The Rage In Ragtops - automobiles - Evaluation

Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, July, 2001 by Ed Henry

Two engines are available in the Mustang: a 3.8-liter, 193-hp V6 engine, and a 4.6-liter, 260-hp V8 (the latter gets boosted to 320 hp in the Cobra). With gasoline prices rising, you may want to go for the V6. But resist the temptation. Those 193 horses leave the car downright sluggish, and the contrast between the car's so-so power and its flashy styling is almost embarrassing. Besides, the V6 gets only two miles per gallon more than the GT's V8.

Chevrolet Camaro (two models, V6, $24,945; V8 Z28, $29,325). Ask any baby-boomer about a first convertible experience, and odds are it was behind the wheel of a muscle car--with a teeth-chattering V8 under the hood providing neck-snapping power. In that respect, today's Camaro is an unrepentant beast.

The Camaro convertible comes with two engines: a 3.8-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8. The Camaro Z28 we tested ($34,225 as equipped) came decked out with a high-performance ride and handling package, 17-inch wheels, dual exhausts, a rear spoiler and a 5% boost in V8 power. The 325 horses it generates are 50% more powerful than the original 1967 Camaro. As with the Mustang, the V6 makes this car all flash and no dash.

Taking this V8 monster out on a straightaway--well, it might just cure a midlife crisis. The Camaro goes from zero to 60 in 5.3 seconds for the V8, compared with 4.8 seconds for the Mustang Cobra SVT. Chevy's and Ford's V6s clock in at a relatively torpid 7.3 and 7.8 seconds, respectively. Big sticky tires and traction control minimize an old tendency of the Camaro to oversteer or spin out, and big 12-inch brakes provide much-needed stopping power.

Handling is what you'd expect in a muscle car--it's bargelike, especially at less than 50 mph. The instruments and controls work well, especially the steering-wheel-mounted cruise and radio controls.

Chrysler Sebring (three models: LX, $24,945; LXi, $27,405; Limited, $29,490). Together, the Ford Mustang and Chrysler Sebring hold 40% of the market for convertibles sold in the U.S. Why is the Sebring such a popular convertible? "Baby-boomers are a family-oriented group," says Sebring brand manager Craig Essmann. "While our customers buy this car for fun, it has the size to double as a second family automobile."

A lot is riding on the redesigned Sebring. Chrysler hopes it will establish a reputation for quality and safety based on the Sebring's improved crash protection, multistage air bags and new computers for the antilock brake system (ABS). Also, the Sebring was built from the ground up as a convertible, and it is more structurally rigid than previous models. Less flex makes the car handle better and reduces its tendency to dance all over bumpy roads--though we still experienced a mild case of the DTs on moderately bumpy roads.

New for 2001 is the Sebring's 2.7-liter V6 engine, which delivers 200 horses, 32 more than last year's model and a much-needed 20% increase in power. The new engine also has more off-the-line acceleration, thanks to a redesign and an optional auto stick--an automatic transmission that can be driven like a manual without a clutch pedal. Our test included two models: a base-model LX ($26,080) and a Limited ($29,510). Both cars have the same engine, but the Limited offers the auto stick, leather seats and an in-the-dash CD changer.