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iR A N D P R IX
Fours Seasons Review
The Chrysler Sebring JXi
onvertibles are really cool when the The style is fresh and sleek; definitely a stand corners of the car. This new design first ap
weather is hot. But it wasn’t until out in a crowded parking lot. The leather peared with the Dodge Intrepid, Chrysler
the dead of winter that the Sebring interior is comfortable, and the sound sys Concorde and now defunct Eagle Vision.
Some annoyances: moving the seat up
tem is respectable. The seats easily adjust to
JX i made its way to me. This head-turn
ing coupe was in a minority among the vour favorite position, with the electronic and back is awkward when trying to let rear
passengers in, or when I'm trying to climb
sport-utility vehicles hogging the roads ol buttons conveniently located on the bottom
out. Nearly 12,000 miles into our year-long
the M otor City from January through of the driver’s seat.
I especially like the seatbelts, which are test drive, some little irritating things are
March.
So, I wondered, how would this warm- mounted on the seats instead of the door, cropping up. T he driver-side window
weather mobile handle in snow, sleet and providing a much more comfortable fit. In squeaks when you raise it up or down. And
fact, this is the first time ever that I hon that creaking sound in the steering wheel
on rain-drenched roads?
First thing first — in northern climates, estly enjoyed wearing my seatbelt — it didn't that was serviced prior to our last review is
often the most important feature on a car cut across my neck or cut into my shoul back.
Overall, though, this seems to be a con
is its heater. The 1997 Sebring warms up der blade.
Another neat feature is the Autostick vertible for all seasons; not one that has to
quickly, and the defroster did a terrific job
o f clearing those icy windows many a transmission control system, available only hibernate in a garage through a blusters'
morning. The dials and controls are con with the V6 engine, which allows the driver winter.
veniently located within arms reach, and to shift gears manually without the hassle
don’t require a degree in meteorology or of a clutch.
Getting in and out
an understanding of weather symbols to
SPECIFICATIONS
o f the S ebring is
operate.
easier
than
I
imag
Windy, blustery days didn’t intimidate
............$24,660
Base price.................
the light-weight Sebring. It hugged the ined, even though it
road, never losing control and becoming sits low to the
............ $26,525
Price as tested..........
sidelined. Fortunately, we had a fairly mild g ro u n d . T h e high
rear-end,
evidence
of
winter in Detroit this year, so I couldn't
......2.5-liter V6
Engine.....................
assess the Sebring’s ability to plow through C hrysler’s cab-for
ward
design,
holds
a
the snow that usually packs Michigan
168@5800 rpm
sizable trunk, suitable
Horsepower............
roads.
Still, it never warmed up enough for me for carrying grocer
........10 seconds
Acceleration (0-60)
to be tempted to let the top down, either. ies, dry-cleaning and
The convertible top was certainly much stur other cargo. Chrysler
... 17city/21 hwy
dier than 1 imagined it to be. It stayed in pioneered the cab-
Fuel economy.........
tact: no shakes, rattles, groans or signs of forward design in the
early 90s by pushing
leaks during heavy rains.
..............15.8 gal
Tank capacity..........
the wheels out to the
There’s a lot to like about the Sebring.
C
36
AFRICAN AMERICANS O N WHEELS
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T h e o n e v e h ic le e n g in e e r e d to h a n d le m o r e th a n ju s t c o m p lim e n ts . Its u n iq u e W id e T r a c k
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b e tte r c o r n e r in g , c o n tr o l a n d g rip . C h o o s e c o u p e o r s e d a n a n d s e e fo r y o u r s e lf: W id e r is B e tte r.
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