Beater or Sleeper? GT6 Car of the Week Thread

[MidFieldMaven]

TVR Tamora '02

3.6L
345 hp / 6,500 rpm
290 ft-lb / 5,500 rpm
1,060 kg (2,337 lbs)
497 pp

It's the fastest TVR that I've tested, and I've tested them all besides the Speed 12. Surprising how fast it is, since it has the ability to let its hair down, and by hair I mean roof.

At Mid-Field, it's totally capable of snapping off sub-1:20 lap times wearing Comfort Softs.


^ Top speed - 150 mph

Cars within 0.500 seconds:

1:19.406 - 510 - BMW M4 Coupé
1:19.452 - 522 - Ferrari California '08
1:19.454 - 558 - Ford Shelby GT500 '13
1:19.460 - 477 - Opera Performance S2000 '04
1:19.461 - 526 - RUF CTR "Yellow Bird" '87
1:19.475 - 516 - SRT Viper GTS '02
1:19.551 - 512 - Mine's Lancer Evolution VI '00
1:19.573 - 497 - BMW M3 GTR '03
1:19.593 - 486 - Shelby Series One Supercharged '03
1:19.598 - 513 - BMW M5 '08
1:19.612 - 521 - Aston Martin V12 Vantage '10
1:19.743 - 493 - Lotus Esprit Sport 350 '00
1:19.880 - 490 - BMW M3 CSL '03
1:19.885 - 531 - High End Performance G37
1:19.890 - 483 - Spoon S2000 Race Car '00
1:19.900 - 497 - TVR Tamora '02
1:19.989 - 500 - Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione '08
1:20.117 - 500 - TVR Tuscan Speed 6 '00
1:20.207 - 474 - Mazda RX500 '70
1:20.404 - 483 - Oullim Motors Spirra Prototype '04
1:20.418 - 482 - Lotus Esprit V8 '02

Sure the Lotus Esprit V8 '02 is 0.018 seconds outside of the 0.500 second parameter, but it's an '02 and it's a Brit so it's natural to compare them. As for other convertibles, the Shelby Series One '03 is within range. I feel the Tamora is the sleeper of the trio. For those who prefer a hardtop TVR with the same performance as the Tamora, there's the Tuscan Speed 6.

 

[tarnheld]

Surely you must mean "hot soup", good sir. Unless you are refering to some sort of magical soup, which hops around like a bunny on acid and LSD (the drug, not the car part, silly people) at the same time...

I fear of getting off-topic, but we use the hop plant (pictured below) since ancient times to brew a magic potion that is used by many to become high-spirited. It's humorously called Hopfenkaltschale/chilled hop soup.

Spoiler: average german enjoying the magic potion

Now back on topic: The Tamora shows off pure british eccentricity. I like it the most out of the TVR bunch in GT6 -- a roadster with gorgeous curves, just the right car to drive topless in the typical british summer. You'll never miss an afternoon tea with this one -- except if you get 'lost' taking the countryside 'shortcut' ... and be sure to pull off the stunt shown at 0:50 when arriving late:

 

[Niku Driver HC]

I fear of getting off-topic, but we use the hop plant (pictured below) since ancient times to brew a magic potion that is used by many to become high-spirited. It's humorously called Hopfenkaltschale/chilled hop soup.

Spoiler: average german enjoying the magic potion

Well, it's not wrong to spend some time teaching a silly Portuguese guy about the eccentric foods (or in this precise case, drinks) of das Germany. After all, Germany has done that several times before, although your teachings are a bit more friendly. Therefore, you are not just trying to force us to follow the anti-recession laws and such, you're a kinder soul.

So in short, my gag crumbles, as you prefer the "magic hop brew" over an orange juice. Can't deny a German his potion after all, haha.

 

[tarnheld]

as you prefer the "magic hop brew" over an orange juice.

You know, oranges are associated with one of the worst german invasions in recent times...

Spoiler: Warning: shocking footage!

 

[Niku Driver HC]

You know, oranges are associated with one of the worst german invasions in recent times...

Spoiler: Warning: shocking footage!

The heck is that? Some sort of fruit soup contraption which is drunk by sunglasses-wearing people? Quite the odd invasion, it has to be said...

And in order to keep this thread in the proper topic, here's a simple yet effective list of what to expect from the Tamora;

(Taken from Car magazine's review of the Tamora, which can be seen in full here for those who are interested)

 

[McClarenDesign]

​

 

[McClarenDesign]

After a lot of disconnects last night, we'll try again tonight. 10p CST, as usual.

 

[Ryk]

TVR Tamora - bolt on some Comfort Sorts - Turn off all your girlyman driver aids and punch it under 95 seconds at Apricot Hill Raceway for a crisp reward in the latest seasonal event. The car is a delight to drive without being a maniac.

Hand built by one of the best pub darts team on the west coast of Lancashire.

 

[rehdogg15]

TVR Tamora - bolt on some Comfort Sorts - Turn off all your girlyman driver aids and punch it under 95 seconds at Apricot Hill Raceway for a crisp reward in the latest seasonal event. The car is a delight to drive without being a maniac.

Hand built by one of the best pub darts team on the west coast of Lancashire.

Just tried it and it did pretty good. Though, the understeery side of it shows more with CS tires. It doesn't really oversteer unless you floor it on a corner exit or throw it around. That's how it is with the tune I'm using at least. I kept drifting it for a bit around apricot hill and it's quite fun. Anyway, I'm sure it has potential to get into the 29s or even less. I managed a 1:31.816 just now, though I'm sure if I spent more time I can at least gain another 0.5. So with a tune fitting the track I'm sure it can be really fast!

 

[McClarenDesign]

​

 

[McClarenDesign]

I fear of getting off-topic...

It's been quite a long time since anyone has been this reasonable. Yes, myself included (and note that he went ahead anyway, just like we do, lol).

Congratulations tarnheld! Your quest to remain on topic has been as successful as HD DVDs, but it's landed you the most coveted Honorable Mention that's currently available on GTPlanet, this week's choice of Car of the Week!

(applause, dammit!)

Oh, thanks for the honor! Hmm, i always loved...

​

...the 1973 (yes, the photo says '78, deal with it) Lancia Stratos!

Even tough it tries to kill me every time i drive it... let's see if it makes for a wild COTW ride!

If I'm not mistaken, tarnheld has been kind enough to purchase enough paramedics to cover this week's injuries activities! That's very generous, sir, and will definitely be put to good use! No doubt this will certainly make Tuesday and Saturday a bit more colorful, albeit mostly red blood stains.

The photo above features a Ms. Michele Mouton. If you don't know who she is, let's just say that when the next person mentions that you drive like a girl, that's they're way of saying it's faster than the rest of the boys. While still in the womb it was decided that she wasn't allowed to have balls because the size and mass of them would impact the Earth's orbit around the sun.

On a somber note, still no word from @Baron Blitz Red, and I assume no one here has any method to contact him other than here. If you do, please do so. If not, I'm open to suggestions and am increasingly worried as each day passes. As such, I'm going to hold off on Club event time trials for at least today, possibly the week, but they will return next week for sure. Now would probably also be a good time to discuss an optional voluntary, opt-in emergency contact list, or some other means for us to be our brother's keeper just in case our individual worlds fall apart. Know that each of you are like family to me, @Vic Reign93 being the red-headed step child, of course (ginger!) @Jordan we would appreciate any advice you have regarding the internet and what to do when your friends go silent/dark for no reason for an extended period of time (in this case, 3 weeks and still counting).

​

 

[ToyGTone]

He haven't logged on GTP since 31st augest. That made me feel worried....hopefully nothing bad happened to him or anyone else...

Did anyone tried to contact him on PSN? Which's the last time did he login on PSN? Maybe he could respond there?

I was going to post something but I think it isn't really the right time to do that...

 

[McClarenDesign]

He haven't logged on GTP since 31st augest. That made me feel worried....hopefully nothing bad happened to him or anyone else...

Did anyone tried to contact him on PSN? Which's the last time did he login on PSN? Maybe he could respond there?

It's the same on his PSN and Google+. He'd always respond to a message on Hangouts within minutes, but that never happened when I sent him one the following Tuesday, or since. Complete silence without any notice, reason to pause or noticeable concern. And last I heard Canada was still on the map, so we haven't invaded Canada yet...

 

[photonrider]

The photo above features a Ms. Michele Mouton. If you don't know who she is, let's just say that when the next person mentions that you drive like a girl, that's they're way of saying it's faster than the rest of the boys. While still in the womb it was decided that she wasn't allowed to have balls because the size and mass of them would impact the Earth's orbit around the sun.

While still trying to get over the Stratos about to be tested by a bunch of the COTW gang I read the above and started laughing (brilliant, succinct) and then you had me immediately plunged into worry with this:

On a somber note, still no word from @Baron Blitz Red, and I assume no one here has any method to contact him other than here. If you do, please do so. If not, I'm open to suggestions and am increasingly worried as each day passes. As such, I'm going to hold off on Club event time trials for at least today, possibly the week, but they will return next week for sure. Now would probably also be a good time to discuss an optional voluntary, opt-in emergency contact list, or some other means for us to be our brother's keeper just in case our individual worlds fall apart. Know that each of you are like family to me, @Vic Reign93 being the red-headed step child, of course (ginger!) @Jordan we would appreciate any advice you have regarding the internet and what to do when your friends go silent/dark for no reason for an extended period of time (in this case, 3 weeks and still counting).

As you are well aware the COTW drivers I have raced with most regularly have been yourself, Lewis, Vic, and the Baron - and his presence, gentlemanly ways, boyish wit and out and out racing skills were a great part of the pleasure of being together. I would be very sore if he were to disappear into the black hole of cyberspace never to be heard of again. Hope he is fine and it's just a speedbump on the highway of life.
I have noticed he has been silent over at the GT6 AI Hub, too, which again is not usual for him - not for this long a period.

___________

As for the Stratos . . . well, last time I remember taking it out at a COTW race was at Sierra - you might have the replay. At that point some of us had switched over to competing stock PPs.
These week's going to be a stampede of wildebeest.

 

[McClarenDesign]

This week's going to be a stampede of wildebeest.

Drunken wildebeests with vertigo and a penchant for attracting expensive porcelain.

As a sign of respect, admiration, love and concern, I ask you all for a sign of solidarity and support. Please paint your cars red for @Baron Blitz Red this week.

Thank you.

 

[tarnheld]

@Baron Blitz Red was in the Zero Cup race room on Aug 31st, and had to leave before the first race... maybe he's on some secret mission... i just hope everything is ok. Maybe the notoriety of the Stratos will lure him back. I leave you with this review of sorts of a car that stretches the boundaries of beater/sleeper:

 

[ToyGTone]

Drunken wildebeests with vertigo and a penchant for attracting expensive porcelain.

As a sign of respect, admiration, love and concern, I ask you all for a sign of solidarity and support. Please paint your cars red for @Baron Blitz Red this week.

Thank you.

You said it so I shall do that...

Come Back Soon Baron...
Edit: it's red, not maroon...ugh those shadow...

 

[Jordan]

@Jordan we would appreciate any advice you have regarding the internet and what to do when your friends go silent/dark for no reason for an extended period of time (in this case, 3 weeks and still counting).

Well, it all depends on how much you know about the person, of course. I'd recommend checking his social media accounts or look for other people who may know him offline to see if they have other information. In this case, I don't see any other indication that he's accessed GTP since August 31st.

Things happen, though - I've seen people go MIA for months (even years), then turn back up out of the blue, so I wouldn't be too concerned just yet.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

First of all, I need to give Jordan my most sincere and personal thanks, because he managed to find time to answer Mcclaren's concern with Baron's "MIA" status amongst what I'm sure must be a busy agenda. No wonder GTP was born out of your capable hands, so thanks for helping us lot with this unfortunate issue. I just hope that whatever Baron might be going through at the moment, he can come back and spare some time to explain what did happen during this absence period, so godspeed to him. 👍

Other than that, it'll be a week for which much practice needs to be done. The Stratos is a fearsome car, both perfomance-wise and handling-wise as well. Any MR could be dangerous, but the Stratos does not run on "maybe", it runs on "certainty", so it can bite your head off when your concentration fails to function...

 

[Vic Reign93]

Whilst we do joke at each other's expense in many ways, as MC said we are like family here at COTW. 👍

A family that rips on bad cars, praises good cars and hidden gems, does subtle and not so subtle topical humour, has some close racing and some cheesy one-liners.

But in all seriousness, we are missing @Baron Blitz Red quite a lot and I personally hope he's alright.

I'll hopefully get my 3 car review up before we race the Stratos.

 

[kolio]

I have not visited this thread in a while. I did not know that @Baron Blitz Red has not been lurking around anymore. Sincerely hope everything is alright in his neck of the woods.

On the other hand, the Stratos is a beast! It has quick response to the wheel input and will go where ever you throw it. Sometimes is will go a little further and maybe In a loop. However, when tuned up a little bit, it can be very drivable and fun to toss around any track!

Good luck to all participating in the races!

EDIT: SLEEPER!

 

[Cowboy]

I've heard a lot of complaints about the oversteer that this car has. Driving it bone stock actually makes for a fun time. Another interesting car for me to try this week 👍

 

[JackRyanWMU]

So one week we have a very mad and crazy car, one that is just as likely to send you in the grass when you try to ease it around the track as when you try to drive it flat out. The Tamora is neither beater nor sleeper, though it should be heavily advised that it takes a skilled hand to take advantage of all its potential.



We go from that car straight to another car that would seem to adhere to all the superlatives I've labeled on last week's car. In fact, despite being a lot lower on the performance scale than the Tamora, the Stratos may demand an even smoother and skilled hand from its driver to get the most out of it.

That said, when a call for a "Red Out" was made for this week's races, consider the call answered from me.

 

[McClarenDesign]

I leave you with this review of sorts of a car that stretches the boundaries of beater/sleeper:
[MEDIA=youtube]KG3Eqp6dfZo[/MEDIA]

I've been following Petrolicious since the beginning. Better than Top Gear, just not long enough.

[QUOTE="JackRyanWMU, post: 10969309, member: 176436"]That said, when a call for a "Red Out" was made for this week's races, consider the call answered from me.

[URL='http://s29.photobucket.com/user/JackRyanWMU/media/City%20of%20Arts%20and%20Sciences%20-%20Night_6_zpsufdp6hjm.jpg.html'][IMG]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c263/JackRyanWMU/City%20of%20Arts%20and%20Sciences%20-%20Night_6_zpsufdp6hjm.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/QUOTE]

Thank you.

[QUOTE="Jordan, post: 10968300, member: 658"]Well, it all depends on how much you know about the person, of course. I'd recommend checking his social media accounts or look for other people who may know him offline to see if they have other information. In this case, I don't see any other indication that he's accessed GTP since August 31st.[/QUOTE]

Baron was going to host our Saturday races (for our friends across the pond), but never showed up. Previously he'd respond on Google+, usually within minutes. To my knowledge, that's his only social media (we'd discussed other previously, but we both like G+).

 

[MidFieldMaven]

Like Jordan said, sometimes people will leave without a word for months or even years. I've done that before with a different forum, one that had to do with social anxiety. Maybe he just needed a break and didn't want to make a big deal about it. That's what I'm going with, anyway. I enjoyed reading his posts, so I hope he'll be back soon.

Now about a certain Lancia, of the Stratos variety.

"It all began in 1970, at the Turin exhibition stand of the automobile designer, Bertone. The extreme Stratos study on display there – a stylistic masterpiece by the designer Marcello Gandini – didn’t just excite visitors, but caught the attention of Cesare Fiorio, Lancia’s team manager at the time, and refused to let go."

2.4L
185 hp / 7,000 rpm
166 ft-lb / 4,000 rpm
980 kg (2,161 lbs)
410 pp


^Top speed 130 mph

Cars within 0.500 seconds:

1:26.286 - 480 - Plymouth Superbird '70
1:26.311 - 440 - Nissan Fairlady Z 300ZX TwinTurbo 2seater (Z32) '89
1:26.359 - 442 - Jaguar XK Coupe Luxury '07
1:26.372 - 427 - Nissan Skyline Sedan 350GT-8 '02
1:26.398 - 449 - BMW M Coupé '98
1:26.490 - 438 - Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX STi '94
1:26.534 - 490 - Dodge Challenger R/T '70
1:26.638 - 454 - Mitsubishi GTO Twin Turbo MR '98
1:26.677 - 433 - Audi TT Coupe 3.2 Quattro '07
1:26.718 - 423 - Honda S2000 '06
1:26.766 - 410 - Lancia Stratos '73
1:26.816 - 433 - Honda Mugen Motul Civic Si '87
1:26.824 - 426 - Infiniti G35 Sedan '03
1:26.850 - 415 - Spoon Integra Type R (DC2) '99
1:26.876 - 408 - Lotus Elise '96
1:26.889 - 464 - Mercedes-Benz SL 600 (R129) '98
1:26.917 - 453 - Chevrolet El Camino SS 396 '67
1:26.920 - 438 - Subaru Legacy B4 Blitzen '00
1:26.931 - 438 - Toyota Aristo V300 '00
1:26.932 - 453 - Ford Mustang Mach 1 '71
1:26.948 - 429 - Ford Focus ST '13
1:26.950 - 451 - Ford Mustang GT '05
1:26.975 - 403 - Opel Speedster '00
1:27.147 - 435 - Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon GT-B '96
1:27.183 - 428 - SRT SRT4 '03
1:27.215 - 451 - Chevrolet Camaro SS '69
1:27.237 - 434 - Toyota Supra 2.5GT Twin Turbo R '90

It's slightly faster than the Lotus Elise '96, but the Stratos tests your skills at even the dullest of corners. It's as if the rear tires have a thin layer of ice on their surface at all times. It's not the car to drive when you're feeling a bit lazy. A good MR for that would in fact be the Elise, but that car didn't exist for another two decades. There is the Lotus Europa Special '72 but it's over 2 seconds slower than the Stratos, unfortunately.

Sleeper? Hardly. It looks sort of like a Ford GT from the rear with its round taillights and MR design.
Beater? It can hold its own against 70's American muscle with 3x the power, so no it's not that either.

I guess if I'm forced to choose one, it has to be a sleeper.

And I just found out there were plans to make a new Stratos based on the F430 Scuderia, but it never made it to production: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/new-lancia-stratos-lancia-stratos-review

 

[Niku Driver HC]

The Stratos is also faster than another modern MR sportscar, one which has a naturally-aspirated engine (just like the Stratos' V6); the Opel Speedster, which is rather impressive for an old car such as the Lancia. And to make matters even more amazing, from your times, the Stratos can also beat a track-centric tuned Integra which is far younger in age and far more developed in technology. And of course, thanks to the lighter weight and better gearbox, it can outrun most American muscle cars of its era with ease.

The only thing that scares me is that wild handling. Low grip tires will bring out the worst of the Stratos, making it even more tail-happy, while grippier tires will make that behavior stronger when it happens (which is less frequent thanks to the additional grip, but it will still happen). So, this car demands 120% out of its driver at all times, and if that value drops by 0.01% you are going for a spin. Or several, in fact...

 

[McClarenDesign]

Since when do we have a FAQ page?

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Since when do we have a FAQ page?

"How to COTW in GT6", by Brad Mcclaren. Truly, a book that would easily dismiss the existence of "50 Shades of Grey", since the amount of pornography far surpasses the latter.

Well, baby steps, one day you'll be able to write a biography about Peter Sauber and fullfill one of your life-long goals.

 

[ToyGTone]

The seventh one thought...

 

[McClarenDesign]

"How to COTW in GT6", by Brad Mcclaren. Truly, a book that would easily dismiss the existence of "50 Shades of Grey", since the amount of pornography far surpasses the latter.

Well, baby steps, one day you'll be able to write a biography about Peter Sauber and fullfill one of your life-long goals.

Step 1: Build a racecar with a VW Bug.
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Formula 1

Done!

Next!