Chrysler Concorde Convertible...Continued

Our Impressions Of The Drive:

Engine Response: The test car, equipped with the up-graded V-6 engine, was responsive with brisk acceleration. It scored well on freeway entry and moved away from city stops with energy. The Sebring was not starved for power on mountain roads

Shifting The Gears: To shift or not to shift, that is the question AutoStick allows you to answer for yourself. Shifting for yourself is more entertaining when cruising winding mountain roads, of course, than it is when driving city streets, but that's the beauty of it. And it's so simple to change from automatic to self-shift. Just put the gear stick in the AutoStick position. Tap the shifter to the right to upshift or to the left to shift down; no clutch required. When in automatic mode, the gears on the test car (a V-6 with AutoStick) shifted smoothly and the easy-to-reach gear shift made piloting this automobile a delightful experience.

Handling: Cornering, parking, doing a U-turn in tight quarters, slipping in and out of erratic traffic -- no problem. In fact, driving this little jewel is such a pleasure one hardly notices all the jiggles and shakes the car makes when driving with the top up.

Ride: It's not the smoothest ride around. You definitely feel speed bumps; in fact, you feel pebbles in the road. But most of the time, who cares.

Brakes: Safe braking is assisted by ABS, optional on the JX but standard on the JXi. The brakes have a solid, substantial feel, and provide confident driving.

What We Liked Most: The fun. The practicality. Seating for four. The trunk, with space for luggage even with the top down. The AutoStick option. The super-simple drop top. Great looking car. The lavender color is particularly attractive.

What We Caution You About: The shakes and rattles you feel and hear when driving with the top up. There's also a visibility problem when the top is up. Although you can buy a Sebring Convertible for around $20,000, the one you'll want will cost closer to $26,000.

Overall Impression: Chrysler brought the convertible back to the masses with the introduction of the LeBaron in the early 80s. The Sebring Convertible, its replacement, is a car for the 90s and beyond. It's a stylish, practical car that can put excitement into the work commute and make the trip to the grocery store a real breeze.

Major Competition: Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Volkswagen Cabrio, Toyota Celica, Chevrolet Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire