I Drove a Chrysler Sebring Today

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
01/19/2015 at 21:24 • Filed to: None

More specifically, my friend's 2004 Convertible with the 2.7L engine and 50,000 miles.

I have to say, it wasn't actually that bad. His needs a new top so it was a little noisy inside at highway speeds, but other than that, the 2.7L feels plenty powerful, it doesn't handle too terribly, and being a convertible it automatically makes it better.

The interior was obviously from early 2000s Chrysler, but the cloth seats were comfortable and the wheel had a nice feel in my hand. And the stereo was actually pretty decent for a stock unit.

His needs new brakes badly though. The pedal travel before anything actually happens is scarily long. And there were some strange creaks coming from the windows and top, but given it's an 11 year old Chrysler convertible, the odd squeak or rattle isn't unexpected. His also has a transmission seal leak, which given how he said the PO took terrible car of it apparently, that doesn't surprise me. And I have to help him replace the oil pressure sending unit, which given how quickly it came up on google, is a common problem on these cars.

Overall, very obviously a car from early 2000s America, but really not that bad. Plus the wind in your hair is just so great.

DISCUSSION (28)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:30

Believe it or not, I've only ever been in less than half a dozen convertibles. All short rides, all before I was 13. I've never even been in the Alfa that's been sitting in our garage for five years.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:30

Wait, THE infamous 2.7L?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
01/19/2015 at 21:32

The one that dies of sludge at like 100,000 miles? Yeah, pretty sure.

Milky > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:32

People that use these as "summer cars" confuse the hell out of me.

*based of 50k miles

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:32

I drove a ton of these when looking for a first car. They really are not too bad to drive and like you said the convertible instantly makes it better.

Its not a sports car but it really isn't too bad off the line

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
01/19/2015 at 21:33

I've only ever been in two, well three now. The other two were my aunt's BMW 325i and 328i convertibles.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Milky
01/19/2015 at 21:34

I think his was owned by an old man before he got it. He's put 2,000 on it since he got it about a year ago, which is pretty high considering he lives a mile from school.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:34

a pair of sway bars, strut tower brace, k&n intake, flowmaster muffler with reso delete, lowered an inch and a half, and with auto stick they actually are a good bit of fun.

The biggest gripe I have is the noisy quarter glass windows with the top up. They rub the rubber seal and squeak like all hell so you have to open them an inch for no noise.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
01/19/2015 at 21:34

I was surprised of peppy it was honestly. The pedal is SO sensitive.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:35

That was the first convertible that I ever got to ride in, and it cemented my hate for convertibles. The beach + being extremely fair skinned + convertible = a bad time before even reaching the beach. That said, it wasn't really a bad car, but according to the owner (my Grandmother), it was worse in every way compared to their Solara.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
01/19/2015 at 21:36

THAT'S WHAT THAT SQUEAKING WAS!

His doesn't have the autostick sadly. But, it was a good bit more fun to drive than my van or my girlfriend's Taurus, even stock.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:36

My others were a different Alfa spider, a Mercedes R107, a '71 Cutlass, a 355, and an old Wrangler.

Was there any chassis flex in the Sebring? If so, what does that feel like?

Alex B > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:36

Looks wise, it's not that bad actually. I would use it for a summer car.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
01/19/2015 at 21:38

It didn't feel flex-y. But then, I didn't take any twisty turns. It handled better than my girlfriend's Taurus, if that means anything.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:39

Yup, it's the worst. Also if nobody is in the passenger seat there's a very faint metal on metal like a single screw head rubbing something.

Fun fact: the autostick shifter and dash can be harvested from a stratus RT and with 2 spliced wires a non AS Stringbean can have AS. I know this since I did the conversion to mine. Only having 4 gears means you get to hold 2 and 3 longer and stay in the power band

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
01/19/2015 at 21:42

The '05 and '06 had something done to them to prevent sludging. Mines an '06 and has been sludge free

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
01/19/2015 at 21:42

I might have to tell him about the AutoStick thing, because he's been wanting to do SOMETHING to it. That sounds pretty simple and plug-and-play.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:45

Not much, but I for some reason would have thought the Taurus would be better, so it's something.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
01/19/2015 at 21:48

The Taurus handles like a boat. Like oh lord it's floaty and understeers like mad. It makes up by being comfy as hell on the highway.

Really, reflecting on the two cars, the Sebring was better in every way except interior plastics quality. Which even then it wasn't terrible . At least in my very "gives no shits if my dash is squishy" opinion.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:49

This is the exact guide I used years ago. If he can find a pick n pull that has a stratus or Stringbean with AS he just needs the dash cluster, shifter and wiring harness attached to the shifter. 2 wires to the dash, 1 to 12v power, 1 to ground. Boom. Auto stick. And since it's an 04 he doesn't need a new TCM.

http://www.sebringclub.net/gallery/main.p…

It's a PDF with lots of pictures.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
01/19/2015 at 21:50

I'll definitely show this to him, thanks!

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 21:55

No problem. And if he has any other issues let me know. I've had mine since 07 and the world needs more modified Stringbeans

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 22:43

Yeahhhh.... about that engine . Same one I had in my Intrepid of yore........Never again.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/19/2015 at 22:45

80,000. I speak from experience.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/20/2015 at 02:40

Im sorry that you had to go through this traumatic experience... If you need anything i am here for you buddy.

On a side note, whenever i see one of these in the summer with the top down and im driving the Miata i always do a ricer fly-by.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/20/2015 at 03:32

As far as the brakes go, and if he really wants to do 'something' to it, you should start with a simple brake bleed. All it takes is a couple people, a jack (and stands for safety...), the right wrench, and some new fluid. Do a quick google search on how to do it (it's really easy after you've done it once), and I'm willing to bet that the brakes will feel much, much better.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/20/2015 at 08:07

I drove a 2000 Sebring convertible and it's among the worst vehicles I've ever had the displeasure of driving. Even worse than a PT Cruiser. Far worse, actually. Only marginally better than the Chrysler Cirrus I drove. No power, made a horrible noise, boaty as hell yet the ride wasn't that soft, interior was falling apart as I touched it, steering was far too fast and numb, visibility was shockingly bad for its age, and the radio was TERRIBLE

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
01/20/2015 at 08:11

My van is still the worst car I've ever driven, so there's that.

I really didn't think it was that bad. I had such low expectations because of how badly they're spoken of and it exceeded them.