Forget the first robin of spring; the real harbingers of warmer days to come are the first convertibles of spring.  We certainly had warmer weather on the brain when we drove the new Chrysler Sebring convertible in Michigan not long ago.  The handsome new Sebring impressed us with its sense of style and attractive design, but there wasn’t much chance for sun worship, as the clouds rolled in and the snow began to fall.

Determined to defy the weather, we put the top down as soon as the sun broke through the clouds for a few minutes.  We cranked the heat, made sure that our ears were covered, and voila!  Just like summer!

The new Sebring convertible has just undergone its first major redesign since its introduction.  The changes are evolutionary; crisper styling, a slightly larger and more efficient engine, and many little quality and ergonomic nitpicks were addressed.  The new droptop is joined in the lineup by coupe and sedan versions.

We weren’t sure if passersby were looking in shock at the car cruising with the top lowered at 40 degrees, or if they were just checking out the Sebring’s new styling.  The look is evolutionary, but then the Sebring was a stylish car to begin with.  The edges have been sharpened all around, and the winged chrome Chrysler logo floats at the top of a cutout in the nose, just above a wide, equally chromy eggcrate grille.  It’s the best use of brightwork we’ve seen in years.  The long, low body ends in a narrowed, boatlike tail.  The only thing spoiling the overall look was the rather cheap-looking set of wheel covers our test car sported; Sebrings look best with the optional 16″ wheels.  All in all it delivers a stylish and cosmopolitan feel.  Think of it as “(Your Name Here) In the Big City” styling.

In spite of a light dusting of snow falling into it, we enjoyed the Sebring’s interior.  Handsome, chrome-ringed gauges resemble the faces of antique electric clocks.  The quality of the plastics used could have been better; it spoiled the illusion that the Sebring was an expensive car.  It still looks great, though.  There was plenty of space for four passengers, as well–try making four people comfortable in a Mustang or Camaro convertible, and you’ll see why legroom is a good thing.  In typical Chrysler fashion the front footwell is very spacious and open, with a low console the only thing intruding on foot room. We found the driving position to be a bit too stretched-out for our liking; it was hard to find a position that didn’t have us reaching for the steering wheel and pedals.  Even though the top was down, a good windshield design kept buffeting to a minimum and allowed the front-seat passengers to stay warm.  Seatbelts are integrated into the front seats for added comfort.  What wasn’t comfortable was the optional CD changer, which is located in the bottom of the console, practically on the floor.  It’s hard to see or load CDs into the device, whether you’re driving or not.  Best bet:  load the changer before leaving home.

Luckily, we were just out for a cruise.  The Sebring isn’t fond of being rushed.  Its all-aluminum, 200 horsepower engine made its debut in the larger Concorde a couple of years ago and is still tuned for smooth, relaxed operation.  The 2.7 liter V6 provides adequate power, but the four-speed AutoStick transmission is a bit stingy about releasing it.  Even when using the manual mode to shift it yourself, downshifts are leisurely, and when the power does come on, the Sebring gets a little bit unruly, as torque steer pulls the front wheels left and right.

The Sebring convertible is designed and built as a ragtop, rather than a coupe with the roof hacked off.  We noticed a bit of shuddering between the dash and windshield over particularly rough intersections, but that’s a common bugaboo of four-place convertibles.  There’s only so much body stiffness available without resorting to an ugly “basket-handle” roll bar, and the Sebring is far too style-conscious to bother with that.  With the roof up there’s no buffeting or roaring on the freeway.  And yes, the rear window is glass, with a defroster, a luxury that some much more expensive convertibles must go without.

Four-wheel disc brakes are standard.  Also of note is the optional “ABS Plus” system, which adds additional programming to the antilock brakes to allow for a degree of yaw and body lean control when braking in corners.  Also keeping the wheels on the pavement is a short-long arm front suspension and a multilink independent rear setup.  The Sebring is a little bit tighter and crisper-handling than its predecessor, but its forte is still smooth, wide urban streets.  The Sebring doesn’t encourage tire-smoking corner romps.  Its looks make it an extremely sharp commuter, but maneuvering it through tight parking lots and in heavy traffic can be a bit of a challenge, especially with the top up.

Of course, if open-air motoring isn’t your bag, the Sebring is also available as a hardtop.  The coupe has the same high-style at a similarly low price, and seating for four.  Our test car was a low-level LX model equipped with the optional AutoStick transmission and CD changer.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2001 Chrysler Sebring LX convertible, which we tested.

Length:          193.7 in.
Width:             69.4 in.
Height:          55.0 in.
Wheelbase:         106.0 in.
Curb weight:         3489 lb.
Cargo space:        11.3 cu.ft.
Engine:         2.7 liter DOHC 24-valve V6
Drivetrain:          four-speed automatic, front wheel drive
Horsepower:          200 @ 5900
Torque:          192 @ 4300
Fuel capacity:         16 gal.
Est. mileage:         20/29