2003 Chrysler Sebring

Decent reliability, zero power

By Bob (CT) on Friday, May 10, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 200,000

Pros: "A fun, cheap and suprisingly reliable car"

Cons: "Performance is very lackluster, small interior"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"This review is about my 2003 silver Sebring ragtop with the 4 cylinder engine I've had since new. Engine reliability was surprisingly good, especially for an older Chrysler. Went to nearly 190,000 miles before the engine needed anything major, and that was just lifter noise and a minor exhaust manifold leak, which really aren't all that major. The car will be going to my nephew as a graduation present next year so I just ended up rebuilding the whole engine. New pistons, bearings, machining, etc, plus all the usual big service stuff like plugs, timing belt, brake, tranny, steering and such fluids. With that the engine runs near to new again, and got what power its apposed to have back (the engine had lost probably 70% of its power, and it never really had any power to begin with). Fuel economy I find is often even a little bit better than listed, even with my excessively heavy foot, plus it's not that expensive to fill-up. There is however no way that the fuel tank holds the 16 gallons this site lists in the technical specs. I'm guessing it holds about half that. A single 5 gallon can will bring it from below a 1/4 tank to almost full so it seems to hold right around 8 gallons. The range from a full tank is around 300 miles, and I'd wager you would go a couple score miles father if you drive it conservatively. The chassis really doesn't show any real wear and the car handles near to original and the ride is pretty much the same as well. The car really isn't even that heavy for being a ragtop. (Though when it comes time to replace the shocks I'd recommend going with a little softer rate. It won't effect the handling as the narrowish tires are really it's weak spot, but it will definitely improve the ride, especially over long trips.) Torque steer is mostly absent and the understeer is surprisingly rather minimal for an American car, for comparison it is worlds better than my unmodified '99 Ford Mustang GT convertible. The car was never a sporty performance car and the tires will give way long before chassis flex from being a convertible becomes an issue. All in all I'd say the chassis is rather good for this level of automobile. Finally, fit and finish. The paint held up very well and their is zero rust on it despite being a New England car. I don't drive it in the winter so it is mostly spared from road salt. I also never garaged or covered it and the sun beating down on it really tends to kill the clear but no peeling thus far. In fact if I bothered to take a buffer to it to get rid of all those parking lot scratches it would really shine. The plastic trim also held up well, though it is a half shade duller than the metal work. The interior, while small with practically no leg room in the back seat, is comfortable enough and there's enough room for a couple children to get into trouble. The interior has also held up very well. Everything is still wear its should be with no broken knobs or trim. The dash held its color well, no noticeable UV fade, and that's without any Armor All or the like products. I would just wipe down the interior every week with vinyl cleaner. The seats have also held up extremely well. The cloth is still in good condition without and stretched fabric or thinning wear spots and the foam has managed to stay firm and avoid being a mold of my butt cheeks. The CD radio is also 100% with the speakers still being tight and without any added distortion added over time. Overall, while not the highest quality build or performance, the vehicle is a fun car to cruise around with the top down. It's also held up way better than I ever could have expected. For a 10 year old car with 200,000 miles it basically has the typical wear of a low-mileage car only a year or two old. It will be a great first car for my nephew which will hopefully last another 10 years and 200k miles. If you're a younger adult looking for a fun, inexpensive convertible, I'd wholeheartedly recommend the Sebring so long as you can find a clean, maintained car that wasn't beat on to bad."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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You Heard Me,,,

By mark (WV) on Wednesday, May 01, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 90,000

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"I will never own a Chrysler car again,I have had nothing but problems with this car,engine wise.Time to stay with my foreign autos."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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Way more reliable than the bluebook estimates.

By Yo (NE) on Tuesday, April 30, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 70,070

Pros: "Great economy car"

Cons: "Small for a growing family."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I have owned this car since 2003. This car starts like the day I drove it home from the dealership."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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best car ever

By wolverene2525 (NC) on Sunday, April 28, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 90,000

Pros: "best price"

Cons: "no cons"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"paid 6k for this car it seems a little high up in the end it was was so worth it. GREAT on gas, smooth ride and great around corners.. awesome system.. omg i love it"

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Good Overall

By Kondo Kev (PA) on Tuesday, January 29, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 70,000

Pros: "good price & fun to drive"

Cons: "no cigarette lighter"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"Its ok for a rag top"

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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