=Red Devil Z=
The Nissan 280Z is a classic sportscar, which means it carries a certain combination of handling characteristics: It is lighter and more 'flickable' than modern sportscars, but the '70s engineering supplies less direct and potent gripping power. The general result of this is a car that doesn't magnify a driver's mistakes, letting minor miscalulations be filtered out through indirect controls, and the lower level of grip further ensures conrollability. Of course, overpowered axe-murderers can also result from this combination, but that's irrelevant here in the realm of 2.8-litre Nissans. Thankfully, this tune doesn't corrupt any of this classic-car forgiveness in handling, but simply tweaks the balance of the cornering behaviour to a modern level of versatility.
The Racing:
Bounding up to a corner in this car and stomping the middle petal results in a moderately high, old-car amount of squatting, but the remarkable braking force is more potent than certain types of crashes. Braking through S-turns, just a hint of instability makes itself known, then hides away again as any but the most ham-fisted driver subconciously lessens the steering angle and regains composure. The forward roll under braking helps the car's responsiveness into the corner, but sacrifices nothing in terms of stability, save subtle and helpful rotation of the rear. Trail-braking into corners doesn't result in typical GT4 "Suprise: Understeer!", but more of a reassuring slight tail-in motion, all the while remaining perfectly maneuverable. Mid-corner, the lovely Nissan dances to the apex with perfect smoothness and composure, the rear somehow balancing infinite grip with an aura of slipping. Responding warmly to progressive throttle pressure, the car threads out of the corner, again the epitome of dignity and smoothness, tracing a perfect parabola through the road at speeds shocking to behold. Even when the parabola stretches just a bit too long, the characteristic soft suspension ensures that no curb, candy cane or otherwise, can upset the motion of the drive. The gear ratios feel abstractly
right, letting the red needle whirl over 1000 Revs past the redline, and giving friendly, tall lower gear ratios. The apparently torquey nature of the engine accomplishes the same feat as Volkswagen's modern W12 engine, willing you smoothly forward on an invisible, unstoppable wave of torque. The top speed is perhaps slightly too high for solo time-trial runs, but the low-speed feel is perfect nonetheless, and suddenly our suprisingly friendly Red Devil gains the ability to ride on the aerodynamic coattails of cars capable of naturally higher top speeds, without the Rev-Limit Supernanny jumping in to spoil all the fun. For composed racing, this classic Nissan can run with all the pace and balance of modern cars, and none of their harshness. While a Lotus Elise or Nissan S15 could be a fistfight on wheels, the Red Devil is a warm hug and a soothing cup of tea with your favourite schoolteacher, or perhaps librarian -
on a jet train.
Then, you go nuts.
You thunder up to the turn, slam the brakes, violently thrash the car from side to side, turn in, and... wonder exactly
how you've leaped so gracefully sideways through the 80-mph turn in the anti-drifting game on far-too-grippy tyres, tire smoke billowing out from behind you, the tyres smoothly losing any trace of adhesion. The torque lets you maintain your speed with minimal risk of spinning the wheels too much, and the machine gracefully straightens again at the end of the bend with none of its magic lost. Your second option would be to approach the corner normally, then spank the throttle in the middle as the rear slides out "so slowly, you have time to read the instruction manual to see what you should do about it." Even at 90 mph, when the throttle stops being a force of oversteer, you can still throw the car around and straighten out, unscathed, at the far end of the smoke cloud. Our reassuring and composed racing car has just become a drifting master on the same, high-grip rubber, and with the same, no-mistake kindness, as it carries while racing.
But...
Of course, no car is without its flaw, and this car is no exception: When a driver lifts both his feet in a corner, more understeer is given him than any time he's throttled or braked. In other words, braking too late into a corner forces you to feint drift unless you'd like to inspect the outer guardrail up-close.
So, I like it then?
The Red Devil Z is an awesome car, and "awesome" is not a word I use lightly. It feels entirely authentic as a classic sportscar with its soft suspension and just-slow-enough responsiveness, but it can run with the pace and versatility of a modern sportscar, and finally it can drift better on S3 tyres than anything I've tried so far. Lift-throttle understeer aside, I have infinite difficulty finding a single flaw with this car. I recommend to anyone who sees this, to try this car immediately. It's astonishing, so it recieves a very well-deserved
98.5/100.
.After the Mustang had the RVV treatment I gave it a go at Laguna Saga.It was like I was driving a different car,at the first turn I expected it to still take a while to stop but no it stops on a dime
