Driving a Chimaera
Discussion
Might seem an odd question, but I've been looking to buy a Chimaera this year, but due to work commitments I've only been to see a couple and only drove one for the first time today.
I can understand the fact that ALL the controls are heavier than in a 'regular' car, but how long does it take/did it take you to get used to the rather 'direct' steering and the accelerator pedal being hinged on the 'wrong' end?
Also, where are supposed to put your left leg when not practising some form of one legged squat thrusts in town traffic? There doesn't seem to be anywhere!
I can understand the fact that ALL the controls are heavier than in a 'regular' car, but how long does it take/did it take you to get used to the rather 'direct' steering and the accelerator pedal being hinged on the 'wrong' end?
Also, where are supposed to put your left leg when not practising some form of one legged squat thrusts in town traffic? There doesn't seem to be anywhere!
It took me a week to get used to the steering, it's a lot "quicker" than my S, but that's come in very handy when messing around when messing about on private land... 
The throttle is lighter than my S so that's easy LOL, the brakes are a lot better on the Chimaera.
I put my left foot under the clutch too...
The throttle is lighter than my S so that's easy LOL, the brakes are a lot better on the Chimaera.
I put my left foot under the clutch too...
I like the heavyness, such as it is. No PAS here either and wanted it that way. You're sitting in a beast and it should feel like it. Used to run a non PAS SE5A Scimitar as my daily (still have it lurking under sheets and detritus in my garage) and that was like a proper workout to drive, all part of the attraction for me.
I've never had a problem with either my left foot or the throttle position, the latter does need a bit of a shove but that will probably change soon anyway when the twin plenum is fitted. Driving the car generally is completely different to my daily drive Citroen diesel which feels like it's made of sponge after a stint in my beloved Chim. Yes the steering feels direct, it should do. Once you adopt the mindset to drive these cars they are so easy, around town mine is as easy as any 1.0 litre Micra, just slightly faster.... 
If that's all you can say after driving one there's something wrong 
Silgo, trying to take an unbiased view ( and as much as we would all like to welcome you to the fold), have you tried a Boxster S? I've driven a few and they are brilliant cars (please don't shoot me down here TVR brethren!!) which would address the concerns you have with a chim (maybe not the organ pedal throttle - cant remember).
Otherwise, if like all of us, your heart says chim, you'll soon find that you get used to the little foibles. Happy hunting!
Otherwise, if like all of us, your heart says chim, you'll soon find that you get used to the little foibles. Happy hunting!
stuarte said:
Silgo, trying to take an unbiased view ( and as much as we would all like to welcome you to the fold), have you tried a Boxster S? I've driven a few and they are brilliant cars (please don't shoot me down here TVR brethren!!) which would address the concerns you have with a chim (maybe not the organ pedal throttle - cant remember).
Otherwise, if like all of us, your heart says chim, you'll soon find that you get used to the little foibles. Happy hunting!
Stuarte, I've heard a few times now that the Boxster S is a great car.... They appear to be good VFM (in Porkah terms), so what is it about them that's so good?Otherwise, if like all of us, your heart says chim, you'll soon find that you get used to the little foibles. Happy hunting!
Ta,
Chilli
OK, thanks for all the responses - I'll try to reply to the in turn...
For the throttle pedal (I've got a focus and a golf, so used to hinges on the 'right' and 'wrong' end of the pedal), but I felt I was flexing my ankle with my heel too far back, so my toes were pressing half-way down the pedal, so didn't feel as if I had enough control, yet when I moved my foot forward so my heel was nearer to the bottom of the pedal it felt OK (so I though the pedal was hinged on the 'wrong' end, although googling it shows it isn't
) - Does that make sense?
@Miniman, you know on here you don't want to start a throttle springs debate)
@Prizam, that's good to know, hopefully I'll get than feeling soon enough
@Julesprivate, is the trottle actually heavier on an S - the only things I know of with heavier throttle pedals are old lorries
(although thinking about it it may be because of where I had my foot placed?)
@Cossers, I suppose the only similar thing I can think of (as all of my cars so far have been Euroboxes
) is when you go karting, you just 'pick up' the steering.
@2sMoKiN bArReLs, that's not the only thing I could say, but I only had questions about the 'bad' bits... As it was a 5.0 (with a sleeved exhaust), I could mention the noise, the interior, the looks, the torque, the grip (It was WET, so judging by some comments on here I should have crashed backwards into a tree, but it had more than enough grip - maybe too much)...
@Stuarte, I hadn't really thought of a Boxster S, I suppose only because I thought they were 'too complete' and car-like. Also, although it shouldn't (wouldn't?) bother me, I feel they still have a bit of (topgearmode /ON) 'merchant banker' (topgearmode /OFF) about them. I suppose that answers the question of what my heart says!
For the throttle pedal (I've got a focus and a golf, so used to hinges on the 'right' and 'wrong' end of the pedal), but I felt I was flexing my ankle with my heel too far back, so my toes were pressing half-way down the pedal, so didn't feel as if I had enough control, yet when I moved my foot forward so my heel was nearer to the bottom of the pedal it felt OK (so I though the pedal was hinged on the 'wrong' end, although googling it shows it isn't
) - Does that make sense?@Miniman, you know on here you don't want to start a throttle springs debate
)@Prizam, that's good to know, hopefully I'll get than feeling soon enough
@Julesprivate, is the trottle actually heavier on an S - the only things I know of with heavier throttle pedals are old lorries
(although thinking about it it may be because of where I had my foot placed?)@Cossers, I suppose the only similar thing I can think of (as all of my cars so far have been Euroboxes
) is when you go karting, you just 'pick up' the steering.@2sMoKiN bArReLs, that's not the only thing I could say, but I only had questions about the 'bad' bits... As it was a 5.0 (with a sleeved exhaust), I could mention the noise, the interior, the looks, the torque, the grip (It was WET, so judging by some comments on here I should have crashed backwards into a tree, but it had more than enough grip - maybe too much
)...@Stuarte, I hadn't really thought of a Boxster S, I suppose only because I thought they were 'too complete' and car-like. Also, although it shouldn't (wouldn't?) bother me, I feel they still have a bit of (topgearmode /ON) 'merchant banker' (topgearmode /OFF) about them. I suppose that answers the question of what my heart says!
Chilliman said:
Stuarte, I've heard a few times now that the Boxster S is a great car.... They appear to be good VFM (in Porkah terms), so what is it about them that's so good?
Ta,
Chilli
Chilli, Ta,
Chilli
I must confess to looking for a 3.2 S before I bought the Chim. They feel properly quick (to me) with a healthy dose of torque and the flat 6 sounds great when you really get it singing (prefer the sound of the RV8 though). They feel properly planted , good progressive brakes and rear traction is applied in buckets when giving it some out of corners (which is good for someone of my limited talents!). Pootling round town they are as civilised as a 'normal' car. Plus, they have Porsche build quality and feel bomb proof.
Things I don't like about them though:
When pootling round town they are as civilised as a 'normal' car. They are not bomb proof, in fact, they have a talent for self detonation (read the forums) and a subsequent very big bill. Too many of them. Not very characterful. None of them are my TVR.
I still wouldn't mind one though
Cheers, Stu
With regards to the throttle stiffness, try a couple of cars cos the first one I drove was horrendous, you could hardly modulate the throttle at all it was that stiff, and I thought it was very strange as my old Cerbera was not like that at all. The car I ended up with is much easier. Clutch is heavy but the throttle is fairly easy. And if that 5.0 had more than enough traction in the damp then it might not be performing too well cos my 4.0 will easily break traction in the first three gears if its even mildly moist.
prettyboyben said:
With regards to the throttle stiffness, try a couple of cars cos the first one I drove was horrendous, you could hardly modulate the throttle at all it was that stiff, and I thought it was very strange as my old Cerbera was not like that at all. The car I ended up with is much easier. Clutch is heavy but the throttle is fairly easy. And if that 5.0 had more than enough traction in the damp then it might not be performing too well cos my 4.0 will easily break traction in the first three gears if its even mildly moist.
That is good to know. I think the engine should be performing OK, as it had a cam in about 5000 miles ago and had a RR printout for best part of 280hp IIRC. I only went to 3500-4000 rpm with about 1/2 - 2/3 throttle in second, and seemed strong enough (although I've not driven another for comparison), but still fell like it had a more traction available...Co-incidentally, I think you bought the first car I viewed (red 4.0 from a north-west based dealer
, with a grey interior?), was that a good buy that I missed, or not ?Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff