LIM Hong Ann calls his Chrysler Sebring Cabrio his 'hongbao' car - not only for its Inferno Red paintwork but also because he got the keys to it just before Chinese New Year.

The 33-year-old businessman had seen the hardtop convertible in the showroom a few weeks earlier, barely 24 hours after it went on display, and immediately traded in his Chrysler 300C sedan for it.

'I was attracted by the colour, the styling and the sportier and younger look of a cabrio,' he says of his decision to buy it. 'And of course, to be the first one in Singapore to own it.'

The four-seater convertible has certainly attracted a lot of attention. On the road, children gawk when he opens or closes the three-piece roof. At the recent Chingay parade, he says his 'simple' Chrysler was more popular than the Ferraris. But most of all, he likes driving it with the roof down. 'It has been my dream to drive an open top model,' he explains.

Just one touch of a button and the electrically operated roof flips, folds and stows itself in the boot in a surprisingly quick 15 seconds. Coming back up takes a bit longer, at about 20 seconds.

When driving with the top down and the four side windows up, there is little wind buffeting for the front seat passengers. There is, however, some body flex.

The Sebring Cabrio has a 2.7-litre V6 engine driving the front wheels. Like most American power plants, it sounds lazy but has good low-end torque. 'The car is heavy. It does not have the acceleration of a WRX but it is stable and comfortable at high speed,' according to Mr Lim.

The Sebring Cabrio engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It shifts smoothly but can sometimes get wrong-footed depending on the position and intent of your right foot, thus leading to occasional jerks.

However, this can be avoided by shifting yourself. To manually change gears, the gear lever is moved left or right - just like in a Mercedes-Benz. Chrysler and Mercedes used to be part of the same company.

And just like a Merc, the brakes are good. They are not only strong but also provide good feedback.

Less successful is the interior. Like other Chryslers, it is a mix of plastic and faux metallic surfaces that are hard and shiny. But the tortoise shell trim is a nice touch and its appearance on the steering wheel and door panels brightens the cabin a little.

Perhaps the biggest attraction of the Sebring Cabrio is its size. The rear seats accommodate two adults comfortably because of the long 2,765 mm wheelbase. Then there is the huge boot, which can take four golf bags when the roof is in place (when it is stowed, the number of bags is halved). Perfect for that leisurely weekend drive to the country club.

This article was first published in The Business Times on Mar 8, 2008.