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Product summary
The good: The 2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible can be optioned with the MyGig entertainment/navigation system. It also has a UConnect hands-free cell phone system available.
The bad: Handling on the Sebring Limited is soft and wallowing. The interior fit and finish is sketchy, while the powered convertible top is slow. We got some rattle and hum from the speakers. The transmission whines and hunts for gears.
The bottom line: Quality seems to be a real problem with the 2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible. We didn't enjoy the driving experience, but the car does have some high-tech cabin options.
Specifications: Body style: Convertible; Trim levels: Limited; Available Engine: Gas See full specs
Price range: $32,055.00
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 08/10/2007
When the 2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible docked in the CNET harbor, we were surprised to find that the props were mounted on its sides, paddlewheel-style, instead of under the transom, as with most inboard-engined boats. Further, these paddlewheels didn't actually have any paddles, but were circled by an inflated rubber casing. Odd. The Sebring also used a flat front, rather than the pointed bow we would have expected. It looked neither seaworthy nor particularly hydrodynamic.
Everything else looked right for a powerboat. The Sebring has strakes on its bow, a light-color interior, and a convertible top that can be raised when the weather gets rough. We took it out for a cruise and it handled just like a boat should. But then one of our more observant staff members pointed out something interesting: the Chrysler Sebring is a car.
As a convertible car, the Sebring looks pretty good, at first glance. As we spent more time in it, we noticed too much cheap material in the cabin and some very iffy construction. The car has more than adequate power, but its handling doesn't make it very usable. The automatic transmission is also rough. The electronics present a brighter picture. Our test car came with the same stereo as the Jeep Unlimited we had in previously, and it can also be optioned up with the MyGig navigation/entertainment system.
Test the tech: Convertible cruise
Because our test car didn't have any of the tech options available for the Sebring, we had to content ourselves with the standard features, such as the convertible top. Chrysler showed off a hard-top convertible version of the Sebring at the last round of auto shows, but this version hasn't emerged yet on Chrysler's Web site. We had a soft-top version, which used two layers of fabric--headliner and roof--to insulate the cabin from the outside world. The convertible top seemed to take a long time to raise and lower, however, and we noticed some disturbing quality issues. As the trunk lifted to take in the top, it seemed to wag, and the plastic strip running along the top frame of the windshield had unfinished ends.
In the cabin
We're generally not keen on four-seater convertibles, as the seating area looks too much like a bathtub. That effect was accentuated with the color scheme of our Sebring, with its cream-colored interior. At first glance, the interior looked nice, but most of the cabin materials felt plasticky and cheap once we got in the car. It also had some unnecessary wood-look trim pieces that gave it a look of pretension over quality.
Our car didn't come with the optional MyGig navigation and entertainment system, but we got to check it out at last year's Los Angeles auto show. MyGig, a $1,850 option, brings in a hard-drive-based navigation system, and dedicates space on that hard drive for storing music and photos. Our car also didn't come with the UConnect Bluetooth hands-free cell phone option, but we got a chance to test it out last year on a Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's a good, basic hands-free system controlled through voice command.
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Where to buy
2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible:
$32,055.00
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Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price From Edmunds.com
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$32,055.00 | No |
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