the driver sits high and the body rolls in turns, the PT Cruiser GT’s sport-tuned suspension and wide 17-inch wheels and tires make for great fun on a twisty road.

Peel back the top by releasing a center-mounted latch and pressing a button. In just 12 seconds, the PT Cruiser Convertible goes from completely closed to completely open, drenching the interior in sunlight. At low speeds, wind buffeting isn’t bad, but out on the highway, be prepared to wear a sweater and crank the heat on chilly days – and hope you opted for the heated seats The top stacks up above the trunk, which is small but can be expanded by folding the back seats. Thanks to a glass rear window with defogger, visibility on cold days is improved, but with the top raised, seeing out of the PT Cruiser Convertible is not easy.

But hey, when the sun’s out and the day is warm, that top’s gonna be down. Driving the stylish, roomy, and fun to drive 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible is a great way to spend the summer.