First Drive - First Impressions

[Julesprivate]

Just brought the new Chimaera home, 2 hours of driving and it was pretty nice. TBH if you put a private plate on the car it could pass as brand new, it's immaculate.

It's far too quiet, but that's easily dealt with... might pop in to what was Hi-Q tomorrow to see if they'll chop out the centre box for me and replace it with some stainless tube.

It feels like a very rapid car too, rapid as opposed to "fast", the S is "fast" but this is different.

If I wanted to get to somewhere ~50 miles away I'd take the S. If I wanted to get somewhere ~500 miles away I'd take the Chimaera, they are completely different animals. The S is much more involving to drive, it feels raw and exciting.

The Chimaera is smoother, much more comfortable, much "prettier", the V8 sounds wonderful. At 80 it's quiet and refined and pulls like a train when you press the throttle. I hardly had to change gear at all on the trip back.

They really are completely different examples of the breed!

I thought the PO was going to cry when he handed the keys over!

[Julesprivate]

Oh yeah, there's a slight rumble from the rear diff and a strong smell of burning gear oil... I'm pretty sure it's gear oil as it smells like it (different to engine oil). But those two trivial things aside it was excellent.

[Overhere]

Congratz on your car, the rumble not sure, but these are noisy cars anyway,the obvious suspect would be wheel bearings. The smell I've had for 6 years, especially bad on track days. If you search you'll find info about the diff breather tube, I've asked my indy about it numerous times and he insists it all fine, very reputable guy. Still smells

[Julesprivate]

Overhere said:

The smell I've had for 6 years, especially bad on track days. If you search you'll find info about the diff breather tube, I've asked my indy about it numerous times and he insists it all fine, very reputable guy. Still smells

Excellent - I'll do some online research then LOL

[Timward]

Congratulations Jules!

I've owned mine since March and the rear also smells of gear oil once I park it up after a drive. I changed my diff oil when I bought it and whilst I was under I saw I had slightly weeping diff/driveshaft oil seals as the diff had oil on it. It doesn't weep much though as I checked the level after 1500miles and it hasn't dropped.

I'd be interested to see what you find in your investigations...

Thanks,

Tim

[JPW231]

I had what I thought was a slight leak from the diff after having the oil changed in it. Apparently there is a breather on the diff, so after replacing the oil a slight amount of weeping is the oil coming from the breather until it settles.

[Julesprivate]

Sounds like it might be similar to my old Jag - that had a "top hat" breather that you were supposed to clean/keep clear... I had the car 7 years and never did find that vent!

I had the car up on the lift today to look at the exhaust (going to be taking the centre box off next weekend) and it's possible that the leak is actually at the gearbox end, certainly there was some small evidence of oil tracking underneath.

I'll have more time to look at it properly next weekend, it's entirely possible it's a combination of things - either way I'm not too concerned as I did ~500 miles int he car today and it was magnificent!