Chrysler Repair: Chrysler Sebring Convertible: frequency/cost of repair, chrysler sebring convertible, sebring convertable

Question
I am thinking of buying a Sebring convertable. I am a high mileage driver. 160,000 in 5 years. I need to buy used the lowest miles as I can find.  Which motor is the best and lasts the longest if taken care of? How do the trannys hold up? I see they need timing belt and water pump and plugs around 100,000 how hard is this? What else should I be prepared for?

Answer
Hi Peter,
I would recommend that you check out the April issue of Consumer Reports which is the annual auto issue which you can find at a local library. In that issue they show the results of owners repair experiences with all of the individual vehicles by year/model/engine/various systems of the vehicle. That way you can check any model that you are thinking of buying and see what are the more and less reliable parts of the car, statistically, that you are thinking of buying. The annual buying guide also has the data in a paperbook format. So check that reference for screening your choises.
There was a time in the late 90's when the 2.7L engine had a problem with lubrication not being reliable to the upper part of the engine and so you will probably notice that. I don't know when that was fixed but it should show a return to more average frequency of repair. The other engine in the Sebring are the 2.0 and 2.4 and those do have timing belts that do wear out, but not usually so early as 100,000. The 2.7L has timing chains so that issue is moot. On that basis I would prefer the 2.7L, but only if the frequency of repair issue that I described above has been remedied as shown by the user repair survey results.
Roland