Expensive cars are not always the most costly to maintain. Surprisingly, one of the most expensive cars to maintain costs less than $5,000 used and $15,000 new. Over a ten year period, the cost to maintain exceeds the price of the car brand new. With this not being an issue for other cars, we want to share why it is so expensive to maintain a Chrysler Sebring.
Although the car is fairly affordable in the grand scheme of things, maintaining its condition and functioning is astonishingly costly. Today, we will reveal how and why the Chrysler Sebring, a relatively inexpensive car, is one of the most expensive to maintain.
What Is A Chrylser Sebring?
Chrysler produced the first Sebring in 1995. The first model was a hardtop coupe. Later models of the Sebring boasted a convertible top, which the last model in 2010 had.
The car is equipped with a powerful 2-liter engine and a manual transmission. It is a four-door petrol car, which is ideal as a day to day vehicle. Unfortunately, it is not very friendly for day to day spending if it encounters any issues.
The Chrysler Sebring is a car that is no longer made due to lacking popularity and reduced sales. Yet, it is still one of the most expensive to maintain if you have one. Due to the first-ever Sebring being produced almost 30 years ago, the older models will most probably be more expensive to maintain. So, if you are looking to purchase a Sebring but hope to keep the maintenance costs down, we recommend buying a newer model.
Production for the Sebring began in 1995 with the coupe being the first model. During its prime, the Sebring cost an average of $22,000 brand new. Now, you may find a Chrysler Sebring for a lower price from second-hand dealers.
With the 10-year upkeep cost being almost the same, at $17,100, there's no wonder the car isn't made anymore.
Why Is The Upkeep So High?
The Chrysler Sebring is expensive to maintain due to its endless issues with the transmission system. Many customers report having trouble with starting the car on a regular basis. Whilst other customers shared information about gear shifting troubles. Maintaining a healthy transmission system is costly regardless of the make.
With the Sebring being a discontinued car, it makes the parts even more difficult to source. Hence the cost is increased due to manual work as well as paying for the part itself.
It is possible to fit cars with parts from other brands, or cheaper alternatives. Yet, this may not be the best option to maintain the health of the car.
The Top Maintenance Issues
The most common issues the Sebring encounters are shifting problems with the transmission and stalling due to sensor failure.
After a few years of operation, Sebring drivers encountered issues with the automatic transmission. Typical issues reported to be gear shaking, difficulty shifting gear, and noises.
Although automatic transmission issues can occur in any car, it is said that the Sebring may encounter this issue more than once. Replacing the transmission system is one of the most expensive repair jobs on a car. This alone can cost up to $2,000. So, you certainly would not want this issue occurring on a regular basis.
Ensuring the sensor is in good condition is essential for the health of your car. For Sebring's, they can often stall due to poor air circulation. If this issue is left unsolved, it can damage the engine. A damaged engine can lead to more complex issues, which will result in an even bigger maintenance bill.
Either way, it is an expensive repair job. If it persists, this can quickly rack up the maintenance costs. Another reason why the Chrysler Sebring is one of the most expensive cars to maintain.
Discontinued But Still Expensive
The average maintenance cost of the Sebring over ten years exceeds $17,000. With this being almost the same as the car cost itself, there's no wonder many people reconsider purchasing a Sebring after hearing this news. A second-hand Sebring is less than this average ten-year maintenance cost, making it almost not worth the purchase.
The second most expensive car to maintain is considered to be the BMW 328i, which costs an average of less than $15,000 over a ten year period.
In summary, it seems the cost to upkeep a Sebring is more than buying a used one. After all, the car is no longer in production so a second-hand model is the only choice. If you purchase one for less than the price to upkeep it, it most certainly may not be worth your time or money.