FACE OFF: Chrysler's Sebring Vs BMW's X6 Which Of These Is The Worst Buy?

If you were to stick to strict rationality when buying a car, we'd all own Priuses or minivans or the inexplicably absent Prius minivan. It would be a boring world. We don't need twin-turbo V12s, Ferrari Scuderias or leather-lined, reclining, heated, cooled and massaging rear seats with DVD entertainment systems, but darn it, we want them. Cars have always been more of an emotional purchasing decision than a rational one.

Yet, there are certain cars that utterly defy any pittance of rationality. Cars we scratch our heads at. Cars we can't fathom why any sane person with sufficient information at their disposal would buy one. Cars that are simply a poor buying decision. This week, two of our editors take a look at two cars they think meet those criteria -- and rather than defend them, they'll be prosecuting. Automotive Editor James Riswick prosecutes the BMW Active Hybrid X6, the first hybrid model to wear the label "Ultimate Driving Machine" and the first with a twin-turbo V8. Vice Admiral of Vehicle Testing Mike Magrath, goes a completely different route and prosecutes the Chrysler Sebring.


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bmwdrvr - 2/8/2010 1:41:36 PM

-1 Boost

Honestly I think is a bit rediculous but I would say the sebring is an awful car but if you can get one extremely cheap and just need a car from a dealership that is no longer selling it sounds like a smart buy to me. The X6 hybrid makes no sense because it should have been a 6 cylinder, and like the LS600, Cadillac Escalade, hmm the list goes on(yet the X6 is the only one here) it really doesnt offer much better gas mileage or performance over its cheaper non hybrid variant. They are more a status thing I guess than anything.

Steve - 2/8/2010 1:44:57 PM

+9 Boost

Another slow day at AutoSpies. Lets start a new thread: "Sound off Spies: What kind of car do you think Superman would drive today?"

B7FAN - 2/8/2010 1:58:20 PM

+5 Boost

lolollolollolololololololol

What kind of cars do you think Justice League would drive today?

Joe_Limon - 2/8/2010 2:05:44 PM

-2 Boost

In regards to the argument made above, I would argue that the majority of prius sales aren't based on logic of picking the most fuel efficient vehicle available. Most Prius sales are based off of emotions, feel good emotions, that make you feel like a better person because you spent money.

But as to the twin turbo v8 hybrid suv and the car with no appeal to enthusiasts.

I'd say if you ditch your preconceptions about hybrids saving the world. The x6 sounds like a fun car which sticks a middle finger up to conformity, that itself is worth a lot in a world where everyone tries to be different. As to the Sebring, people who don't know cars view it as a cheap and decent looking vehicle, it's not useless, it's just not exciting.

Finally.. worst buy... the sebring, just because I'd rather drive the x6.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 2/8/2010 3:01:19 PM

-2 Boost

+1

And you know I seldom agree with Joe

M35MT - 2/9/2010 1:08:42 PM

0 Boost

Joe, you're a fool (we already know that) to believe that people make purchases more so due to their feelings/emotions than they do for their wallet. Give me a break. People by Prius' because they dont want to pay for gas.

People might tell you they buy something to save the environment, but they're full of sh*t. They want to save money.

The biggest, truly environmentally friendly thing you can do is recycle. Buying a Prius doesnt help. There's lots of toxic materials in the Prius, from the batteries to the tires.

In response to 009's comment of rational car buying, I'd probably buy an econobox for 10k not a 20k+ Prius. I'd save more money right off the bat then you ever would on gas.

Joe_Limon - 2/9/2010 1:52:58 PM

+1 Boost

lol, if I'm such an idiot, why is it that the vast majority of Prius commercials are not about penny pinching, but about how you feel? They are marketing genius's showing you pretty pictures of nature and blending in gentle background music. Apparently you were to swept up in the emotions behind the Prius marketing scam to realize just how manipulative they are.

M35MT - 2/10/2010 12:13:20 PM

0 Boost

Wow, um - NO - YOU were swept up in the marketing, because as you stated, that's what YOU beleive and its the point YOU are defending. I ignore their stupid commercials and stand by my opinion that no one gives a crap about the environment - they only care about themselves!

dhkss2002 - 2/8/2010 2:25:12 PM

+2 Boost

Talk about a loaded question. Shouldn't it read, "which is the better buy?" The inference is that both are bad. I'm sorry, but IMHO the X6 is an outstanding vehicle, even if you're getting plastered on the Audi Kool-Aid.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 2/8/2010 3:16:36 PM

0 Boost

The logic applied to the article seems skewed.

For a Childless Man such as myself who happens to prefer Driving to Flying or Using the Train and have access to UK / European Motorways were High Speed is not Too Frowned Upon, A 400+Hp vehicle is a Very Rational Purchase.

For somebody who Lives in the centre of a very busy Metropolis then a Prius or very efficient Diesel would also be a Rational Purchase.

Agent00R - 2/8/2010 5:21:34 PM

-3 Boost

Sebring without a doubt.

Although the one writer says that "The BMW Active Hybrid X6? You paid almost $90,000 for that thing, which means you passed over just about every car sold -- including any number of other silly hybrid models," most people don't cross shop a $90,000 hybrid with something that is not in the same league.

With that said, I believe it does offer a lot considering it's ONLY a tenth of a second slower than its gasoline-fed brother while obtaining nearly 31 percent BETTER MPG.

theman440 - 2/8/2010 11:25:56 PM

+2 Boost

Funny - I see a hell of a lot more Sebrings on the road than X6's.

ThierryHenry14 - 2/9/2010 12:28:21 AM

+2 Boost

"If you were to stick to strict rationality when buying a car, we'd all own Priuses or minivans..."

Dumbest sentence...