Chrysler??™s perennial rent-a-convertible has been one of America??™s most common ragtops since its 1996 introduction. Stunningly attractive in its day, the first Sebring had undeniable appeal, even if no one who drove it would attribute its commonality to more than its styling. Now, after a brief drive of the all-new 2008 Sebring convertible, which, for better or worse, falls in line with the unattractive redesigned 2007 Chrysler Sebring sedan, we find that in spite of offering more technology, more engine choices, and, for the first time, an optional retractable hardtop, the new Sebring lacks even the sort of charisma that made the first Sebring so popular in the first place.
Although still far from beautiful, the Sebring looks much??”make that much, much??”better as a convertible than a sedan. The convertible-top design dictated a longer trunklid compared with the sedan’s, so an additional three inches of length were added, stretching those deep strakes farther down the body in a more becoming way. Furthermore, said contours are interrupted only by the small cutlines of one door, as opposed to two, and the simple two-window greenhouse is far less cluttered than that mess of glass, pillars, and plastic trim found on the upper half of the sedan. Still, she has a face only a manufacturer could love, and even with the Limited??™s 18-inch wheels, the body appears thick-waisted.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Sebring is the fact that Chrysler gives its customers??”whether they are fleet or retail??”no fewer than three choices in convertible top materials. No other convertible has more than one except the Mazda MX-5 (which has two). Base-base-base models (obviously mostly intended for rental fleets) and mid-grade Touring models will come with an easy-to-clean vinyl softtop. A clothtop is part of an upgrade package on Touring models and is standard on top-shelf Limited models, with the aforementioned retractable hardtop optional on both.
The differences among all three are only skin deep, as all three tops use the same motors and structural assembly and fold under the same decklid, which thankfully has been left free of the hood??™s silly pinstripes. This cost-saving measure means that even the softtops gobble up as much trunk space as the hard ones when sandwiched in back, a configuration that leaves just seven cubic feet of space??”enough for two squished golf bags. Top raised, however, all three models boast a huge-for-a-convertible 13 cubic feet, which, incidentally, measures just half a cube less than in the sedan. They also share the same big, attractively curved, heated glass rear window. Thanks to the lack of pillars and the large rear window, the outward vision is excellent from any of the four spacious seating areas.
Feature content for the ??™08 Sebring convertible generally follows that of the sedan, but unlike the sedan, trim level and engine choice are intrinsically tied. Base models, which start at $26,145, are outfitted on the okay side of not bad, with lots of power goodies but few luxury items. Motivation comes from the same 2.4-liter four-cylinder ???world??? engine found in everything from the Dodge Caliber to the Kia Rondo. In the Sebring, the engine sends 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque to the 16-inch front wheels, reasonable output for a naturally aspirated four-pot but hardly soul stirring when there are 3750 pounds to lug around and a four-speed slushbox to work with.
The jump to the $28,745 Touring model is more than worth the additional $2600, not only on account of its dressier satin silver interior trim, stain-and-odor-proof seat fabric, remote starter, and 17-inch wheels, but also for the two extra cylinders of its 189-hp, 2.7-liter V-6 that puts out 191 pound-feet of torque. Unfortunately, the four-speed remains the sole transmission, even though most of the Sebring’s competitors offer at least one more forward gear.
We??™re conflicted about the $32,345 Sebring Limited model. On one hand, who can complain about leather upholstery, Boston Acoustics speakers, fog lamps, 18-inch wheels, and, best of all, Chrysler??™s 235-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 that produces 232 pound-feet of torque? Even better is its quick-shifting six-speed automatic. On the other hand, how much fun can you have when, within your field of vision, are two lengthy swaths of tortoise-shell trim (did ya hear that, Grandma?) surrounded by metallic trim pieces that don??™t come close to matching those on the center stack? The rear seating area is the opposite, appearing to have been covered in a thick coat of paint, and is particularly dreary when the gray interior is selected. It??™s almost worth saving $3600 by opting for the Touring model with the cloth seats.
All Sebring stereos are well suited to vacation duty, playing as they do MP3s, DVDs, and anything you might be able to plug into the auxiliary input jack. Sirius and Bluetooth connectivity are optional on all, and Touring and Limited models offer Chrysler??™s nifty voice-activated Harman/Kardon MyGIG navigation-and-audio system, which includes a touch screen, available real-time traffic reports, and a 20-GB hard drive capable of storing 1600 songs and an octet of digital photos for display on the LCD screen. Also available is a heated-and-cooled cup holder capable of warming your latte to 140 degrees or chilling your soda to just above freezing.
During our brief first drive through Malibu, California, the Sebring offered few surprises. The four-banger, four-speed-automatic combo is ho-hum, fine for the rental crowd but nothing we??™d want in our driveway for longer than maybe a day. No, probably less. The 2.7-liter V-6??™s additional torque and broader torque curve make the Sebring Touring much more palatable if not as robust as the Limited??™s 3.5-liter, six-speed combo.
Turning the steering wheel revealed the same odd sensations we found on earlier Sebring and Avenger drives, specifically, sharp turn-in followed by vagueness. The light steering effort didn??™t help us get our bearings, either. The structure, however, is very rigid, providing a good enough foundation for a decent suspension setup. The strong brakes followed suit with good feel and predictable stops. The Limited comes with the most aggressive rubber (215/55 performance tires) and, equipped thus, made squirting through the twisty mountain roads into ???the Valley??? sort of fun, that is, once you got used to the steering. The new Sebring convertible certainly runs rings around the last one from a driving perspective.
All that having been said, it??™s hard to consider the Sebring convertible a terribly good value. After all, its $26,145 base price is $7150 more than that of a base Sebring sedan. The $32,345 Limited model starts some $8350 more than its four-door counterpart. Want that hardtop? Get ready to shell out an additional two grand. Priced such, the Sebring convertible is sailing into some rough competitive waters where it will face predators such as the vivacious Volkswagen Eos and tire-burning Ford Mustang GT convertible. For that kind of coin, charisma should be included at no extra charge.
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