Sturdy
Premium
- 940
- England
- js427
I posted this over on RD, but here are my first thoughts:
OK, as I'm not going to have time to drive them all tonight and give a conclusion, I'll just post my thoughts for each car as and when they're fresh in my mind. I'm using a G25 in a seat / frame with TH8A shifter and Oculus CV1 with the headphones.
So the first car I picked was the Marod Aero. I picked Magione for some reason as I know the circuit well, the long right hander after the straight is always fun and I expected wrestling the car out of the low speed corners would be a bit interesting... I spent about 35 minutes driving it, probably about 25 laps.
Firstly the sound. On throttle it seems like there's almost a sort of additional 'white noise' added above about 4 or 5k rpm, it can almost be hard to distinguish the engine note. The noise reflected off walls sounds excellent and blends very well. The car has a very satisfying off throttle sound, both the engine and also the exhaust pops (which actually sound automotive instead of like popcorn as per some of the Kunos cars...)
The various ambient sounds, turbo, chassis etc. are also very nicely balanced. There's just something about the engine note that almost seems masked by the sheer volume, certainly after half an hour at max volume my ears know what's just happened to them! That element is fairly realistic though, they aren't exactly muted vehicles...
Other cars sounded good driving past etc, possibly some a bit loud when in different bits of the track, but that could well be a game issue, I've not paid enough attention at other times to really say.
Secondly the handling, let's say physics / FFB all as one. Cold brakes and tyres are noticeable, but warm up quickly. I'm not sure I've noticed cold brakes before, but I like that it's there
I found the FFB strength about as expected, you can feel the increased grip once the tyres are warm through the FFB, and the movement of the rear is communicated through the wheel as clearly as always. I can't say I noticed the transition from the front end gripping then in to understeer, feedback relating to the front end perhaps feels a little vague or imprecise, but then I don't often drive 'race cars' on slicks, so perhaps I'm just used to a different sort of feedback from street tyres. The car feels alive under hard braking which I really enjoyed.
Physics is obviously very subjective as I've never even driven a car on slicks in real life, let alone a group 5 monster. I would say 'monster' perhaps didn't come across considering it's 500+bhp and so light, it's obviously a bit of a handful in first but as 2nd is so long it's pretty planted beyond that. The grip level feels very good, once the tyres are warm there's no understeer at all at most speeds, and there's a beautiful sweet spot of slight oversteer that can be balanced with the throttle that is very satisfying whilst you manage that turbo spool hoping it doesn't spit you off!
Ultimately I've not driven a real one to compare it to, but for me it handles as I'd expect, maybe a little 'tamer' than the reputation that precedes it (yes at 100% boost) but it feels like there is depth to the handling and something that can be learnt and mastered with practice.
The 3D model seems very good to me, certainly the interior is more than acceptable in VR whilst driving. For reference I drive with the wheel on but the driver off, so I've no idea if the driver model has big feet that clip through the pedals or anything like that! I'd say the 3D model is of the least importance to me from an enjoyment perspective, so I am never going to be an overly harsh critic in this area.
A big reason for picking this car first was I also have a free mod version (at least updated by Velos mods). I'd say of the two, I think I prefer the Velos version for the on throttle engine sound and the slightly 'wilder' feeling. If this was a mod car in and of itself for say €1.50 with no other content, I would stick with the Velos one as it's free and provides my 'lairy Zakspeed' fix.
As it stands, knowing that this is part of a balanced grid of cars means it's a much more attractive prospect to race with. Whilst free mods are often quite fun in isolation, as there are no standards whatsoever building a grid to race can be a lot of trial and error.
I shall move on to another car and report back again
OK, as I'm not going to have time to drive them all tonight and give a conclusion, I'll just post my thoughts for each car as and when they're fresh in my mind. I'm using a G25 in a seat / frame with TH8A shifter and Oculus CV1 with the headphones.
So the first car I picked was the Marod Aero. I picked Magione for some reason as I know the circuit well, the long right hander after the straight is always fun and I expected wrestling the car out of the low speed corners would be a bit interesting... I spent about 35 minutes driving it, probably about 25 laps.
Firstly the sound. On throttle it seems like there's almost a sort of additional 'white noise' added above about 4 or 5k rpm, it can almost be hard to distinguish the engine note. The noise reflected off walls sounds excellent and blends very well. The car has a very satisfying off throttle sound, both the engine and also the exhaust pops (which actually sound automotive instead of like popcorn as per some of the Kunos cars...)
The various ambient sounds, turbo, chassis etc. are also very nicely balanced. There's just something about the engine note that almost seems masked by the sheer volume, certainly after half an hour at max volume my ears know what's just happened to them! That element is fairly realistic though, they aren't exactly muted vehicles...
Other cars sounded good driving past etc, possibly some a bit loud when in different bits of the track, but that could well be a game issue, I've not paid enough attention at other times to really say.
Secondly the handling, let's say physics / FFB all as one. Cold brakes and tyres are noticeable, but warm up quickly. I'm not sure I've noticed cold brakes before, but I like that it's there
I found the FFB strength about as expected, you can feel the increased grip once the tyres are warm through the FFB, and the movement of the rear is communicated through the wheel as clearly as always. I can't say I noticed the transition from the front end gripping then in to understeer, feedback relating to the front end perhaps feels a little vague or imprecise, but then I don't often drive 'race cars' on slicks, so perhaps I'm just used to a different sort of feedback from street tyres. The car feels alive under hard braking which I really enjoyed.
Physics is obviously very subjective as I've never even driven a car on slicks in real life, let alone a group 5 monster. I would say 'monster' perhaps didn't come across considering it's 500+bhp and so light, it's obviously a bit of a handful in first but as 2nd is so long it's pretty planted beyond that. The grip level feels very good, once the tyres are warm there's no understeer at all at most speeds, and there's a beautiful sweet spot of slight oversteer that can be balanced with the throttle that is very satisfying whilst you manage that turbo spool hoping it doesn't spit you off!
Ultimately I've not driven a real one to compare it to, but for me it handles as I'd expect, maybe a little 'tamer' than the reputation that precedes it (yes at 100% boost) but it feels like there is depth to the handling and something that can be learnt and mastered with practice.
The 3D model seems very good to me, certainly the interior is more than acceptable in VR whilst driving. For reference I drive with the wheel on but the driver off, so I've no idea if the driver model has big feet that clip through the pedals or anything like that! I'd say the 3D model is of the least importance to me from an enjoyment perspective, so I am never going to be an overly harsh critic in this area.
A big reason for picking this car first was I also have a free mod version (at least updated by Velos mods). I'd say of the two, I think I prefer the Velos version for the on throttle engine sound and the slightly 'wilder' feeling. If this was a mod car in and of itself for say €1.50 with no other content, I would stick with the Velos one as it's free and provides my 'lairy Zakspeed' fix.
As it stands, knowing that this is part of a balanced grid of cars means it's a much more attractive prospect to race with. Whilst free mods are often quite fun in isolation, as there are no standards whatsoever building a grid to race can be a lot of trial and error.
I shall move on to another car and report back again
)
, what is the difference between this and the original version?
