Alright. There you have it. We’ve all been asking for it. A Chrysler sedan that is bigger, better, more brash than the “bling bling” (cliché I know…) 300. Naturally as Mopar enthusiasts, we would want this ultra-lux Chrysler sedan to be deemed “Imperial.” The Imperial nameplate is somewhat sacred to true Mopar fans; it embodies something higher - the pinnacle of Chrysler luxury. While most of us would like to forget the last Imperial, the previous ones were decent touring vehicles for well healed folks who didn’t want the common Caddy or Lincoln, and looked to save a few thousand on their purchase. If Chrysler keeps that mantra - high value and a quality product - this time around, the the revived Imperial will surely prove to be worthy kin to the wildly popular 300.

So, with the Imperial pictures leaked (Isn’t anyone else sick of these leaks? I sure am. What ever happen to debuts at the shows with all the lights and glamour??), we see the new vehicle in all it’s staged photoshoot glory.

Design wise, I’m split. Don’t get me wrong, I do love it. But, there are a few things that look funky, but can be rationalized. So, let’s do a walkaround of this massive car. Slab sided like the 300, the Imperial has more surface work that helps reduce the visual mass from dead on side view. A sweeping rear fender kick comes from a crease running on the suicide door’s bottoms (which I’ll mention in a second). An additional crease runs from the front edge of the car back to the fender kick where it disappears into sheetmetal. Rearview mirrors are nice and simple and aren’t bulky. While the taller roofline isn’t as boxy (on top) as the current LX family, the C-Pillar is a dead ringer to the 300. Elegant and formal, it works well with the design. The gigantic 22″ wheels look to small only because there is so much mass above them fender wise. That’s design issues number one. While this definitely makes the car looks substantial, I’m not quite sure it does the full trick here. In the end it seems to dwarf the already too large rims (from a real world practically standpoint - remember, this is suppose to be a luxury sedan, and a harsh ride would kill the affect). Maybe if an inch or two was cut off from the fenders (and then, to even it out, the roofline) it would look more pleasing. But anyway, that’s just my opinion. Suicide doors. What? On a current car that is intended to be a mainstream luxury vehicle?! Crazy, I know. But, if any company was going to follow through with this, Chrysler would be it. I don’t believe they would show a concept with ‘em and then switch the production model to regular doors. So, it’s just a slight hunch that they will make production. Wink wink.

Like I said in the N&R thread, the front makes me go “AH” Literally. It’s scary, imposing, and audacious. For anyone who thought the Charger, 300 and Magnum were menacing, they need to take a look at this. Design wise, I can’t even say it’s pretty. It doesn’t have the “jeweled” look that makes a car sexy; it doesn’t have a racy look that makes a car sporty; it doesn’t have an understated elegant look that makes a car “luxurious”, but it certainly isn’t uninspired. It does play on heritage a bit, but if anything, the closest thing it can be compared to is a Bentley or Rolls. And for Chrysler, that’s a great thing! I like it, even thogh it seems kinda a moge-poge of design themes. The grills looks like its a PT Cruiser’s that went to Extreme Makeover, the headlights are two plain circles (that are suppose to look like free standing lights from Imperials of yore. Hopefully, they are an element that “looks better in person”) that lack the jeweled style of the 300C’s, and the foglights are well… Different. Chrome strips under the lights seems unnecessary, but cut down on the area of body colored bumper. The hood looks smaller then it really is thanks to the sides (behind the headlights) being lower than the actual hood that opens. The side fenders curve into the front like a Bentley GT but more upright, and that works. Overall, the front is just as upright as the 300, if not more so, with a substantial gain in height.

So the front and side views look alright. What the heck is with the Imperial’s butt?! For one thing, it’s different! I’m not sure if the designers were going for the Buick Riviera “boat tail” look? From a side rear angle, the car looks evil. Really, it looks just plain mean. If I were a car in Random Joe’s Market parking lot, and this thing was across the lot staring me down, my tires might go flat from fear. But, that might be partly due to the fact I’d think the car was ready to charge me head on, since the end could very well be the front. If the Hyundai looking taillights weren’t the standard red, you might not know, and that is my only other real issue with the design - the taillights. I just wish they were more creative with them, as they surly could have come up with something a wee bit more classy (they aren’t terrible, just a bit out of place) that better fits with the overall car. The rear bumper is large, but works fine since the car is so tall (64″ to be exact). Dual exhausts are a no brainer here, but they could be larger. Nice ovular ones like that on the Bentley GT probably would look at home - I’m not sure why they weren’t placed in the design. The license plate sits in the lower bumper, where it belongs in a luxury sedan. The Chrysler Wings are nicely placed on the Riviera-esque decklid, announcing the car is a Chrysler without any mention of the word “Chrysler” in typeface.

The interior sounds luxurious, if not flamboyant. This could be the point at which they [Chrysler] breakout of the rather drab interior business. While I personally don’t have an issue with the LX interiors (okay, maybe the V6 models are somewhat spartan with vast expanses of gray plastic), many think they could be improved. The Imperial is clad with burl wood and satin-finished aluminum, seating and accents in leather and suede, and even a handcrafted intrument panel containing large watch-like gauges. “Floating armrests” reward passengers, in a cabin that echos warmth and plush comfort with seating for four (there are individual rear buckets). The interior does indeed looks inviting, and will surly win the hearts of some Benz buying executives and 7 Series moms.

I’m inclined to say this car looks wonderful - overall. Overall being the key word. I think the design is a little too mixed, and designers should have tried to focus on maybe one or two models for inspiration, and not the entire lineage of Chrysler cars. Don’t get me wrong, the car is awesome looking, but it needs some work before production. Some bits need to be smoothed down, and please fix the small wheel well to fender issue (which is only bad from the side view) somehow. And the taillights! I’m guessing the headlights (Kyle, were you thinking of these?? ) look better in person. And please, I’m sick of these ugly rims (last found on 2005 300 Limited’s?).

As far as power goes, the 5.7L will see duty. I am a little worried about how much weight the 340 horses will have to pull around, and I’m expecting at least a second hit in 0-60 times from a stock C. Now would be a good time to boost output to 355 horses on the standard Hemi. It also seems natural that this would get the 6.1L (even though an Imperial SRT-8 doesn’t seem to jive), maybe as an upgrade engine or a super-lux option package. Driving this beast will be like driving a BMW 7 or S-Class size wise, and won’t be for the faint of heart. I’m expecting velvety delivery of power through the 5 Speed, Benz-lifted transmission (why can’t we get a 6 speed though?), and “plush” yet firm handling. After all, it does measure in at 214 inches (!!), placing it in the same league as the Crown Vic/Gran Mark.

Price. “…It’s a six-figure image but at a much lower price.” says Tremont. With that said, I’m guessing a base of $49,995, running up past $60,000 fully optioned… $60K for a Chrysler?? Today might just be the right time for it…

Best regards everyone, hope you enjoyed the review, and here’s to an exciting new year - 2006! May Father Mopar bring us many new toys, and joy to fellow Allparians over the next 12 months.

~ E8]]>

- Wow. Another year. I’d been told each one seems to go a bit faster than the one before, and for the most part I’ve found that to be correct. It’s been an eventful year Mopar-wise..a dual coolant leak issue on both of our older vehicles coupled with the need for more storage room for my Wife’s business led to getting Plummer, our ‘05 Touring Edition PT in June. A few months later he was joined by Little Devil, our ‘04 Ltd. Combined, the Neon & 5th Ave were in the ‘family’ for about 15 years, so that was a big change.

On a larger scale, it was a year of natural disasters, of no NHL, and of the ECHL’s Trenton Titans bringing a championship to Trenton for the first time in decades.

Overall, it was a good year, I think. We’ve certainly had much worse.

Not long ago, we worked a craft show at my old high school; which I had visited only once since escaping in 1986. It’s a ’70s school; inspired by the then-trendy idea of no windows and few traditional, enclosed classrooms. Lots of 70s decor is still present, and it’s strange to see that mesh with the modern 30″ TVs with DVD players, as well as computers, in every classroom/area. Yesterday and today living uncomfortably together. Which is kinda where we always are I suppose, as those of us in older houses with older wiring occasionally discover when systems not designed for modern electrical draws cry uncle and trip circuit breakers (no microwave and hair dryer at the same time for us!)

As we wrap up 2005 and prepare to usher in 2006, I’d like to wish the whole Allpar community a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2006.

Stay well and stay Mopar!

I’m amazed at all the great spy shots MPH Magazine gets. Sebring, new Wrangler, and Aspen are just a few of the more recent ones. All good stuff.
Speaking of the Wrangler, the new 4 door looks to be awesome. I’ve heard from a far off friend that driving one of them is “quite fun, both on road and off.” It’d nice to know that Jeep still is placing an emphasis on off road performance, and still has the guts to offer products like the GC SRT-8.

The Aspen can’t get here soon enough in my opinion. If you look in the driveways of people who own 300’s, a lot of their garage mates are upscale SUVs. So, offering a 300 inspired ‘Ute will surely eat sales from the competition.

And lastly, this news about an Imperial…

…I told you it was good time to be a Mopar fan.]]>

How hard is it to do a decen tjob?
Really, how hard can it be?

We face sheer uncaring stupidity every day, and not just other drivers. My cellphone has no “redial” button. Imagine that! (It does however play ring tones in “superphonic” mode.) Sony’s instructions for hooking up its digicams to Macs, if you can find them, are essentially “you’re on your own.” Nothing in the Knowledge Base, by the way, about the iMovie update that lets their digicams work with Macs… and we’re not even talking about inane software decisions. And then there are cars. Do we really need to go further? Doesn’t anyone drive or test these things? Why did the Volkswagen Phaeton leave its turn signal lights on semi-permanently if you shut off the engine while the turn signal was on - and why did it have a cheap door buzzer with its up-to-$120,000 price tag?

Now, steam.

Geez, you’d think these guys would know what they were doing. Let’s count the ways.
1) Joints glued together…
2) Using gas joints, not steam fittings
3) No real Hartford Loop - a terribly simple device that admittedly I still can’t figure out myself
4) Exhaust stuck into a hole but not all the way into the chimney
5) No horizontal headers
6) No condensate return at the header
7) Wires bulging or dangling
8) No cleaning (as promised, by the way)
9) Haphazard attachment of pipes
10) Steam pipes tilted the wrong way

There are more, I think, but those are enough. I got a bunch of money back - not as much as I should have but enough - and hired an older steamfitter who knows his trade to fix it. That is, to replace all of it and start over.

Lessons learned were stated before, but really - it took them NO LESS EFFORT to do a completely WRONG BOTCHED-UP job. All they had to do was READ THE #@$&*^! MANUAL.

And it’s not as though that never happens at car dealers or independent mechanics…]]>

- Just taking a moment out to remember Dec 7, 1941, and offering up a few links for further reading:

Pearl Harbor Remembered
http://my.execpc.com/~dschaaf/mainmenu.html

USS Arizona Memorial
http://www.nps.gov/usar/

Eyewitness to History
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl.htm

Pearl Harbor Attacked
http://www.pearlharborattacked.com/

Yesterday, 7 December 1941-a date which will live in infamy-the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. - President Roosevelt, December 8, 1941

Please take a moment to remember those lost that day, and in the days, months, and years afterward.

So I bet you’re wondering what’s been going on today. Forums up, forums down. Forums up but not working quite right. Forums down again…

Well - the makers of Invisionboard suggested moving to MySQL 4.1, so we checked the necessary boxes in WebHost Manager and it installed! in just about five minutes. Wondrous! But they suggested then running some after-scripts to update Apache and PHP.

Oops. Guess we should have ignored them.

Everything was working fine until we ran their scripts, and a whole BUNCH of things dropped out - things we rely on, like mcrypt and Zend and ioncube. Also, of course, as happens every time some dust blows in the wrong direction, the posts and sessions databases went screwy and we had to fix them. So we had Garage, then we didn’t. Then we did. Then we didn’t.

We ended up bringing our ISP into the act, and Ian Coffey fixed the myriad of problems Cpanel had caused with php and installed a bunch of things we hadn’t been able to, partly because the php installation was so badly damaged. That brought the Garage back.

Search, you might have noticed, disappeared again. We had another problem wtih performance but I’m going to try putting it back on over the weekend. Cross your fingers. At least now I have a performance monitor set up that lets me know when the server is slow, not just when it’s down.

We have a memory upgrade coming next week, since we’re consistently running about 100K-250K of swap memory.

Meanwhile, on the steam front, the new boiler seems to be oversized, so we have panting radiators and a gurgling/boiling sound you wouldn’t believe coming from one radiator - which, to be fair, was a problem with the old boiler, too. We’re trying to find a local plumber who charges less than $150 an hour to fix it. Oh, and the new boiler seems to have a leak…joy.

Until next time…]]>