Why drive the META, when you can drive your favourite?

[TheNorfolkDad]

OK so prompted by another thread, I posted a shortened comment of what id like to post here.

The META, (Most Effective Tactic Available, for those that don't know) usually occupies at least 9 out of 10 times on the leaderboard, sometimes admirably ignored by one bold alien. Interlagos yesterday was all Atenza for GR4, today at Suzuka it's all 911s for GR3. Ok not the best comparison with different groups, but simply put, each car suits a certain track. Hence why if you want to make the leaderboard, you use the META. Easy, right?

So you've got yourself a great qualifying time using the META car, so what if you spun out on 70% of your laps, you got a great time, it's race time and you're starting 5th. You're already eyeing up a podium finish, you successfully navigate yourself around half a lap with a Hyundai breathing down your neck and suddenly you've spun out because you're using a car you're uncomfortable with, while the guy driving his favourite Hyundai goes sailing past, leaving you to question why you're even using "The Best Car" to begin with.

"This car is awful", you might think.. "I'd be better off in the WRX!"

So why are you using this so called "META" car to begin with? Quick story, I spent two x 30 minute sessions qualifying in the 911 RSR today because it was the META car, well guess what? I beat it by .500 in the Viper on my first go because it's my favourite. Guess what again, I beat it AGAIN using the NSX because I love the car and decided to use it after receiving a slight buff.

TL;DR (This is the bit where I summarise what I'm trying to say) Don't use the car that has number one spot in the leaderboard, use the car that you love to drive, use the car that you won't spin under pressure. Sure, get the best qualifying time you can by any means possible if it means you start 8th instead of 13th, but when it comes to race time you want to be driving old reliable, and you'll enjoy it far more. Because enjoyment is the name of the game.

 

[Ryan Sandall]

What SR and DR are you out of interest
I just want to know I’m competitive I won’t always pick the best car but I will be influenced by the leader board
I’m DR S and SR S so to get wins it’s tough especially when your not in the favourable car usually there is a reason why it’s not on the leaderboard but often it’s not even tried anyways
The top guys probably pick that car for a reason and tbh i think if I’m in the same car as the people I’m racing then I can win or have a chance especially in the top level races.

 

[Dose555]

I often qualify faster in the cars I like vs. the top cars on the leaderboards. The game has been out long enough now that I'm familiar with most of the GR 3's and 4's. If I have the time, I'll try qualifying with several of my favorites just to see which one fits best on whatever track I'm racing on. I also notice similar times with a few different cars a lot.

 

[Cowboy]

I think the 911 meta applies for most any track since I see it in nearly every lobby.

 

[Brn_Space]

I do agree with this I use the viper primarily because I like it and its usually what I'm fastest in

but I don't like how you can hot lap your qualify in one car switch to another still be in a high start position in the actual race but use a different car that you are clearly slower in....

I usually qualify top 3-8 in any race but half the time either have to wait out someone who is clearly slower in front using a different unfamiliar car and is all over the place... Or get punted by someone behind because they don't know the break points for that car they are using to have fun in.... After qualifying with a meta car as you put it.

In other words you should have to use the car you set your qualify time in, if you don't have a quilify time in the car you entered then you start in the back or use the car you qualified with or skip a race and set one in that car.

I feel in some sr s, race c....this causes mayhem on the first lap and it is caused by ppl using unfamiliar cars with a qualify time they set in a different car often

 

[TheNorfolkDad]

What SR and DR are you out of interest
I just want to know I’m competitive I won’t always pick the best car but I will be influenced by the leader board
I’m DR S and SR S so to get wins it’s tough especially when your not in the favourable car usually there is a reason why it’s not on the leaderboard but often it’s not even tried anyways
The top guys probably pick that car for a reason and tbh i think if I’m in the same car as the people I’m racing then I can win or have a chance especially in the top level races.

That’s a good point, I’m usually a DR/SR B/A, I’ll point out I just had my stats reset due to a bad night at dragon trail but the less we speak of that the better.

So I’m usually 2.5/3 seconds off the top ten, if I spend an hour qualifying, that’s usually the minimum time I set myself. Today in the 911 I was 4 seconds off, and knew I had a better time in me, first try I beat it in the Viper, I actually beat it again in the NSX and again back in the Viper.

So if you’re a DR S, half a second for me will feel like a tenth to you, so using the meta car will be more useful BUT, as I said there’s usually a guy using something else in the top ten. Not only but also, on certain points on Interlagos yesterday I was leaving Atenzas for dead, good in qualifying, not so good for racing?

@Brn_Space yeah I completely agree with that, qualifying should be set to the car you used.

 

[Strax]

Don't use the car that has number one spot in the leaderboard, use the car that you love to drive, use the car that you won't spin under pressure. Sure, get the best qualifying time you can by any means possible if it means you start 8th instead of 13th, but when it comes to race time you want to be driving old reliable, and you'll enjoy it far more. Because enjoyment is the name of the game.

I do this whenever I play Sport mode, but my DR/SR is quite terrible so I don't really care about being a top guy, I just go there for some fun

 

[Slentom]

I almost never use the META to get into Top 10. As you said, the most important is to find a car you feel comfortable with. The BoP is almost optimal, some cars need a little boost and depending of tracks, a car can feel great in one, and feel painful in another. Just find your best. No cars are 1sec slower than the META. My best Gr.4 is actually the Veyron, and Gr.3 is the NSX (finally boosted in the 1.16 )

 

[Ryan Sandall]

That’s a good point, I’m usually a DR/SR B/A, I’ll point out I just had my stats reset due to a bad night at dragon trail but the less we speak of that the better.

So I’m usually 2.5/3 seconds off the top ten, if I spend an hour qualifying, that’s usually the minimum time I set myself. Today in the 911 I was 4 seconds off, and knew I had a better time in me, first try I beat it in the Viper, I actually beat it again in the NSX and again back in the Viper.

So if you’re a DR S, half a second for me will feel like a tenth to you, so using the meta car will be more useful BUT, as I said there’s usually a guy using something else in the top ten. Not only but also, on certain points on Interlagos yesterday I was leaving Atenzas for dead, good in qualifying, not so good for racing?

Yeah this would be true I suppose, I’m probably a bad person to ask though as I look at the top ten will pick a car and have a lap time to aim for only do a couple of laps then race
My first couple of laps are usually my best so don’t do much more once I’ve qualified the rest of the time I just race looking for the little things to beat the aliens aha

 

[GTP_TO Blue]

Sadly my favourite car, and the one I drive in every GR4 race has suddenly become, in the past few weeks a META car; the Atenza.

This car was like hens teeth when I first began GT Sport, and it was still pretty rare to see up until a few weeks ago. Now, it's every where.

When it drops back to not worthy status, I'll still be in my BRG Shell liveried Atenza.

 

[Ryan Sandall]

I almost never use the META to get into Top 10. As you said, the most important is to find a car you feel comfortable with. The BoP is almost optimal, some cars need a little boost and depending of tracks, a car can feel great in one, and feel painful in another. Just find your best. No cars are 1sec slower than the META. My best Gr.4 is actually the Veyron, and Gr.3 is the NSX (finally boosted in the 1.16 )

I always like the idea that I can win in the same machinery though like I’d rather have a 1 make race than a mixture only slightly. And I learn to drive the car whether I like it or not cos if they can make it work then so can i is at least my attitude aha

 

[TheNorfolkDad]

Yeah this would be true I suppose, I’m probably a bad person to ask though as I look at the top ten will pick a car and have a lap time to aim for only do a couple of laps then race
My first couple of laps are usually my best so don’t do much more once I’ve qualified the rest of the time I just race looking for the little things to beat the aliens aha

I am the polar opposite, I set a lap that is terrible and beat it every time for abut 5 laps, then spend the next hour knowing I’ve got a better time in me but spin out 20 times trying to get there. In a race I feel I’m incredibly consistent because I rarely push for a decent time I just make sure I stick to my lines, which brings me back to my point of using my favourite car because I know I’m consistent in it

 

[Ryan Sandall]

I am the polar opposite, I set a lap that is terrible and beat it every time for abut 5 laps, then spend the next hour knowing I’ve got a better time in me but spin out 20 times trying to get there. In a race I feel I’m incredibly becaus I rarely push for a decent time I just make sure I stick to my lines, which brings me back to my point of using my favourite car because I know I’m consistent in it

That’s a good way to do it, as long as you can be happy with yourself with it, consistency will get you muchbfurther than the guys who just do the fastlap then are a nightmare in the race cos they can’t be consistent

 

[Slentom]

I always like the idea that I can win in the same machinery though like I’d rather have a 1 make race than a mixture only slightly. And I learn to drive the car whether I like it or not cos if they can make it work then so can i is at least my attitude aha

Good attitude imo.

Driving style has an impact on the car you drive. That makes you can rule a car while another player can't as well as you. I like this idea too

 

[Nando deBem]

I usually try the META car, unless it’s an FF car (I hate understeery cars) or Gr.1.
I like the Porsche too much to drive that Bugatti tank. I’d become pretty good with it, even when they’re dominating the leaderboard and field.

My reason for trying the META is:
I like winning! lol
And I guess you have to try you’re best to win when competing using everything that’s allowed.

I used to compete in Judo, and I remember the following:
Only enter a championship if you know you can win, because if you think you can’t win, you’ve already lost. (That’s more about controlling your nerves and anxiety).
And you always take an oath to do you’re best when you enter a championship. So, using the car that I’m fastest with is my way of doing my best. I guess this makes others’ victories more meaningful, because I have no excuses when I lose.

 

[TT92]

Now if they only allowed tuning, wouldn't that shake things up a lot? ;-) Especially in one make races ;-)

 

[tofuhero]

So what if the car I love to drive also spins under pressure? (Ferrari)

And the other car I loved to drive, the Alfa 4C, just got nerfed (again) and no longer has the lap times to be competitive. My love for it won't make it win.

 

[Alpha Cipher]

I use META cars because I'm a lazy cow that doesn't bother testing a car if it clicks to me or not
And hey, it works so far, so why not?

 

[kusi18]

Thats why i spend more time in lobbies now. Im mostly A/S rated and in the dailies its full of META Cars, and this makes me angry.

 

[Balwerk]

Unless on GR.1 and GR.2 I use 919 and RCF religiously on there, I always try META car (as long as not MR, I hate MR on GTS) then compare the time with my favorable car.

If the time difference between meta and my fav only 1 seconds I'd push my fav then, but if it over 1 seconds i.e 1,5 above then I'll use meta. That just because I need keep DR high at certain point.

 

[Crazy Taylor]

Don't like (lets just call it doing the META) doing the META unless its actually a car i like using. Which is few and far between. Think its only mustang on Monza.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Apart from the first 3-4 weeks following the game’s release (where I exclusively did Gr. 4 races with the Cayman), I’ve always stuck by the Viper in both Gr. 3 and 4. I’ve worked my way up to DR S SR S, while usually qualifying in the top 6 of any given race and generally gaining at least one position each race. I don’t think I could’ve managed that consistency while swapping between whatever’s META at the time.

 

[dzumaalcapone]

Depends so much on the time I have each night. If I got 2-3 hours I might try out a couple of cars I see in the top10 before going to my favorite. Lately I've found I'm always faster in the Citroen. I wonder why people don't use it more. It's very nice on Lago. In my hands it's faster through the S-curves than any other.

I never drive BMW's or FF-cars..

 

[OutlawQuadrnt]

I make an effort to use something other than the META car as an extra challenge. My favorite so far was showing up at Suzuka with the R8 and getting podiums with it. I don't think anyone expected that, myself included.

 

[Stotty]

If you're an alien, you can probably get most cars round very quickly - witness @Tidgney grp3 BOP testing, where gaps between cars are relatively small. Tidgney has the skills to get pretty much anything round a track.

If you're fast (within a second or so of the #1 time), but don't have alien skills, using the 'meta' car is the way to get on the top 10 boards (a car that's a few tenths faster gives you the little advantage you need), and allow you to compete with Aliens in a race.

If you're c.2s+ off the bottom of the top 10 list it makes little difference what car you use - you're so far off being able to find the limits of the car consistently it doesn't really matter what you use... so pick the one you crash least and enjoy driving the most.

 

[BLiTZ]

When the Gr.4 M4 was META I bought one and gave it a try on Suzuka. I could not get to grips with it at all, I did a couple of qually laps (even trying CSA) and then jumped back in the GT-R and beat my time by 1.5 secs first try! Sure the M4 in the right hands was the faster choice, but the GT-R suits my driving style better.

My view is I'd rather master one or two cars than keep having to learn a new one each time.

 

[05XR8]

I wanted the Atenza when I first saw pics at launch. wasn't the fastest, but I like the Super Tourer aspect of it. Now, I use the gr.4 86 and Evo, as I don't see many when i race. I'll also add, I've found both cars to be easier and fun to drive harder and faster, than the Atenza.

 

[Factor41]

I've been driving the AMG GT and the F-Type recently because they sounds ace with the volume cranked up, and my 458 GT3 because I've made a cool AF Corse livery which deserves to be seen. I don't really care what everyone else is driving!

 

[Veinz]

I choose the car I personally like the most, which is usually based on sound and looks. To me it's way more rewarding to do well in a non-meta car anyway instead of just choosing what 90% of the other people are using. The cars in my favorite class (gr3) are well balanced too so the choice in car isn't as important as other groups, like group 4.

The F-Type has been my baby lately. Crisp sound, looks great, fairly easy to drive even though the default setup feels a bit too tight.

 

[Robben]

I almost never use the META to get into Top 10. As you said, the most important is to find a car you feel comfortable with. The BoP is almost optimal, some cars need a little boost and depending of tracks, a car can feel great in one, and feel painful in another. Just find your best. No cars are 1sec slower than the META. My best Gr.4 is actually the Veyron, and Gr.3 is the NSX (finally boosted in the 1.16 )

Didn't realise you were on here...I love to see your name on the leaderboards always using a different car to the rest of the top 10 I also started using the Genesis group 4 since I saw you on the top board with it once a while back

Agree, re: BoP - I think it is really nearly there now.