2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible First Drive

Chrysler Sebring Convertible – First Drive: Chrysler’s new 2008 Sebring Convertible lives in a world of make-believe, trying to be a luxury car but ultimately failing. On one hand it has luxury lines inside and out, with chrome cues and art deco styling that grabs the eye no matter your opinion of its style. It offers features that rank well against luxury cars. Then you get closer and see that this diamond is really rhinestone: even Pontiac’s G6 convertible doesn’t have this car’s hard plastics, weak engines and uninspiring driving experience. Then there’s price: Sebring convertibles start at $26,000, but only for the four-cylinder base model. With the features you expect, you’ll pay nearly $10,000 more, and for that money it shouldn’t be pretending about anything.

The Basics: Origins

The Sebring coupe was originally a reengineered Mitsubishi Eclipse, and built in the same factory. But the convertible has always been built off the sedan’s platform, despite the existence of a perfectly good Eclipse convertible. Whatever the genealogy, the original Sebring drop top was a good looking, comfy convertible for buyers who needed a real back seat. Empty nesters (and rental fleets) voted with their checkbooks, making it the best-selling drop top in the U.S. for seven of the past 11 years. For 2008, the Sebring Convertible offers a retractable hardtop for the first time alongside vinyl and cloth tops, and new features like the MyGIG entertainment system might bring in younger buyers, too.

The Basics: Model Mix – Configurations

The Sebring Convertible lives in a world of threes: three trim levels, three different kinds of tops, three interior themes and three different engines. All Sebring convertibles are built alongside the sedan and share a reinforced version of that car’s structure to reduce cowl shake, the annoying body quivers many convertibles suffer when going over bumps. Vinyl tops are standard on the base and Touring models; Limiteds get a cloth top. Touring models can opt for cloth, and like the Limiteds can also get the hard top. The base model’s 2.4-liter four cylinder and the Touring’s 2.7-liter V6 come with a four-speed automatic transmission, while the 3.5-liter V6 in the Limited has a six-speed automatic with Chrysler’s AutoStick manual shift feature.

The Basics: Model Mix – Powertrains

The base Sebring Convertible’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder produces 173 horsepower and 166 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s good on economy (20 city/29 highway), but way short on oomph. The flex-fuel 2.7-liter V6 in Touring models improves power and torque (189 hp and 191 lb.-ft.), still has decent economy (18 city/26 highway) and can run on up to 85 percent ethanol, but it’s still sluggish. The 3.5-liter V6 in Limited models offers up 235 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque., It’s easily better than the other two engines, yet even with this combination drinking 16 city and 26 highway, it’s only adequate. The base and Touring models have power routed through four-speed automatics; the Limited gets a six-speed with Chrysler’s AutoStick manual control.

The Basics: Model Mix – Sebring Convertible

Weak-kneed engine notwithstanding, the standard Sebring Convertible comes well equipped with power windows, seats, door locks and mirrors in addition to air conditioning, heated outside mirrors, a power trunk release and the fully lined vinyl power top. It also comes standard with a six-disc changer capable of playing CDs or discs encoded with MP3 or WMA files. The interior is trimmed in faux silver with chrome accents, and cloth seating is standard. Chrysler’s YES Essentials stain resistant fabric is an option, although it should be standard; just connect well-fed seagulls and open-top cars and you’ll understand why. Also optional are Sirius satellite radio and a Bluetooth phone connection. Remote starting is available as a package bundled with remote top operation.

The Basics: Model Mix – Sebring Convertible Touring

Touring models step up the feature list considerably, not the least of which is the 2.7-liter V6 engine. In addition to the standard model’s equipment, Touring models offer body-color power and heated outside mirrors, standard YES Essentials cloth seats, remote starting and top operation, LED interior lighting, and 17-inch wheels instead of the standard model’s 16-inchers. If you want the cloth or steel convertible top, you have to step up to the Touring model, where either is optional. The full range of audio systems is available, including Chrysler’s MyGIG entertainment system combo, which features a 20-GB hard drive and navigation system. A leather package bundles cowhide seats, steering wheel and shift knob, and heated seats are also available.

The Basics: Model Mix – Sebring Convertible Limited

The Limited is the top end of the Sebring Convertible lineup, and is equipped with most of the other cars’ optional equipment as standard. Most importantly it boasts the only engine worth mentioning; the 3.5-liter V-6 is the largest of the three and the only powertrain capable of moving the Sebring with anything resembling urgency. It has most of the Touring model’s options as standard, including the cloth top, although you can opt for the hard top if you so desire. The MyGIG audio system is still optional, but the upgraded speaker package is standard, as are leather seats. Limited models also get chrome door handles, standard fog lights and 18-inch aluminum wheels.

Model Mix: Pricing

Standard Sebring Convertibles start at $26,145, and like all model prices that includes a $675 destination charge. We think the $28,745 Touring model is a better jumping off point because of its superior standard equipment and smoother V6 engine. Options on the Touring model we drove included the Touring Group ($1,495), which had leather trim, heated seats and a cloth top, bringing the price to $30,240. If you want to step up to the Limited model bring money: prices start at $32,345 and move up quickly. The loaded Limited model we drove came to a whopping $38,610 thanks to the MyGIG system ($1,895), Luxury Group ($1,095) which included chrome wheels and heated seats, and pretty much everything else available for the Sebring Convertible.

The Basics: Top Operation

The vinyl, cloth and folding hardtops available for the Sebring Convertible all use the same frame structure; consequently all three fold the same way. The hardtop’s action is par for the course: The trunk opens backwards, the top unlatches itself and folds neatly into the space, and the trunk plops back down to create a clean look. Sit in the car and lower the top with one touch of a button; if you use the optional remote you have to hold the button down for 30 seconds while the top lowers (27 seconds for soft tops). Chrysler noted that two full-size golf bags will fit in the trunk with the top folded, and the Sebring’s trunk offers a respectable 13.1 cu.-ft. of space with the top up.

What’s New: Safety

A car without a roof is scary to some, so the Sebring Convertible comes with a phalanx of safety equipment as standard. As expected there are standard airbags in front and on the side. Anti-lock control of the four-wheel disc brakes is also standard, as is a tire pressure monitoring system. Daytime running headlights are optional, and Chrysler’s Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is optional on Touring and Limited models only; base model buyers don’t even get traction control. What isn’t standard, or even available, is any kind of rollover protection, all the more reason to spring for at least the Touring model so you can get ESP.

What’s New: Outside

The Sebring Convertible is all new from the outside, and shares its basic look with the new Sebring sedan; whether this is a good or bad thing we’ll leave up to you. The two cars share the same sheetmetal from the windshield pillars forward, along with their taillights, but everything in between is different. Convertiblization is good for the Sebring. Top up, the convertible loses the sedan’s stubby trunk and hunchback roof for a distinct improvement. It’s even better with the top down, helped in no small way by the built-in hard tonneau that covers the stacked top. We still think the car needs a rhinoplasty and eye lift, but the convertible’s top-down profile isn’t bad.