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The Chrysler Sebring is a car that comes with its highs and its lows, but it remains a popular car on the aftermarket due to its past success as a sporty convertible. The Sebring debuted in 1995 as a sporty coup with some luxurious touches. The year of 1996 saw the introduction of the convertible model, which replaced the LeBaron. The JX edition came equipped with a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine, while the JXi had a stronger 168 horsepower, 2.5 liter V6 that performed moderately well and both are automatic transmission vehicles. Throughout the next few years there were the standard body changes, but they weren't too dramatic. Chrysler had a good thing going and they built upon the stylish looks of the convertible and the coupe.
1997 saw a new grill and slight changes to the front and rear. One of the biggest changes was that the convertible could be ordered with an Autostick transmission. This
transmission offered clutch-less shifting, which was a nice option for those who missed the advantages of shifting gears for themselves.
1998 had some changes for a more top-of-the line Limited model, the JXi Limited, which featured leather seats, a fabric top, and a powerful sound system.
In 1999 Chrysler dropped the 4 cylinder model on the convertible, ensuring base level buyers had a more satisfying pick up.
2001 was the first big redesign of the Sebring. It kept its spacious interior, but the redesigned interior was much more elegant. The engine was as well with a larger 2.7
V6 in place of the 2.5.
From 2001 to 2005 the convertible model became the world's most popular convertible. Unfortunately in these ensuing years, the quality dropped and the model became no
longer competitive.
In 2007 Chrysler completely redesigned the Sebring and came up with something that was a radical departure to the Sebring's that had come once before. Chrysler Sebring has
become more of a boxier design, offering more a poorer performance, while featuring a cheaper interior feel. 2008 saw the return of the convertible, but the other concerns
about the car haven't been addressed in the latest model years, leading many to think the Chrysler Sebring's glory days are long over.
