A convertible fit for family

A convertible fit for family

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Photos by -Autonet.ca
Published: 24 08 2007

Some 25 years ago, Chrysler resurrected the four-seat convertible and for some time it led the market in sales, which makes the Chrysler Sebring a natural leader for its market segment.

You would think that to be the case, but it isn’t because it’s up against some tough competition from the Ford Mustang, Pontiac G6 and Toyota Solara.

But perhaps part of the problem is that we’re expecting it to be considerably better than the affordable family convertible that it is. The other part is that many people have come to think of roadsters as the only convertibles on the market, so they may shy away from a convertible purchase thinking there won’t be enough room for the family.

They couldn’t really be farther from the truth, where the Sebring is concerned. There’s room for two adults in the rear seating area, though people of smaller stature would find it more comfortable back there, especially in legroom.

The front passenger seat tilts and slides up quickly and easily to provide access to the rear, but it doesn’t have a memory of where it was prior to the manoeuvre so it either slides back too far (and equally quickly) to crush the rear passenger’s shins or tilts back quickly and stops sliding far short of front passenger’s comfort level.

When the rear seats are not needed, a hinged, mesh wind-blocker ($250 option) can be quickly unfolded and positioned. It cuts back wind turbulence for front-seat occupants greatly, but at the cost of carrying rear passengers.

Light seat upholstery is comfortable enough and stays relatively cool when the car is parked in the sunlight. The entire interior is modestly upscale with the only potential blemish being the simulated wood steering wheel and inserts in the dash and doors. They sort of clash with the simulated brushed aluminum inserts in the dash and console, and frankly the latter would provide a nice techie-hi-fi look on their own.

Available in vinyl, cloth or steel, the roof works really well at the push of a button and people stop in their tracks to watch it do its stuff. It goes down in about 25 seconds (if you lower the windows before pushing the button), which is enough to put it down at a stop light, but it goes up in about 30 seconds, which isn’t in most cases. Of note is that the soft-tops go up or down about five seconds more quickly, and any of them can also be opened by a button on the remote key-fob (although it can't be used to close them).

The trunk is enormous when the partition for the roof is retracted, which means there’s still plenty of trunk space even when the roof eats into it significantly. And getting at your stuff is easy, which isn’t always the case for other convertibles.

The trunk lid is pretty heavy, which means smaller stature women who are probably the car’s primary buyers would likely find it hard to close.

As with most convertibles, Sebring looks fantastic when the top is stowed but considerably less so when the top is in place over the cabin. The enormous trunk lid looks pretty massive from the right angle (or wrong angle, I guess).

Also of note is that we’re not aware of the body-play when the top is down (most convertibles suffer from noticeable cowl shake when the roof is gone), but there were noticeable stress clicks and rubs when the roof was up.

Part of the credit for the lack of body shake goes to the compliant suspension that absorbs most pavement heaves before they get transferred to the body. On the down side, Sebring handles about as well as a cat that’s been spun around too many times.

Mind you, you’ll have a tough time getting up enough gumption to make the tires squeal, as the 3.5 V6 has a tough time moving this heavy beast (the convertible weighs over 200 kg more than the Sebring sedan).

But then again, it’s not really a hammered down racing two-seater in the vein of a Porsche Boxster, BMW M Roadster or even a Mazda MX-5. Sebring is a cruiser that allows you to go out on a sunny day with family and friends, and enjoy a couple hours of leisurely motoring under a welcoming sky.

Fact file
2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited convertible
MSRP as tested, before tax: $41,650
Configuration: front engine/front-wheel drive
Engine/Transmission: 3.5L V6/6-speed automatic with sequential shift
Horsepower: 235 @ 6,400 rpm
Torque: 232 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm
Options: MyGig Multimedia Infotainment ($1,995) includes hard disc drive, navigation system, touch screen display, auto-dim rear view mirror with microphone, UConnect hands-free communication, Sirius satellite radio; windscreen ($250); remote start ($220); heat/cool console cupholder ($130); body-colour moulding ($60)
Freight: $1,300
Fuel required: 64 litres, regular
EnerGuide fuel ratings (L/100 km): 12.9 city; 7.7 hwy.
Observed fuel economy (L/100 km): 10.9 over 761 km, combined
Warranty: 3 years/60,000 km

MSRP range: $29,995 - $38,995
Engines available: 2.4L I4 (173 hp/166 lb.-ft.), 2.7L V6 (189/191), 3.5L V6 (235/232)
Transmissions available: 4-spd auto, 6-spd auto with sequential shift

Competition: Ford Mustang, Pontiac G6, Toyota Solara, Volkswagen Eos
Strengths: Seats four adults comfortably, large trunk, compliant ride
Weaknesses: Noticeable lack of power, bulky trunk lid, sloppy handling

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