Review written on 8/1964.
Everyone always says the everyone else is the greatest Subcompact made. But you always go against the grain. What about a U4645? OK stop laughing. Yes we all know the doors fall off when you open them. So what's the solution to setting the newest trend? Ever thought about a Durack? This month we take a look at the new Chimaera. Is this the Subcompact you've been looking for? Find out!
Is the Durack Chimaera fast? Uh, No. But is that important? Maybe. For a Subcompact the Chimaera is well below average. There are many other vehicles in this class that can move better and faster on the track. And because of that we don't consider it to be very good. The 34 hp @ 1484RPMs 905 cc Radial5 engine is underpowered for this vehicle. Which ultimately hurts its performance. The Chimaera is able to reach a top speed of 66 mph and it does 36.147s 0 to 60 mph on the strip. If that wasn't enough with the 98 lb-ft of torque will melt the tires off the rims. When hooked to a trailer, this baby will haul an amazing 22 lbs! And that leaves us with one conclusion. Durack Should have probably used a bigger, better engine for this vehicle. But as it is, it will do. The Durack Chimaera handles smoothly and can really turn a corner for a Subcompact. While it is certainly not a race car, it can handle any real world situation you throw at it.
While the Durack Chimaera won't win any awards, It won't turn heads, and it certainly doesn't have a wow factor. The Chimaera does have a very well design interior. It may not be top end, but it is more than enough for long trips and everyday drivers. It makes you feel good about life. Without feeling pompous.
The Durack Chimaera is not exactly roomy. You can fit normal people in it, maybe a bag or two. But not much else. You probably wouldn't want to be in it for long, and your certainly wouldn't want to use it to transport anything in bulk. The Chimaera's 19 cu-ft of passenger and cargo space leave a lot to be desired. Many vehicles in its class are much more spacious. So be warned. This may not be the perfect fit for you.
'Spare no expense!' and 'Perfection!' are known to be mottos of Durack. And they show this off in their Chimaera. The build quality is no short of perfectly amazing. Hats off to their hard work.
It is a rare occurrence to see the Durack Chimaera in the shop. These are some of the most reliable vehicles in the segment made. Durack knows how to build a machine that will last the ages. No planned obsolescence here.
When it came to fuel economy testing we tried to see how far we could go in the Durack Chimaera. Our goal was to run it out of fuel. We tried and we failed. Even when the Chimaera fuel gauge was below E, it kept going! Befuddled at this we asked Durack engineers how this is possible. They showed us their Motor Bunny fuel system, which just keeps going and going and going and going for an impressive 57.5 mpg. In one word, amazing.
You could really tell the engineers at Durack designed the Chimaera to save lives. This vehicle not only reduces the risk of being killed in it, but reduces the risk of being killed from it. This vehicle should be looked at as a marvel of preventative engineering.
When you drive the Durack Chimaera you'll see other Subcompact on the road and think to your self: Why would anyone buy anything other than a Durack. Simple answer, they're stupid!