On the road with the Chrysler Sebring convertible

I rented as Sebring for a week and found the car to be just terrible! After driving the car for an hour in southern California my back was killing me. The drivers seat was very uncomfortable, the car had only modest power and oh my god plastic, the entire interior was cheap plastic. Reminded me of a “K” car of past. I rent lots of cars in in my opinion this is one of the worst I’ve had, ranked right up there with the PT Cruiser.

You seem to be the only one that feels the Sebring is “an unfound treasure”. Why then are trade-in values and past owner comments so poor?

According to Chrysler, the Sebring has been America’s best selling convertible for seven out of the past nine years – so I can’t be the only one who likes it!

No question it’s got its problems, but I still like the thing. That said, opinions are opinions — that’s why I always encourage people to drive themselves and talk about their experiences here or on the forums. Everyone sees something different.

I’ve rented the Sebring as well. I will concur with the first two posting that it is a terrible car – cheap plastic, uncomfortable ride, car shakes and rattles and, lastly, does not hold its value. Can’t imagine why anyone would buy this thing other than a cheap convertible.

Best selling convertible for many years. Must be the value/fun factor.

THE SEBRING IS FOR THE OVER 60 AGE GROUP THAT WANT TO LOOK AND FEEL LIKE THEY ARE 55.

Guess I’ll leave a better opinion. We’ve owned a ‘99 Sebring Limited Convertible for over two years and absolutely love it. Only problem has been a Michelan tire. We tour in it and leave the T&C in the garage and average 29-32 mpg depending on the wind. I can also take my golf clubs with luggage and have room to take people with me. Sorry the rest of you can’t enjoy a nice car.

Did the previous posters get the sedan or the convertible? Maybe the structural changes for the convertible help deal with some of the rattles.

As for resale value, I guess if you keep it ’till it dies, resale is not important.

I think the reason why the Sebring Conv’t has been so popular for many years is its practicality. If you want a conv’t with a usable backseat, you really need to spend around 40K on a BMW 3 Series or Audi A4. Sure dynamically these cars completely bury the Sebring, but if you want to go top down with 3 of your friends and simply cruise in comfort without any sporting ambitions, the your other options are limited. You could go with the Mustang conv’t, but the rear-wheel drive make it a poor choice for winter driving, insurance will be more expensive, and the back seat is an afterthought. The new Eclipse conv’t is FWD, but it also has a tight backseat. Perhaps the only real competitor is the Pontiac G6 Hardtop Conv’t which just arrived.

My dad had a ‘98 Sebring- it handled like a pig (compared to my 350Z coupe), and was extremely under powered. But for top down cruising at the beach with friends, it was always a fun car…

If the Sebring were a “great” car, it would not, after 3 years, have a residual value of a paltry 17%!

You seem to be forgetting the Solara Convertible – which has a 2 passenger rear seat which is very comfortable, and the car is not nearly as expensive as the others you listed, and comes with Plenty of power.

If you go to a rental store and ask for a convertible, chances are you’ll get a Sebring. This is a main reason this car is best selling – Enterprise – they’ll pick you up.

The Sebring is also the national bird of Hawaii. There are more rental convertible Sebrings there than anywhere else. If you get behind one, you know there’s a tourist in the driver’s seat!!

I am on my second Sebring convertible. Unfortunately my 1998 JXi was totalled in an accident just after I paid it off. Although I liked the looks of the 98 better, my 2004 Sebring Limited has more power, better trim, and rides great. I have driven both cars from Texas to California through the heat of summer and several winter trips each through snow and ice to Chicago. Both cars have exhibited excellent handling. (In fact, my experience with the 98 was the primary reason for getting another Sebring.)

I have been looking into buying a Sebring Conv. for a few weeks, and this is what I have learned through research. One, they are fun to drive and look sharp. They are powerful enough for cruising, but not for real sporty performance. They are not expensive to buy (used). BUT, 2000 and up models with 2.7L Chrysler engines are prone to sludge build up and catastrophic engine failure, they accumulate water in the rocker panels due to small drain holes, and later models can leak badly enough to fry the car’s sound system. Consumer Reports seems to HATE them, and reviews from owners are very mixed. I am still looking at them, but I won’t even consider one built after 1999, and even then, I might rather sacrifice room and a back seat for Miata reliability. From what I can tell, Chrylser put out a mediocre car that could have been built much better. (By the way, the Solara’s resale value is WAY higher than the Sebring’s. That’s gotta say something!)

Boy, some people just love to complain! It is interesting how hostile some of these opinions are. I wonder why. I am the second owner of a 98 Sebring JX convertible with 77K. I love it. It is just what I wanted and just what I expected. It is fun, good looking, reliable, and inexpensive. I don’t find anything wrong with the interior, and I don’t care if much of it is plastic. I think it looks great. I didn’t expect it to be plated in gold. The power from the 2.5 six is fine and gets great mileage. I wasn’t looking for a dragster and am not interested in anything other than a fun crusing car for a good price that I could use on nice days to relax and enjoy myself. To me, it reminds me of the original Mustang convertibles of 64 through 66. Simple, fun, attractive and unassuming. Maybe you complainers should just relax, enjoy the ride and stop trying to impress each other. By the way, I’m only 52 and I wouldn’t go back for anything.

I love my jxi conv. 1999 no leaks no
problems . looks sleek and sexy .
Love it . So happy with it .

I have a 2006 Sebring Convertible I love it. The only problem I have is that I live in Michigan and the winter weather and dirty windsheild I am having a problem getting the washer fluid to come out any suggestions?

I own a 2001 Sebring Cont. It now has 149,000 miles on it. Haven’t had one but one problem with it, had to get the torque converter replaced and was still under warranty when that occurred. Got it fixed and haven’t had any problems with it since but is serviced regularly. Would I buy another….guess. Actually since Chrysler has come out with the hardtop, would like one!!

Opinions are like ‘butt’ holes, everyone has one!

I have a 1998 JX and I love it. I’ve had it almost a year, and it’s about to hit 147K miles. I’ve put about 30K of those on it. The only complaints I’ve had is that the driver’s seat controls keep coming unconnected, and the plating around the seatbelt hole in the seat came loose. The car is roomy, handles well, and has plenty of power for me. It is affordable, and has overall been a good experience. Like many people, I am just not willing to pay 50K for a vehicle. I’m deffinately addicted to it, and I’m torn between trading for a new model or keeping this one until it dies. Either way, I’m getting another one.

My wife and I love our 2004 Sebring convertible. No leaks, great looks, comfortable cruising on the highway and always fun to drive. The back seat has plenty of room and the trunk has enough room for 2 suitcases. It’s quiet on the road for a convertible and the suspension is a little harsh bu I prefer that to a sloppy soft ride.
You’ll enjoy owning a Sebring convertible.

I have a 98 chrysler sebring convertible LXI. I must say, I love it. It handles like a dream, runs like a top and is very comfortable, not to mention the top being one button open and closed. I never dreamed of getting the great gas mileage! Unlike some convertibles you can hear the radio just fine and hold a conversation with the top down as well. The radio, is very great sounding. Lot’s of room in the back for my two kids, one of which is 14 years old! I Love it and will buy another after this one…a hard top convertible would do well, except…no one would KNOW you had a convertible…there’s no prestige there! LOL I feel sexy and young driving it, it will be my daughter’s car when she starts driving I’m sure….by that time, I’ll be ready for another!

I have a ‘99 Sebring COnvertible. Bought it for the same reasons so many others did (not cause I was over 60 and wanted to look cool thank you very much) but because it had a real back seat. It has been a fun car, although it does not corner well (thank goodness for learning how to do 3 point turns way back when cause otherwise I would be in trouble), it has 96,000 miles on it and I had hoped to hang onto it for another year (we want another convertible, thinking the hardtop Sebring Convertible or perhaps the Solara although we just found out they are phasing it out.) Anyway. while we have had more than our share of problems with the car, we still are (were) considering another……..I have had it in the shop over the last 3 weeks about 4 times for the “check engine soon” light. Turns out after trial and error and lots of replaced hoses and whatnots, that my gas filler hose/pipe is rusted and has holes in it. So, you say, no big deal, get it replaced. Same thing I said only guess what? It is no longer made, there are NONE in inventory in the entire country and they feel not worth going to a junkyard cause anything there would have the same problem!

I am beside myself, there is no real reason for me to get another car yet, this one still is pretty, runs well (it should, I have spent over 800.00 in three weeks) and no viable reason to turn it in…….but now? Now, I may have to junk it…….I guess they can phase out parts after a certain length of time and consumer be damned………….
Anyone have any ideas?? I feel as though Chrylser owes me something major toward a new car–it just does not seem fair??

I am astonished to read so many negative reviews of the Sebring ragtop. I’m on my third one and wouldn’t have anything else. I get better than 30mpg on the highway, a huge smile on my face every time I put the top down, and love driving the car in the mountains, on the freeways, and it’s even fun in traffic when the top is down. I am NOW 52 so most of my Sebring time has been under 50. Of course it’s not Mercedes or BMW, but then I didn’t spend quite as much as those guys did and I bet I have just as much fun as they do.