Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Chrysler Sebring Convertible

In his autobiography, former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca recounts how the LeBaron Convertible came to be. Perhaps emulating Edsel Ford who had a Lincoln Zephyr customized into a two-door convertible for his Florida home, Iacocca ordered the top off of a Chrysler LeBaron coupe for his summer enjoyment. The thought of him driving around in a compact K-Car, gray hair blowing, is entertaining enough. But, he claims that so many people stopped him to ask about the car that he ordered it into production.

That turns out to have been a pretty smart move, no matter how the story is told. For two and a half decades, Chrysler has offered one of the two most popular convertibles sold in America (the other being, ironically enough, Iacocca's other baby - the Ford Mustang). LeBaron became Sebring in the '90s and has evolved into a very comfortable and roomy grand-tourer for four and their entire luggage. The latest edition is available with THREE automatically latching top options: Cloth, Vinyl, or Hardtop.

Chrysler designers obviously cribbed its portfolio of models when conjuring up the Sebring on their CAD screens. The most obvious feature donor is the Crossfire. From the Sebring's eggcrate grille to its deeply sculpted bodysides and wrap-around taillamps, the resemblance is obvious. Of course, the Sebring sedan was shaped to look like a Crossfire sedan, no matter how inelegantly the vision was executed. Top up or down, the car looks good and hides its tall profile with a high beltline.

Much of the interior is also a drugstore clone of the Crossfire's. Large analog gauges, silver finishes on the center console and doors, tortoise shell plastic on the upper steering wheel and doors, and gated shifter look suave enough to be in a 300C. Heated and cooled cupholders keep your lattes and sodas at the perfect temperature while automatic climate control and heated seats do the same for yourself. Boston Acoustics speakers, touch screen audio controls, Sirius Satellite Radio, 6-way power drivers seat, and tilt/telescoping steering wheel add comfort. There's a lot of hard plastic on the doors and console, but one has to assume that is for weather resistance.

Our Limited-grade car came with Chrysler's 3.5-litre V6 engine that produces

235 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque - all routed to the front wheels through an Auto Stick six-speed automatic transmission. Other models come with either a 150-HP 2.4-litre four-cylinder or 186-HP 2.7-litre V6 engine.

One is never going to confuse the V6's performance with a Charger HEMI, but it is plenty to push the Sebring onto the Interstate and cruise comfortably at any legal speed. The transmission isn't the smoothest, but gets the job done well. Fuel economy is rated a respectable 16/26-MPG city/highway.

Engineers did the right thing by giving the Sebring Convertible thick doorsills to stiffen the body. Where many four-seat convertibles flex and heave over every bump, the Sebring is noticeably solid. Its four-wheel independent suspension system and precise steering are tuned right for what are attached to a comfortable cruiser, not a purebred sports car.

Electronic stability control, traction control, and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes provide a margin of safety on slick roads or during emergency maneuvers. Sebrings are everyday cars that happen to offer some cool features.

In the end, all that really matters about the Sebring Convertible is how quickly and effortlessly it can mate sky and leather-lined interior. Vinyl and cloth tops are easily stowed under the trunklid with the press of one button and a few minutes. Simple. Spend a few dollars more and opt for a folding hardtop that is no harder to use, but gives the all-speed silence and weather-protecting panache of a solid roof. Soft or hard, the top looks good.

Iacocca is out in California still causing trouble by criticizing auto executives while pushing margarine, bicycles, and probably plotting his next takeover attempt of Chrysler. We won't talk about what he thought of Edsel's son, Henry Ford II (who fired him). What we know for sure is that Iacocca had a great idea in chopping off the top of a regular mid-size car, offering upscale style, and putting drivers in the left seat for a reasonable price. Thank you, Lee! Our test car has a base price of $32,055, but came to $34,845 with a long list of options. Competition includes the Pontiac G6 Convertible, Volkswagen Eos, Volvo C70, and of course, the Ford Mustang Convertible.