Chrysler Sebring Convertible (September 2007)

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Launched: Chrysler Sebring V6 Cabrio

Wheels Magazine
August, 2007

Amid the hyperbole of the Chrysler Sebring Convertible launch, the congenial program manager, Sean Conway, drops a bombshell. "Scuttle-shake is a thing of the past," he says. "Don't avoid the potholes - I want you to hit them to appreciate the car's rigidity. This car is as torsionally stiff as BMW's 3 Series convertible."

That's a huge call. Not only does the Sebring cost less than half the price of Munich's 335i drop-top, but we know that the 3 Series is impressively rigid - the class leader, in fact, after the gas axe has been employed. While no hard numbers were forthcoming on the Sebring's actual resistance to twist and bend, Conway points to an extra 100kg of steel, reinforcements and braces to stiffen the cab's body structure, compared with the sedan. There's only one way to find out...

Bang! Steering straight for the first road crater I see, the windscreen vibrates like a tuning fork. The rest of the body stays reasonably straight, but the A-pillars wobble with every impact. Unfortunately, the rest of the drive experience is similarly disappointing. Yes, around town, the suspension soaks up cracks and expansion joints with relaxed compliance, but at pace, it feels sloppy, bobbing over undulations and banging through sharp impacts.

The steering isn't any better. It's arcade-game light and inert at the straight-ahead, but turn in for an apex with any verve and there's a weird, artificial weighting. The intention is to imbue a sporty feel but, in reality, it feels awkward and makes the car difficult to accurately place mid-corner.

Should you dismiss this as another substandard American product? Yes, but if the styling still grabs you and a crisp drive experience isn't high on your agenda, then there are redeeming features.

Inside, there's plenty of room for four passengers - and a boot that can swallow four golf bags with the roof up. The drivetrain is a genuine bright spot, too. The 2.7-litre V6 is smooth and tractable, and teams well with the slick-shifting six-speed automatic. General refinement is also impressive, with road noise kept to a minimum while ensconced under the folding metal roof. With the roof stowed below the rear deck, wind buffeting is minimal, even at a steady 100km/h.

Chrysler Oz reckons the metal-roofed, leather-swathed Limited model will lob in at a smidge under $60K, with the fabricroof, fabric-interior Touring $10K below that. Either way, don't believe the hype.

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