BRIEF ENCOUNTER (some text hidden) --NONE--

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 107

Some people get a real kick out of owning something their friends won't have. True exclusivity comes when an in demand item is manufactured in tiny quantities. Values skyrocket and it becomes a real collector's item. The other tactic is to sell tiny quantities of something nobody really asked for in the first place. Valuations will slump and you'll wonder why you bothered. We're still scratching our heads and wondering why Chrysler decided to import fifty left hand drive Sebring Cabrios in a period between summer 2001 and 2002. The good news is that used buyers can now get a big hunk of car for citycar prices.

Modelsword count: 11

Models Covered: Chrysler Sebring - (Two door convertible 2.7 petrol [LX])

Historyword count: 137

Some cars make absolutely no sense at all when new but come good second (or third) time around. The Sebring is just such a model. Introduced in July 2001 as a specialist interest vehicle, it was lumbered with an asking price of £22,995, featured a thirsty petrol engine just when diesel was taking off and you had to sit on the wrong side. As a case study in launching a flop it could barely be bettered. As expected, Chrysler dealers had to resort to some drastic price cutting measures to sell all fifty of them. These days, there are even less plying our roads as I know of one that ended up in the water at Southampton docks and was consequently written off. Exclusivity doesn't usually come cheap but in the Sebring's case we'll make an exception.

What You Getword count: 191

The Sebring Cabrio provides full seating for four adults, a relatively spacious luggage compartment and a well engineered electrically powered soft top. Designed from the ground up as a true cabriolet, the Sebring features very generous levels of standard equipment. The sole LX specification includes air conditioning, cruise control, six-way power driver's seat, power assisted steering, electric windows, remote control central locking, full leather trim, 16-inch alloy wheels, CD player and a 150-watt sound system. The design of the dash is a trifle old fashioned, the plastics quality reminiscent of the sort of hire car you'd schlep away from LAX in but there are a lot of buttons to prod. When new, the Sebring featured the largest boot in its class with a handily low loading sill. The fully insulated power operated hood has a glass heated rear window and can be raised or lowered with one touch of a button. Holding the button in place also lowers all four side windows. Although the styling looks a little odd (especially in profile) the Sebring is one of the best convertibles around if you genuinely need to seat four fully grown adults.

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