Lemons Season 4: Next Race on 29 November

[Vol Jbolaz]

Will we have cheap/Lemons Special prices on any parts this season? Eg: FC tranny or suspension? I liked the $7500 pricetag.. Could do that for both maybe?

I don't see any reason to drop it for tranny, so I've kept it. Is there an interest in half-price suspension?

 

[chuyler1]

Tranny, yes.
Suspension, no.

The FC suspension is something only drivers who are doing poorly should have access too. Everyone else should learn to drive their cars without a suspension or spend a little on the fixed or height adjustible suspension instead.

I was thinking of possibly reducing engine stage 2 and engine stage 3, but I don't think it is necessary.

My suggestion to drivers who didn't place top 5 last season is to look at what parts were installed and in what order they were selected by the faster drivers. The key to winning is making the most out of what little cash you have. That will be even more important this season if Garris uses Diabolic's approach of dishing out rewards based on total championship points.

Some examples include...not installing cheapies before the season starts. Grab an expensive part you won't be able to afford later. Don't waste money on parts that won't get you to the front (like clutches and flywheels). Those parts simply don't have a good return. Even the suspension is a risk since it really depends on the track whether you can shave time off your laps with it.

 

[spooble]

I vote "no" for reducing the suspension, but it's for purely selfish reasons since I'm no good at tuning!

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

I also was kind of thinking that lowering the transmission price was done to broaden the cars selection. I don't know that there are quite as many cars suffering from poor suspensions.

 

[dabneyd]

I don't see any reason to drop it for tranny, so I've kept it. Is there an interest in half-price suspension?

No, the tranny is enough.

 

[sl3ight]

I should be good to go by the pre-season race, so if there's still room sign me up. Not guaranteed though.

Can't wait to get back to racing.

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

Drivers

1. Vol Jbolaz (a_garris)
2. dabneyd (dabneyd)
3. GeezerG123 (GeezerG123)
4. BTK (BOWTIEKID)
5. diabolicwyvern (diabolicwyvern)
6. leadbedr (leadbedr)
7. morbo (galikazoid)
8. chuyler1 (chuyler1)
9. pyxen (GTP_pyxen)
10. Cujo 940 (Cujo940)
11. WiiFreak (WiiFreak)
12. Joe2011 (Star_Drift_Kush)
13. sl3ight (sl3ightaru)
14. spooble (spooble)
15. TrackBound7 (TrackBound7)

The driver list so far.

 

[Cowboys965]

Hey guys, can I join you for Season 4?

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

Hey guys, can I join you for Season 4?

I've added you to the list. If anyone from one of the previous seasons wants to join, though, it will bump you.

 

[BTK]

Dabney has adopted a beautiful factory off white Carina. WHITE POWER!

 

[TrackBound7]

Below that on my lap time grid are a handful of old cars. I may pick one of those just because I feel they embody lemons racing more so than a VW Lupo or Honda Fit.

+1 on this regarding the embodiment of lemons racing. I wouldnt complain if all cars had to be pre 1995 or even 1990. Some of the late 90s and early 2000 models still resemble newer models quite a bit. That was a reason I liked the EXA when I saw it...its ugly as hell. Its a bonus that it seems to be a "good" performer. I need to cycle through the UCD some more though to see what else is out there.

 

[pyxen]

Dabney has adopted a beautiful factory off white Carina. WHITE POWER!

You should filter more.

 

[diabolicwyvern]

By the way garris, i am still not a fan of changing rewards/points for drivers who finish below 10th. As i mentioned before, it isnt fair to those who do poorly at the beginning of the season and get those low points if drivers at the end of the season can get higher points for just showing up. As much as we discourage it, it is almost guaranteed we will lose 3-5 racers by the end.

The mistakes of the few always affect the whole and there is nothing we can do about it. I can't see how making the battle for 10th as close in excitement to the battle for 3rd is a poor decision. I understand the point you're making, but it's like saying how unfair it is when a lower class driver wrecks out a higher class one. The situation you're describing and this one are virtually locks every season. But we dont know which drivers or when and we cant prepare for all situations. Everyone agrees at the start of each season to see it through. Yes, it's not in writing, but it goes without saying. We lose drivers for all sorts of reasons, foreseen and not. All we can do is hope they show up just like all we can do is hope not to be pushed off course by the guy behind us.

I think we need to ban anyone who placed top 3 in any of the seasons from driving the EXA...Other cars that were quick included the VW Lupo GTI '01, VW Polo GTI '01, and Honda Jazz 1.4 DSI Se Sport '01.

Strangely, you've named my top 4 options. We must know something. Taking the EXA from me is no biggie. If its miles better I'd rather someone further down the list have it. The Polo is currently topping my list though. I actually found 2 of them already!

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

That was a reason I liked the EXA when I saw it...its ugly as hell.

The Pulsar is quite attractive without the camper shell. But, I love '80s wedge cars. They need to bring back the SVX which was available in GT2 and add the XT.

The Polo is currently topping my list though. I actually found 2 of them already!

I think I have a third if you want it.. I did a refresh, I don't remember if I added any parts. It wasn't bad.

 

[dabneyd]

sAugh, I keep cycling the UCD and it's always the same thing; Skylines, STis, Evos, and kei cars. I cycled all weekend and I haven't seen another Exa, Carina, Polo, or Lupo. In the meanwhile I've seen almost every vintage race car in the game.

 

[morbo]

i was strongly considering one of the 60's cars, but with zero turbo options, and zero aerodynamics options, it doesn't seem like the car for me

i'm just not good enough to enjoy that for an entire season

which sucks because the only other options i have in front of me are all FF, and i am horrible at driving FF

is there only one version of the EXA?

 

[chuyler1]

I'll be practicing in my lounge around 10:30 if anyone wants to join me.

 

[diabolicwyvern]

Are we settled on 350. I dont want to part any car to it only to find we've moved to 340

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

Are we settled on 350. I dont want to part any car to it only to find we've moved to 340

I think at this point it is a question between 345 and 350. And if no one is considering a car above 345, I don't see the need in going to 350.

Huyler, your Hairpin Mt. track is showing rain. I did some more testing tonight. I think any Mt. Aso track made before the 2.0 patch shows rain, even though it isn't actually raining. I made a new one, and it doesn't show rain. I'm not sure if you can try to edit the track just to save it as is without the rain.

I played around with making some tracks tonight. I hadn't really done that before. I like the Eiffel circuit palette, but I hate that Mt. Aso and Eiffel both have to have a half-mile straight. And it seems it is because they won't put the pit on a corner.

p.s. It seems the 2.0 DLC bundle is being delayed. Guess that puts the likelihood of Spa in our season that much more in doubt.

 

[dabneyd]

p.s. It seems the 2.0 DLC bundle is being delayed. Guess that puts the likelihood of Spa in our season that much more in doubt.

I wonder if this is PD's or Sony's fault. The 2.0 update went so well.

Did some more testing with Huyler, spooble, and pyxen (for a minute) and it seems that 345 is a good, competitive spot.

 

[BTK]

Why are you all trying to ban cars from the top 3? Sure the EXA is fast, but it has it's weaknesses. Let em' run it, since money is not based on finishes anyways. If they win the first race, that means they have finish 6th or 7th to make any money from the second race.

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

Well, I think things are pretty much settled, so I don't really think there is a formal need in the testing session tonight, but everyone is welcome to join me.

If you have not already, please complete the survey. I've pretty much narrowed down my car selection to just two cars and I'll probably decide tonight on which car I want to run. That means tomorrow I'll start seriously looking at the feedback and start picking the courses for the season.

 

[chuyler1]

So are we doing 345 or 350?

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

So are we doing 345 or 350?

Most of the votes were for 350, and I don't mind 350. It does offer a few more cars, and it doesn't appear to offer any different types of cars (no stand-outs that I've seen that may dominate the field).

If someone wants to speak up because they want to use one of the cars over 345, then we'll go to 350. But if everyone's car is starting below 345 anyway, then we might as well save the extra parts to buy during the season.

I personally want to go with 345. The Sera was nice, but didn't impress me, was just another of the sea of FFs. I did find a '68 Skyline, but it refreshed to 351. I imagine someone could find a high-mile version if they really wanted to use it.

Tonight, I figured I'd just start the room at 345 PP and see if anyone shows up to complain.

 

[BTK]

I'm thinking 345, the odd number seems to be good, and with 350, we start bringing in the field of crazy fast MR's. Besides, I hadn't built any cars for 350. Lol...

 

[dabneyd]

I think I voted 350, but in hindsight I should have voted for 345.

 

[pyxen]

I wonder if this is PD's or Sony's fault. The 2.0 update went so well.

Did some more testing with Huyler, spooble, and pyxen (for a minute) and it seems that 345 is a good, competitive spot.

I got booted...screwed up some of my cars, too - since I meant to just exit the game straight from the lounge, and not save the car mods Now I have some at 345 without oil change or engine rebuild, so they're over...*sigh*

I'd much rather start at 345 I think...take the MRs out of the equation for this season.

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

take the MRs out of the equation for this season.

In theory, there is one Toyota MR-2 that can fall under 350, but the one I've found in the UCD refreshed over 350. Are there other MRs that can fall below 350?

 

[BTK]

In theory, there is one Toyota MR-2 that can fall under 350, but the one I've found in the UCD refreshed over 350. Are there other MRs that can fall below 350?

The occasional MGF can, which we all know is the god of Lemons racing.

Pyxie Sticks: I have a handful of 345 car's that are quick, if you need something let me know. There is only one that I'm hanging on to atm.

 

[chuyler1]

I voted 350...but all my cars are 345. It sounds like some others did the same. I'd rather run 345 for all the reasons mentioned above.

Testing last night was good. We ran several races at Clubman with slipstream on low. I grabbed a few slower classics and was able to stay close. I couldn't keep pace with the Polo GTI in my Mazda Cosmo but I was close enough that I might have a chance once tire wear came into play. After Clubman, we switched to Autumn Ring Mini. I actually won a race in the '78 Mitsubishi Mirage. It was quite comical. I also kept pace in the '79 Honda Civic but I couldn't pass anyone. At that point though, we were picking some whacky cars to run.

Overall, I think there are plenty of options to choose from at 345. Late model FF cars will be the fastest down the straight and vintage FR cars will have a slight cornering advantage, but they will have to overcome poor gearing and sluggish acceleration. Vintage FF cars are cute, but they probably won't cut it in a real race. Keicars would only do well on a track like Autumn Ring...they'll be too slow on anything with a straight.

I think I like the low slipstream option also. It keeps drivers honest as they whittle down the gap. Faster cars can still pass on the straight, but it is a much slower ordeal, which means drivers won't be caught off guard when they reach the end of the straight and find out they're now traveling 20 mph faster than normal.