Beater or Sleeper? COTW Forza 7 Week:END The Ultimate Sleeper, The Holden Sandman! Thanks Everyone!!

[Vic Reign93]

Welcome all, Today marks the start of the Car Of The Weeks weekly TT events and reviews of each vic.. I mean car that is selected every week by one of you at total random.

If this seems familiar to you, then it’s likely because you’ve seen either the FH3 version of Beater or Sleeper started by @Obelisk or the original version over on GT6 started by @McClarenDesign that’s still going well even today.

The premise behind Beater or Sleeper? Getting you into cars that you wouldn’t normally pick and wringing their necks out on the track and deciding if you think a cars good(Sleeper) or terrible(Beater) all the while showing how you stack up against everyone else.

Rules? Simple really, Clean Laps only, car has to be bone stock (But feel free to change the paint.) and photo evidence of your time. (Or record your lap with Xbox DVR.)

I’m also including a time zone converter as the time trials end on Tuesday at midnight in the UK.
https://savvytime.com/converter/gmt-to-cst
Here’s the link to the GT6 COTW thread if you need any more info on how things usually go.
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/beater-or-sleeper-gt6-car-of-the-week-thread.295599/

And last, but by no means least, here’s the COTW Discord which includes the text channels for both GT and Forza.
https://discord.gg/3kBWMpu

But now let’s get the ball rolling in here.

Congratulations @Populuxe Cowboy!!


You have been given the honour of starting us off for this week, so what you have in mind for us all?

Let's start fairly easy.
It’s the...

1973 Mazda RX-3!!

Yes we’re starting with a Rotary Engined Sports Coupe from the 70’s and it’s modest 110hp in a 2000lb body.

The track where in you’ll be driving this week is the returning Suzuka Circuit on the full loop in dry conditions.

Best of luck out there to all who join and have fun. 👍

 

[Vic Reign93]

This post will be where the cars in their respective weeks will be placed as they are brought out.

Week:1 1973 Mazda RX-3 @Populuxe Cowboy

Week:2 1986 Dodge/Shelby Omni GLHS @GroupB

Week:3 2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM Ram Air @CSLACR

Week:4 1988 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R @Ze Elephant

Week:5 2012 Lotus Exige S @FastBud

Week:6 1979 Opel Kadett C GT/E+2015 Honda Ridgeline Trophy Truck @Drex124

Week:7 1990 Mercury #15 Whistler Radar Cougar XR-7 @RazorSharkz

Week:8 1993 Porsche 928 GTS Vic Reign

Week:9 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata @ClydeYellow

Week:10 2014 Ford FPV Limited Edition Pursuit Ute + 1926 Bugatti Type 35 C

Week:11 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX Vs 1998 Eagle Talon TSi Turbo @Rinsky

Week:12 1997 Mitsubishi GTO @VICGT1970

Week:13 2017 Tamo Racemo #2017Finale

Week:14 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS #2018Beginnings

Week:15 1971 Chevrolet Vega GT @Rinsky

Week:16 1990 Renault Alpine GTA Le Mans+ 1997 Lotus Elise GT1 @Nacho Libre

Week:17 1997 Volvo 850R @Mesasphere

Week:18 1999 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR @PJTierney

Week:19 2015 Jaguar XE-S @Populuxe Cowboy

Week:20 2015 Mercedes Benz Tankpool24 #24 Racing Truck #Casual Racing Mondays

Week:21 2013 Donkervoort D8 GTO+2018 Kia Stinger @VICGT1970

Week:22 2013 Subaru BRZ Forza Edition+ Standard BRZ @Obelisk

Week:23 1979 BMW M1 Procar+ 1983 Jaguar #44 Group 44 XJR-5 @VICGT1970

Week:24 1977 Holden Torana A9X @Nismonath5

Week:25 2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato @Drex124

Week:26 2010 Maserati Gran Turismo S+ Forza Edition Gran Turismo S #GT6Tribute

Week:27 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra @Rinsky

Week:28 1987 Porsche 959 #Porsche

Week:29 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SLR @pompeypigeon

Week:30 1998 Ferrari 333SP+ 2018 Honda Oydessy @Drex124

Week:31 1990 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton

Week:32 1966 Chaparral #66 Chaparral Cars 2E @Obelisk

Week:33 1996 HSV GTS-R #Hooncorp

Week:34 1972 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49 #SpecialtyDealer

Week:35 1939 Auto Union Type D

Week:36 1980 Lancia #31 Lancia Corse Beta Montecarlo Turbo, 1982 Ford #6 Zakspeed Roush Mustang IMSA GT @Populuxe Cowboy

Week:37 1950 Alfa Romeo 158 ‘Alfetta’ @ClydeYellow

Week:38 1992 Toyota #99 AAR Toyota Eagle MKIII, 2016 Spania GTA GTA Spano #LeMans2018

Week:39: 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera R.S 2.7 @PJTierney

Week:40 2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge

Week:41 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona, 2018 KTM #22 True Racing X-Bow GT4

Week:42 2013 Cadillac XTS Limousine, 1971 Porsche #23 917/20 @Obelisk

Week:43 1972 Volvo 1800E

Week:44 2016 Ford Shelby GT350R

Week:45 2016 Subaru WRX STI VT15r Rally Car(s)

Week:46 2004 Saleen S7 & 1989 Aston Martin #18 Aston Martin AMR1

Week:47 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Zagato @Populuxe Cowboy

Week:48 1974 Holden Sandman HQ Panel Van

Week:49 2009 BMW E60 M5 @Thomas2012

Week:50 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am + 1984 Nissan #11 Skyline Turbo Super Silhouette. Tribute to Burt Reynolds week

Week:51 2013 Mclaren P1

Week:52 COTW Awards Show

Week: 53 1980 Renault 5 Turbo + 1986 Merkur #11 Mac Tools XR4Ti GTO

Week:54 1987 Buick Regal GNX

Week:55 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X GSR

Week:56 1952 Fiat 8V Supersonic

Week:57 1973 Ford Capri RS3100

Week:58 2012 Hot Wheels Rip Rod + 1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder

Week:59 2009 Holden HSV W427 + 1969 Hot Wheels Twin Mill

Week:60 2016 Aston Martin Vulcan

Week:61 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400

Week:62 1977 AMC Pacer X

Week:63 1995 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1

Week:64 1998 TVR Speed Cerbera Speed 12

Week:65 2014 Rolls Royce Wraith

Week:66 1970 Honda S800

Week:67 2018 Audi RS3 LMS + 1963 Shelby Monaco King Cobra

Week:68 1984 Opel Manta 400

Week:69 1967 Ferrari #24 Spa 330 P4

Week:70 2000 BMW 323ti Sport

Week:71 2009 Audi Q7 V12 TDI

Week:72 2012 Ferrari 599xx Evo + 2017 Ferrari GTC4Lusso

Week:73 2017 Mercedes-AMG GTR

Week:74 2011 Hot Wheels Bone Shaker

Week:75 2018 Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5 + #25 & #88 Ford Mustang RTR FD’s

Week:76 2006 Vauxhall Astra VXR

Week:77 1989 Porsche 944 Turbo

Week:78 2018 Mclaren Senna

Week:79 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Hemi

Week:80 1980 Fiat 124 Sport Spider

Week:81 2015 Nissan IDx Nismo

Week:82 1972 Mercedes Benz 300 SEL 6.3

Week:83 2019 Chevy Corvette C7 ZR1 + 1969 Ford Brawner Hawk 3 + 2019 Honda & Chevrolet Indycars

Week:84 2018 BMW #1 M Motorsport M8 GTE

Week:85 #ThankYouNiki Ferrari #1 Scuderia Ferrari 312 T2

Week:86 1993 Mclaren F1

Week:87 1970 Buick GSX

Week:88 1988 Lamborghini Jalpa

Week:89 2010 Mazda #16 Mazda Racing BO9/86

 

[FastBud]

Seems to take forever to get round

 

[ThanaJ]

I will gladly give it a try! Thanks for organizing COTW/Beater or Sleeper

Okay, based on a five lap race in free play versus AI on max 240PI. They had not a chance =D
Although the drivability on mid speed corners such as the complex in the beginning was not very good. The suspension cannot cope with the body roll and the car wants to spin the insde rear wheel, causing every kind of shenanigans.

Otherwise, power felt good although the rotary sounds kind of ...a lawnmover ..with a small engine.

I found excellent JDM race livery on it so the car looks quite good in my opinion.

Id say a definite Sleeper!

Oh, the lap time was 03:00.8, in some serious traffic though..

 

[Drex124]

FOUND IT, darn friction assist. Every time I start the game some random settings will change, from assists to controller configs....
This was in test drive btw.

Anyway's.... the car, right....
Upon first glance I didn't expect much of it. It's old, low powered, and I don't care much for the looks (dat rear end ).
As the laps counted up the car grew on me though. Being powered by a horde of angry turbo bees might not bee the quickest way to get around but the noise gave it a certain sense of urgency. Similarly its dog like tendencies in the corners made it feel like you are getting everything out of the car that you can. I was surprised to find out it wasn't a FWD, with it mostly leaning toward understeer. The homologated version fixes this though, along with the leg lifting issues.

It's got potential. I could see it making a great car for some vintage touring races provided it can find some friends. After all the Mazda was not sort of success back in the 70's, managing to beat the skylines on track the very year people started racing them. Further victories followed in Japanese, Australian, and US racing circles. Heck, some people still race them today.

While days it often gets overshadowed by the car that followed it, the RX-7, it still has an impressive legacy in its own right.
Verdict: Sleeper.

 

[Bastet]

Annoyed so far you can just jump into a car and do a freerun without doing the test drive option before a race but I'll try to get a time for this tonight.

 

[GroupB]

Speaking of sleepers, are you listening, T10?

 

[Vic Reign93]

It felt like a good lap and as it turned out, it was a very good one.

I’ll echo what others have already said about the open differential and the soft suspension which meant ‘one tyre fires’ were a common occurrence.

The skinny tyres were also playing a part in the handling being understeery and also in allowing me to chirp the tyres when slamming it into 2nd and even 3rd gear.

But for what it is, it’s still a classic that’s not to be taken lightly, it’s low weight makes its quite the contender against similar spec machines and if you do even basic suspension and tyre upgrades, it’ll be quite the plucky little buzzbox.

Verdict: Sleeper 👍

Also by the way, the Time Trials will always end on Tuesday at Midnight in the U.K and the next weeks winner and car will be announced some time after.

 

[ClydeYellow]

So, let's start for the bottom for once: this car is definitely a sleeper. It may come with an unassuming spec sheet and price tag, sure, but buying one will give you access to the Vintage SpoCom division, which is, in all likelihood, one of the greatest and most fun in the entire game.

I'll add some meat to this review tomorrow, but for now I'll agree with everybody else in saying that the skinny tires and soft springs make for an... Interesting experience. But said body roll can also be used to one's advantage - it's easy to carry a lot of momentum through Suzuka's infamous esses and Degner curves. And with its homologated setup it's the definitive Clubman weapon.

Laptime wasn't the fastest in my career, but heh - had fun in setting it, that's all that matters.

 

[VYPA-SQUAD_Ace]

I probably just overlooked the answer, but when testing cars out for CoTW, you test them on Suzuka?

 

[Vic Reign93]

I probably just overlooked the answer, but when testing cars out for CoTW, you test them on Suzuka?

Track and weather choice is down to who also picks the car for the week, unless they leave that up to my discretion.


So with week 1 down and Sleeper verdicts all around, Let’s see what’s in store for this week.


Congratulations @GroupB!!!

Group B? May see one of those in the future.

Anyways, what do you bring to us this week?

Step right up...

The 1986 Dodge/Shelby Omni GLHS!!!

A bog standard Dodge Omni that was then upgraded to the GLH (Goes Like Hell) and then the great Carroll Shelby got his hands on 500 of them and upgraded them even further to the GLHS (Goes Like Hell S’more).

So it was an 80’s American Hot Hatch with very good performance for its time, modified by a motorsports legend and made cars like the pictured Ferrari look relatively tame.

This hot hatch will be belting around the South Chicane variation of Lime Rock Park for this week.

You’ll find the GLHS under Dodge, Not Shelby.

So foot to the floor and go like hell(Some more).

 

[Populuxe]

I came here to chew bubblegum and post the slowest lap time, and I'm all out of bubblegum.

I'm a day late, but it was my car and track choice, so I should post a time. No need for me to go into too much detail about the car. Everyone else has already done a great job stating it's pros and cons. I will just say that I have always loved these little rotary compacts. It's a sleeper, a giant-killer in an economy car package.

 

[Drex124]

I'm missing a wheel?! Who took it, eh?

​

"Oh dear..." was my reaction when I saw what had been thrown at me this week. Early American hatches tend to conjure up horror images of the Chevette, Gremlin, and Pinto. Not that I dislike the idea of the Omni. It was Iacocca commissioning his favorite thing, a small, cheap car that people will buy. And they did buy it, allowing Chrysler some much needed breathing room after being on the edge of bankruptcy. It was also a car of many firsts for Chrysler, its FWD nature being a first for the company. So to turn it into a "performance car" baffles me.

How does it drive? UNDERSTEER, but then what do you expect from a car pushing 170 horses through the front wheels. It's fast, but it's 1980's fast. At the time it was beating the Mustangs and Camaros around shorter tracks. These days however it is nothing more than a novelty, and not a particularly well remembered one at that, due in part to the limited number available.

The Shelby Omni, Americanize the world(car).
Verdict: Beater

 

[CSLACR]

How does it drive? UNDERSTEER, but then what do you expect from a car pushing 170 horses through the front wheels. It's fast, but it's 1980's fast. At the time it was beating the Mustangs and Camaros around shorter tracks. These days however it is nothing more than a novelty, and not a particularly well remembered one at that, due in part to the limited number available.

The Shelby Omni, Americanize the world(car).
Verdict: Beater

Well to be fair, almost anything made after 2010 makes everything made before 2005 look stupid.
Just saying by that guideline, they're all beaters.

 

[GroupB]

View attachment 680882So to turn it into a "performance car" baffles me.

The mission was to out-GTI the Rabbit GTI, which it more than succeeded at.

 

[Vic Reign93]

So the GLHS, Quite a punchy little motor.

Doesn’t have or has a weak front differential as it’ll spin the inside wheel up under acceleration in a corner and does have some understeer to boot.

In a straight line it’s acceleration is decent even by today’s standards so it sorta evens out.

It some ways it reminds me of a car from my side of the pond, the Austin Maestro.

That car was never built to be a hot hatch just the Dodge Omni, But MG took the Maestro, built a hot version then refined it and then did a 500 car run of a Turbo version (Sound familiar? ).

I can overlook the handling issues enough to consider a Neutral verdict.

Also i’ll be announcing the new car shortly. 👍

 

[Drex124]

Also i’ll be announcing the new car shortly. 👍

Not shortly enough.

 

[Vic Reign93]

Not shortly enough.

View attachment 681170

Touché good sir. :tup:

Congratulations @CSLACR!!

Awesome, thank you. I never got to pick one of these before, so I'll have to jump into a real-life favorite, and see if it's any good in the game.

The car in question?

The 2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM Ram Air!!

Early 2000’s American Muscle with a big V8, rear drive and a stick, simple, but effective recipe.

This slice of american pie will be showcased at Long Beach on the Full Circuit, foots to the floor and try not to high center it at the roundabout.

 

[Ze Elephant]

The 2002 Pontiac F̶i̶r̶e̶c̶h̶i̶c̶k̶e̶n̶ Firebird Trans Am seems to be surprisingly docile for what it is.

325 horsepower power this post-millennium pony car along at a decent pace. It takes off from the line with very little wheelspin if you're careful, but beyond second gear it starts to feel like it bogs down. This is consequential of the long gearing, but in reality, the Firebird's torque keeps pulling it along, and make it possible to put your foot down in any gear and make some progress.

On the handling front, it can be a bit nose-heavy with some understeer, but a little jab of the brakes entering a corner can mitigate that slightly, and a strong prod of the throttle under 5000 rpm can bring the tail out and keep bringing on the power. Smooth power application and proper braking beforehand can actually make it corner reasonably well, and above 5000 rpm it doesn't even try to swing the tail out. Overall, it's just shy of a neutral handling car in my book.

Now for the crucial part: what kind of lap time will it put down at Long Beach?

(Hmm, is this time actually any good?)

Despite my prior distaste for the Long Beach circuit, a few laps gave me a pretty good footing and I actually started enjoying the track, and I can say the car was at least a factor in learning to enjoy the circuit. Despite the gaudiness of the huge ram air nostrils on the hood and the vents on the fenders, the car's fun handling and power make it a great sleeper in my book.

 

[Vic Reign93]

The 2002 Pontiac F̶i̶r̶e̶c̶h̶i̶c̶k̶e̶n̶ Firebird Trans Am seems to be surprisingly docile for what it is.

325 horsepower power this post-millennium pony car along at a decent pace. It takes off from the line with very little wheelspin if you're careful, but beyond second gear it starts to feel like it bogs down. This is consequential of the long gearing, but in reality, the Firebird's torque keeps pulling it along, and make it possible to put your foot down in any gear and make some progress.

On the handling front, it can be a bit nose-heavy with some understeer, but a little jab of the brakes entering a corner can mitigate that slightly, and a strong prod of the throttle under 5000 rpm can bring the tail out and keep bringing on the power. Smooth power application and proper braking beforehand can actually make it corner reasonably well, and above 5000 rpm it doesn't even try to swing the tail out. Overall, it's just shy of a neutral handling car in my book.

Now for the crucial part: what kind of lap time will it put down at Long Beach?

View attachment 681436
(Hmm, is this time actually any good?)

Despite my prior distaste for the Long Beach circuit, a few laps gave me a pretty good footing and I actually started enjoying the track, and I can say the car was at least a factor in learning to enjoy the circuit. Despite the gaudiness of the huge ram air nostrils on the hood and the vents on the fenders, the car's fun handling and power make it a great sleeper in my book.

It’s a respectable time considering your prior dislike of the track. 👍

But to paraphrase a movie line from the Ron Howard’s ‘Rush’, “Ok now put me in that car and it’ll go around two seconds faster.”

(Okay 1.997 seconds faster )

 

[Drex124]

But to paraphrase a movie line from the Ron Howard’s ‘Rush’, “Ok now put me in that car and it’ll go around two seconds faster.”

Not to be that guy, buuuuut

2002 Firebird: the corvette for dads.
Now it just needs an LS swap.... oh wait.

 

[FastBud]

Love the track wasn’t sure about the car to begin with but it did grow on me, being a dad etc

 

[CSLACR]

I didn't get to drive it a lot, but I was happy to see in my 5 lap race with the controller that the track and car fit well together, and the car is fun in stock trim. Not sure it's good for much over B class though, with a happy and light back end.

I did get a 13.813@105 at default settings, 13.770@105 with adjusted tire pressure.(which is ******) Should be about half a second lower and couple mph higher.

 

[Vic Reign93]

View attachment 682931 Love the track wasn’t sure about the car to begin with but it did grow on me, being a dad etc

Turns out you can take some liberates with the track limits IF your car can take the bumps on the inside of the corners.

Turns out a everyday soft suspension is perfect for the job, I also had a 36.6 time done, but I tagged a wall a little too hard.

I’ll be back after midnight to announce the pick for this week. 👍

 

[FastBud]

Just turned it up a but more

 

[Vic Reign93]

If this weeks anything to go by, I’m gonna have some pretty fast company from here on in.

So the standings as follows..

@FastBud 1:36.876
Vic Reigns 1:36.983
@Drex124 1:38.445
@Ze Elephant 1:40.583

Don’t feel bad Ze, because...

Congratulations @Ze Elephant!!!

You are this weeks winner and you’ve set us up with another returning Import.

It’s the 1988 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R!!!

Packing a 2.6 Turbo 4, it was making 188hp and weighed around 3000lbs. The Starion was also sold by Chrysler as the Conquest and it even had Hemispherical Combustion Chambers (so its technically a Hemi. )

That’s not the only thing returning as we once again head back to Suzuka, only this time we’re running the West Alternative layout in the Dry.

Small Rule update: Once a place is picked, Like Suzuka for example, It can’t be picked again for at least 4 weeks to ensure variety is common. 👍

Aside from that, go and have fun folks.

 

[GroupB]

The Starion was also built sold by Chrysler as the Conquest and it even had Hemispherical Combustion Chambers (so its technically a Hemi. )

Fixed. Mitsubishi built them all in Japan, regardless of nameplate.

 

[Vic Reign93]

Fixed. Mitsubishi built them all in Japan, regardless of nameplate.

Slipped up there

And corrected

 

[JR98]

I think even in stock form the Starion handled pretty well for a late 80's Japanese sports car, with plenty of power to make it competitive even against the American muscle cars of the time. I imagine it would be a great performer if tuned up to the top of C Class, especially for the Sport Compact Icons division.

Sleeper.

 

[ClydeYellow]

STARION YAY!

Wait for me, I'll post something about this boxy monster of a coupe as soon as I can!