November 12, 2007
'08 Canadian Car of the Year:
Convertibles
Story by John LeBlanc

Photo Gallery

Seventy-three automotive journalists; one-hundred and seventy-six vehicles; five-hundred and twenty-eight sets of keys—welcome to the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada's annual Car of the Year Testivus Festivus. This year, I was asked to judge in three categories: Small Cars, Convertibles and SUVs over $60k. In December, the 11 category winners will be announced, with the Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year announced at the Toronto show next February.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ontario – You can’t really call the three entrants in this year’s COTY convertible class ragtops anymore.

Marketed as having two cars for the price of one (PRESTO! It’s a hardtop coupe; SHAZAM! It’s a top-down convertible) all three have power, retractable tops made of solid metal, plastic and glass protecting four occupants.

Despite sharing this novel way to flip a car’s lid, compared to traditional cloth top convertibles, the BMW, Chrysler and Volvo all share the same compromises: added weight and hardware complexity, plus a dearth of trunk space with the tops stowed in-place.

BMW 335i CABRIOLET
Price as tested: $66,900

Based on last year’s AJAC Best New Sports/Performance Car over $50,000 winner—the 335i Coupe—BMW’s first stab at a retractable hardtop convertible starts with a good foundation.

A 300 hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six-cylinder engine, combined with a six-speed manual (a $1,600 automatic is available) delivers on-road performance a league—or two—above the similarly priced C70.

At 5.7 seconds, the rear-drive BMW was nearly three seconds quicker in the run from zero to 100 km/h than the Volvo. (A 328i Cabriolet is about 1.5 seconds slower in acceleration, but is also $10,000 cheaper.)

The 335i Cabriolet’s (225/40 R18 front/255/35 R18 rear) performance tires halted the BMW from the same speed in an equally impressive 36.4 m; or nearly 10 m shorter than the Chrysler.

As in other current 3 Series models, interior ergonomics are driver-focused. Of note are the exceptionally supportive, multi-adjustable seats included in the $2,500 Sport Package.

BMW says additional chassis stiffening has resulted in the highest level of torsional rigidity ever seen in a BMW. This meant, when thrashed on the COTY test track, the 335i Cabriolet performed nearly as well as its vaunted Coupe counterpart.

Dislikes?

The standard six-speed stick has relatively long throws. And although not as harsh as the Volvo, the BMW’s rubber band run flats plus its buttoned-down sports suspension can be harsh on bad pavement.


CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE
Price as tested: $44,170

Priced over $20 grand less than the BMW and Volvo, the front-drive Chrysler really competes in the marketplace against last year’s AJAC Best New Convertible, the $37,175 Volkswagen Eos and Pontiac’s $35,995 G6 convertible.

Actually, for under $30,000, you can get a rag-, er, clothtop Sebring Convertible.

Price independent, the Sebring scores poorly in many areas.

Although feature laden with optional niceties like a heated/cooled cupholder, remote start, hands free communications and satellite radio, interior materials are decidedly cheap and poorly fitted.

In a straight line, cruising along on good pavement (i.e. Florida, Arizona) the Sebring works well as a relaxed touring machine.

But on rougher Canadian pavement—or the COTY test track—the Sebring is uninspiring, to say the least.

Despite a big, 235 hp 3.5L V6, it took 8.5 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h from rest. Decidedly feathery steering feel, sloppy handling, plenty of road noise, and lots of squeaks with the hardtop erect only added to the generally unfinished feel of the Sebring.


VOLVO C70
Price as tested: $65,445

The front-drive C70 delivers on what you would expect from any modern Volvo: plenty of safety kit; distinctive Swedish design style; and an overall desire to please its occupants with room and convenience features.

Although some of the interior materials felt cheap, the steering wheel, shifter and sweeping centre console all add a sense of premium to a car that costs about $20k more than a comparably equipped S40 that the convertible is based upon.

The 227 hp turbo-charged 2.5L five-cylinder combined with the five-speed manumatic was a tenth of a second slower to 100 km/h than the Chrysler at 8.6. Braking was closer to the BMW at 39.3 m

With steering as lifeless as a frozen herring, piloting the C70 through the cones on the test rack was too much of a guessing game.

Contradicting the C70 “comfort is king” mission, its ride, with the $5,000 Sport Package’s P235/40R18 tires, was both sharp and jarring.

No doubt, the C70’s a stylish cruiser.

But it doesn’t come close to the quality feel or on-road performance of similarly priced premium convertibles.

- John LeBlanc, Publisher