If the kit is around $500 from an online wholesaler, $1300 at the dealer using OEM parts is not bad at all. Also noteworthy is that the PT Cruiser is one of the most difficult cars on the road to do this job on. The engine compartment is crammed to the max, leaving no room to work, driving up the labor necessary to do this job. The timing belt is routine maintenance, though, and to skip it would be negligent, possibly resulting in a breakdown, which is usually more than inconvenient for most people, particularly if it strands you far from home or in the middle of the Interstate during rush hour.