Chimaera Handling
Discussion
I am a luck luck boy!
My wife and I have Chimaera 450 AND a Honda CTR.
We have had the Chmaera now for 3 weeks and love the overall experience.
Whilst driving the yellow beast, it has become really obvious that WILL not cover the ground quicker than the CTR. Indeed on the twisties, the CTR is WAAAAAY quicker. Granted, on the staight, the Chim is galactice in its ability to pull away. Very impressive.
Given that the tyres are ok and at the tight pressure, the car has done 37K miles, should the CTR feel so much better, more composed and well - safer/more planted - especially on long sweeping curves.
Could I have a spring/damper problem? No leaks and does the bounce test OK. Its not handling badly, per se, just expected it to feel better than a japanese hot shopping trolley. :-D
Regards
Coach
My wife and I have Chimaera 450 AND a Honda CTR.
We have had the Chmaera now for 3 weeks and love the overall experience.
Whilst driving the yellow beast, it has become really obvious that WILL not cover the ground quicker than the CTR. Indeed on the twisties, the CTR is WAAAAAY quicker. Granted, on the staight, the Chim is galactice in its ability to pull away. Very impressive.
Given that the tyres are ok and at the tight pressure, the car has done 37K miles, should the CTR feel so much better, more composed and well - safer/more planted - especially on long sweeping curves.
Could I have a spring/damper problem? No leaks and does the bounce test OK. Its not handling badly, per se, just expected it to feel better than a japanese hot shopping trolley. :-D
Regards
Coach
Hi,
well that just sounds to me like a normal Chimaera..
If Louise and I are on twisty roads, her in her Saxo VTS and me in the Chimaera she wins every time, on the straight however as you say, it is a different matter.
In fact I think the VTR is as quick as the Chimaera on winding roads too..
Cheers,
Matt.
(and a lowly 4.0l)
Edited to add..
all that aside, having taken the Chimaera onto a track and actually found out how much grip it has in corners compared to how it feels on the road, made a huge difference.. the Chim takes a different style of driving to get the most out of it and can sometimes feel unsettled when it is actually absolutely fine.
Cheers (again)
Matt.
>> Edited by M@H on Monday 16th June 13:49
well that just sounds to me like a normal Chimaera..
If Louise and I are on twisty roads, her in her Saxo VTS and me in the Chimaera she wins every time, on the straight however as you say, it is a different matter.
In fact I think the VTR is as quick as the Chimaera on winding roads too..
Cheers,
Matt.
(and a lowly 4.0l)
Edited to add..
all that aside, having taken the Chimaera onto a track and actually found out how much grip it has in corners compared to how it feels on the road, made a huge difference.. the Chim takes a different style of driving to get the most out of it and can sometimes feel unsettled when it is actually absolutely fine.
Cheers (again)
Matt.
>> Edited by M@H on Monday 16th June 13:49
The Chimaera/Griffith are not great handlers as std, to fix this you need to replace the shocks and brakes IMO. You still wouldn't get near the abilities of a newer model TVR though.
I'd get your suspension settings checked to be sure you've got the optimum setting. Really pushing a Chimaera (or Griffith for that matter) on a windy road required lots of commitment.
A CTR/VTS is probably as quick on a windy road. Thing is, most of them are driven by people who are more than a little overconfident in their abilities.
Keep it shiney side up and enjoy the experience.
I'd get your suspension settings checked to be sure you've got the optimum setting. Really pushing a Chimaera (or Griffith for that matter) on a windy road required lots of commitment.
A CTR/VTS is probably as quick on a windy road. Thing is, most of them are driven by people who are more than a little overconfident in their abilities.
Keep it shiney side up and enjoy the experience.
This might seem a bit harsh but I think you need to go learn how to drive it. The handling is very very different from a FWD Eurobox. There is the RWD point first and secondly it takes quite a bit of skill to exploit the power and get it down through twisty bits.
Sure you can spend thousands improving the handling etc but if this is the first really powerful RWD car you have had, it might be worth getting some tuition to learn how to exploit it first.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Sure you can spend thousands improving the handling etc but if this is the first really powerful RWD car you have had, it might be worth getting some tuition to learn how to exploit it first.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
) you can see round corners plus see the corners of your car so you can commit yourself more...Ahh
Mr Tiggsy
I remember you from Scoobynet!! Only good memories and I still lurk around!
Steve - take your point, BUT have driven quick RWD cars before, although of different character (348 & Lister Jag
....shiver!) However, do agree with you that may need tuition. Always room for more learnings!
Trefor - also agree with you apart from a bit of a generalisation on the hach thing. Maybe I have just not come across the same crowd. Have done the Golf, Fiat Coupe, Rover 600ti, Scooby thing and not really come upon a GREATER concentration of muppets more than any other marques I have driven. Just the usual sprinkling of life charcters AND muppets, as in any walk of life.
Jeez - from handling to a bit of deep stuff....need a drink!
Right, off to put an extra high spoiler, neons and a splitter on the Chim now. Now, where was the Kroooz flyer??
Mr Tiggsy
I remember you from Scoobynet!! Only good memories and I still lurk around!
Steve - take your point, BUT have driven quick RWD cars before, although of different character (348 & Lister Jag
....shiver!) However, do agree with you that may need tuition. Always room for more learnings! Trefor - also agree with you apart from a bit of a generalisation on the hach thing. Maybe I have just not come across the same crowd. Have done the Golf, Fiat Coupe, Rover 600ti, Scooby thing and not really come upon a GREATER concentration of muppets more than any other marques I have driven. Just the usual sprinkling of life charcters AND muppets, as in any walk of life.
Jeez - from handling to a bit of deep stuff....need a drink!
Right, off to put an extra high spoiler, neons and a splitter on the Chim now. Now, where was the Kroooz flyer??
Tiggsy
Yeah, I see where you are coming from. I absolutely love the Chim, BUT the scoob was good in its day and I kind of view it as an ex-girlfriend you would not want another relationship with BUT you might have the odd "drive" in.
To sum up, another past chapter in life. Enjoyable while i was reading it. wouldnt buy the book again though...move on. To much to experience, too little time AND too little money (automotive wise!)
Coach
Yeah, I see where you are coming from. I absolutely love the Chim, BUT the scoob was good in its day and I kind of view it as an ex-girlfriend you would not want another relationship with BUT you might have the odd "drive" in.
To sum up, another past chapter in life. Enjoyable while i was reading it. wouldnt buy the book again though...move on. To much to experience, too little time AND too little money (automotive wise!)
Coach
Coach,
I think that you will find that once you have had it for a while and got used to the seamingless endless bucking that the Chimaera seams to do around corners you will be able to get the most out of it.
However watch out in the wet... it is a compleatly different story and you can get caught out very quickly.
I think that you will find that once you have had it for a while and got used to the seamingless endless bucking that the Chimaera seams to do around corners you will be able to get the most out of it.
However watch out in the wet... it is a compleatly different story and you can get caught out very quickly.
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