FANT RD K TA!

Greg
Wilson

test
drive

THE new Chrysler
Sebring convertible
replaces the popular
LeBaron convertible,
the best-selling four-
passenger convertible
in North America for
many years.

Though the new Sebring is
an all-new car, it adopts the
same winning formula that
made its predecessor success-
ful: it’s stylish, practical, and
affordable (at least relative to
other convertibles).

The two-door, four-passen-
ger, front-wheel-drive Sebring
convertible is positioned as a
classier and roomier alterna-
tive to the Mustang and

~ Camaro convertibles — and a
more affordable alternative to
import convertibles like the
Saab 900 and BMW 318i con-
vertibles.

Base Sebring convertible.
IX models start at $25,490,
and uplevel JXi models begin
at $31,985. Fully equipped .
JXi Sebring convertibles top
oui at about $33,000.

The new ‘Sebring convert-
ible is not based on the.
Chrysler Sebring Coupe,
despite their identical names.
Instead, it uses the

. Cirrus/Stratus/Breeze sedan

“platform. The choice of this
.. platform has some important
advantages: the Cirrus’ cub- :
forward design, long wheel-
base and independent suspen-
sion provides the Sebring con-

’ vertible with a roomy back
seat, a relatively big trunk, and

superior handling on uneven
surfaces.
The Sebring’s four-passen-

‘ger interior is the roomiest

interior in its class, particular-

ly when it comes to rear seat
legroom and headroom (with

plaint is the lack of head

THE 1896 Chrysler Sebring convertible replaces the LeBaron convertible. Available with four- and six-cylinder engines, tha Sebring con-.
vartible offers a standard power-cperated top, four-speed automatic transmission, power steering and seating for four passoigere Text
drive the new Sebring at Regency Plymouth Chrysier, 1177 Marine Drive, North Vancouver.

the top up).

Getting into the rear seat is
telatively easy too: there's
enough room between the
folding front seatback and the
door pillar to enter gracefully.
and the Sebring’s front seats
incorporate shoulder ‘
belts in the seatback, so
there’s no pillar-mount-
ed belts to get tangled
up in.

The interior is both
attractive and well-
designed, much like the
Cirrus, My only com-

restraints on the rear
seats. .

The Sebring’s power-
operated top is released manu-
ally with evo clips. Then by
pressing a button on the centre
console, all four side windows
lower a fraction and the top
descends neatly into a cavity

behind the rear seat.

An easy-to-install, one-
piece soft vinyl boot covers
the top when its down.
However, when not in use, the
boot cover takes up a quite a
bit of valuable trunk space.

Price as tested (JXi): $33,550
Base price (JX): $25.490

Layout: transverse front engine/
front-wheel-drive

Engine: 2.5-litre V6, SOHC,
‘valves

Horsepower: 168 @ 5,800 r.p.m.

On base JX models, the top is
made of viny! and has an
inside liner and a glass rear
window with defroster.
Uplevel JXi models, except
those in white, get a better-

tooking cloth top.

On the road, there’s mini-
mal wind-buffeting in the
front seats, but a fair amount
in the back seat. Wind noise
with the top up is quite
acceptable. As is typical with

“Torque: 170 ft.-Ibs. @ 4,350 rp.m,
Transmission: four-speed auto-

matic

Curb weight: 1,556 kg (3,430 Ibs.)
Wheelbase: 2,690 mm (106.0 in.)
Trunk capacity: 311 titers (11.3

cu. ft.)

almost all convertible tops,
there's is a blind spot at the
rear 4 view, so lane-chang-
ing must be done carefully.
Another problem is seeing

behind with the top down: the .

3 CANNOT ADVERTISE THEM,
(Would you believe? - ‘starting —
* under on

driver's seat is low and the
boot cover ishigh. —
Most convertibles have a
very small trunk, but the
Sebring’s trunk is the biggest
in its class. With 11.3 cubic
feet of cargo area, it’s 23%
bigger than the trunk of -
the LeBaron convertible.

and about 2 the size of *

the Cirnus sedan’s trunk.
Base Sebring JX models
have a 150 horsepower
2.4-litre DOHC four-
cylinder engine mated to.
a standard four-speed
automatic transmission.
‘This engine provides
plenty of power, but‘it's a
tad noisier than the
optional 168 horsepower 2.5-
lire SOHC V6 engine which
is optional on the JX and stan-
dard in the JXi. "
Neither of these engines
can match the gut-wrenching...

torque of its competitors
optional V8 engines — but the
Sebring convertible is not
meant to be 4 muscle car.;
However, when it co
handling, the Sebring convert
ible's fully independent su
pension provides a raore sup-
ple ride and controlled han-
dling on uneven pavement
than its domestic competit
Just like the Cirrus/
Stratus/Breeze triplets,
Sebring convertible is fun- to-
drive and offers an enjoyable
comfortable ® driving © experi

model is Teasonably well-
equipped with such standard
features as power steering