2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible test drive

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The all-new 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible marks the most radical change to the Sebring convertible since its original introduction in 1996. And what changes they've made: The Sebring offers radical new styling, three engines, and a choice of traditional soft top or retractable hardtop (a $1,995 option). But was changing the Sebring necessarily a good idea? I drove two Sebrings -- a base-model soft-top and a top-of-the-line Sebring Limited hard-top -- in order to find out. $26,145 base, $26,145 and $37,755 as tested, EPA fuel economy 16-20 city, 26-29 highway.

Larger photos: Front - rear - soft-top up - hard-top up

I always get concerned when an automaker messes with a car I love, such as the Sebring convertible. The outgoing Sebring wasn't exactly an engineering masterpiece -- it suffered from a good deal of body flex (the bane of convertibles; removing the metal roof takes away a major source of rigidity) and it was a bit dull to drive. But it was handsome, had a big back seat and roomy trunk, and was good on gas. I liked it despite its flaws -- and judging from the Sebring's outstanding sales record, I wasn't alone.

So yeah, I was concerned -- especially knowing that a) the Sebring convertible was to be based on the new-for-2007 Sebring sedan, which is about as enjoyable to drive as a '73 Lincoln, and b) that Chrysler had major changes in mind, including a new retractable hardtop.

At this point, you might be waiting for me to say "And then I drove the 2008 Chrysler Sebring and found that my fears were unjustified." Spoiler alert: That ain't gonna happen.

My biggest complaint has to do with the roof(s). The new Sebring offers a choice of hard- or soft-tops. Sounds like a good idea, right? If you don't want to put up with the drawbacks of a hard-top convertible (complex mechanism, reduced trunk space) you can get the soft-top. Right? Wrong! The soft-top's mechanism (link goes to photo) is just as complex and bulky and takes up just as much trunk space. Furthermore, the soft-top comes in either cloth or vinyl. That's right, vinyl, as in plastic. What's that going to look like after fifteen Arizona summers or Colorado winters?

Larger interior photos: Base - Limited

When I first drove the Sebring sedan, I was one of the few reviewers who liked the interior's wacky combination of tortoise-shell wood and brushed silver trim. The Sebring Limited convertible features the same décor, while the base model does without the tortoise-shell. Again, I liked the color combination -- but what struck me about the convertible was how cheap and chintzy the plastics were. (How did I miss that on the sedan?)

I found the fronts seats comfortable, though the adjustment controls are odd. The front seat belts are mounted in the seats, so they are easy to reach and always fit properly -- but the belt's metal bits are exposed to the sun even when the top is up, which can lead to seared palms if you don't grab them carefully.

The back seat doesn't feel quite as roomy as the old Sebring, though it'd still very comfy and a heck of a lot better than most convertibles. With the roof on, the new car's trunk is big enough to camp out in. Top down, the Sebring still offers a lot more space than most retractable hard-tops -- enough, says Chrysler, for two golf bags. And the space is shaped for easy loading. What's sad is that the soft-top offers no advantage in trunk space over the hardtop. On a recent vacation, I saw a couple of 2008 Sebring soft-tops with luggage in the back seat -- a common convertible practice, but something to which you'd rarely have to resort with the old Sebring. What's more, there's no inner handle to close the trunk, and the top of the lid is a long reach for us short people.

The base-model Sebring is powered by a 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine with a four-speed automatic. Its 173 horsepower provides adequate acceleration and effortless 85 MPH cruising. But passing power isn't spectacular and the engine is noisy when it's working hard. The top-of-the-line Sebring Limited comes with a 235 hp 3.5 liter V6 and a 6-speed automatic; it had plenty of power but uses plenty of fuel -- I averaged 18.2 MPG in mixed (and mostly top-down) driving (lowering the top also lowers fuel economy). The mid-level Sebring Touring comes with a 2.7 liter V6; I didn't sample this engine but I would expect it to strike a nice balance between power and economy, plus it can run on E85 as well as straight gasoline.

Top up, the hardtop Sebring sealed up as tight as a proper steel-roof coupe, while the soft-top let in more wind noise than I've come to expect from modern convertibles. Top down both Sebrings were noisier than most, but I was well protected from wind turbulence up front and even found the ride in back pretty tolerable.

But the Sebring's handling was less than tolerable. Like the Sebring sedan, I found the convertible's steering to be so vague that it was difficult to aim it straight down the highway and too imprecise to have any fun on twisty roads. Many convertibles suffer from a flexing, jiggling body with the roof off; amazingly enough, the Sebring flexes and jiggles with the roof down or up. And front visibility is awkward; the Sebring feels much wider than it is. Parking is tricky and maneuvering in crowded parking lots had me reaching for the Tums.

Driving the new Sebring convertible makes me miss the old Sebring convertible. I miss its low, well-proportioned styling. I miss that you could lower the top and still comfortably fit four adults in the cabin and all of their luggage in the trunk. I miss an engine that delivered decent passing power and decent fuel economy. I miss a steering system that determined, rather than merely influenced, the car's direction of travel.

I think Chrysler made a mistake by joining the retractable hardtop club, because in doing so they eliminated what was a perfectly good niche product. Used to be that if you wanted a family-friendly convertible you either opted for a Chrysler Sebring or a Toyota Solara, and the Sebring did the job better. Now the hard-top Sebring must compete against superior hard-tops like the Volkswagen Eos, Volvo C70 and BMW 3-series (and not-so-superior hard-tops like the Pontiac G6), while the soft-top Sebring has lost much of its edge against convertibles like the Ford Mustang, Volkswagen New Beetle, Saab 9-3 and Audi A4.

I'm sure sales of the new Sebring convertible will remain strong; it is, after all, a favorite of the rental-car industry. It still has the best back seat in the business, though the Toyota Solara comes pretty darn close -- and the Solara now beats the Sebring for top-down trunk space. Unfortunately, the new Sebring convertible is no longer one of my favorites, and I'm sure the same will go for many would-be buyers. -- Aaron Gold

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