Like many of you, after a week or so of adjusting to car response in GT4 vs. GT3, I was disappointed that the AI cars were not more competitive. That is, until I tried completing the Speedster Cup.
The Speedster Cup is a manufacturer's event (Germany/Opel) that consists of five races, each either 3 or 4 laps long. The races are held at Grand Valley, Autumn Ring (Reverse), Suzuka (East Course), Infineon (Sports Car Course), and Seattle. Entries are restricted to Opel Speedsters, NA or Turbo, which must be purchased new for 30K credits and change. However, to win any of the five races, be prepared to spend additional credits on upgrades.
Without upgrades, in either the NA or Turbo, each of the five races is worth 200 a-spec points. IMHO, without upgrades, you will never win any of the races. When I tried this series for the first time, I was racing a Speedster Turbo with no upgrades, and I was left so far in the dust that I gave up. Even after adding racing exhaust and a stage 3 or 4 turbo, I was still being left behind. Ultimately, I got frustrated and quit, selling my Speedster and moving on to something else.
But last night, I returned, determined to win the prize car: an Opel Calibra Touring Car. I bought the Speedster NA and upgraded. Initially, I tried saving credits and bought less than maximum upgrades. But after a couple of failed attempts at Grand Valley, I returned to the tune shop and bought premium everything: racing exhaust, full custom suspension and transmission, stage 4 turbo, and levels 1 & 2 weight reduction. And, as I recall, this was still not enough. Finally, after purhcasing level 3 weight reduction and racing soft tires (NOTE: There are no tire restrictions!). I had enough speed and response to be able to compete.
With my Speedster thus upgraded, I won Grand Valley rather handily, the second place Speedster a distant speck in my rearview, and won 106 a-spec points. At Autumn Ring, however, it was only after two or three attempts that I came away the victor and won 108 a-pec points. Suzuka was even more problematic. There, I kept getting bumped in the esses by the AI cars, or putting a wheel off trying to get by the AI cars, and winding up in the sand-filled runoff areas. After more attempts than I care to admit, I finally managed to keep clear of my AI competitors and win by a fairly considerable margin.
Then, at Infineon and Seattle, the best I could manage was a very distant second. By the time I found my way through traffic, the lead car was so far ahead that I could not catch it. I had never before purchased NOS but after trying and failing several times, I returned to the tune shop and ponied up the credits. Still, I was having trouble catching up to and getting in front of the lead car. (This was no doubt in part due to my lack of experience with NOS). Then, I had an idea, and it was the thing that ultimately made the difference: I returned to the tune shop and bought a set of super-soft racing tires. With these on my Speedster, I caught and passed the lead car to win both Infineon and Seattle and, ultimately, the coveted Opel Calibra prize car. In the process, I had as much fun as I have had since owning GT4.
Summing up, I think in the end, all that may be needed in upgrades is a stage 3 or 4 turbo, levels 1,2, & 3 weight reduction (when I added level 3 a-pec points dropped from 200 to around 100), super-soft racing tires (at least in respect to Infineon and Seattle), and probably, but perhaps not necessarily, full-custom transmission and suspension.
If you haven't already, give the Speedster Cup a try, and, if you already have, go back and do it again. I plan to often.
The Speedster Cup is a manufacturer's event (Germany/Opel) that consists of five races, each either 3 or 4 laps long. The races are held at Grand Valley, Autumn Ring (Reverse), Suzuka (East Course), Infineon (Sports Car Course), and Seattle. Entries are restricted to Opel Speedsters, NA or Turbo, which must be purchased new for 30K credits and change. However, to win any of the five races, be prepared to spend additional credits on upgrades.
Without upgrades, in either the NA or Turbo, each of the five races is worth 200 a-spec points. IMHO, without upgrades, you will never win any of the races. When I tried this series for the first time, I was racing a Speedster Turbo with no upgrades, and I was left so far in the dust that I gave up. Even after adding racing exhaust and a stage 3 or 4 turbo, I was still being left behind. Ultimately, I got frustrated and quit, selling my Speedster and moving on to something else.
But last night, I returned, determined to win the prize car: an Opel Calibra Touring Car. I bought the Speedster NA and upgraded. Initially, I tried saving credits and bought less than maximum upgrades. But after a couple of failed attempts at Grand Valley, I returned to the tune shop and bought premium everything: racing exhaust, full custom suspension and transmission, stage 4 turbo, and levels 1 & 2 weight reduction. And, as I recall, this was still not enough. Finally, after purhcasing level 3 weight reduction and racing soft tires (NOTE: There are no tire restrictions!). I had enough speed and response to be able to compete.
With my Speedster thus upgraded, I won Grand Valley rather handily, the second place Speedster a distant speck in my rearview, and won 106 a-spec points. At Autumn Ring, however, it was only after two or three attempts that I came away the victor and won 108 a-pec points. Suzuka was even more problematic. There, I kept getting bumped in the esses by the AI cars, or putting a wheel off trying to get by the AI cars, and winding up in the sand-filled runoff areas. After more attempts than I care to admit, I finally managed to keep clear of my AI competitors and win by a fairly considerable margin.
Then, at Infineon and Seattle, the best I could manage was a very distant second. By the time I found my way through traffic, the lead car was so far ahead that I could not catch it. I had never before purchased NOS but after trying and failing several times, I returned to the tune shop and ponied up the credits. Still, I was having trouble catching up to and getting in front of the lead car. (This was no doubt in part due to my lack of experience with NOS). Then, I had an idea, and it was the thing that ultimately made the difference: I returned to the tune shop and bought a set of super-soft racing tires. With these on my Speedster, I caught and passed the lead car to win both Infineon and Seattle and, ultimately, the coveted Opel Calibra prize car. In the process, I had as much fun as I have had since owning GT4.
Summing up, I think in the end, all that may be needed in upgrades is a stage 3 or 4 turbo, levels 1,2, & 3 weight reduction (when I added level 3 a-pec points dropped from 200 to around 100), super-soft racing tires (at least in respect to Infineon and Seattle), and probably, but perhaps not necessarily, full-custom transmission and suspension.
If you haven't already, give the Speedster Cup a try, and, if you already have, go back and do it again. I plan to often.
