As we start our third entry in our DAWN2DUSK feature, our first for this month, as the weather heats up and as Memorial Day weekend is upon us we at Automotive Declassified thought that this would be a perfect time to pay tribute to the convertible. Now you may have noticed that the features for the first half of this month have been all Chrysler products. This is not an accident. After Daimler decided to put a "for sale by owner sign in front of Chrysler", and subsequently sold their interests to hedge fund giant Cerberus, of which we discussed more in depth in our past feature, we decided that this would be a good time to look at the future of Chryslers products which as we have discussed revolve around one platform and a series of world engines. We will finish this primmer to these new platform with the "DAWN" feature, the '08 Sebring. These new Chryslers illustrate a large directional change from the "pride" of Chrysler that currently rests upon the larger platforms of the famed "Hemi" cars that we will happily cover in up coming issues. We will also include a "Dusk" feature that reminds us first hand of Daimlers "hand" on Chrysler, the short lived Mercedes SLK derived Crossfire. First we will introduce you to perhaps the most seductive of these new Chryslers, the Sebring convertible. As we discussed prior the Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Caliber, Jeep Compass, and Patriot all use the same platform with two “fourbanger” engines ,and in the case of the sedans, two six's of which only the larger one nears world-class. The Sebring convertible, which we will refer to as “Sebrcon”, for convenience, inherits the benefits and curses of the other platforms. The benefits include a refrigerated glove box, a wonderful "Mygig" entertainment system that has its own hard drive, and cooled and heated cup holders. The curses show in its rather benign handling, sluggish engines, and ho-hum interior trim. But as we also mentioned in a prior article, the magnitude of these "curses" impact lies in the niche the vehicle occupies. As with the Jeep's niche the “Sebrcon” shares a market with other vehicles that likewise have idiosyncrasies. The “Sebrcon” wasn't born to be an autobahn cruiser or a backroad runabout, that's what you buy a Jaguar XK or a Mercedes SL for, but then again you can buy two “Sebrcon's” and a Dodge Caliber for the price of one of those Bavarian bombers. In many ways the new “Sebrcon” channels the feeling of those big players in a way that is very rare. Only the outgoing Toyota Solara similarly gives you that intangible "nobility" in open air cruising. When I say "nobility" I mean that certain sophistication that a big stylish vehicle that comfortably sits adults and provides a driving experience that has nothing to do with the spec sheet or track test numbers. The “Sebrcon” delivers on this by providing a handsome exterior, that unlike its siblings, draws together it's styling elements into a cohesive package. The trump card for the “Sebrcon” is it's optional folding hardtop. I tip my hat to Chrysler for offering so many top options. You can order a cloth, vinyl, or the folding hard top that gives a little something for everyone and every budget. The hardtop is by far the best way to go allowing a safe and secure environment inside and a stylish exterior on those not so perfect days. By building this top it also pushes the “Sebrcon” into yet a smaller niche that is currently occupied by only the Pontiac G5, and VW Eos in this lower price range. The Volvo C also provide a hardtop roof but at a higher cost. Yet Chrysler slips away from those competitors by falling into a niche all by its lonesome. Unlike those other sport players the “Sebrcon” evokes a large grand tourer feel that is unheard of in this price range. Chrysler has made its own niche by making the “Sebrcon” into the "bargain basement Bentley" of the folding hardtop set. Now up to this point you have not seen one word about performance. The Sebring is not about that. Now in the highly competitive family car wars performance is a necessary ingredient that excludes these new platform cars from going to the top of the class, but in this niche of one the “Sebrcon” excels. If you want a stately convertible and performance you will need to dig very deep for the Jag or Merc that we mentioned above. For the rest of us the “Sebrcon” does just fine. In many ways it would be like track testing a Rose Bowl float. The purpose of this car is to sit back and relax and watch the world go by in slow motion as you sit atop your fine ride. For such excursions performance is unneeded, but in case you want to know anyway, it's pretty dismal. Many will be equipped with up market interiors and lower level engines. The “fourbanger” is barely adequate for the Caliber let alone a car this big and heavy. The structure is pretty stiff but not as stiff as our next vehicle the Crossfire. As a daily car the “Sebrcon” could quickly wear it's welcome out if it didn't take it's top down every once in a while, then again you could say that of some celebrities as well. So the bottom line is that the Sebring convertible makes a guiltless fuel efficient way to view the world in dignity, just not very quickly. Now our Dusk feature is an example of the polar opposite to the Sebring. 
The Crossfire is basically a reskined version of Mercedes past generation SLK, only with better structural rigidity. The Crossfire was brought in to take up the space left by the quirky cool retro hotrod Prowler. In many ways it was Daimler’s way of proving it would still bring innovative vehicles to the forefront after its takeover. The Crossfire vs. the Prowler is a pure illustration of how German design is different from American design. The Crossfire was a straightforward no holds bared sport car, where the Prowler was as much about design as anything else. The Crossfire was a great sports tourer that provided a stellar design that was really more flowing and controlled than Mercedes own design, backed by the real deal performance stats caped off by a ridiculously rigid chassis that was rock solid. Now you may wonder why , first I keep speaking in the past tense and ,secondly why you probably never heard of this car before. Well first of all the Crossfire was given it's walking papers over a year ago, however slow sales have kept many of them on dealer lots even though the calendar continues to move forward. Secondly, it seems that a rather, shall we say, snug interior and a rather high price ,mixed with non-existent advertising, contributed to the untimely demise of the Crossfire. My decision to review the Crossfire came after seeing an ad in the Boston Globe for a dealer in York Maine, Autodeclassified has eyes everywhere!, Dick Bournival Dodge Jeep Chrysler is currently offering the Crossfire hardtop for $19,879 and the feature of this article the convertible for $24,910. Dick will even provide first class lodging for out of state customers. Now if Mopar had provided such pricing and consideration when the Crossfire was released I'm sure it would have become one of their best success stories, after all at $19,879 the coupe comes in at less than a Hyundai Tiberon, Mitsubishi Eclipse, or even a well equipped Honda Civic, and at $24,910 it comes in at a price similar to the Miata and less than a Mini Convertible! Now before you book plane tickets to Maine lets go through the negatives of the crossfire. First the supercharged four can become an earful after a while, although it can become that way in the $20,000 more expensive Merc SLK as well. The interior is snug,really snug , although slightly less so in the convertible. You need to think of it as a rare, fast, stylish Mazda Miata and you will get the point. The above reviewed Sebring provides all weather provisions with a hardtop and a front drive platform. It also is more "family friendly" with a , for a convertible, big backseat. The Crossfire is a fast fun car for two with rear drive and slick tires that have no "snow belt" aspirations. The Crossfire is as close as many of us will ever come to the pure bred roadsters of yesteryear. In many ways the Crossfire is a cheaper alternative to buying a restored MG or Alpha, only one with ABS, stability control, and airbags! So for those who have the luxury of buying a one purpose built car the Crossfire offers a wonderful alternative that comes complete with the memories of a great Maine get away and the eventual rise in value that is destined to be high considering the limited numbers made and the intrinsic beauty of the car to begin with. So to sum up the Sebring brings a little gentility and open air fun to your average daily life while providing enough flexibilty to appease your conscience ,while the Crossfire provides those of gentility a car that makes no attempts of appeasing your conscience, and for the so inclined, a unique vehicle that is all the better for it.
The Crossfire is basically a reskined version of Mercedes past generation SLK, only with better structural rigidity. The Crossfire was brought in to take up the space left by the quirky cool retro hotrod Prowler. In many ways it was Daimler’s way of proving it would still bring innovative vehicles to the forefront after its takeover. The Crossfire vs. the Prowler is a pure illustration of how German design is different from American design. The Crossfire was a straightforward no holds bared sport car, where the Prowler was as much about design as anything else. The Crossfire was a great sports tourer that provided a stellar design that was really more flowing and controlled than Mercedes own design, backed by the real deal performance stats caped off by a ridiculously rigid chassis that was rock solid. Now you may wonder why , first I keep speaking in the past tense and ,secondly why you probably never heard of this car before. Well first of all the Crossfire was given it's walking papers over a year ago, however slow sales have kept many of them on dealer lots even though the calendar continues to move forward. Secondly, it seems that a rather, shall we say, snug interior and a rather high price ,mixed with non-existent advertising, contributed to the untimely demise of the Crossfire. My decision to review the Crossfire came after seeing an ad in the Boston Globe for a dealer in York Maine, Autodeclassified has eyes everywhere!, Dick Bournival Dodge Jeep Chrysler is currently offering the Crossfire hardtop for $19,879 and the feature of this article the convertible for $24,910. Dick will even provide first class lodging for out of state customers. Now if Mopar had provided such pricing and consideration when the Crossfire was released I'm sure it would have become one of their best success stories, after all at $19,879 the coupe comes in at less than a Hyundai Tiberon, Mitsubishi Eclipse, or even a well equipped Honda Civic, and at $24,910 it comes in at a price similar to the Miata and less than a Mini Convertible! Now before you book plane tickets to Maine lets go through the negatives of the crossfire. First the supercharged four can become an earful after a while, although it can become that way in the $20,000 more expensive Merc SLK as well. The interior is snug,really snug , although slightly less so in the convertible. You need to think of it as a rare, fast, stylish Mazda Miata and you will get the point. The above reviewed Sebring provides all weather provisions with a hardtop and a front drive platform. It also is more "family friendly" with a , for a convertible, big backseat. The Crossfire is a fast fun car for two with rear drive and slick tires that have no "snow belt" aspirations. The Crossfire is as close as many of us will ever come to the pure bred roadsters of yesteryear. In many ways the Crossfire is a cheaper alternative to buying a restored MG or Alpha, only one with ABS, stability control, and airbags! So for those who have the luxury of buying a one purpose built car the Crossfire offers a wonderful alternative that comes complete with the memories of a great Maine get away and the eventual rise in value that is destined to be high considering the limited numbers made and the intrinsic beauty of the car to begin with. So to sum up the Sebring brings a little gentility and open air fun to your average daily life while providing enough flexibilty to appease your conscience ,while the Crossfire provides those of gentility a car that makes no attempts of appeasing your conscience, and for the so inclined, a unique vehicle that is all the better for it. 
