Now for something different in the midsize car range. The Sebring from Chrysler in American doesn’t look like the typical Asian or European sedan or convertible. At the same time it’s not as radical in its shape as others in the standout Chrysler range, though it does have the big grille look that’s the company’s signature theme.ho those of the Crossfire.
Sebring comes to Australia only in the topline variants as Chrysler chasing a semi-upmarket image to lift it away from everyday competitors.
Sebring four-door sedans were introduced in May 2007, followed by the convertible, often tagged as a ‘cabriolet’ to give it a European image in December that year. The cabriolet is interesting in that it can be bought with either a traditional soft-top or a folding metal roof.
The sedan is offered in Sebring Limited or Sebring Touring variants. Interior space in the sedan is good and the rear seat can cope with two larger than average adults, three children will travel in comfort. All seats except for the driver’s can be folded flat to make for plenty of carrying capacity, including long loads. Boot space is good and the luggage area is easy to access thanks to a decent sized opening.
All sedans until January 2008 had a 2.4-litre petrol engine that provides no more than adequate performance. A V6 petrol engine displacing 2.7 litres became optional at the start of 2008 and is probably a better bet.
The added weight of the cabriolet meant that only the Chrysler V6 engine is imported to Australia, a wise move in a country where drivers like to get stuck into their cars.
Another advantage of the V6 engine is that it sits beside a six-speed automatic transmission, whereas the four-cylinder powerplant only has four forward ratios.
Chrysler says the Sebring sedan has semi-European steering and handling to give it a sporting feel. The car is on the soft side for our tastes as far as handling is concerned, but it provides good riding comfort.
On-road, the dynamics of the Sebring cabriolet are better than the sedan and is likely to suit all but the most demanding of sporting drivers. Then again the ride is firmer and may not be to all tastes.
Build quality of the Chrysler Sebring could be better, particularly in the interior where it lags significantly behind that of Asian and Australian made family cars. Then again, the materials are of a good standard and seem to be wearing well enough.
Chrysler imports to Australia have been disappointing from the company’s point of view and at this stage there aren’t as many dealers as originally anticipated. However, the network operates efficiently and we have heard of no real complaints about spare parts availability or price. Naturally, most of the Chrysler dealers are in Australian metropolitan areas, but some of the major country cities and towns also have representation.
Insurance costs are slightly above average for cars in this class, but not unreasonably so. There seems to be a difference of opinion amongst insurance companies about premium charges, probably because the Sebring has yet to build up a comprehensive history here. So it pays to shop around for the best deal. As always, make sure you are doing an exact comparison between insurers.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
As mentioned, build quality can be on the variable side. Check the complete interior for signs of items that aren’t fitted correctly. During your pre-purchase test drive listen for squeaks and rattles that indicate insecurity.
Quality of materials are high and it’s unlikely that there will have been any fading of the dashtop at this relatively short time in the Sebring’s relatively short history in Australia, nor do we expect any.
Slow gearchanges in the four-speed automatic transmission could indicate the need for a service. We haven’t struck any problems in the six-speed auto.
The engine should start quickly and easily. The four-cylinder isn’t as smooth as the six-cylinder but both powerplants are pretty good in this field. Any roughness, most likely to be noticed when the engine is started from cold, should be treated with suspicion.
Panel repairs that haven’t been correctly carried out will show up as roughness in the body shape. This is best spotted by looking along the panels for a ripply finish. Do this in strong daylight.
Other indicators of previous body repairs are paint colours that don’t match from panel to panel, and tiny spots of paint on glass, badges and/or trim details. |
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