Beater or Sleeper? FH3 Edition! Thanks for coming.
- Thread starter Obelisk
- 573 comments
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- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
I've been going back and forth about doing this post, but I decided to be completely transparent about now and the future of FH3 BoS.
As the soon to be owner of this thread, I figured I pitch some ideas and make sure we're all on the same page.
As noted before, we've gotten through 43 weeks of automotive duels and banter and with FM7 looming on the horizon I can understand that things are slowly winding down here among other things.
At the very least, I want to get this thread to the one year mark and have this thread go out with a bang and not fading into obscurity.
My plan for the one year mark? An awards show like what we've done in the past over in the GT6 COTW, use them as a idea of what awards we dole out.
I'm also tossing about the idea of bringing COTW over to FM7 and if so, I won't be throwing us in the financial deep end right off the bat in terms of expensive picks.
As for those who are short on gaming time, even if you drive it for 10-15 mins or aren't topping the leaderboards, don't let that put you off writing a review about it.
So to all who have participated in this thread, me and @Obelisk thank you for that and all I ask of you is to help keep this thread alive until week 52 and we can send this thread out on a good note. 👍
I'll post more info about the awards show as we get closer to it.
As the soon to be owner of this thread, I figured I pitch some ideas and make sure we're all on the same page.
As noted before, we've gotten through 43 weeks of automotive duels and banter and with FM7 looming on the horizon I can understand that things are slowly winding down here among other things.
At the very least, I want to get this thread to the one year mark and have this thread go out with a bang and not fading into obscurity.
My plan for the one year mark? An awards show like what we've done in the past over in the GT6 COTW, use them as a idea of what awards we dole out.
I'm also tossing about the idea of bringing COTW over to FM7 and if so, I won't be throwing us in the financial deep end right off the bat in terms of expensive picks.
As for those who are short on gaming time, even if you drive it for 10-15 mins or aren't topping the leaderboards, don't let that put you off writing a review about it.
So to all who have participated in this thread, me and @Obelisk thank you for that and all I ask of you is to help keep this thread alive until week 52 and we can send this thread out on a good note. 👍
I'll post more info about the awards show as we get closer to it.
- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
Ok, so here's the final standings as of now for the Bel Air.
1st: Vic Reign93: 1:04.498
2nd @Drex124 : 1:05.127
3rd @Bastet 1:06.304
4th @Populuxe Cowboy 1:08.268
If there's anyone I missed let me know.
Ok on to the next vic..I mean car of the week.
Congratulations @Obelisk!!!
As a little thank you for your efforts to get this thread to where it is now, You have been given this weeks choice of car and track.
And the survey says...
The 2015 Chevy Corvette C7 ZO6!!
Ah yes, the Vette that was very quick, but was prone to cooking its engine on a track day which caused it to go into limp mode.
Hopefully the track you've picked isn't full of long periods of full throttle acceleration.
And speaking of which..
It's the Goliath Circuit in Byron Bay for this week, a track full of very long high speed sections.
Oh... This is a little awkward.
But aside from that, you'll be able to stretch this track honed supercar slayer to its very limits this week.
Final note, if any of you want to contribute your own awards for the COTW award show for week 52, drop me a PM and feel free to use the GT6 COTW thread as a source for inspiration in regards to award ideas we had for the previous award shows.
Be creative with your award, but keep it relavent to thread, Be smart or snappy with the title, but keep it relatively AUP friendly.
As we get closer to the Award show, I'll announce a few awards for you guys to vote on, 2 of them being the obvious Beater of the year and Sleeper, but keep those votes handy till about 2 weeks from the show.
Drive fast and have fun out there in Horizon.
1st: Vic Reign93: 1:04.498
2nd @Drex124 : 1:05.127
3rd @Bastet 1:06.304
4th @Populuxe Cowboy 1:08.268
If there's anyone I missed let me know.
Ok on to the next vic..I mean car of the week.
Congratulations @Obelisk!!!
As a little thank you for your efforts to get this thread to where it is now, You have been given this weeks choice of car and track.
And the survey says...
The 2015 Chevy Corvette C7 ZO6!!
Ah yes, the Vette that was very quick, but was prone to cooking its engine on a track day which caused it to go into limp mode.
Hopefully the track you've picked isn't full of long periods of full throttle acceleration.
And speaking of which..
It's the Goliath Circuit in Byron Bay for this week, a track full of very long high speed sections.
Oh... This is a little awkward.
But aside from that, you'll be able to stretch this track honed supercar slayer to its very limits this week.
Final note, if any of you want to contribute your own awards for the COTW award show for week 52, drop me a PM and feel free to use the GT6 COTW thread as a source for inspiration in regards to award ideas we had for the previous award shows.
Be creative with your award, but keep it relavent to thread, Be smart or snappy with the title, but keep it relatively AUP friendly.
As we get closer to the Award show, I'll announce a few awards for you guys to vote on, 2 of them being the obvious Beater of the year and Sleeper, but keep those votes handy till about 2 weeks from the show.
Drive fast and have fun out there in Horizon.
- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
Ok folks, Sub 11 minutes is the challenge for you guys to go after.
Best of luck to all. 👍
- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
Was that time too much?
Tell you what, I'll give you guys an incentive for this weeks event so @Drex124 @Obelisk @FastBud @Bastet and @Populuxe Cowboy should take note.
Whoever has the fastest time or in the event that no ones beats my time, the person who gets closest, I will guarantee that person first pick for the FM7 COTW I've got planned.
If this idea works decently, I might use it for the final weeks of FH3 to motivate some extra activity here.
But here's a small rule, the same driver can't win two weeks in a row as to ensure everyone gets a fair shot at winning a pick.
Tell you what, I'll give you guys an incentive for this weeks event so @Drex124 @Obelisk @FastBud @Bastet and @Populuxe Cowboy should take note.
Whoever has the fastest time or in the event that no ones beats my time, the person who gets closest, I will guarantee that person first pick for the FM7 COTW I've got planned.
If this idea works decently, I might use it for the final weeks of FH3 to motivate some extra activity here.
But here's a small rule, the same driver can't win two weeks in a row as to ensure everyone gets a fair shot at winning a pick.
Obelisk
Premium
- 9,754
- United States
- RMedia_Obelisk
Did you try it with a flying start?So we *just* have to beat the fastest person here?
In other news:
View attachment 675306
Yeah this just wasn't working for me for some reason, so I'm not going to fight it.
Still like the car though, it sounds so good.
- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
It's kinda of a trust exercise in a sense, you know the cars capable through fast turns, but at the same time it's still a road car and it's not tuned by you so you don't know intimately where it's stock limits are hence why I say trust exercise.
Do you trust yourself to push the car to its very limits and do you trust your car to handle like you want it to at its limits??
It's part of the reason I love COTW as a whole, it relies on us trusting ourselfs to take a car we may or may not have driven before stock and then trusting in its capabilities to put down a fast lap without ending up in a wall or wrapped around a tree.
Also in regards to the little contest, you don't actually need to beat me, you just need to be the guy that's closest to my time in that instance.
- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
So the ZO6 was a decent track car and despite touching 200mph through the outback it felt like there was still a little more to give.
But then again I have put countless laps in around Goliath at speeds well over 250mph so take that minor gripe with the Vette with some levels of salt.
Anyways...
Here's the results of the ZO6 Time Trial
1st: Vic Reigns 10:59.827
2nd: @Populuxe Cowboy 11:31.024
3rd: @Drex124 11:36.318
If I've missed anyone, please let me know.
Congratulations @Populuxe Cowboy!!
You are not only this weeks winner to pick our next challenge, but also in the small challenge I threw down in that whoever beat me or got closest to my time would get first dibs on the first pick in the FM7 COTW thread which will be going live next week. 👍
I ask you to hand me your FM7 choices on the weekend as by then we'll know the full car list and you can pick your poison from there.
But back to FH3, the pick the cowboy has given us this week is...
The 1992 Lancia Delta HF Integrale EVO!!
With over 200hp from its 2.0 turbo 4 cylinder engine and 4WD, this dominated the WRC from 1987 to 1992 with 46 rally wins and winning the Constructors Championship a record setting 6 times in a row and the Drivers Championship 4 times.
Quite the accolades then and should mean that the track picked should be a piece of cake for it.
The track in question is the River Rush Cross Country in Yarra Valley, an environment that the Delta rally car thrived in.
Time to find out if the road car can thrive in the same environment.
But then again I have put countless laps in around Goliath at speeds well over 250mph so take that minor gripe with the Vette with some levels of salt.
Anyways...
Here's the results of the ZO6 Time Trial
1st: Vic Reigns 10:59.827
2nd: @Populuxe Cowboy 11:31.024
3rd: @Drex124 11:36.318
If I've missed anyone, please let me know.
Congratulations @Populuxe Cowboy!!
You are not only this weeks winner to pick our next challenge, but also in the small challenge I threw down in that whoever beat me or got closest to my time would get first dibs on the first pick in the FM7 COTW thread which will be going live next week. 👍
I ask you to hand me your FM7 choices on the weekend as by then we'll know the full car list and you can pick your poison from there.
But back to FH3, the pick the cowboy has given us this week is...
The 1992 Lancia Delta HF Integrale EVO!!
With over 200hp from its 2.0 turbo 4 cylinder engine and 4WD, this dominated the WRC from 1987 to 1992 with 46 rally wins and winning the Constructors Championship a record setting 6 times in a row and the Drivers Championship 4 times.
Quite the accolades then and should mean that the track picked should be a piece of cake for it.
The track in question is the River Rush Cross Country in Yarra Valley, an environment that the Delta rally car thrived in.
Time to find out if the road car can thrive in the same environment.
- 13,160
- Seattle-ish
I might as well get this started. The Lancia Delta HF Integrale EVO with 200 horsepower from a 2-liter four and AWD was the street legal homologation special of the all conquering Lancia Delta that dominated WRC from 1987 to 1993 with a record-shattering number of wins and constructor's championships. Sadly, Lancia, once one of Italy's premiere luxury and sports car manufacturers, is a shell of its former itself, barely even in existence, reduced to selling a single supermini in Italy only. With Fiat's acquisition of Alfa Romeo and Maserati and now the Chrysler group, there's just no room left for Lancia in the FCA masterplan. The Delta is the last great hurrah of a once great marque. Sleeper.
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Obelisk
Premium
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This thing is ridiculously boxy for a 1990s era car. You would think they'd follow the more rounded designs of the other cars of the era...
Anyways, the Delta. Rally Legend. Flying Box. How does it go?
Quite well. My biggest complaint comes from my own habit of leaving a car in a gear when going through dramatic speed changes - and that's the car having no low end torque to get back up to speed quickly. The car was well composed otherwise.
I ran a 3:29 something or other...I didn't grab the screenshot but it should be out on the leaderboard.
I'm giving it a Neutral rating because its reputation precedes it.
Anyways, the Delta. Rally Legend. Flying Box. How does it go?
Quite well. My biggest complaint comes from my own habit of leaving a car in a gear when going through dramatic speed changes - and that's the car having no low end torque to get back up to speed quickly. The car was well composed otherwise.
I ran a 3:29 something or other...I didn't grab the screenshot but it should be out on the leaderboard.
I'm giving it a Neutral rating because its reputation precedes it.
- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
It is a shame that Lancia is these days a shadow of its former self as because they did make many great cars like the 037, the last rear drive car to win the WRC.
The Delta S4, First car to utilise a twincharging set up for both competition and street vehicles, the list of acheivements does go on.
What caused Lancia's reputation in the U.K. to take an almighty hit? The Lancia Beta.
By itself it wasn't a terrible car, quite the opposite in fact as it was Lancia's best selling car at the time.
But what was the achilles heel for the Beta and the creation of the stereotype that all Lancia's rust was its lack of proper rust proofing.
Prolonged strikes in Italy plus poor rust proofing techniques meant the Beta was a tech inspection failure waiting to happen and Lancia took a heavy hit both financially and reputation wise because of it.
But anyways, the time I put up for the TT is this..
It's kinda like a more mature version of the Ford Escort Cosworth of the time, 4wd, turbo 4 cylinder and a little over 200hp, but with more understated and subtle looks.
And like Obelisk I'm also giving it a Neutral verdict for the same reason, it's good enough to live up to the reputation it had built for itself in the world of rallying.
The Delta S4, First car to utilise a twincharging set up for both competition and street vehicles, the list of acheivements does go on.
What caused Lancia's reputation in the U.K. to take an almighty hit? The Lancia Beta.
By itself it wasn't a terrible car, quite the opposite in fact as it was Lancia's best selling car at the time.
But what was the achilles heel for the Beta and the creation of the stereotype that all Lancia's rust was its lack of proper rust proofing.
Prolonged strikes in Italy plus poor rust proofing techniques meant the Beta was a tech inspection failure waiting to happen and Lancia took a heavy hit both financially and reputation wise because of it.
But anyways, the time I put up for the TT is this..
It's kinda like a more mature version of the Ford Escort Cosworth of the time, 4wd, turbo 4 cylinder and a little over 200hp, but with more understated and subtle looks.
And like Obelisk I'm also giving it a Neutral verdict for the same reason, it's good enough to live up to the reputation it had built for itself in the world of rallying.
- 1,400
- Pennsylvania
- Drex125
- ScoobyMcPancake
Even considering its rally legacy I'm still impressed with how well it handles the rough stuff, it's still the street version remember. Sleeper verdict for exceeding my expectations.
It doesn't look bad either. Yeah it's a box, but it's based on a family car designed in the 80's by the same guy that thought making the original that way was Fiat Panda was a good idea.
- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
So with the times clear as day(sorta) in the thread, the standings are as follows.
1st: @Drex124
2nd: Vic Reigns
3rd: @Obelisk
4th: @Populuxe Cowboy
So with Drex sneaking out another win, let’s jump into this weeks ride.
Congratulations @MrWaflz55!!
As the host to the GT6 DOTW thread and who’s time trials I’ll find time to do this week, What is your pick for this week?
Good thing you didn’t as that would’ve been awkward.
The 1996 Subaru SVX!!
Ah yes, Subaru’s most “out there” car they built with a 3.3 litre Flat 6 and 4wd, plus many other creature comforts to make it more of a Grand Tourer.
Less than 25 thousand were sold worldwide and all of them were sold with 4 speed Automatics due to there not being a strong enough manual gearbox available for Subaru at the time, these days some people actually convert these to manual cars and they are somewhat decent.
The track for this week is Tugun Bypass Sprint in Surfers Paradise.
Also I have an announcement to make, The FM7 COTW is officially up and running and you're all invited, plus whoever decides to join in.
Also here’s your reminder for the FH3 COTW Award Show on Week: 52 in 6 weeks time. 👍
1st: @Drex124
2nd: Vic Reigns
3rd: @Obelisk
4th: @Populuxe Cowboy
So with Drex sneaking out another win, let’s jump into this weeks ride.
Congratulations @MrWaflz55!!
As the host to the GT6 DOTW thread and who’s time trials I’ll find time to do this week, What is your pick for this week?
But dat boi's too expensive.
Good thing you didn’t as that would’ve been awkward.
The 1996 Subaru SVX!!
Ah yes, Subaru’s most “out there” car they built with a 3.3 litre Flat 6 and 4wd, plus many other creature comforts to make it more of a Grand Tourer.
Less than 25 thousand were sold worldwide and all of them were sold with 4 speed Automatics due to there not being a strong enough manual gearbox available for Subaru at the time, these days some people actually convert these to manual cars and they are somewhat decent.
The track for this week is Tugun Bypass Sprint in Surfers Paradise.
Also I have an announcement to make, The FM7 COTW is officially up and running and you're all invited, plus whoever decides to join in.
Also here’s your reminder for the FH3 COTW Award Show on Week: 52 in 6 weeks time. 👍
- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
Put down a respectable time with the SVX earlier today.
The 4 speed gearbox does make acceleration feel quite sluggish, but it does make good power when you rev it out to the redline and handlings not half bad.
In summary, a transmission swap away from being a Sleeper.
Verdict: Neutral
- 1,400
- Pennsylvania
- Drex125
- ScoobyMcPancake
Fun fact: I almost bought one of these. Kind of glad I didn't though since it would fallen apart within a month probably, the dude told me a day before I was going to pick it up that the rear suspension was on the point of collapse, and it was going to need a new window... I'll own one one day though.
Second of all, go watch the Regular Cars reviews of this thing.
This thing had some issues, the oft mentioned "strange" transmission choice has a habit of exploding due to excess heat from lack of cooling. This could be helped by installing a special transmission oil cooler, but that will just be putting it on life support. Most of them went around the 80-90k mark so if you find one with the original tranny still intact, run... it's a time bomb waiting to explode. Thus why people tend to go for a manual swap when they can.
Wheel bearings and brakes also tended to have a hard time of it. While it doesn't act like it most of the time, it's a heavy car. Lastly, because of the odd shape replacing the windshield is another expensive affair.
Overall it drives well. The engine has plenty of grunt to pull the wait around, and it's got plenty of grip for the corners, even despite the need for a serious diet. Add to that a unique styling that was (and still is really) very un-subaru in nature, and you've got what for me would be the perfect road trip car.
Comfort, fun, and you may even turn a few heads. Definite sleeper in my case.
- 13,160
- Seattle-ish
Here is my obligatory slowest time of the race. I can see the rest of you had enough time to crack open a Fosters and wait for me at the finish line.
The Tugun Bypass Sprint is really three races in one: a long drag race into town, a twisty section in town that gets tighter and tighter, and finally another sprint to the north end of town. My rival was @ImaRobot who was in an AMC Rebel. It made for a fascinating race. His 390 V8 had all the acceleration, so my only chance was in the middle leg of the race, in the town. In the first leg, he would pull a substantial lead on me, then I would slowly start to reel him in in the middle section, finally pulling ahead in the downtown area. I would then hope I had enough of a lead to hold off the hard charging Rebel. Finally I did.
I always liked the SVX. It was a very Subaru-like answer to the popularity of sports coupes in the '80s and '90s. The window-in-a-window canopy was, and remains, one of the most unique greenhouse designs ever. Sleeper.
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- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
As the person I asked for this weeks pick hasn’t got back to me yet, I’ll announce the car for this week later on tonight.
Obelisk
Premium
- 9,754
- United States
- RMedia_Obelisk
As the person I asked for this weeks pick hasn’t got back to me yet, I’ll announce the car for this week later on tonight.
Two days later...
I like the SVX. It's a great car, both stock and tuned. I run one as a troll Rally build (200+ MPH and able to take on any surface), so I enjoy it greatly.
SleeperB.
- 2,833
- Lincoln
- Victory_Reign93
- Linthium Reign
Thanks for the reminder, 👍 haven’t been feeling great the last few days.
So yeah scores on the board are this..
1st: Drex124
2nd: Vic Reigns
3rd: Populuxe Cowboy
So it’s intervention time as the winner hasn’t got back to me and this weeks car is...
The 1995 BMW M5!!!
This weeks battle will take place in the Outback at the Figure Eight Desert Circuit, push that straight 6 to its limits and go for broke on that hot lap.
Obelisk
Premium
- 9,754
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We did the M3 before so I got confused.Thanks for the reminder, 👍 haven’t been feeling great the last few days.
So yeah scores on the board are this..
1st: Drex124
2nd: Vic Reigns
3rd: Populuxe Cowboy
So it’s intervention time as the winner hasn’t got back to me and this weeks car is...
View attachment 679999
The 1995 BMW M5!!!
This weeks battle will take place in the Outback at the Figure Eight Desert Circuit, push that straight 6 to its limits and go for broke on that hot lap.
