Here in Oz we only see a few Chryslers/Dodges so I can't comment on the new Sebring but I did like the old Sebring convertible when I was in the US.

IMO both the 300C & Crossfire are beautiful cars when compared to our boring diet of bland jap cars – Camry/Aurion/Avalon-YUK/YUK/YUK, US Spec Accord – Disgusting! We also get a steady stream of both improving Korean cars (Hyundai) & crap Korean cars (GM owned Daewoo) not that the Chryslers compete on price or in the same market as Korean cars or even some of the bland Japanese inc boxes.

The 300C & Crossfire are unfortunately way overpriced here but if you have the money and are sick of every other person driving a 3 series BMW the cute Chryslers make attractive alternatives.

Of course any knowledgable car buyer knows that US cars (even ones made in Austria or wherever) are going to be of a similar quality to Daewoos or anything mass manufactured in the UK (if their crap car industry is still alive). Even the 2 locally made Oz cars (Ford Falcon & Holden Commodore + derivatives) are better quailty than US cars and most people here would not buy Australian cars unless they had to (size, power, fleet).

What I don't understand is after 100 years of cars why you American's still insist on buying crap US built cars, and if this is to be believed….. "I’m American. I want American cars to be the best in the world (even if they are owned by German overlords). Cars like the Sebring depress me to no end, because America is supposed to be the best — that’s our MO" You actually think the US still makes good cars!

Sometimes a great design (300C, Crossfire, Viper, 2000+ T-Bird, Mustang) but unfortunately poor quailty. Maybe if American's didn't insist on cars which are at least 50% bigger & heavier than they need to be, HP wouldn't be an issue and cars might just handle better. Even the US made (or Oz made) Japanese cars don't measure up to the quality of what Japan inc can & does make at home. The made in Japan Honda Accord Euro, Nissan Maxima, 350Z, etc that we get here are far better quailty than anything currently made in Oz or the USA or indeed any German car not fully made in Germany (3 series, etc). The exceptions appear to be the cheaper made in Japan cars,

The quality of my made in Japan Yaris is no better than the competing product from Hyundai but the Yaris is at least $3000 more expensive. Of course now that Japan inc has decided to make world cars in 3rd world sweat shops I predict a minor decline in Jap imports for EU, US & AU at the same time that Hyundai is picking it's game up. Maybe Toyota will buy Hyundai to keep world dominance.

I guess the moral of my post is, stop asking for gas guzzling marshmallow riding barges that need ever more HP to shift the shoddily built crap you call cars & you might get some decent cars. Also, don't be afraid to realise that the glory days of US manufacturing are behind you and stop supporting unprofitable car industries. Other nations make cars better so why fight it?

Like it or not it's now a world economy. Both Ford & GM (Holden) here in Oz have one "Oz made" model (+ derivatives) in their line-up & the rest of their line-up comes from Korea, Africa, Belgium, UK, Germany, Thailand, Japan, etc. We can also choose cars from Citroen, Peugot, Renault, Fiat, Alfa, Japan, Germany, Korea, Thailand, etc, etc, etc. Choice of quailty cars is a great thing.

Looks like the public agrees.

http://www.servihoo.com/channels/kinews/afp_details.php?id=147532&CategoryID=47

If only Chery execs knew how Chrysler/DCX treat their “partners”…. just ask executives at Mitsubishi, Nedcar, Hyundai and the (ex)-workforce at Kenosha Wisconsin who were promised jobs after Chrysler took over American Motors (the plant was torn down almost before the ink dried on the documents).

Of course this also explains why Malcolm Bricklin and Chery parted ways about a month ago, doesn’t it? I’m pretty sure Chery yanked the rug from under Visionary Vehicles. Wow, Chery, first you steal GMDaewoo designs, then you cut out your major partner to dance with someone else…. you and DCX deserve each other!

I would laugh my backside off if Bricklin’s Visionary Vehicles could kick both Chery and DCX in the kahonies in about 5 years and out-sold them both with whichever car companies he can get to manufacture his vehicles.

Hey, Malcolm? Have you considered Samsung-Renault and Ssangyong in South Korea and SAIC in China, which owns part of Ssangyong? Merge them into Samsung, you’ve got a recognizable brand, sell the current SUVs and crossovers built by Ssangyong (Kyron, Rexton) and the luxury sedan (Chairman) as well as the current Samsung cars, replace them all with contractually designed cars within a couple of years, plus add the ex-Rover cars from SAIC for the economy cars. Howzat? Instant car company.

Thanks for opining on some good looking cars. Interesting, isn’t it, that sometimes the simpler designs are the most pleasing to the eye. Even the Camry, arguably the most complex and sophisticated design of the four, is at heart somewhat plain. I think it’s a tribute to the common sense and good taste of the buying public that they see elegance in simplicity and don’t worry too much that their chosen car isn’t a “look at me” vehicle.

RF, maybe TTAC in 2007 should have a best-looking-cars “contest.”

Of course, I liked the Isuzu Vehi-cross for some strange reason…I could never put my finger on why.

Ford Fusion
Honda Accord
Toyota Camry
Subaru Legacy

But is it really uglier than the first year Pontiac Aztek? I mean, saying that is just…well, mean.

As others have said, the first impression isn’t ‘as bad as you’d think’

The problem comes when you closely inspect the car (photos are good for that – helps avoid accidents from your looking at some car instead of the road ahead).

The longer you look at it, the more you see the dis-harmony that underlies it’s every line.

THE CAR LOOKS 100% BETTER in person. I will be interested to see the sales numbers over the next couple of months. Both Pacifica and Sebring were up in November, if the numbers continue to improve, it will once again prove, that all the domestic naysayers on the majority of auto message boards don’t know nearly as much as they think they do.

Me excluded, of course. :-)

Which affordable compact and mid-sized cars do you believe are nicely styled?

The bottom two lines (the middle one being a bodyside molding) are okay. The problem is the third, upper-most belt-line crease. It’s not parellel to either the window sill or middle line and, combined with the oddly curved C-pillar, simply doesn’t mesh. You have this upward straight slash along the upper side of the body right next to a curved rear. I’m no stylist but it sure doesn’t look right. Just imagine if the C-pillar had a flat, straight surface with no oddly-angled, upper beltline crease (photoshop, anyone?). I think even an amateur like me could have done a better job.

The new Sebring sure seems to fall into the Pontiac Azteck category of ‘What were they thinking?’ when it was approved for production. Frankly, it kind of looks like a really bad attempt at Bangle-inspired ‘flame’ styling.

It has three lines across the side — they are not of equal length, angle or width. These lines are objectively ugly.

What I saw instead was a tidy line of the new 2007 Sebring, in all colors and models fully bedecked in holiday splendor.

Folks – I am about to offend so do prepare if you must. Full battle stations. Worf, full power to the shields!

My friends, not only is this car not as butt-friggin-ugly as presented here by our notable auto laureate and his blog factory of mackawing oompaloompas… this vehicle is actually, close up and in person, quite striking visually. Handsome even I would say.

The boldly creased hood – now a brand signature on new Chryslers – is quite distinctive. The flared, upward moving quarter panels are a nice departure from the common forward-pushing lines of most cars in this segment. The sloping top running back into the pushed up rear is unlike any other vehicle out there. I think it succeeds visually on may levels, and presents a substantial design impression for what is really a mid-size entry. I am glad they chose not to adorn the front with some 300-like truck-sucking grill. The car from the front looks better than fine in my estimation. And the big wheels and chrome rims on the Limited edition offer just the right amount of bling for this segment in my ever so humble opinion.

This is, as unanimously conveyed here – no ghost of Saturn LS or Chevy Malibu or Pontiac Aztec.

Now to be sure, beauty of beast, person or machine can only ever be subjective and personal. We see what we see and it is neither right or wrong, good or bad, true or not. One man’s definition of ugly is another man’s wife, as they say.

But there is what I would call a generic ugliness that I think most sighted people can agree on. So what is one to make of the major theme of this suicide watch thread, and echoed by so many. Is there perchance something more here beneath the surface? Is it perhaps something akin to “assisted suicide” maybe?

This will be my last tome, and folks here it is -

This car is not really anywhere near as bad to behold as you all are making. And it reviews a lot better also.

http://www.autoreviewcentral.com/Makes/Chrysler.htm

“Captain – Sebring approaching, ready all weapons – prepare for total annihilation!”

“Japanese cars to outsell U.S. models in Calif. for first time in 2006″

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/16301881.htm

And remember where trends get started.

Since rental car companies seem to be the primary target market, I guess it’s understandable that this latest shining example of mediocrity from the domestic manufacturers maintains the status quo.

I think they understand, all too well, that the only domestic vehicles Americans are buying are SUVs and pickups – for cars, civilians buy foreign (mainly Toyotas and Hondas). So, the only car market left for Ford, GM, and DCX are rental car fleets, and that’s exactly who they’re building for.

I have no doubt that there were plenty of DCX execs who decided, for a rental, this Sebring would be good enough.

Keep ‘em coming Jonny!

I spent a fair bit of time with the Aura. That’s not a nice thing to say about Saturn’s latest sedan. :-)