funny questions

[jeffgoddin]

Okay, only funny depending on your sense of humor - mine's rather dry and British - I love absurdity. Or, could be taken seriously if you want.

So, do you think that weight reduction affects center of gravity? Actually kind of curious if anybody thinks they've noticed this kind of effect.

And, do you think pop-up headlights are modeled by PD to create more drag when they're up? If so, definitely take the Levin over the Trueno to SS/ClubmanR5. Was just reading through chapter 35 or so of Initial D and dropping the headlights was mentioned as a strategy employed during a night race to give a slight improvement in performance to the AE86 Trueno in a crucial spot. Seriously, though, how much of a difference could it make?

Could've just dropped this post at the end "a lighthearted look at GT2". Feel free to move it over, mods.

 

[Parnelli Bone]

I really don't know if weight redux affect center of gravity in GT2. In GT4, it's definitely possible because ballast weight can be shifted from front to rear in this game. There are some who say that even if we don't shift ballast, taking some cars from stock weight to Stage 3 will affect center of gravity.

Stage 1 is supposed to remove any rear seats, for instance. In the case of a front-heavy hatchback, this could affect its handling characteristics for sure. There are some tuners in the GT4 section who can offer proof that this is true.

To your other question, it's hard to say. PD modeled aerodynamic downforce in GT and GT2, which is why even when a car is stock, it'll have downforce figures. Many ordinary passenger cars are modeled with figures that look like 0.12 front and 0.21, for instance.

Did PD take the Corolla's pop-up lights into account? I doubt they went this far in this game, which we all know was rushed. But who knows.

 

[loulou221]

I don't think weight reduction affects the center of gravity. But the overall balance of the car is affected.
I made experiments with some cars. As it removes more unnecessary weight at the rear than at the front, the weight balance will change. I figured it out when I race-modded my drift cars : they oversteer more at corner entry, and engine response has improved. This phenomenon can be seen on the Cosmo Type E : it is heavy without any modifications, but if you apply full weight reduction, the tail will slide every time you enter a corner. And with some throttle, it is easy to spin out, because of the rotary engine.
It works also for FWD cars, which are even more sensitive to those parameters, as the weight balance of the brand-new car is something like 57/43.

And about aerodynamics, I don't think PD made different calculations with or without the pop-up lights on, as it would mean the car would have slightly different handling and acceleration at night. But it would be quite realistic if they took it into account...

 

[Parnelli Bone]

Yea there you go...weight balance, not necessarily center of gravity. That makes sense.