Friday Fleet Notes: 8.03.07

This week saw a real hodgepodge of vehicles in and out of the fleet, with some we hadn’t revisited since they were first reviewed. Some oldies turned out to be goodies, while one newcomer didn’t endear itself to the staff.

2008 Chrysler Sebring retractable hardtop

While there’s plenty of good things to say about Sebring retractable-hardtop convertible, some of those good things have related deficiencies.

The Limited trim level I tested had a smooth 3.5-liter V-6, but the engine is tied to a six-speed automatic transmission that was especially clunky during our test when shifting into gear from Park, and when downshifting. Unacceptable.

With the hardtop up, the Sebring is almost as quiet as a traditional closed-roof car. However, despite adding hundreds of pounds to make the convertible stiffer, it creaks a lot when that top is in place.

Chrysler’s Tortoise Shell interior trim is interesting, but one passenger found the cabin’s silver-colored trim and center console plastic to be cheap looking, and this was in the top-of-the-line model. Ouch.

• By Mike Hanley, Cars.com car reviewer

The interesting thing during my time with the Sebring was that I got stopped more than once by someone who said, “That is quite attractive.” I guess Chrysler did something right, because besides looks, everything else can be measured objectively.

Mike is being kind when calling the transmission clunky. During a congested highway commute the downshift was so jarring I thought the engine had died. Acceleration was just this side of acceptable; the steering was capable, as well.

I too heard the creaks that Mike heard with the top up, especially when navigating the parking garage next to Cars.com headquarters. You could hear the weight shifting with each turn. That’s not good.

I will say one positive thing, the retractable top works perfectly, and the trunk — with the top up or down — holds a lot of stuff for the class. Oh, and the MyGig system was neat. I guess that’s two nice things. Otherwise…

• David Thomas, KickingTires editor

Parked beside Ford F-250s and Chevrolet Silverados, the Infiniti FX45 was definitely the odd vehicle out at the Michigan state park campground I visited recently, but it did hold everything my wife and I needed for a few nights of tent camping. Plus, the FX’s responsive handling (for an SUV) and powerful V-8 engine made for an entertaining drive there, which is something my diesel-pickup-driving, fifth-wheel-towing campground compatriots probably didn’t have.

The FX has 27.4 cubic feet of cargo room, and that space filled up fast with our tent, sleeping bags, camping chairs and other outdoorsy items to the point that we had to put a few clothes duffel bags in the backseat. With only two people, this wasn’t a problem, but things would have been pretty tight if another couple had joined us. That’s part of the price you pay for swoopy styling.

All right, all right. I’ll stop treading on the Weekend Athlete’s territory now.

• By Mike Hanley, Cars.com car reviewer

I think the TL is one of the best looking cars on the market, and that includes the Type-S — though some derivation of the trapezoidal tailpipes would be truer to the design than the round ones used. Likewise, the car’s interior is exceptional, with judicious use of modern metallic and old-school soft materials. I once drove a Type-S on a racetrack, and its capabilities far exceeded my expectations. That said, in regular driving, it’s not very inspiring as a driver’s car.

Once the power gets this high, it has to be sent to all four wheels, or the rear pair, but not the front alone as is the case here. Too much push and torque steer. Perhaps the TL will get the new Super Handling AWD when it’s next redesigned — and that’s probably not too far off, considering the recently redesigned Honda Accord on which the TL is based. If you want a reliable midsize car in this class and don’t want rear-wheel drive, look no further. If you’re looking for a thrill, move on.

• Joe Wiesenfelder, senior editor

The TL has some of the most beautifully subtle lines on a midsize car as well as some great looking tailpipes (aesthetically speaking of course). At first glance, the overall design is modest, but on second inspection it elicits great comments.

• Ian Merritt, staff photographer

Related

The Urban DINK: 2007 Acura TL Type-S (KickingTires)
2008 Chrysler Sebring Expert Review (Cars.com)
2007 Acura TL Expert Review (Cars.com)