A sleek convertible with European flavor.
Driving Test
Our Sebring JXi was powered by the optional 2.5-liter, 168-hp V6. The V6 was so nimble that we don't think
our sportier side would be happy with the standard 2.4-liter, 150-hp four-banger. Besides being smaller, the
four-cylinder engine is inherently noisier. After all, if you're in the market for a sporty convertible, you
shouldn't short-change yourself in the powerplant department. The extra $800 for the V6 will be money well
spent.
The AutoStick--for a scant $150--is also recommended. With the AutoStick, you can manually upshift or
downshift by sliding the shift lever down, and then to the left or right. It's fun to operate on winding
roads and in the mountains. Shift up early to save gas, shift up late for maximum acceleration.
The extra oomph of the V6--and the quicker response offered by the AutoStick--came in handy in critical
passing situations. The Sebring JXi accelerates quickly from a dead dig, but fades a bit in the homestretch:
it took more than 10 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.
On the downside, the Sebring JXi suffers from some engine noise. Whether accelerating from a dead stop or
punching it on the freeway, the engine raises a ruckus. And, of course, a ragtop doesn't filter out road noise
the way a hard top would.
On the up-side, the taut suspension kept body roll to a minimum in hairpin-turns and the power rack-and-pinion
offered precise steering response allowing us to handle these maneuvers without worry.
If you're a real convertible enthusiast--and, in our hearts, aren't we all?--you know there's nothing like
cruising along a twisting, tree-lined road with the top down. We like the Sebring's clean, aerodynamic body lines.
Based on our experience, it's a great car for enjoying the pastoral pleasures of a rural road on a sunny day.
The Sebring's smart windshield design provided unblocked sight lines in all directions. And our heads were
subjected to minimal wind buffeting.
Interior Review
Standard equipment on the base Sebring JX convertible includes: dual airbags, air conditioning, vinyl
convertible top (fabric on our upmarket JXi test model), rear defroster, tinted glass, front bucket seats,
tilt steering column, map pockets, power windows and heated exterior mirrors.
The Sebring may also be ordered with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, the AutoStick transmission (on the
optional 2.5-liter V6), an enhanced theft alarm, an optional electrochromic rearview mirror, a trip computer
with compass (JXi), and the addition of trunk-unlock and panic-alarm modes for the optional keyless remote entry
system.
We loved the retractible top's ease of operation. Chrysler designers have spared us the agony of having to
pore over an owner's manual and wade through a painfully sequential list of instructions. Instead, you can retract
the Sebring JX's top by pressing a single power switch. (You'll need to flip two windshield latches first.) So,
if you're caught in sudden cloudburst, you can raise the top while sitting at a stoplight.
Once lowered, the top can be tucked under a boot that fastens with Velcro tabs. And when it's time to
raise the top--by simply pressing the "up" button--the front-seat windows automatically slide down a few inches
allowing them to align properly with the top.
The seatbelts are height-adjustable, and are deftly integrated into the back of the front bucket seats--to
prevent rear-seat passengers from tripping over them when climbing in and out. The seats are supportive and quite
comfortable.
Exterior Review
We tested the mid-line JXi model. Although the JXi is more bountifully appointed, the Sebring convertible is
so sharp that it almost seems insulting to describe the JX as the base model. The paint job on our JXi test
model--a purplish-black color called Deep Amethyst Pearl--was darkly elegant.
Improvements for '98 include a new engine mounting system, new ignition key lock for added security and a
refined anti-lock braking system (standard on the JXi, optional on the JX), with an optional traction-control
system. The JX offers new wheel covers, while the JXi sports new cast aluminum wheels, plus gold badges and wheel
accents.
The Sebring JXi's sculpted corners give it an eye-catching but dignified European look--unlike the wedge-shaped
Sebring LX coupe and aggressive Dodge Avenger. Indeed, in some ways, its Teutonic-inspired lines suggest a Mercedes
450 SL. The Sebring's narrow, compact grille, its sloping, smartly contoured hood and its squinty headlights give
it an imposingly self-assured visage.
The Sebring's firmly-mounted retractable top is a snug fit, and is attractively decorated with a glass light
in back. Its trunk space is commodious for a convertible, with enough space for six shopping bags and a medium-sized
suitcase.
Including the $545 destination charge, our JXi test model had a base price of $25,575. It was equipped with
such options as the 2.5-liter, 24-valve 6-cylinder engine ($800); the AutoStick transmission--an automatic that can
be shifted like a stick shift ($150); an Infinity stereo system with cassette, CD player, 150-watt amplifier,
premium speakers and graphic equalizer ($340); and a $175 luxury convenience package that consisted of a HomeLink
garage door opener integrated into the driver's side visor and an inside rearview mirror with the day/night feature.
The total price was $26,660.
Final Thoughts
The svelte styling of the Sebring JXi--and the prowess of its V6--make it one of the most fun-to-drive
convertibles on the market. Those factors, plus its rear-seat roominess and crisp handling, have given the
Sebring JXi a strong toehold in the U.S. sporty-convertible market.
Historically, domestic-ragtop buyers gravitated to the Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang convertibles. That
market is no longer a two-horse race. Based on its gangbusters sales performance for the past two years, the
Sebring ragtop should be enticing soft-top buyers for years to come.