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Chrysler Sebring ragtop spawns GTC model with manual gearbox
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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COCONUT GROVE, Fla. -- Slip the stick down to the bottom rung and tap that throttle to feel the V6 surge as we romp up Tiger Tail Avenue in Coconut Grove, the palm-fringed Miami community set beside Biscayne Bay.
With a warm sun glowing in a true-blue sky, we're cruising the Grove with the ragtop dropped on a sporty new GTC edition of Chrysler's Sebring convertible.
Sebring happens to be the best-selling convertible in America as well as the prime vehicle in rental car fleets for sunny markets like Florida.
What makes the GTC edition of Sebring special is that it provides the first manual transmission for the convertible and comes with tight sport tuning for the suspension and attractive price points.
The GTC also wears a low-cast spoiler on the tail deck, body-colored moldings for the flanks and special 16-inch painted aluminum wheels with P205/60R16 all-season tires.
In the five-place cockpit, Sebring GTC adds two-tone front buckets, bold white-faced gauges in the instrument cluster including a tachometer, and a stereo AM/FM sound kit with CD player.
Fast colors apply, such as exterior shades of Bright Silver, Black, Stone White or Inferno Red and the convertible top tinted in Black or Sandalwood.
Sebring as a convertible supports either an economical 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine or Chrysler's lively 2.7-liter V6, yet GTC draws exclusively from the V6.
This plant, with dual overhead cams and multi-valve technology aboard, delivers 200 hp at 5800 rpm and torque numbers of 190 lb-ft at 4850 rpm.
All of that engine torque is directed through the new five-speed manual shifter or optional four-speed automatic.
Step on it and the V6 makes Sebring leap to action.
It charges off the line at a traffic light, yet still has enough muscle at speed to surge ahead of other vehicles in a quick lane change. Despite its strength, the plant musters reasonable fuel economy numbers and even runs on regular unleaded gasoline.
Cool styling for Chrysler's convertible matches its quick performance. In fact, it's absolutely gorgeous.
Slick metal stretches over a taut body with uncommonly fluid lines that flow like water across the long and broad front deck, sweep over a cantilevered windshield that tips rearward at an exaggerated angle and draw out to the rear, where the low-profile spoiler arches over big corner lamps and the thick mass of a monochrome bumper.
The wide prow adds the Chrysler signature of a long oval air intake port etched with an egg-crate grille wrapped in a bead of chrome.
Sebring follows in a long line of convertible classics from Chrysler: Town & Country, Imperial, New Yorker, LeBaron and, most recently, the previous design for Sebring that also scored as most popular ragtop in America.
The second generational design for Chrysler's convertible emerged late in the 2001 model-year charged with power and equipped with fun-to-drive mechanical components.
Sebring the convertible carries the same name as Chrysler's two-door coupe and four-door sedan. Although the trio appears similar in design, the coupe and sedan have different structures and powertrains. The convertible compares closest to the sedan, as these two begin with the same chassis and share suspension components, as well as the V6 engine and automatic transaxle.
Further, they are built side by side at the same Chrysler assembly plant in Sterling Heights, Mich.
Yet the Sebring convertible is not just a Sebring sedan with its top chopped and the soft-lid attached.
Rather, it was conceived from the outset to work as an open-top two-door vehicle. As a result, its beefed-up structure is so strong that the topless Sebring feels as stiff as a hardtop car and it can run around a curvy course with the distinct traits of a sports car.
Sebring's stiff structure, strengthened by lateral braces to compensate for the convertible's lack of a unifying roof structure, plays a key role in achieving the car's taut ride traits.
The suspension, independent at all four corners with a short-and-long-arm design in front and the multi-link rear, produces a smooth ride quality. It also maintains an impressively flat stance when moving through curves.
Sebring's passenger compartment is a generous space fitted with comfortable seats and stylish design touches such as chrome highlights or leather and simulated wood.
The dashboard is linear, but there's a wrap-around feel to the cockpit. From the driver's seat you can easily reach the shift lever and window and lock switches on the door.
On top of the dash, an electronic display indicates compass points, exterior temperature, trip mileage, fuel economy and distance to an empty tank.
The expansive cockpit stems from an architectural design that extends the windshield forward, pinches space up front for an engine, then increases the length and breadth of the cabin. There's far more room inside than the typical convertible provides, particularly in rear quarters on the back bench where you end up with room for legs and, with the top raised, even heads.
High-back front bucket seats are the standard. They feel firm but comfortable and move in six directions with power controls.
Trunk space is also good for a convertible; the compartment will hold a pair of stacked golf bags.
And Sebring's convertible top is easy to operate: Simply unlock the twin latches located above each windshield visor, then touch a button on the dash and the lid quickly folds down into a well behind the rear seat. Continue to depress the button and side windows also disappear.
Reverse the procedure to seal the lid shut -- it's so quick you could do it while waiting at a stoplight.
New issues slip a four-cylinder engine into the LX to forge a price-leader trim.
The 2.4-liter four plant achieves 150 hp at 5200 rpm.
Cloth fabric covers the seats in Sebring LX. Sebring LXi earns leather seat upholstery and the Limited has supple premium leather, while the GTC gets that two-tone treatment.
The MSRP for Sebring GTC convertible with either automatic or manual transaxle tallies to $25,710, which includes a delivery fee of $595.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING GTC Specs |
| Description: |
Mid-size 2+2 convertible
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| Model Options: |
Mid-size 2+2 convertible
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| Wheelbase: |
106.0 inches
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| Overall Length: |
193.7 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.4-L I4
DOHC 2.7-L V6
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| Transmission: |
I4: Auto/4
V6: Auto/4
Auto/4 AutoStick
GTC: Auto/4
Manual/5
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS/EBD
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| Airbags: |
2 (front)
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| Gas Mileage: |
I4 A/4: 21/30 mpg
V6 A/4: 20/27 mpg
V6 M/5: 20/28 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 25,710 |
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