I've only been able to run the FF class, and to be honest, I doubt I'll find the time or motivation to run the FRs and 4WDs before the deadline, so I'll go ahead and pass judgement for the FFs, if that's alright. If not, disregard this post.
I had a lot to say with each car. I even had something that looked like an essay for each car, specifying everything about it. But the list went in the trash along with the rest of the papers I had lying next to the PS2... and yes, I love being married! So here's my impressions:
5th place
62/100
Vince's Mini Cooper-S
After driving the other Mini Cooper I was hoping this would be an improved version of it, but I was a bit upset after going a few laps with it and realising what front end drifting was all about. The usage of S2s was a great handicap for this car, since with a bit of grip it could've improved, although I was especially annoyed at the lack of turning ability it seemed to have. Compared to the others it didn't handle that bad, but seeing as the others went, throttle control wasn't something I was looking too forward to.
4th Place
68/100
DeltaTrain's Mini Cooper
I was amazed to have this car wheelspin all the way to 4th gear on some tracks. If there was an upward climb on the track, then I could even picture the original Mini taunting me in front. The words 'grip' and this car are very distant relatives. It was a nice car as long as you didn't have to turn, or start from zero... to be honest, it didn't get last place because I was a bit more disappointed by the other Mini. I'm guessing a bit more work on the tracks could've helped me find a better balance for the throttle-steering, but after going three laps on four different tracks, I stopped trying.
3rd place
74/100
NissanTuner's Honda Accord Euro-R '00
To be honest, I really liked this car. Having a heavy FF car (as I do IRL), I was really looking forward to having a go with this one, and I wasn't disappointed. The only issue with it is that despite being exactly as I pictured it, it was in fact heavy, a tad slow and understeery. Turning into curves was great for such a big car, and I applaud the effort of tuning this car so well, but given the competition, it was bound not to win.
2nd place
94/100
Kent's Honda Civic Type R EP '01
This car was AWESOME! Coming from Kent, I was expecting nothing less, and I was not disappointed. The car handles like a 4WD, little to no wheelspin and precise, on-the-dime stopping power, but rarely losing speed. The suspension was pinpoint accurate and I would personally make it a bit softer, since on tracks like the 'ring it tended to go wide if going flat-out on long curves, but hey, it's a friggin' FF! The reason I didn't give it 1st place is that it's soo good, even a non-savvy guy can drive it. There was no real gold at the end of the rainbow after giving it all. What you see is what you get, as in it drives and handles amazingly well, but there wasn't much more to it. It was tuned to the best it could make, but nothing was left to be found in it.
1st place
98/100
Greycap's Renault Clio 2.0 16V
This car was all that Kent's was, but much more raw power. It handled almost as well as Kent's, but at times it felt better to not be in so much control as the Civic was. It's true that I would brake more in this one whereas I wouldn't in the Civic, but this one made the braking all the better because after slowign down a bit, the downshift, throttle-flooring was much more rewarding. Where the Civic was an amazing cruising car, the Clio was a beast waiting for someone to come and try to handle it... but doing so well when you got it under control.
And actually, the results aren't ready on the Christmas Eve either.
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