GTS Metas

[war_ops_84]

To what extent do you believe the meta on any given day to be overrated or exaggerated?

Just as one example, today's GR.1 race meta seems to be the Mazda, the Bugatti, and the Porsche. And most of the people on my friends list are following the meta. I seem to be the only one on my list (which is very big) using the Toyota TS030, which is the only GR.1 car I have right now. Still, I'm running faster than probably 75% of the people on my list. This is something I've noticed the longer I play. Most people tend to mindlessly follow the meta (I did as well) even though it doesn't seem to be having a significant impact on their performance. My recommendation would be to not worry so much about the meta and to try to find the car you are most comfortable or relaxed driving. It's far more important to drive comfortably than it is to be in a car that is theoretically the fastest. The meta only really matters to the top one or two percent of drivers who are trying to squeeze fractions of a second off their time at the absolute limits of what the course will allow. For everyone else, it makes little effective difference. You are not going to magically become a faster driver simply because you are driving the same car that the top ten fastest drivers on the planet are driving. If you want to go faster, then try to find the car that fits your style best. And it doesn't hurt if you LIKE that particular car, as it will contribute to FUN which promotes relaxation. In fact, I bet the time of the average driver would improve noticeably if they picked their FAVORITE cars instead of the meta cars.

That said, the meta is still important to look at. I always do. And sometimes the meta will lead you to your favorite car or a car that you're comfortable driving. My only point is to not rely entirely on the meta. It is only one variable that you should consider.

 

[Nuschel01]

I first try to set Q times in the cars I like and if I feel like there is more time to gain I‘ll switch to the meta car. For races I then constantly switch between cars unless I‘m really comfortable with one

 

[MMX]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a meta?

 

[Crazy Taylor]

The meta is now the m4 gt4 seeing that superstars race the other day. Not a fan of these cars. Just drive what i like (and what liveries i can reproduce).

 

[Downhill Dino]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a meta?

Meta is whatever is the most proficient at the role given. It's like if a gun was very strong in a shooter, everyone is going to use it because it's the best. Sometimes that isn't always true, it can be whatever the community's perspective is and deems as meta. In GTS the best example would probably have been the Megane being dominant in Gr.4, that car was therefore 'meta'.

 

[Meggle]

I am not that concerned about winning. GTS is a game and i want to enjoy driving. E.g i love driving both mustangs particularly the gr4 and waving to the ff cars when i pass them, ohh and passing the M4.

 

[war_ops_84]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a meta?

Equipment, tactics, techniques, etc., that are perceived by the community to be optimal.

In GTS, the meta depends almost entirely on the top qualifying times for the daily races. People see that the fastest drivers are driving the Mazda Gr.1, for example, and people start mimicking them.

 

[Sean Renon]

At lower ranks the car is less relevant (other than the obvious RWD GR.1's that are much harder to drive than the 4WD variants, with no TC).
At higher ranks, using an under powered car on a track just leads to a headache and being passed on the straights like you're standing still.
Therefor using the meta car is more about being competitive with the other people around you, if you use a slower off meta car you're likely going to be starting surrounded by slower drivers in the meta car - which will just make your race even more frustrating as you get passed on straights and held up in corners.

I don't use the M4 or M6 anymore, they've become too meta - but I use a combination of the Toyota 86, Dodger Viper gr.4, Vantage gr.4, Porsche 911, FT-1, Porsche Hybrid gr.1 and Bugatti gr.1, occasionally I'll throw something else in there like the Atenza gr.4. So basically my car is always competitive, but maybe not the "meta", much more enjoyable than using the Alfa Romeo on every track and being blown by on straights like your standing still.

 

[TheNorfolkDad]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a meta?

Literally is an acronym for “Most Effective Tactic Available”

 

[John Crellin]

That said, the meta is still important to look at. I always do. And sometimes the meta will lead you to your favorite car or a car that you're comfortable driving. My only point is to not rely entirely on the meta. It is only one variable that you should consider.

^^This

However, there are some tracks that you will get demolished on (like Tokyo) if you aren't geared properly. So picking the NSX on Tokyo just will not work.

 

[BigJimmy]

You could say this thread is a "META Analysis".

 

[Sander 001]

Allowing tuning would solve this issue. PD plz

 

[NosOsH]

The only meta I've really ever seen in this game was the megane, scirocco and tt when they were way over powered.
I dont think either of the BMWs are truly meta in that they are better than any other car per say. They are just geared much better and some other cars are just underpowered e.g (Mclaren)

If they allowed optimal gearing all cars would basically be equal as long as the power/weight are close.

 

[John Crellin]

The only meta I've really ever seen in this game was the megane, scirocco and tt when they were way over powered.
I dont think either of the BMWs are truly meta in that they are better than any other car per say. They are just geared much better and some other cars are just underpowered e.g (Mclaren)

If they allowed optimal gearing all cars would basically be equal as long as the power/weight are close.

I dunno about that. The beetle was a meta vehicle. The Porsche 919 hybrid is a meta gr.1 it BOPs well and has sick acceleration. I wouldn't have tried it otherwise

 

[Dose555]

Allowing tuning would solve this issue. PD plz

If they allowed tuning in daily races, it would probably ruin the game for me. Personally, I know nothing about tuning, and I don't have the time or especially the energy to tune, test, tune, test, qualify, etc... I feel daily races would turn into a tuning contest if they allowed it.

As far as the meta, I generally start with a favorite car or two and see how it compares to the leaders/meta times. If it's somewhat close, I'll stick with it, if not I'll try whatever the flavor of the day is

 

[Tassie_tiger]

I dunno about that. The beetle was a meta vehicle. The Porsche 919 hybrid is a meta gr.1 it BOPs well and has sick acceleration. I wouldn't have tried it otherwise

I can't believe this line is still being used.
It's become mythical folklore.

The Bettle was very popular.
Many people may have driven it and therefore many of you may have seen many people win in it.
But it was never a star of Gr.3.
It hardly ever even made it into the Top 10, let alone dominate it.

 

[Draggon]

If they allowed tuning in daily races, it would probably ruin the game for me.

For me too. I'm guilty of using meta cars. I'm not great and I need all the help I can get!

 

[NosOsH]

Never tried the beetle so i couldnt say,
but the Porsche is also geared way better than most others. Im usually in at least a gear higher than any other car and can usually almost get to redline in 7th on longer straights.
If we could tighten up the gear ratios on other cars they would accelerate a bunch quicker too.
I dont get why "tuning" something as simple as gears is too time consuming that it would ruin the game.
Takes me about 20 seconds to make an educated guess and then maybe a lap or two to fine tune...Done.

 

[Robben]

Good post OP. For me, I just cannot get on with the M4 or M6 despite this dominating all Gr. 3 and Gr. 4 leaderboards. I always try them both whenever I qualify for Gr. 3 or Gr. 4 races, but always set better times in my favourites... namely the Gr. 4 Citroen and Gr. 3 Lexus.

For me too. I'm guilty of using meta cars. I'm not great and I need all the help I can get!

The point is though that you may not be getting help using these cars. You might be better with a different one, but you get swayed into the M4/M6/911 as you see it all over the leaderboard. As someone said above: these cars are clearly good for the top, top drivers who use no assists and have incredible control. If you are mortal, you may be better using a more stable car that is slightly less fast.

 

[ceres2000]

I dont get why "tuning" something as simple as gears is too time consuming that it would ruin the game.
Takes me about 20 seconds to make an educated guess and then maybe a lap or two to fine tune...Done.

And then someone else would come along and say I don't get why "tuning" something as simple as camber is too time consuming that it would ruin the game. Etc etc.

 

[Sander 001]

If they allowed tuning in daily races, it would probably ruin the game for me. Personally, I know nothing about tuning, and I don't have the time or especially the energy to tune, test, tune, test, qualify, etc... I feel daily races would turn into a tuning contest if they allowed it.

As far as the meta, I generally start with a favorite car or two and see how it compares to the leaders/meta times. If it's somewhat close, I'll stick with it, if not I'll try whatever the flavor of the day is

No it wouldn't turn into a tuning contest, you still have to drive the car and there are many cars which don't need tuning anyway.

Also, you don't have to shift gears, learn braking points, tracks etc. There are many things which you can do to save time and not become a complete racing driver.

 

[Khannie]

I'm with you war_ops_84. I tend to do 10 laps with the "meta" cars during that day, but always come back to my two favorites on Gr. 4 (Audi TT) and Gr. 3 (BMW Z4) and am usually pretty competitive with them since I have a comfort with them and can predict how they will behave in certain situations.

 

[BallPtPenTheif]

So far the meta gets established far too soon for it to be actually real. It looks like people are just checking on which cars happen to have the top times on any given track and then proceed to pick that car. Obviously, that observation will proceed to become true the longer people can test various scenarios but people are declaring metas based on patch notes and half a day of racing.

So the patch note metas are real but the day to day ones are loose at best.

 

[spidermonkey]

I am not that concerned about winning. GTS is a game and i want to enjoy driving. E.g i love driving both mustangs particularly the gr4 and waving to the ff cars when i pass them, ohh and passing the M4.

Ha...love both mustangs and this is good and bad. The good is Im fast with them the bad is I drive them too much.