Top Gear Comparo Thread.

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Thanks! That will help. I completely forgot about this.
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Top Gear Comparo #7: Station Wagon

tgc7sky.jpg

The Producers sent you to obtain a new or used station wagon for under 40,000Cr, and then compete in a series of challenges.

BH-21 first showed up in Subaru Impreza Wagon WRX STi Version VI from 1999, costing him 18,973Cr, leaving him with 21,027Cr. That scores him 21 points.
Korza493 then next arrived in his Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech Version from 1998, costing him 22,500Cr, leaving him with 17,500Cr. That scores him 17 points.
Runfromcheney then checked in with his brand new Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0 GT from 2003 costing him 28,800Cr, leaving him 11,200Cr, scoring him 11 points.
Shotamagee then docked in with his Volvo 240 GLT Estate, costing him 5,571Cr, leaving him with 34,429Cr to spend, scoring 34 points.
GrumpEone came for a visit with his Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V from 1998, costing him 14,250Cr, leaving him 25,750Cr, scoring him 25 points.
Car-less disembarked with his Subaru Impreza Sport Wagon Sti from 2000 that cost him 19,486Cr, leaving him with 20,514Cr, scoring him 20 points.

Captain Car-less arrived with a Toyota Caldina GT-Four from 2002, costing him 27,100Cr, leaving him with 12,900, getting 13 points.
The Clamster arrived in a Honda Odyssey from 2003, costing 28,650Cr, leaving him with 11,350Cr, giving him 11 points.

Round 1 Results
Code:
Driver/Car/Result
Shotamagee/ Volvo 240 GLT Estate/ 34 points
GrumpEone/ Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V from '98/ 25 points
BH-21/ Subaru Impreza Wagon WRX STi Version VI '99/ 21 points
Car-less/ Subaru Impreza Sport Wagon Sti '00/ 20 points
Korza493/ Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech Version '98/ 17 points
Runfromcheney/ Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0 GT '03/ 11 points


Alternates
Captain Car-less/ Toyota Caldina GT-Four '02/ 13 points
The Clamster/ Honda Odyssey '03/ 11 points

Round 2
The Skyline lapped by me (my B spec Bob crashes at the start) does the Special Stage Route 5 track in about 1'41. Your challenge is to beat it. You have 43 hours
 
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Top Gear Comparo #7: Station Wagon - Round 2


Track: Special Stage Route 5
Car: Subaru Impreza Wagon WRX STi Version VI '99
Time: 1'41.359
Course Style: Normal
Tires: S2
Upgrade Level: Stock
Horse Power: 286 (Oiled)
Driver: BH-21
 
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In the spirit of BH-21s Sunday Cup, I'll only be running 3 laps in each car and posting the best time.

Car-less Clarkson was very unimpressed with his Subaru. "Understeer, understeer, understeer" was all that he had to say despite posting a very competitive time of 1:39.488.

Captain Careless had no such complaints about his Toyota. "Safe, reliable and handles very well" were his words. The others suggested "boring, dodgy brakes and sticking accelerators" were more appropriate, but this was countered by the captain when he pointing out that his car predated these problems by a few years. He did however think that a sticking accelerator might have helped improve on his time of 1:41.959.

The Clampster was tight lipped about the performance of his Honda until he was given his time of 1:52.925. When the others suggested it was incredibly slow, the Clampster pointed out that "people don't buy a wagon to go fast. They buy a sports car for that. What they really want in a wagon is lots of space, and my car has plenty of that. In fact, it probably has enough space to put a sports car in the back".
 
Top Gear Comparo #7: Station Wagon (Round 2)


Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V '98



Track: Special Stage Route 5
Car: Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V '98
Time: 1'48.731
Course Style: Normal
Tires: S2
Upgrade Level: Stock
Horse Power: 273 HP (w/ Oil Change)
Driver: GrumpEone


 
Driver: Shotamagee
Car: Volvo 240 GLT Estate
Time: 1:59.554 (I did a 2:00.25x on my third lap, so I kept trying until I cracked the 2 min mark)

Despite the slow time I was pretty impressed by the big swede.
Sure it has no power and lots of weight, so the complete lack of straight line speed was no surprise. (156kp/h was the best I saw at SS route 5) However it's RWD layout handled its immense bulk surprisingly well. (At SS R5 I only had to use the brakes 4 times for the whole of my timed lap. Though this is probably as much to do with having absolutely no grunt, as it is to do with the handling)
 
Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech Version
I managed a 1:42.561 in the Stagea on SSR5 which isn't as fast I would have hoped it would be, but it can do that laptime with 5 people in the car and a piano and a couch in the back.
 
Top Gear Comparo #7: Station Wagon

tgc7sky.jpg

The Producers sent you to race your wagons around Special Stage Route 5. You will be judged for each half a second you are slower or faster than the Skyline, lapping some time around 1'41. I don't know how many miller seconds it was, so I will just take it as a 1'41.500.

BH-21 was first to set his time as always, lapping a 1'41.359, giving him 0 points.
Car-less then next arrived at the special stage, and clocked a 1:39.488. That gets him 2 points.
GrumpEone then set a few laps, getting a 1'48.731. That gets him -14 points.
Runfromcheney then raced around in his Legacy, clocking a 1'44.443. That's -5 points.
Shotamagee the set a lap, getting a 1:59.554. That's -36 points.
Korza493 then next arrived at the special stage, and got a 1:42.561. that's -4 points.

Captain Car-less set a 1:41.959 with his "normal" Toyota. That's -1 point.
The Clamster arrived in his Honda, setting a 1:52.925. That's -23 points

Round 1 and 2 Results
Code:
Driver/Car/RND1/RND2/Total
Car-less/ Subaru Impreza Sport Wagon Sti '00/ 20/ 2/ 22
BH-21/ Subaru Impreza Wagon WRX STi Version VI '99/ 21/ 0 / 21 
Korza493/ Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech Version '98/ 17/ -4/ 13 
GrumpEone/ Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V from '98/ 25 points/ -14/ 11 
Runfromcheney/ Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0 GT '03/ 11 / -5/ 6
Shotamagee/ Volvo 240 GLT Estate/ 34 points/ -36/ -2  


1:52.925
Alternates
Captain Car-less/ Toyota Caldina GT-Four '02/ 13/ -1/ 12
The Clamster/ Honda Odyssey '03/ 11/ -22/ -11

Round 3
Using the rest of your budget, you can now mod your car. You are not allowed to buy racing tires or NOS. You can do anything else, and tune it however you want. You then try to beat your standard time. You will be judged for every half a second faster you are. You have 45 hours.
 
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Top Gear Comparo #7: Station Wagon - Round 3


Track: Special Stage Route 5
Car: Subaru Impreza Wagon WRX STi Version VI '99
Time: 1'36.461 (old = 1'41.359)
Course Style: Normal
Tires: S3
Upgrade Level: Light
Horse Power: 358 (Oiled)
Driver: BH-21


Code:
                    Balance: 21,027

Parts                          Cost
Sports Exhaust                1,600
Racing Chip                   1,500
Turbine Kit: Stage 1          4,800
Intercooler: Sports           1,800
Suspension: Sports            3,200
Tires: Sports Soft (S3)       6,800
Weight Reduction: Stage 1     1,200
                             ------
                             20,900
                             ------
                                127
 
Ok here are the parts and time achieved for my Volvo

Driver: Shotamagee
Car: Volvo 240 GLT Estate

Price: 5571
Balance: 34429

Parts:
Weight Stage 1: 1100
Stage2 Turbo: 13000
S3 Tyres: 6200
PC Chip: 1250
FC Transmission: 10200
Wing: 1200
Race Flywheel: 1000
Total: 33950

Balance: 479

New power output: 242 (was 129)
New weight: 1663 (was 1890)
(that's over double the stock P/W figure)

Time with new parts: 1:41.548 (stock time (1:59.554)

So in effect I've turned my Volvo 240 GLT Estate into a standard Skyline (so long as B-spec Bob drives the GTR). Edit: So long as the GTR is only being driven at 9/10ths.

Notes: I didn't change the suspension because I liked the handling as it was, though with the extra power and grip the car now has that may have been a mistake. Because now, when braking for the tunnel at T1, the front lip scrapes along the ground which sends you into a slide if turning at the same time. Still, its only once a lap and its fine around the rest of the track so sports shocks might not have been worth it anyway. (though it would have reduced the comical amount of body roll the car suffers from)
 
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So in effect I've turned my Volvo 240 GLT Estate into a standard Skyline (so long as B-spec Bob drives the GTR).

Very good improvement. That lap was actually by me, as my Bob doesn't have enough skillz, yo! :lol: It was "just" one lap for the comparo, and wasn't me pushing hard on several laps.
 
Top Gear Comparo #7: Station Wagon (Round 3)


Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V '98



TGU-03.jpg


Track: Special Stage Route 5
Car: Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V '98
1st Time: 1'48.731 (273 HP)
New Time: 1'37.790 (-0'10.941)
Course Style: Normal
Tires: S2
Horse Power: 367 HP (w/ Oil Change)
Driver: GrumpEone


 
SVX
The Producers sent you to race your wagons around Special Stage Route 5. You will be judged for each half a second you are slower or faster than the Skyline, lapping some time around 1'41. I don't know how many miller seconds it was, so I will just take it as a 1'41.500.

Car-less then next arrived at the special stage, and clocked a 1:39.488. That gets him 2 points.

Round 1 and 2 Results
Code:
Driver/Car/RND1/RND2/Total
Car-less/ Subaru Impreza Sport Wagon Sti '00/ 20/ 2/ 22
BH-21/ Subaru Impreza Wagon WRX STi Version VI '99/ 21/ 0 / 21 
Korza493/ Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech Version '98/ 17/ -4/ 13 
GrumpEone/ Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V from '98/ 25 points/ -14/ 11 
Runfromcheney/ Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0 GT '03/ 11 / -5/ 6
Shotamagee/ Volvo 240 GLT Estate/ 34 points/ -36/ -2  

Alternates
Captain Car-less/ Toyota Caldina GT-Four '02/ 13 points
The Clamster/ Honda Odyssey '03/ 11 points

Shouldn't I get 4 points for being 2 whole seconds faster?
...and don't the alternatives also score points for each round?

Also, if you create the scoreboard in notepad using tabs to align the columns, then copy and paste it into the [ code ] tags the columns will stay aligned making it easier to read.



Anyways,

Car-less Clarkson as always wanted moar powah, so the first thing he did was to fit a stage 2 turbo for 13,500cr. He then set about trying to sort the handling with a sports suspension package costing 3,200cr, a twin clutch at 2,700cr and racing flywheel for 1,050cr. This left him with a balance of just 64cr.

Before taking to the track he dropped the front ride height as low as it would go, and set the maximum of 3 degrees of camber all round. The resulting laptime of 1:35.906 pleased him very much, but the comments from the others did not. They said that the suspension settings "looked like they were chosen by an idiot", and "will only make it worse" to which he replied "it's not perfect, but at least I got rid of the understeer".



Captain Careless also opted for a stage 2 turbo at 13,000cr.
"But your car cost 27,100cr so you only had 12,900cr to spend" said Clarkson.
"I was given 13 points for the first round, so I must have had at least 13,000cr left" he replied before taking to the track. A best time of 1:38.471 was just shy of 3.5 seconds improvement, only 1/10th of a second less than Clarkson had managed, but the Captain was not happy. "I ruined it. It's undriveable" he said. "All that extra power just made it go all over the place".



The Clampster put much more effort into his modifications.
Code:
1,100	Stage1 Weight  1700kg -> 1496kg
1,250	Racing Chip	169hp -> 175hp
4,600	Stage 1 Turbo	175hp -> 213hp
1,550	Sports Exhaust	213hp -> 217hp
1,600	Large Clutch
1,000	Racing Flywheel
======
11,100			250 balance
This saw his time improve from 1:52.925 to 1:45.973, nearly twice the improvement of the others, "but it still handles like a barge" he admitted.
 
Track: Special Stage Route 5
Car: Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech Version
1st Time: 1:42.571 (280 BHP)
New Time: 1:37.561
Course Style: Normal
Tires: S2
Power: 315 BHP
Weight:1513 kg
Driver: korza493

Modifications Done:
Sports Exhaust Cr.1,550
Computer Chip Cr.1,250
Semi Racing Suspension Cr. 7,200
Single Plate Clutch Cr.1,600
Semi-Racing Flywheel Cr.950
Weight Reduction Stage 1 Cr.1,100
GT Wing Cr.1,200

Total Spent on Mods: Cr.14,850
Total Spent including Car: Cr.37,350
Change: Cr.1,650
 
Thanks for the heads up Car-less.
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Top Gear Comparo #7: Station Wagon

tgc7sky.jpg

You were sent to race around Special Stage Route 5 again, in your improved cars. You were going to be judged on each half a second you were faster

BH-21 was first to set his time as always, lapping a 1'36.461, which is 4.898 seconds faster, that's 9 points.
Shotamagee then set a lap, getting a 1:41.548. That's 18.006 seconds faster, that's 36 points.
GrumpEone then set a few laps, getting a 1'37.790. A special thanks to GrumpEone, thanks for putting in the difference! That's 10.941 seconds, that gets him 21 points.
Car-less then next arrived at the special stage, and clocked a 1:35.906. That's 3.582 seconds faster. That gets him 7 points.
Korza493 then next arrived at the special stage, and got a 1:37.561. That's 5.01 seconds faster. That's 10 points.
Runfromcheney Has not yet posted his time.

Captain Car-less set a 1:38.471 with his "normal" Toyota. That's 3.488 seconds faster. That's 6 points.
The Clamster arrived in his Honda, setting a 1:45.973. That's 6.952 seconds faster. That's 13 points.

Round 1, 2 and 3 Results
Code:
Driver/Car/RND1/RND2/RND3/Total
GrumpEone/ Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V from '98/ 25 points/ -14/ 21/ 32
BH-21/ Subaru Impreza Wagon WRX STi Version VI '99/ 21/ 0/ 9/ 30 
Car-less/ Subaru Impreza Sport Wagon Sti '00/ 20/ 2/ 7/ 31 
Shotamagee/ Volvo 240 GLT Estate/ 34/ -36/ 36/ 34/
Korza493/ Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech Version '98/ 17/ -4/ 10/ 25 
Runfromcheney/ Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0 GT '03/ 11 / -5/ N.Y.S./ 6
  



Alternates
Captain Car-less/ Toyota Caldina GT-Four '02/ 13 points/ -1/ 4*/ 18
The Clamster/ Honda Odyssey '03/ 11/ -22/ 14/ 2

*Penalty for over spending.
Round 4
Wagons are about space, right? You will now post the length of your wagon. You have 48 hours.
 
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My Volvo 240 GLT Estate is 4790mm long.

A few of those scores for the lap time improvement are a bit off, mine for example should be 18.006 (rounded down to nearest 0.5 sec) = 18.000 / 0.5 = 36 not 26. The rounding used is a little inconsistent on some of the others as well.
 
Subaru Impreza Sport Wagon Sti '00
4405mm

Toyota Caldina GT-Four '02
4510mm

Honda Odyssey '03
4765mm

I could give you all the other lengths, but I wont.

A few of those scores for the lap time improvement are a bit off, mine for example should be 18.006 (rounded down to nearest 0.5 sec) = 18.000 / 0.5 = 36 not 26. The rounding used is a little inconsistent on some of the others as well.

I know what you mean. The scores as I see them should be as below, except Captain Careless who should have some sort of penalty for overspending in round 3.

Code:
Shotamagee	Volvo	 +34	-36	+36	= 34
GrumpEone	Legnum	 +25	-14	+21	= 32
Car-less	Impreza	 +20	+4	+7	= 31
BH-21		Impreza	 +21	+0	+9	= 30
Korza493	Stagea	 +17	-2	+10	= 25
runfromcheney	Legacy	 +11	-5	...	= ...

Captain		Toyota	 +12	-0	+6	= 18
Clampster	Odyssey	 +11	-22	+13	=  2
 
Thanks so much guys! All done. I think I'm starting to make a mess of things with the calculations.
 
I just remembered that the Volvo 740 Wagon, which is pretty similar to my car has already won a top gear challenge (the cars for teenagers episode), does this mean I automatically win? Or does the slightly different nature of this weeks challenges mean I get nothing and have to prove the Volvo's superiority all over again? :)
 
^ You are already in the lead, so it all depends on the scoring for this round - if it really is the last.
The Nissan Stagea is the longest at 4880mm, 2nd will be your Volvo at 4790mm. A difference of 9 points for 9cm would put you joint first, and 3 points for 3.54inches would keep you in the lead - It really all depends on how SVX has planned to score this round!
 
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Top Gear Comparo #7: Station Wagon

tgc7sky.jpg

You were told to post the lengths of your station wagons.
You will be scored by placings. Longest 50 points, 2nd 40 etc and last gets zero.

Korza493's Nissan is 4880mm long. That's the longest, so he gets 50 points.
BH-21's Impreza is 4350mm long. That's the shortest, so he gets 0 points.
Shotamagee's Volvo is 4790mm long. That's the second longest, so he gets 40 points.
GrumpEone's Legnum is 4740mm long. That's the third longest by a little, so he gets 30 points.
Car-less' STi is 4405mm long. That's the fifth longest, so he gets 10 points.
Runfromcheney. I found Runfromcheney's length. His Legacy is 4680mm, and that's the forth longest, so he gets 20 points.

Captain Car-less' Toyota is 4510mm long. That's the fifth longest, so he gets 10 points.
The Clamster's Honda is 4765mm long. That's the third longest. So he gets 30 points.

Round 1, 2, 3 and 4 Results
Code:
Driver/Car/RND1/RND2/RND3/RND4/Total
Shotamagee/ Volvo 240 GLT Estate/ 34/ -36/ 36/ 40/ 76/
Korza493/ Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech Version '98/ 17/ -4/ 10/ 50/ 75 
GrumpEone/ Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V from '98/ 25 points/ -14/ 21/ 30/ 62
Car-less/ Subaru Impreza Sport Wagon Sti '00/ 20/ 2/ 7/ 10/ 41
BH-21/ Subaru Impreza Wagon WRX STi Version VI '99/ 21/ 0/ 9/ 0/ 30  
Runfromcheney/ Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0 GT '03/ 11 / -5/ N.Y.S./ 20/ 26
  



Alternates
The Clamster/ Honda Odyssey '03/ 11/ -22/ 14/ 30/ 32
Captain Car-less/ Toyota Caldina GT-Four '02/ 13 points/ -1/ 4*/ 10/ 28


*Penalty for over spending.
Round 5
You will now revisit Special Stage Route 5 (I know, again). This time though, you will be racing while you are on a delivery. You will now add 150kgs to your car, and try to beat the Skyline. You will be given points like last time, every half second you are slower (or faster).
 
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Top Gear Comparo #7: Station Wagon - Round 5


Track: Special Stage Route 5
Car: Subaru Impreza Wagon WRX STi Version VI '99
Time: 1'36.652 (old = 1'36.461 )
Course Style: Normal
Tires: S3
Upgrade Level: Light
Horse Power: 358 (Oiled)
Driver: BH-21
* Added 150 kg to rear of car *

This was actually a fun one, even if it radically altered the car's handling. One hundred and fifty kilograms of pizzas sliding around back there as I'm zipping through the city streets. The whole while one thought is flashing through my head, "I've got deliverys' to make!"
 
Top Gear Comparo #7: Station Wagon (Round 5)


Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V '98



Track: Special Stage Route 5
Car: Mitsubishi LEGNUM VR-4 Type V '98
1st Time: 1'48.731 (273 HP)
Round 3 Time: 1'37.790 (-0'10.941)
150 kg Load Time: 1'41.239
Course Style: Normal
Tires: S2
Horse Power: 367 HP (w/ Oil Change)
Driver: GrumpEone
 
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