2008 Chrysler Sebring convertible review - Autoblog

[fbrdphreak]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/0...ng-limited-convertibl/

Our first Sebring was a base Limited that carried what we consider to be an astonishing MSRP of just over $32,000. When we received our replacement, a fully loaded Inferno Red Chrystal Pearl Limited model, its $36,000 price tag set our knees a-warbling. It included the top-end 3.5L V6 mated to a six speed automatic, navigation screen, 20 gigabyte MyGig entertainment system, and a killer Boston Acoustics sound system. The only option not checked on our Limited model was the hard-top roof, which sets you back another $2,000. A $38,000 Sebring? Ouch!

This car should top out in the upper 20's, not upper 30's. WTF
Check out the review for the rest of the details, but suffice it to say:

Truth be told, however, the Chrysler Sebring Convertible doesn't have much comptetition. There's just the Pontiac G6 Convertible and Toyota Solara Convertible, as well as perhaps the Ford Mustang Convertible. We bet that none of those convertibles, however, enjoys as many fleet sales as the Chrysler Sebring Convertible. Ask any rental company for a convertible and the person behind the counter will probably ask you what color Sebring you'd like. With its hefty price tag, awkward design and floaty handling, we couldn't recommend this vehicle to a friend unless he were on vacation and planned to give it back in three days.

Chrysler is in big trouble. GM is on the rebound BIG TIME, Ford is wallowing but at least their cars don't plain SUCK (except for Focus), while Chrysler/Dodge only have two good things on their hands: the Viper (which increase MPG, reduced emissions, increase HP and reduced cost for 2008 - amazing) and the 300/Charger. The Challenger will be nice, but they fucked up when they decided to offer V6 and base models. RT & SRT8 V8-powered models or nothing IMO.

The Sebring/Avenger both suck, in many many ways. The Town & Country minivan & Ram trucks are their only other saving graces, which isn't saying much.

 

[ponyo]

$36k might be the MSRP but they'll discount it like $8k and offer 0% financing. It's the American way.

 

[mwmorph]

V6 Challengers are the bread and butter, it's a sound business decision, most sales are going to be V6 Challengers, hence why there were V6 Camaros/Firebirds and there's V6 Mustangs now.

Not to offer a V6 challenger would be the stupidest idea in recent memory, especially as strapped for cash as they are.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
V6 Challengers are the bread and butter, it's a sound business decision, most sales are going to be V6 Challengers, hence why there were V6 Camaros/Firebirds and there's V6 Mustangs now.

Not to offer a V6 challenger would be the stupidest idea in recent memory, especially as strapped for cash as they are.

Exactly. Look at how many v6 stangs you see out there. People want the cool new car but don't want to pay more for the bigger engine.

 

[sniperruff]

no wonder daimler bailed out. even his mustache can't save chrysler from offerings such as the sebring.

 

[Tiamat]

way too expensive for that car...

 

[TimeKeeper]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
no wonder daimler bailed out. even his mustache can't save chrysler from offerings such as the sebring.

They also took away that Mercedes AMG C32 Engine (Crossfire SRT) w/ them also!

 

[Fenixgoon]

the sebring does not surprise me at all. never liked the car, new or old.

 

[krunchykrome]

Thats pretty funny

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Naustica
$36k might be the MSRP but they'll discount it like $8k and offer 0% financing. It's the American way.

GM pretty quickly learned that doing that isn't the way to go. I wonder how long it will take them to realize it.

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: mwmorph
V6 Challengers are the bread and butter, it's a sound business decision, most sales are going to be V6 Challengers, hence why there were V6 Camaros/Firebirds and there's V6 Mustangs now.

Not to offer a V6 challenger would be the stupidest idea in recent memory, especially as strapped for cash as they are.

Exactly. Look at how many v6 stangs you see out there. People want the cool new car but don't want to pay more for the bigger engine.

I understand that - I do. And I hope it works for them, because they need it.

But this was pretty much their only chance to have an exclusive product. That's probably not what they need right now and thus they made the right decision - I just hate to see good brands devalued.

What Chrysler really needs is to make some solid small and medium size passenger cars with good build quality and reasonable drivetrain packages. Small car should have diesel and gas four-bangers, with manual or automatic transmissions. The medium size cars need all the features of the current cars, but with compelling design, strong interior quality and competitive drivetrains.

At least Ford's cars aren't a complete flop - they just aren't very compelling.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: mwmorph
V6 Challengers are the bread and butter, it's a sound business decision, most sales are going to be V6 Challengers, hence why there were V6 Camaros/Firebirds and there's V6 Mustangs now.

Not to offer a V6 challenger would be the stupidest idea in recent memory, especially as strapped for cash as they are.

Exactly. Look at how many v6 stangs you see out there. People want the cool new car but don't want to pay more for the bigger engine.

I understand that - I do. And I hope it works for them, because they need it.

But this was pretty much their only chance to have an exclusive product. That's probably not what they need right now and thus they made the right decision - I just hate to see good brands devalued.

What Chrysler really needs is to make some solid small and medium size passenger cars with good build quality and reasonable drivetrain packages. Small car should have diesel and gas four-bangers, with manual or automatic transmissions. The medium size cars need all the features of the current cars, but with compelling design, strong interior quality and competitive drivetrains.

At least Ford's cars aren't a complete flop - they just aren't very compelling.[/quote]

Just to play devil's advocate, if there was no 6 cylinder option, I think they'd receive even more outrage. After all, Dodge had the famous 225 Slant 6 in the old Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Challenger.

It's also historical protocol to have a base 6 cylinder too then I guess.

 

[fbrdphreak]

mwmorph - I wondered the same thing and looked up the Challenger - they did indeed off an I-6 option. I guess I can let them slide on it

 

[Throckmorton]

Chick car

 

[dud]

The new model will follow the path of the old ...

The last Sebring (2006 and before) sold for around $22K to $26 depending upon how it was equipped. (A friend bought one new for $24K). The car depreciates so quickly that you are VERY lucky to have 50% of the value in the car after 2-3 years. It was not surprising to be able to find a 1 to 2 year old Sebring for $11K (with only 15K miles) just a few years ago.

The newer model is not as attractive as the old and will sell fewer than expected at even $25K new.

The older models were not very reliable ... I wonder how bad (or good) the new model will be? Only time will tell.

 

[sniperruff]

they really need a complete model overhaul like mazda did a few years back.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

The Sebring/Avenger both suck, in many many ways.

I can attest to that. I had an Avenger as a rental recently...I'd happily drive any Kia over that piece of junk.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak


What Chrysler really needs is to make some solid small and medium size passenger cars with good build quality and reasonable drivetrain packages. Small car should have diesel and gas four-bangers, with manual or automatic transmissions. The medium size cars need all the features of the current cars, but with compelling design, strong interior quality and competitive drivetrains.

You pretty much spell out what all companies need in todays auto climate...but few have hit the magic combo...though European/Japanese companies certainly seem to be leading the way at the moment.

 

[JulesMaximus]

:laugh: The top stopped working halfway through retracting...that's a great way to impress the people who are reviewing your car. Give them a broken one.

And it doesn't get any better when they get one that works either.

On the inside, our loaded Limited was chock-full of cheap materials and sub-standard build quality. For example, the steering wheel had frayed strings of plastic undoubtedly from a bad press cut at the plant. The Sebring's dash material had a rubbery feel to it with Tupperware-grade plastics not befitting a $36,000 vehicle. The other odd omission was the lack of vanity mirror lights. It seems trivial, but on a convertible playing in the $30k segment, it's yet another reminder that the Sebring doesn't belong.

When behind the wheel of the 235-hp Sebring Convertible, we received a driving experience that brought us back to a 1995 Buick LeSabre. It's as if Chrysler simply rushed the Sebring to market without hammering out the finer details of its handling. The steering feel was so light that we could have turned the car by sneezing at the dash. When taking corners at any speed above idle, the top-heavy convertible wallowed back and forth with the agility of 1993 GMC Jimmy. Even when changing lanes, it felt as though we were blindly guessing how much effort to apply to the steering wheel. This brought us to the simple conclusion the Sebring Convertible was designed with retirees and rental companies in mind.

Bottom Line:

With its hefty price tag, awkward design and floaty handling, we couldn't recommend this vehicle to a friend unless he were on vacation and planned to give it back in three days.

It's a rental car...

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
no wonder daimler bailed out. even his mustache can't save chrysler from offerings such as the sebring.

merc was the company that made the shitbox known as the sebring/avenger. i'm sure cerberus got a nice discount when they first sat in one of those.

'uh, merc, we've got a problem.'
'what's that'
'well, this, uh, car... that you've designed for the midsized market'
'yeah?'
'it sucks complete donkey balls.'
'yeah, we figured we'd be selling chrysler so we didn't put much effort into it'
'right. well, we'll have to knock a couple billion off our offer'

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
You pretty much spell out what all companies need in todays auto climate...but few have hit the magic combo...though European/Japanese companies certainly seem to be leading the way at the moment.

japanese i understand, but european? there is only one volume (and i use that term loosely) euro marque in this country, and their cars aren't exactly price competitive

 

[rh71]

and after taxes... ouch.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak


What Chrysler really needs is to make some solid small and medium size passenger cars with good build quality and reasonable drivetrain packages. Small car should have diesel and gas four-bangers, with manual or automatic transmissions. The medium size cars need all the features of the current cars, but with compelling design, strong interior quality and competitive drivetrains.

You pretty much spell out what all companies need in todays auto climate...but few have hit the magic combo...though European/Japanese companies certainly seem to be leading the way at the moment.

GM is on the way there and with Ford's recently announced gas, turbocharged, direct-injected lineup, they can be too.

*bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz* Wake up call for Chrysler/Dodge

 

[996GT2]

In a recent review for this car I think they stated that a wiring harness was loose and just laying on the driver's side floorboard. Talk about excellent fit and finish lol

 

[Britboy]

LOL, not sure I'd pay $20K for it never mind $36K.

 

[PricklyPete]

I just got a Chrysler PT Cruiser as my rental car this week and on my way to the hotel, I noticed that the car has a really bad "bucking" problem that seems to lie somewhere between the transmission and the engine. This is in a car with less than 2K miles on it. Really high quality stuff.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
You pretty much spell out what all companies need in todays auto climate...but few have hit the magic combo...though European/Japanese companies certainly seem to be leading the way at the moment.

japanese i understand, but european? there is only one volume (and i use that term loosely) euro marque in this country, and their cars aren't exactly price competitive

I drive a lot of rental cars...a majority of them obviously being domestic cars. I've been pleasantly surprised that the Ford Fusion and even the G6, Impala, and the older Malibu are adequate cars...definitely NOT class leading...but adequate. Almost anything from Chrysler is a shitbox...I couldn't be more appalled at the quality. The 300 is not bad...but that is pretty much the only one that is even reasonably decent. Then one time I did get a Jetta...and it was a base Jetta...the interior quality was WAY beyond any of the cars I've listed above. If felt easyy 5K+ more expensive and solid. That's just sad. The Golf (a co-worker has one) is very similar. As for Japanese...my friend's Subie is much nicer (Outback) and I've been very impressed by the Mazda cars lately. The new Civic is a huge improvement in the already adequate old Civic.

European/Japanese cars are just better at the base models. GM and Ford are starting to get it at the midsize level (Fusion and new Malibu)...but they still need a competitive small car.