Which $2,500 Convertible Would You Cruise Around In? 2004 Chrysler Sebring vs 2008 Toyota Solara

Good morning! It’s warm and sunny where I am, which has me thinking about convertibles. So we’re going to check out a couple. These two both just barely fit into our $2,500 budget for the week, but neither of them really needs anything.

Yesterday we looked at two sedans from 2009, and the final tally was decisive: the manual transmission Ford Fusion won handily. The Volvo’s minor maladies and likely higher maintenance costs counted against it, as did its dings and dents. Many of you were concerned about rust on both cars, and yes, there’s probably some, but you do know you can wash cars in the winter to keep the salt off, right?

For me, it’s the Fusion without a second thought. I’d much rather have a manual in a cheap car, and a garden-variety Ford is more “me” than a turbocharged Volvo. Parts should be cheaper and easier to find for it, as well.

So, now let’s turn our attention to convertibles. I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, and they can be kind of a pain in the ass for everyday use, but on that perfect day (or night), when the sun (or moon) is out, with the right company, and the right song on the radio, they can be absolutely magical. Let’s see which one of these you’d rather drive on such a day (or night).

2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible – $2,500

Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter DOHC inline 4, four-speed automatic, FWD

Location: Orange, CA

Odometer reading: 88,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

Chrysler brought the convertible back to America after six long sunless years in 1982. Yeah, that first LeBaron convertible was just a K-car with the top chopped off, and it was not the most reliable thing on the road, but the top went down, and that was enough. And to be fair, it did get a lot better as time went on. The LeBaron finally left showrooms in 1995, and was replaced by this car: the Sebring. This is the second-generation Sebring, which ran from 2001 to 2006.

This Sebring is powered by the base engine, a 2.4-liter four cylinder also found in the PT Cruiser. You could get a V6, and most Sebrings I’ve seen are so equipped, but the 2.4 is more reliable, more efficient, and a lot easier to work on. This one hardly has any miles on it to speak of, and it was just serviced and just passed a smog test. It also has “almost new” tires and brakes, so it shouldn’t need anything right away.

It’s nothing fancy inside, but it has all the stuff you need. It’s in good condition, too, as far as I can tell. The photos in the ad aren’t great; they’re mostly close-ups of various features of the interior. So if you want to know what those cruise control buttons on the steering wheel look like close up, they’ve got you covered, but this is the only overall interior shot we get.

It looks decent outside as well. The seller says it comes with a new top still in the box, but the top that’s on it looks pretty damn good, so I don’t know what’s going on there. I don’t think those are the original wheels, either, but they look fine on it.

2008 Toyota Solara SLE convertible – $,2,500

Engine/drivetrain: 3.3-liter DOHC V6, five-speed automatic, FWD

Location: San Gabriel, CA

Odometer reading: 215,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

The Toyota Solara is more accurately known as the Toyota Camry Solara. It was introduced in 1998 with different sheetmetal from the Camry sedan, unlike earlier two-door Camrys. Under the skin, however, it’s the same old reliable car you all know and love. It was available as a coupe or a convertible, but today, it’s the convertible we’re interested in.

Like the Camry, the Solara was available with either a four-cylinder or a V6 engine. This one has the V6, a 3.3-liter unit that sends 210 horsepower to the front wheels through a five-speed automatic. Like most Toyotas, it’s more than capable of racking up some miles, so it’s no surprise that this car has passed 200,000. The seller says it runs and drives well, but the tire pressure monitor light is on. The tires are fine, so a sensor has probably failed. Also, if I’m reading the ad correctly, it sounds like the air conditioning is stuck on.

It has seat covers and a steering wheel cover that are probably hiding some wear, considering the mileage, but overall it looks good inside. It’s the fancy SLE model, so it has all kinds of goodies inside for you to play with.

The second-generation Solara’s styling is, let’s say, challenging. It’s okay from the front, but this rear three-quarter view is something only Sir Mix-A-Lot could love. Dropping the top doesn’t improve its lines any, either. But, I suppose you can’t see the outside when you’re sitting in the inside. It’s in good condition, with just a couple minor scrapes and bruises, but thankfully no “Camry Dent.”

If you live in a place where you can put the top down with some frequency, a convertible as a daily driver can actually be nice. With the top up, these are just ordinary cars with worse rear visibility and more road noise, but when the weather is right, you can push that button in the center console and turn them into something much more enjoyable. And even if you can only use them once in a while, the price of these is low enough to keep them around as a second car. Which one are you going with?