Ok, after almost 12 hours straight yesterday I completed almost all the Class B (430pp) cars on Toscana.
For each vehicle I'll list the tuner, three best times and any notes I made about the vehicle.
Desperado:
Honda CR-Z '10, "Katana"
1.59.348. 1:59.561. 1:59.751. Again: "Rotate, Mother!, rotate." I need to take this car back out and try it again. I can probably knock at least another half second off. I didn't use the E-break till several cars later. This car would probably work better with the E-break.
Edit: Updated times: 1:56.765. 1:57.403. 1:57.565. See the post laster on this page for my notes.
Krenkme:
Toyota Vitz RS Turbo '02, "Phyllobates Terribilis"
1:57.140. 1:57.583. 1.58.824. Easy to drive and more than any other car: consistent.
Edit: Updated times: 1:56.513. 1:56.907. 1:57.073. Again: consistent. Good gears. Good front end grip. Good rotation. But good god, why olive green?! At least on Toscana the dirt makes it look good. Overall a very competitive car. With seat time I'm sure I could knock more time off, but I could say the same for all the cars. I got the 1:56.907 on my first retry. On my second lap I was up on that ghost by over .380 in the first sector but flobbed it. Short dabs of the E-break at just the right spot are useful, but more is too much. With practice I could do it without the E-break.
C-Zeta (V16T91):
Mazda Demio Sport '03:
1:56.263. 1:57.704. 1:58.150:
First thought: the gears are very long. There's alot of dead space between three and four, the most common shift on this track. Most cars I think about my line and shifting is mostly automatic (lol, get it, automatic?). The opposite is true in this car. I'm downshifting alot more than any other car, sometimes up-down two or even three times for the longer corners.
The quick time is a freak lap. The long gears make it difficult to keep the power down. It's more a coin flip than skill if you're in the correct gear, one wrong bump and you lose all your torque. If you learn to do it correctly the excellent front grip and almost perfect rotation make this car a powerhouse. Do not touch the E-break, it's not needed, all you'll do is kill your momentum. The breaks are excellent and help the rotation once you become familiar with it's break/pre-entry points. All-in-all a great car, with a massive minis.
NewDriver2 (OTS_NewDriver2):
Audi A2 1.4 '02:
1:59.554. 1:59.959. 1:59.961
First: I love the gearing. Its the smoothest yet. It lays down the power at all times. Throttle input control is needed more on this car than most others. When I can hit the correct entry speed the car rotates well. Unfortunately the suspension doesn't allow the vehicle to soak any of the bumps, the front end simply can't hang the longer corners or "infenion" corners. Overall it is sub-par with massive potential: fix the "soak" and watch it shred the competition.
Jackthalad (Crystalbuds):
Honda Ballade Sports CR-X 1.5Si '83:
1:59.441. 2:00.136. 2:00.316:
Sub-par soak, and a little more rotation would help. But the acceleration and throttle control are good. The lack if soak kills the front end grip. I like the gearing but it's lost in the cars sub-par times. One wrong bump in a corner and your line is gone.
ACSR421:
Mazda Kusabi '03:
1:56.191. 1.57.346. 1.57.755. Three corners. Thats it. I knew within three corners. My first thought was, "I would drive my grandmother to the hospital in this car." Nuff said. (Will you tune me a Fireblade?)
Edit: Updated times:
1:55.089. 1:56.153. 1:56.787:
Amazing grip and perfect rotation. The gears are spaced so that shifting is automatic, the engine sound is all I need which helps me keep my eye on the road (the complete opposite of Desperado's CR-Z and NewDriver2s' A2 1.4 {just to name 2} which forced me to keep "one eye" on the tack at all times). This car is everything I remember from from my first try, and now that I'm more experienced on this track, it's even better. The suspension soaks up everything, except it hits heavy on the front end on the jumps sometimes. The breaks are rarely needed but when you do be gentle, they work as well as everything else. The E-break isn't needed, the cars' perfect rotation makes it useless. Hands down the best car I've tested. I only did 5 laps on the retry, less than half the laps for any other car. As soon as I'm done with this competition I'm making myself one.
TrackRipper123 (Ziz528):
Mazda Kusabi Concept '03:
1:57.176. 1.57.465. 1:57.726. A solid ride. Good throttle/brake rotation.
Edit: Updated times:
1:55.566. 1:55.601. 1:55.659:
Good at everything: front grip, rotation, gearing, soak (suspension). Almost drab it's so good. Shifting can be done by ear, it has smooth torque through each gear, but they might be just a smidge too long. I find myself downshifting more than I would like. Rotation is intuitive. Grip is excellent, even on "infenion"corners. The soak takes all the bumps out. A very smooth ride for this track. If your driving style suits this car then it could be competitive against ACSR421s', unfortunately for TrackRipper my style fits ACSRs' better. I'm avoiding looking at the other testers times and notes so I can remain unprejudiced (as much as I can). I'd like to see if someone else can make this car sing. It's got the voice for it. At one time I was .780 up on my ghost. But I lose it at the hairpin every time.
OSE-CAP-SHADOW:
IST-R (Toyota ist 1.5s '02):
1:57.735. 1:57.790. 1:57.844
The suspension doesn't soak the bumps very well. The breaks are heavy and anything more than a light touch will cause it to slide. The gearing is good and allows the torque to be layed down consistently. The rotation is a bit lacking, probably because of the lack of soak. A decent car but it can't hold with the best. Perhaps it's better on LSeca?
LineR32:
Ka Kit Car:
2:02.227. 2:02.279. 2:02.469. Uninspired.
Edit: Updated times:
1:59.027. 1:59.183. 1:59.988:
Ok, the only thing uninspired was my driving. This suspension soaks everything. The gearing is a little long but there is no dead space and I can ear shift. It has excellent front grip. Its lack of rotation is possibly its Achilles Heal. The breaks are good, not too touchy and because of the excellent soak not too light. Use of the E-break is a must in the tight corners. If I spent the time to learn the car better I could knock some time off, but not much. Overall I like the car and enjoy it, but its times just aren't up to the others.
Motor City Hami (MotorCytHamilton):
Fiat 500 1.2 8V Lounge SS '08:
1:56.923. 1:56.952. 1:57.439.
The straight line acceleration is amazing. Unfortunately the soak is sub-par. Because of that its hard to deliver the massive (Ma-Hoo-Sive) torque at the end of the cars power band. It also has long gears that make it difficult to keep the power down. If you try to shift while going uphill you lose all your momentum (both vehicular and drivetrain). A good car but difficult to drive. It would be a simple "point and shoot" car but for the lack if soak which makes it hard to hold the corner and pull the back end and still power out.
Onboy123:
Honda Jazz 1.4 (fit?):
1:56.078. 1:57.422. 1:57.984:
My first couple of laps were frustrating. All the other cars (even the magical Kusabi by ACSR) once I got them to the correct rotational twist I didn't have to worry about oversteer. In this car oversteer is a "problem," or at least an option. My times went like this: 1:59.0xx, 1:58.7xx, 1:57.9xx, 1:56.078. Once you learn to enter the corner cautiously enough and balance the oversteer on mid- and corner exit this car rocks. "Balanced Aggression" would be a good name for this car. A heavy hitter in the right hands. This is the 427 Cobra of the FF Shootout. The breaks are a little lacking, and require more space to properly slow the car. The suspension has difficulty keeping up with the bumps, and thats this cars biggest con. If it could soak better it would shred this course with the best of them. All-in-all a great car, especially if your style fits it. I can't wait to try it on LSeca.
Because of the cars attitude it cuts through the Ss' like a Ginsue Machine. Love the color, especially once it gets dirty.
JollyGreen (thelitch77):
Honda CR-Z '10:
1:57.069. 1:57.516. 1:57.878. Smooth. E-break is a must on some corners.
Edit: Updated times:
1:56.638. 1:56.948. 1:57.084:
Lovin' it. Good soak, it takes all the bumps well and the jumps flat. Good gearing, except that it has a tendency to sit at one rpm range (say, @ 6.5) and staying there (in fourth gear from 60mph to 82mph) which makes shifting by ear difficult. Good front grip, and the breaks are excellent. Goldilocks of rotation: not too much, not too little, just right. The E-break isn't needed once you get used to the car. Possibly the most consistent car yet. If it could deliver more torque (possibly a tranny problem, but more likely LSD, just don't quote me on it) it would fly. I like the car/wheel color combo.
Diogo G. (werty_56-1):
Volks Lupo 1.4 "Sunday Driver", '02:
2:00.904. 2:01.851. 2:02.074. Ugh! Uninspired
Edit: Updated times:
2:00.538. 2:01.733. 2:01.983:
I did six laps, and I had to force myself to do that many. This car is painful to drive. Hows the gearing? I cant tell. Touch the breaks lite or slam them it won't matter, they're pretty much nonexistent. E-break? Never needed it. It all comes down to one thing: absolutely no soak. None.
Theo777 (Zigatan):
Nissan Micra "MicraMachine", '03:
1:58.198. 1:58.463. 1:58.742. A good ride. The tranny is a little short for this track. Enjoyable.
Edit: Updated times:
1:56.460. 1:56.985. 1:57.172:
A very nice neutral tune. It will accept more than one driving style and still perform. Gears might be a smidge too long, but I can ear shift. Rotation is excellent, but the soak is sub-par and doesn't allow the car to hang the corners with the best. Breaks are good and help with rotation well when appropriate. (All that with just one lap.) That fastest lap could have gone much better, but because of the lack of soak I flew wide on the last corner and probably lost at least half a second. If I allowed myself more time I have no doubt that I could set an excellent time, but the sub-par soak doesn't allow for enough consistency. Looking forward to LSeca, this car should do well.
Jkineary #Desp:
Fiat 500 Rally (fiat 500 1.2 8V?):
1:58.137. 1:58.396. 1:58.688. A solid ride. Feels like the best breaks I've tested. The tranny is very long. If it was shorter it could probably lay the power down better.
Edit: Updated times:
1:58.429. 1:59.097. 1:59.900:
The gears aren't long, but the car lacks torque, or at least the ability to lay it down. Soak is so-so, but somehow the front feels like it has good grip. Rotation is lacking for the tight horseshoe corners and the E-break is often needed.
JohnnyBoy532:
Honda CR-Z '10:
1:57.924. 1:58.163. 1.58.380. Hands down the best CR-Z. Like the other Z's it's hard to rotate.
Edit: Updated times:
1:55.912. 1:56.137. 1:56.144:
Good soak, this car rides the bumps like a champ. And because of the soak: good front end grip and breaks. The back end could use a little more skankieness (aka oversteer), its hard to get the rear end loose enough on some corners. If your driving style suits a slight understeer then you could rock this car. Its straight line acceleration is good but its lack of rotation makes it hard to apply gas through the corner exit.
DigitalBaka:
Audi A2 1.4 '02, "Allroad":
1:56.980. 1:57.535. 1:57.722:
Holy torque! Bat-tuner! This car has just enough soak to allow for very good acceleration and front end grip. The lack of rotation is this cars downfall. It will twist, but you have to manipulate it to such a degree to produce enough twist that you kill your momentum. A great car to learn how to manipulate "situational oversteer."
moparisgod #krenkme:
Fiat 500 1.2 8V Lounge SS '08: 1:57.182. 1:57.583. 1:58.2
87. Another excellent car. Good front end grip. Good rotation.
Edit: Updated times:
1:55.501. 1:55.911. 1:56.784:
Amazing front end grip. Which helps the excellent breaks; not too heavy, not too light. Good rotation, very little manipulation is needed to get its rear to come round. The soak is good, I can't see how he gets such amazing grip with merely good soak. The gears are ok, I can ear shift and they are well spaced to help deliver the amazing acceleration, but even on this track I found myself reaching for 6th gear and it wasn't there. A joy to drive, its easy to be consistent and deliver great times lap after lap. If you prefer understeer to oversteer then this car can perform as well as ACSRs'. I was at least .500 up on my ghost on some laps, but 'what I lose on the sweeps I gain on the rounds,' as they say.
Tris_73:
Honda Ballade Sports CR-X 1.5Si '83:
1:57.581. 1:57.791. 1:58.093:
Amazing balance between acceleration, front end grip, rotation, and breaks. What a car to end on. The most elegant car on the list. Throttle control is called for more than any other. Most of the cars on the list I'm 100% on the throttle through the corner exit, trying to pull the rear end into line. With this car, because everything is so well balanced, I ease into the breaks, then ease into the throttle, as I would on a Tarmac course. Unfortunately the soak is slightly sub-par. Breaking from high speed is difficult and trail-breaking at high speeds is nigh impossible. All-in-all great at slow speed corners, not so good at high speed corners.
Edit: updated with vehicles.
Edit2: added JKinnerly
Edit3: adding retests times and notes.
Edit4: remaped names and cars.
Good luck to all tuners.
