Beater or Sleeper? GT6 Car of the Week Thread

Thanks @McClarenDesign, hopefully you can return soon! :cheers: I'll keep your throne warm for ya...

...

Dammit, there's an ass-groove in this throne!

As my first act as temporary COTW head honcho, @JackRyanWMU is no longer under investigation for noise pollution. No further action will be taken.

@Baron Blitz Red is under investigation for replacing the lithium ion battery in my Tesla with standard AA's. :lol:
 
Nismonath5
I'll keep your throne warm for ya...
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​

You shall do no such thing. Usurping thrones has rarely ended well for those that attempted. Also, @Nismonath5 is under investigation for overexertion of authority and questionable fashion sense with regards to polka dots v. animal leopard print (pink).

Obelisk
...and @Nismonath5 a Sleeper.
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@Obelisk is under investigation for inappropriate relations with supervisors without proper consent from Human Resources, and for allowing his boyfriend to wear the aforementioned animal print w/ polka dots.
 
McClarenDesign
@Obelisk is under investigation for inappropriate relations with supervisors without proper consent from Human Resources, and for allowing his boyfriend to wear the aforementioned animal print w/ polka dots.
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Fella, I'm not gay. I figured you'd be clueless to that, being that Nismo is your boyfriend...And I'm the HR department, or @Baron Blitz Red is. I forget who runs HR these days. I also have no control over Nismo's clothing choices, or your orientation.
 
So from Americas current 4 door electric superstar IMO to a Pick up truck with a folding metal roof...

What. The. 🤬.

In comparison to the Potianc Aztec, that at least has some character because "Breaking Bad", this has nothing.

Let's bring out the facts, heavier than the Model S at just under 2 1/4 tons, has 289hp before oil change from a 5.3 V8 and if I recall correctly (unlike GM :sly:) had a 4 speed Automatic.

If you thought the Model S felt out of place on the track, The SSR might just give you some decent perspective on what's out of place.

Okay now to play catch up. :)

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI ( and the Evo V I chose) is widely known as the arch nemesis to the Subaru Impreza in the world rally scene and JDM fans.

Boasting a Turbo 2.0 4 cylinder engine making 27.. hahaha Nope it's ACTUALLY making just under 330hp (Japanese Gentleman's agreement be damned.) with the Evo V a few HP down on the VI whilst both weighing 1,360kg, Plus the Evo V being 2 PP down as well.

How was it to drive? quite nose heavy at 59-41 on weight distribution so understeer was an issue, close ratio 5 speed was great for acceleration, but you'll be in 4th before you even get to 100mph. Still clocked 150mph at Indianapolis. :P

Off road handling is brilliant, but that's to be expected from a car that was born in the world of hard knocks that is rallying. :D

I think the Evo VI is neutral because it's widely known as a high performance car with big tuning potential. ;)

Now from the Evolution to the ( highly debatable) Revolution for mainstream electric cars.

The Tesla Model S Signature Performance, the former top spec Model S you could buy before the D made it seem pretty tame. :sly:

Making just over 420 (Blaze it :lol:)HP from its electric motors which is sent to the rear tyres, it's hauling just over 2 tons of car and batteries. :crazy:

But this is where things get fun because despite the huge weight, it handles remarkably well due to the batteries running along the spine of the car to lower its centre of gravity.

Safety is remarkable too, being one of few cars to be rated 5 stars by NHTSA and the Euro NCAP, in fact when a independent Commercial facility tested the safety of the Model S's roof, the crushing machine failed at just over 4G's ( which for context, meant at the very least it could hold roughly the same streeses as 4 fully loaded Model S's mounted on top of it. :eek:).

Flaws? Well just the ones normally associated with electric cars, no sound, not fast at higher speeds due to how electric motors make their power etc.

Now MC says Hydrogen is the future and I agree, but we don't know how far we are from the infrastructure for Hydrogen being completed on a major scale.

Where we disagree is on the Model S, he says its "utterly useless" and I say it's the best of the electric cars and a great daily driver. (Bold claim I know. :sly:)

Now if only we had the P90D ( P100D is definitely something for the future racing games. ) :D

Model S: Sleeper ;)👍
 
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Nismonath5
Are we really going there? I'm straighter than the pole your mother dances on...
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Clearly, your 12 year old form's wit has not been lost with time. My mother is a politician and cosmetics saleswoman. The only pole she has ever touched is pole position in the town ballot. And the town's situation has gotten significantly better because of it (and that is actually true).
 


Time for another "Quick Take" review and yes, it's of the standard Mitsubishi Evo VI as the marshals who usually let race cars into the COTW paddock without a second glance abruptly barred my special edition car because they apparently thought the special paint scheme made it go faster. :banghead:

Not every all-wheel-drive car is the made the same. Sometimes it's a security blanket for people in minivans and crossovers for whom a light drizzle causes them to panic and drive 35 MPH in 55 zones. For people who want to go fast on tarmac, the Audis, Lambos, and Nissan GT-Rs of the world fill that niche. The Evo quite obviously fills a different niche, for going fast on gravel roads with suicidal spectators crowding along every foot of the way. The Lancer is not a bad car at all, and its practical sedan layout would be easy to live with on a daily basis, but the nose-heavy weight and understeer made it feel out of place on asphalt (which is where I do about 99% of my driving in both game and real-life).

This became even more evident when testing an RX-7 against it at Tsukuba, there was simply no contest between a dedicated pavement sports car to the rally specialist.



The Evo VI is no Beater and deserves its accolades, but if you're the type that comes across a gravel road and thinks "Great, I just washed my car a couple days ago and now its going to get dirty again", there are other cars near the Mitsubishi's performance level that are better suited for you.
 
Hey guys, since Brad's taking some time off to clear his plate, I'm not sure if he'll be joining us on Tuesdays and Saturdays. :indiff: And as you all know, I can't typically join Tuesday nights until around an hour in, so would someone like to put their hand up for hosting duties on Tuesdays?
Like my leadership, it would only be until Mr. McClaren can re-join us...
 
Nismonath5
Hey guys, since Brad's taking some time off to clear his plate, I'm not sure if he'll be joining us on Tuesdays and Saturdays. :indiff: And as you all know, I can't typically join Tuesday nights until around an hour in, so would someone like to put their hand up for hosting duties on Tuesdays?
Like my leadership, it would only be until Mr. McClaren can re-join us...
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Sure, I'll do it. :)
 
In a case of what were they thinking, GM decided the humble Trailblazer EXT chassis would be better with an ill advised retro themed body on it. What was a genuinely useful 3 row SUV became a 4 wheeled embarrassment.

The expandability of the 5.3 engine and abilities to shed a lot of weight save it from being useless, however there are better trucks, the red one at the same dealership comes to mind.
 
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Well the Model S brought a whole new game to the electric car genre, not to mention it can embarass sports cars if the grip actually works with the driver (as opposed to going full RUF on you), so it has that going for itself.

Meanwhile, the SSR is just a sad reminder that even with potentially good ideas retro designs can easily fail with an underwhelming base which doesn't suit the actual design plans. Much like the PT Cruiser, not even a good engine could save the SSR from being the pickup brother of the Cruiser... And yes, you could turn it into an offroad monster. But what would such a car do that a Toyota Tacoma can't, while looking better and being a better overall product?

And @McClarenDesign, do show us what that whole design research conjured up for you, will ya? Don't just keep the good stuff all for yourself...
 
McClarenDesign
We'd rather be inclusive instead of exclusive, so although the differences in physics (due to internet lag/latency issues) won't provide a direct comparison, there's no reason not to share a screen shot (using a smartphone, if needs be) or a video of your best run.

For anyone else interested in participating that doesn't have GT6, we're looking to expand to Driveclub, Assetto Corsa, Project CARS, Forza... If you have the Car of the Week in some other game, feel free to join in the discussion/debate/brawl with what you've got, all are welcome even if the model year or options aren't precisely the same.

As for this week's winner... it's been hectic. I've tried my hardest to stay on target, but my wife planned my daughter's birthday (coincidentally, she shares the same birthday as Bruce McLaren) at the last possible second, and in the madness I had neglected to notify the winner. On that note...

Congratulations Yasmine McClaren! Pay attention, this is how Daddy breaks the rules and gets away with it.

Last week I wanted to use the ultimate in automotive design, then debunked myself and we ended up with the Tesla as our choice (utterly useless!). For this week, we'll be going in the exact opposite direction by testing the worst pickup truck in existence while providing evidence of what may be the moments before the first murder in Gran Turismo....

g6068_ss_04_1_l.jpg

It's the 2003 Chevrolet SSR! The moment retro styling died, and proof that American pie is best left without the male extension inserted.

Wait, did he say "murder?" Yes, and I'm not talking about the infamous "Flock of Regals" either. Please keep in mind that it wasn't until I went through the photos, after the event, that I noticed what I'm about to present. The appropriate authorities were immediately notified.

Exhibit A:

Eiger%2BNordwand%2B-%2BK%2BTrail.jpg

​
Considering the posture, I doubt that she was attempting to justify Mika Hakkinen's quote...

Eiger%2BNordwand%2B-%2BK%2BTrail_1.jpg

"When You Were Born Into A Neutral Country But Are Actually Shady As ..."​

Eiger%20Nordwand%20-%20K%20Trail_2.jpg

​
That said, if you don't mind the risk of being murdered, the Time Trial event is up and ready.

-ALSO-

With Assetto Corsa, Drive Tribe, the Sauber blog and the Google+ USGP event all in quick succession,
@Nismonath5 has agreed to take the helm for the next 2-4 weeks as needed. If I miss some races/deadlines, I truly apologize, but I'm also confident in Nate's skills to the point that... well... you'll see. Please show him the same respect and kindness that you've shown me...

...waitaminute...
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Sure thing 👍 I would like to post videos but it's kinda hard without Internet :( So i'll stick with screenshots then :dopey:
And Happy Birthday to your daughter! :cheers:
 


Everyone considering giving the Tesla Model S a "Sleeper" rating, please promptly change it to "Beater." And then go back and offer your sincerest apology to the Maserati Gran Turismo S that you panned months beforehand. First off, the Tesla copies the Maserati's styling so closely that the latter would likely win an infringement lawsuit if the former couldn't counter it with the cr*p-tons of free taxpayer money it receives every year from government subsidies and cap-and-trade credits to make sure the case forever stayed in legal limbo. (This will be the most political I'll ever get in this thread, I promise.)

Next, you compare the cars side-by-side and the Maserati checks all the same boxes the Tesla does, except it's better in every single respect.



Both cars send their power to the rear wheels, except the Maserati has better weight distribution and doesn't push near as much in the corners before the back rubber starts smoking. Both cars make a lot of power, except the Maserati has much higher top speed and a glorious V-8 orchestra providing the soundtrack of your driving adventure rather than an annoying whine of an over-sized RC car. Both cars are very heavy, except the Maserati weighs nearly 300 kilos less than the Tesla, again contributing to its superior handling. I could go on about how the Maserati has much better driving range and only takes minutes to refuel than hours....but I think I've made my point.

If Tesla really is the way of the future, depriving the world of V-8 roars and even the very ability to drive a car yourself, pardon me if I want to live in the present as long as I can.

 
I should have known better than to drive my Tesla in the rain. Yes, I knew water and electricity don't mix. Yes, I knew the Tesla was electric. No, I couldn't have used any of the 130 other cars I own. But the dumplings craving had kicked in, y'know? Before long the clouds had covered the sky, the raindrops began falling, and the wipers were on. Suddenly, the Tesla short circuited, coasted to a halt, and subsequently burst into flames.
download.jpg

Any emissions the Tesla had saved were now being belched into the air in big, black clouds. If I actually half cared about it, I might have pretended I was upset. But frankly, a burden had been lifted off my shoulders. I didn't care I had to walk the rest of the way to the shops, and home. The Tesla was gone, never to bother me again!

I arrived home to find Baron, sitting in a Chevrolet SSR on my driveway. He got out to greet me.
"Heya Nismo! Oh, and sorry about your Tesla.."
"The Tesla? What do you mean, what happened??"

Baron, giving me a sympathetic look, went to the canopy and opened it up. Inside was a charred and blackened door off my Model S, the 37 still distinguishable. Still smoking, in fact.
"Blame Elon Musk!" I exclaimed.
"Riiight... Anyways, here's your car this week!" Baron announced, motioning towards the SSR in a "ta-dahhh" sort of gesture. "It ain't pretty, it ain't fast, but it's V8, and rear drive..."

I thanked Baron for once again making the 8,000 mile trip to NZ to deliver my car, and accepted my fate for this week.

So, the SSR. Right off the bat, it's got some awesome colour names! I went for Smoking Asphalt...
Syracuse.jpg
472556419.jpg

Anyone see the resemblance?

I feel like the only reason it's in GT is because it was a late model when GT4 came out. It was Chevy's latest pickup, so it was really more advertising than a fun car.
And get this: It's heavier than the Tesla, which in turn is heavier than the Maserati. :eek: Tomorrow night's racing will be fun, hope I can join in before you all head off...
 
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Nismonath5
Alright, so many of us agree the SSR is a pile of junk. It's heavy, it's understeery, it's ugly, and to really top it off, it's a candidate for "Beater of the Year". And I more or less agree...

That's in it's stock form, sure. However @CORRUPTEDDISC reckons that, fully tuned, it's actually very good...
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Thanks for giving me flashbacks of my tin-can audio and rubbish visual quality @Nismonath5 :D
 
Well being rather unprepared with pics of our latest victims, I'll just do a written 2 cents worth review...

As for the EVO, we're all familiar with the reputation it has throughout the lifespan of the models. Being AWD, it comes with the issues that most makes and models using that drivetrain offer... more understeer than what you pay for. Still, for the money invested, it does pretty decent stock, which saves it from getting a capital B rating in the COTW world. Tuned of course turns it into another animal altogether. Like the Swiss, it's neutral.

The Tesla, while being a four door and very heavy, surprised me in a number of ways, with handling being top on the list. We've had heavy sleepers before like the Audi Pikes Peak SUV, and although it's totally different, I likened it to that example because it didn't feel as heavy as it was. @Nismonath5 pulled out a couple race cars to compare it to, and sure enough, the Tesla shone brightly. I'm giving it a Sleeper and a Keeper rating.

As for the latest pick...

That POS Fiat Coupe suddenly looks better. Do we have a new front runner for BOTY??? I would think so...

BEATER and FORGET 'ER!!!

Cheers
 
At Goodwood:

Alfa Romeo Spider 3.0i V6 24V '01: 1:02.286
Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4 T Sport '09: 1:02.718
Gran Turismo Racing Kart 125: 1:02.789
BMW 120i '04: 1:02.890
Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 TWIN SPARK '02: 1:02.933
Citroën Xantia 3.0i V6 Exclusive '00: 1:02.938
Abarth 500 '09: 1:03.140
Abarth Grande Punto '09: 1:03.151
Chevrolet SSR '03: 1:03.155
Alfa Romeo 147 TI 2.0 TWIN SPARK '06: 1:03.503
BMW 507 '57: 1:03.588
Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA 1600 '65: 1:03.665
Alfa Romeo 166 2.5 V6 24V Sportronic '98:1:04.070
 
Slower than a comfort-spec Xantia... Things are already looking quite bad for the SSR, with its proud V8 engine and 'MURICA powers. At this point, an Azetek seems to be a more sound choice, I am not even kidding. Between the two, one of them has made it into a popular TV show and seats five (with some luck).

And the pickup isn't exactly the one suitable for such roles...
 
My fully-tuned thoughts withstanding, in stock form the SSR is a hard sell, and I don't envy the Chevy salesmen of the time. I'd file it under the Chrysler Prowler category, but without the charm. It tries to straddle so many categories simultaneously that it ends up sitting appropriately in none.

I adore oddball cars that aren't afraid to go against the grain and try something radically different from the norm, and for that I respect the ethos of the SSR, but in practice a two-seater-convertible-hot-rod-pickup-custom-cruiser-sports car/space hopper doesn't really feel justified, in stock form at least.
 
So as the weekend arrives and everyone's unwinding, allow me to present a great way to unwind.

Load up your shotguns, join me around this barrel and let's take out some bloody fish. :lol:

The barrel with fish in it in this instance is the '03 Chevrolet SSR or "Super Sport Roadster" which is the biggest load of BS I've heard that didn't involve politics. But I digress. :P

If my verdict wasn't obvious then let me erase all doubt for you.

The SSR is THE worst car I've driven to date and going by the other Beaters we've driven, THAT is saying something.

First off, It weighs nearly 2250kg, still lighter than the Fisker Karma, but doesn't have anywhere near as much punch.

Speaking of power, it's 5.3 V8 makes around 300hp with an oil change which in a lighter car would be neat, but not something heavier than even a P85D version of the Tesla Model S. :crazy:

The Telsa has another advantage as well, no shifting of gears which means that whilst top speed is low, acceleration is good whereas the SSR has a 4 speed Automatic, which would give the SSR a higher top speed than the Model S, but it'll take awhile to get there due to Shifting gears, less power and more weight.

Now we get to THE worst part about the SSR.. the handling.

You know now that the Chevy SSR weighs over 2 tons, now imagine nearly 60% of the weight over the front axle with a suspension more at home on Sunset Boulevard than the track. :scared:

The Understeer was abysmal, worse than the Acura, worse than the Eclipse and much worse than the Fiat Coupe Turbo and they were all front heavy front wheel drives. :yuck:

If the SSR was as light as it was reportedly in concept form (3500 pounds or just under 1600kg.) then it might've been reasonable ok.

But as it is, it's a badly retro styled, overweight, near pointless exercise in just because you can build a Pick-up with a folding metal roof, it doesn't mean you should. :ouch:

If you buy one of these, for the love of all that's holy, rectify the weight, power, suspension and transmission issues. :)

Verdict: Beater 👎👎👎
 

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