Best car on The Ring for noObs?

TheDabbinDave

TheDabbinDave

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DaveTheStalker
What would be the best car for a Ring Newb to learn The Ring and would be well set up right out of the box? This intended to build confidence and enjoyment in the World's Greatest Race Track, not frustration.
 
Any machine that has less than 250 BHP. To go too fast and crash all the time would not be enjoyable. Something that would handle well and go quick in it's own right. Mazda MX5 1800 or a nice Civic maybe?
 
One thing you don't want to do for getting to know the 'ring is to jump in with a Viper or tuned-up Corvette. Seriously, almost any stable car platform with around 200HP should be good enough. You'll want to get slow and intimate with the track, practice a good racing line, and learn the main sections of the track. I'd recommend a good Nissan 350Z. May be a bit overpowered, but it's a lovely car and it handles great around the 'ring. Enjoy.

EDIT: Guess i'm just a little slower than Open Addict...I concur with what he said.
 
Depends on your budget and preferred drivetrain.

All stock from the used car lots:

S2000 V-type any year
'85 Mazda RX-7
Mazda Miata X+MX-5 Any year
'97 Toyota Supra SZ-R (Non-turbo)
'94 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II
'89 Nissan Skyline GTSt-Type M
'96 Nissan 240sx
'83 Nissan Fairlady Z 300ZX (Z31)
'98 Lotus Elise 190 sport - This might be a hand full.
Any early NSX - No type R, S Zero or S. Just a straight up NSX
'98 BMW M Coupe

Like mentioned above, go for something that has good handling. Take your time around the track the first couple laps. It will take a while to remember the course.
 
Money is not an issue, the garage is stocked. I could always go back to the first car I bought, Opera 350Z (engine detuned though). If we can get it working, I want to do a LAN run with my son. Not as a race (at first), but just to run on the track.

Evo's are always rock solid, as are the Miatas. What about the Audis, an detuned A4? There is a tuned Civic (not sure what shop it is, but it has the number 77 on it).

You guys have hit the nail on the head. Being secure and stable are much more important than speed.

Thanks much.
 
Dave, I'd go a little left field of the others with my car choices.

Nissan Silvia (S13 K's, S14 Q's or S15 Spec S)
Mazda RX-7 (Go for an FD shape, around the '95 era)
Toyota Celica (TA22 for FR, the ST202 or the ZZT231 for FF)
Holden Commodore SS (It may be 349hp w/oil change, but it's bulky and a great handler allround!!)
Daihatsu Sirion X4 (underpowered but very nimble!!)
BMW 120i
Mini Cooper S

Then after you graduate from those cars, check out more powerful cars like the Lotus Carlton, Toyota Supra RZ, etc.

Baby steps are the best way to get around GT4, just chucking yourself in the deep end results in you sinking, not swimming!!
 
davethestalker
.... There is a tuned Civic (not sure what shop it is, but it has the number 77 on it).

You guys have hit the nail on the head. Being secure and stable are much more important than speed.

Thanks much.
Click to expand...

Tuned civic is the 1987 Honda Mugen Motul Civic Si Race Car prize car for winning the Civic races.

And mafs just beat me to the Mini Cooper S
 
All of these can pretty much run with a Sport or full Race suspension set at default?

I know you guys can tweak the snot out of a car, but I'm sure you can tell, I'd really like to just jump in and go; with handling mods of course.
 
With a lot of the cars that were menstioned above, you wouldn't need any suspension modifications. The stock suspension set up will be more than enough. As long as you keep the power down.
 
I can give you a Commodore setup, it's what I use for my daily tyre frying!! :D But to tell you the truth, you wouldn't really need it straight off, the handling of the SS is pretty decent.
 
When moving on to race cars I'd suggest any JGTC supra they are extremly forgiveing if you screw up... good brakes, solid handling without much modification ether..
 
My initial thought is to get something fairly slow. Maybe something that tops out at 100 mph. I consider myself a "Ring Noob" still. I ran a stock Miata on it yesterday and was appalled at how easy it was to spin. It was almost as much a pain as that license test with the "Slippery Black Mercedes". I recently ran a Daihatsu Copen there and it was too easy. I rarely had to use the brakes. I've enjoyed the MRS Spyder there the most for "Training Car". You need something you're not fighting so you can concentrate on the track yet fast enough to learn where to brake.
 
KAMKA-Z
My initial thought is to get something fairly slow. Maybe something that tops out at 100 mph. I consider myself a "Ring Noob" still. I ran a stock Miata on it yesterday and was appalled at how easy it was to spin. It was almost as much a pain as that license test with the "Slippery Black Mercedes". I recently ran a Daihatsu Copen there and it was too easy. I rarely had to use the brakes. I've enjoyed the MRS Spyder there the most for "Training Car". You need something you're not fighting so you can concentrate on the track yet fast enough to learn where to brake.
Click to expand...

Try a S2000. Good grip, good speed and good brakeing.
 
Nissan GTR 34. That would be the best car. Its not slow to where you would be bored of driving it but still controllable. You can recover easily when you mess up like a tire locks up in the grass.
 
i thought that the 80's something lancer was a good one. it wasn't terribly fast though so unless you have patience for like a 14 minute lap it would be irritating.

i also tried that yellow sports car celica, it turns like italy.
 
I used a stock '05 Mustang GT to learn the 'Ring.

Decent handler, and fast enough to make sure I didn't fall asleep, but not too fast that it was hard to control.
 
The ASL Garaiya road car seems to be a perfect fit for the 'Ring. It's a bit down on power, but it is very neutral and takes the bumps and curbs well.
 
davethestalker
What would be the best car for a Ring Newb to learn The Ring and would be well set up right out of the box? This intended to build confidence and enjoyment in the World's Greatest Race Track, not frustration.
Click to expand...

The tires you use will make a huge difference so with that in mind, I'll assume you're going to use the stock tires (whatever they might be).

I'd say there are a handful of car to use switching back and forth between each one.
BMW M3 CSL
Nissan Skyline GTR R34
Honda Civic Type R EP '01
Lotus Elise 111R

One for each drivetrain. 👍
Should help with a general feeling of the layouts while drilling the course into your mind at the same time. :cheers:
 
I learned it in a 49 Beetle & only 69 bhp for the"European Classic Car
Championship" & ended up earning 105 A spec points . & also like the Lotus Elan & I am still a Noob :scared:

Ozi
 
just attacked the ring in a 106 Rallye, R3's and some mild engine work (no exhaust, FI or major N/A work) did it in ~8.47.xxx solid little car tops out about 120ish with 120bhp and original gearbox, i'd also suggest a 205 T16 or Lancia Delta (road cars)
 
I was running the Integra Type R Touring Car the other night and it was pretty fun! The car handles quite well, it's quick but not to the point of easily getting into trouble, brakes are great. The only problem is how bumpy this track is. It really takes a toll on the front end and reminds you that the car is FF.

I do like the feeling of the JGTC cars, I used the Motul 350Z. It's very secure and precise. But, can be too fast at times for the Nurb noOb.

I don't particularly care for production cars, as S3 tires are too slippery. Took out the Supra RZ for a couple of laps. I found myself focusing too much on keeping the car under control than allowing the track to be ingrained into my cerebral cortex ;) R3 tires are a must!


Has anyone tried the race version of the MR2? It think it's called an MRS Touring Car or something along those lines. It's in the Toyota Dealership.

BTW...my time in the Type R is a hair under 8 minutes, which is fine by me. For now, I'm mostly concerned about getting around the track without going OFF the track ;) Each lap I did, I got a bit better. I did about 10 laps.
 
If money isn't a factor, the Falken Skyline GT-R is a great car for The Ring. It is a genuine Group N car that is balanced and predictable to control at high speeds.
 
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the best car for the ring is the bmw m3 gtr race car. If you disagree, youre probably wrong.

I started out with an M3. Great car. No AIDS.
 
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To be 100% honest with you, my choice of car comes down to 3 vehicles.

1: Alfa Romeo GTA Guilia Sprint
2: Lotus Elan
3: Ginetta G4.

Now all cars are Euro, none of them have over 130BHP, but each of them have their own distinct style of driving which you can then translate to gradually faster and faster cars.

The Alfa Romeo is a great car to use on the Nurburgring 1000kms race. STOCK. It teaches you the value of horsepower versus handling, the Guilia is one of those cars that has an equal measure of both and is nicely balanced in all regards.

The Lotus however is a lightweight animal and requires familiarity with cornering precision. You might start off rather slow in this car, but guaranteed, once you've found the Elan's limits, you'll be astonished!

The Ginetta has great straight line speed and impressive cornering speed but lacks one of the most influential pieces of Gran Turismo that many people are accustomed to.

BRAKING

The Ginetta is a terrible car to haul up and teaches the virute of perfect braking versus late-braking. Getting markers right early in one's career is what determines a successful and merry driver from a loser and quitter!

;)
 
Since money is no object, I'd say the Lotus Elan. It's the one I used and the grip is so tenacious that you can concentrate on the track rather than the car.
It doesn't show up in the used car section very often but a '68 Nissan Fairlady 2000 is also a great car to learn the 'ring with.
:)
 
With you being a noobie , in my opinion , an all wheel drive car will give you more handling characteristics , then a second car choice would be like what jwane said , the 68 Fairlady is a decent car , or any other RWD car with lower horsepower until you get the feel for the track , then gradually promote yourself into bigger horse cars , and then into the MR rated cars , and before you know it , you will be running this track with full blown powerhouses . 👍


A word of wisdom here :

This track will take some time to learn , so attack it slowly,learn as much of it as you can piece by piece , section by section , turn by turn , and once you get it it down , it is a great feeling knowing you can jump into a big horse car and turn laps in the 6's / high 5's . Good luck my friend :)
 

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