I decided to redo all of my GT300 tests since they were previously done when I was still getting familiar with the course and I didn't have everyone added yet. I tried to cut down the amount of cars I tested, but that didn't work too well because the GT300 category is so fun. My GT500 list will probably be smaller due to impatience.
GT300
Onboy123 - '03 ARTA Garaiya: 1:45.384
My first impression was that this car wanted to kill me. My next impression was quite the opposite. I loved this car on my second time driving it. I tamed it and managed to post a lap time over a second and a half faster than the previous test. Fun car, but it's not the fastest. It has at least three cars outshining it in lap times, unfortunately. Despite that, it goes to show that even the most basic tuning knowledge in the hands of a great driver can create a solid, competent car.
VTiRoj - '08 Cusco Dunlop Subaru Impreza: 1:45.679
My second impression is the same as the first with this car. It's an interesting thing to drive and I couldn't necessarily optimize the lap times with it because I had too much fun abusing it's severe oversteer when braking. Reminded me a lot of an Evo on that really good crack I call AYC. Despite such a great cornering ability, the 4WD ultimately prevents it from escaping the clutches of some of it's competitors in the straights.
krenkme - '06 Amemiya AsparaDrink RX-7: 1:44.916
I didn't know what to expect at first. Well... I did expect a heck of a cornering machine, but I didn't expect something so badly neutered to have the fastest straight line acceleration and speed in this category. It's a very stable car and has a fantastic cornering ability. For a while, I believed that this was going to be the undisputed winner of the GT300 category. Unfortunately for RE Amemiya and krenkme, someone with phenomenal driving skills and tuning knowledge to match was competing in this shootout.
CSLACR - '03 Weds Sport Celica: 1:44.427
Speak of the devil, this car was mind blowing. Honestly, CSLACR makes me so jealous because on top of being a much better driver than me, he knows how to tune. That's a dangerous combination and the gap between this Celica and krenkme's RX-7 in the lap times tells exactly why. The car is stable, fast, and overall impressive. Why do you taunt me so?!
Fake rage aside, great job CSLACR!
TrackRipper - '03 Cusco Advan Subaru Impreza: 1:45.872
This car loves late braking. I love late braking. We go so well together. We should get married. If it weren't for this car's weakness of a light understeer, it could very well compete with the top lap time posters. Still a satisfying drive though.
GeeBaby/Praiano - '03 Weds Sport Celica: 1:45.184
I laughed at first. Really, I did. Laughing was the stupidest thing I could have done to this car. The Celica took my first impression and did
this to it. At the time, I didn't think krenkme's RX-7 had competition in this category. Lo and behold, this Celica proved me wrong. It's a monster of a cornering machine, highly stable, and decently fast. The RX-7 only got away because it could match this Celica's cornering ability and still be faster in the straights. Overall, this is a good tune for a car with astounding potential, which was further unlocked by CSLACR, who finally dethroned krenkme's RX-7.
XDesperado67 - '03 ARTA Garaiya: 1:45.994
Okay, this car definitely felt more Garaiya'ish. Try to throttle out of the corner even a little too much and it's going to stab you in the eye. Despite that, it was this very habit that made me enjoy driving the car so much. This car has potential. I'd say keep at it, or...maybe not. Keep it the way it is. This is fun to play with.
MrGrado - '08 Weds Sport IS350: 1:47.793
This car makes me want to cry. I like how it handles and I enjoy driving it, but there's one humongous flaw in the car that keeps me from posting a higher lap time with it. It's slow. It could just be a problem in the power band, it could be the gear ratios, or maybe the car is mourning it's recently deceased pet. Whatever it is, this car cannot keep up with the competition to save it's life and I have no idea why. I really want it to be fast though because I loved driving it... Screw it, I'm gonna go cry now.
UPDATE: It's the power band. This car was neutered like krenkme's RX-7. It's sitting on 414 ft-lb of torque, but that torque comes out in the low-mid RPM range. I don't even think krenkme's gearing could help it. How unfortunate...
I couldn't test the last two tunes, unfortunately. I have no info to submit of them and that's not a very good thing for me to exclude tunes like that. I'm very sorry. My top 5 out of the ones I did test are as follows.
1. CSLACR
2. Krenkme
3. Geebaby/Praiano
4. Onboy123
5. VTiRoj
GT500
I'm dropping out of this at the last minute. I feel god awful for not keeping anyone posted on my situation in real life that has kept me from carrying on my testing. I knew I shouldn't have entered the shootout as a tester, but I figured I would try it anyways. I was very irresponsible and it's ultimately a guilty feeling. Once again, my apologies...