A good practice car? Also, full-auto break in?

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White & Nerdy

White & Nerdy

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Wasilla, AK
After a couple of online disasters earlier today, I've come to the conclusion that I'm pretty useless at GT5. Race traffic adds a multiplier that can only end in me skidding hopelessly off the track, probably taking someone else with me. Little late huh? Anyway, I'm looking for a car that can be used to practice most or all tracks in the game usefully and reliably, with the lessons learned scaling well to other performance levels and tire settings.

My current choice is a Shelby Series One, all stock right down to the tires and oil, broken in (it's an online dealership car). I chose it because it has fairly steady handling, yet still takes some skill to get the best from, and is quick enough to not be catastrophically boring. I use no aids except ABS 1, and I'm running a G27, paddle shifting. The track I'm working on now is Laguna Seca.

Also, does anyone know a good guide I can use to get started figuring the tracks out?

Also, now that I've decided to stop being lazy about my driving technique, I'll have to transfer some lazy to the car preparation process. I've heard of fully automatic grinding, but does anyone know a method of breaking in a car without intervention? Preferable one that works with any car. I have about 25 cars I'm waiting to tune, with more on the way. Some of them are premiums that'll need to be broken in. Some of them are standards that'll need to have the "fresh oil boost" worn off before I start to gather driving impressions.
 
I use an Amuse S2000 GT1 Turbo, its not hard to control, but it tought me how to correct slides and how to NOT spin out.
 
I used an AE86 with a 1.5 way equivalent diff to master my technique.

Tune it to 150 bhp initially and increase as you improve to demand more and more deliberate inputs.
 
The way I learn a track is starting with a low horsepower car (like 50 hp) with decent handling and minimal modifications and simply run practice laps until I've mastered it.

I'll set a number of laps to successfully run (say 10-20) before I graduate to a faster car and repeat the process. If at any time I crash, I demote myself to a slower car and try again.

Learning tracks with high HP cars is counter productive in my opinion, you gotta walk before you can run.
 
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=246930&highlight=how+to+go+faster
^There's lots of good pointers in this thread.

I especially like the pointer about focusing on one aspect to improve upon during your practice. Practice mode with a ghost is great. Now that on and offline physics are so similar, it's made that mode much more useful. I like to use practice mode to improve my corner exits which is what I'm focused on now.

Conventional advice is use a lower powered RWD on Comfort Tires. Any Mazda Miata is great. The Mazda Roadster TC is an awesome Race Car on Sports Hards.

Not sure if there's any track guides for GT5's tracks. Quite frankly practice is the best teacher. The same with traffic. Joining a Club like Turtle or Snail that has skill levels is a great way to do both. I've raced with Turtle a little and there's all experience levels. A lot of guys are good teachers. Off track excursions are expected with inexperienced drivers. You'll get to know other drivers during practice sessions which is much better than randoms in pub lobbies. Saving replays to watch the fast guys is helpful too.

Although the AI isn't perfect, driving cleanly around them is helpful for car control. I've driven with my own rules of no initiated AI contact, no dive bombing and staying within track boundaries. Using at least one tire grade lower than them. I learned to drive with ABS 0 that way.

I use that BSpec Laguna Endurance for initial Premium car break in. Indy works too. Pretty sure a 0 miles OCD car's peak power is attained from just an oil change.

Good luck!
 
To learn the tracks, I use the DLC TC cars. They are fantastic throwabouts and you can find your limits easily enough if you equip Sports hard tires.
 
Learning tracks with one car is ok up to a point, but you need to mix it up. Probably once you are reasonably happy with your knowledge, it's a good idea to change class and layout/ drivetrain. Brake, turn and gas points can vary considerably, and lines might differ.

As far as online, the physics/grip are still different so make sure not to give it up. I've only started online recently and got caught out a few times. Look for low pp rooms with comfort or sports hard (450pp up), and try shuffle racing - great for track and race practice and not usually too serious if you screw up. You probably will not be the worst driver.
 
NCRthree
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=246930&highlight=how+to+go+faster
^There's lots of good pointers in this thread.

I especially like the pointer about focusing on one aspect to improve upon during your practice. Practice mode with a ghost is great. Now that on and offline physics are so similar, it's made that mode much more useful. I like to use practice mode to improve my corner exits which is what I'm focused on now.

Conventional advice is use a lower powered RWD on Comfort Tires. Any Mazda Miata is great. The Mazda Roadster TC is an awesome Race Car on Sports Hards.

Not sure if there's any track guides for GT5's tracks. Quite frankly practice is the best teacher. The same with traffic. Joining a Club like Turtle or Snail that has skill levels is a great way to do both. I've raced with Turtle a little and there's all experience levels. A lot of guys are good teachers. Off track excursions are expected with inexperienced drivers. You'll get to know other drivers during practice sessions which is much better than randoms in pub lobbies. Saving replays to watch the fast guys is helpful too.

Although the AI isn't perfect, driving cleanly around them is helpful for car control. I've driven with my own rules of no initiated AI contact, no dive bombing and staying within track boundaries. Using at least one tire grade lower than them. I learned to drive with ABS 0 that way.

I use that BSpec Laguna Endurance for initial Premium car break in. Indy works too. Pretty sure a 0 miles OCD car's peak power is attained from just an oil change.

Good luck!
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I know that about the OCD, but some of my standards are normal UCD cars that need engine rebuilds. I usually try to wear off the fresh oil boost to get a "100% stock" car before I consider it ready (even if I'm just going to change the oil again anyway).

And yes, practicing clean driving around the AI could probably help, as most of my AI experience at this point has been in the seasonals - which I consider "easy money" first and foremost and thus have no problem driving dirty in.

The reason I'm asking these particular questions is, because I never really bothered to memorize much about the tracks, it's really difficult to tell where my weak spots are. So far it seems to be a combination of lead feet and bad timing. The fact that I tend to right-foot-brake (a habit developed driving on the street in real life) probably causes some of it.
 
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I always do a few laps in my Roadster 2007 (Premium), just to warm up for Shuffle racing. However, if you're having trouble controling your car, then I'd suggest trying something with difficult handling. The reason is that after driving such cars, everything else will seem easier. The Lotus Esprit V8 on Comfort Softs at Nurburgring 24H, the Camaro SS on Comforts Softs at Indy Road, & the Lotus Elise 111R on Comfort Softs at Suzuka would all be a good place to start (all stock - no tuning). Then find your own wild car/tyre combos, & try to tame them beasts too!

:D
 
Personally I think the premium rx7 is the most well balanced car in the game and the absolute best for learning about lines, weight transfer, etc.

SH or CS tires.
 
White & Nerdy
After a couple of online disasters earlier today, I've come to the conclusion that I'm pretty useless at GT5. Race traffic adds a multiplier that can only end in me skidding hopelessly off the track, probably taking someone else with me. Little late huh? Anyway, I'm looking for a car that can be used to practice most or all tracks in the game usefully and reliably, with the lessons learned scaling well to other performance levels and tire settings.

My current choice is a Shelby Series One, all stock right down to the tires and oil, broken in (it's an online dealership car). I chose it because it has fairly steady handling, yet still takes some skill to get the best from, and is quick enough to not be catastrophically boring. I use no aids except ABS 1, and I'm running a G27, paddle shifting. The track I'm working on now is Laguna Seca.

Also, does anyone know a good guide I can use to get started figuring the tracks out?

Also, now that I've decided to stop being lazy about my driving technique, I'll have to transfer some lazy to the car preparation process. I've heard of fully automatic grinding, but does anyone know a method of breaking in a car without intervention? Preferable one that works with any car. I have about 25 cars I'm waiting to tune, with more on the way. Some of them are premiums that'll need to be broken in. Some of them are standards that'll need to have the "fresh oil boost" worn off before I start to gather driving impressions.
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Ghost glitch! Thats what I do, I suck at drifting lol so when I do it I do the ghost glitch to not be a bother to other players, there are two ways to do it, go a bit into the pit stop(whol car has to be inside it maybe like 10ft in? and hold ebrake then press start, do not rev or anything, then wait like about 15 seconds and it'll turn your car around! Then continue(if it glitches back and forth, just wait until it fixes itself(usually 20 seconds) then boom! Have fun! :)
 
I use the Nissan GT-R, use nearly a stock one to get familar with the track, thought I do have to mod the drivetrain so I can fiddle to where the power goes
 
Try starting off with a civic or any FF car, to keep things simple. Keep the driving line on at first. Then move on to an AWD car (any evo or skyline should do), Then go for an FR car (s2000 works great, it'll teach you how to properly control or recover from slides). Practice for a while and if you think you got it, turn the driving line off. Well that's how I learned how to drive on GT5. Try it, maybe it'll help. Or maybe I could just answer your question and tell you that the 350z is a great practice car.
 
Use a rwd car. Fwd and 4wd will only teach bad habits.
 
Woodski_427
Do you use the driving line?
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I've tried, it usually confuses me. Now, not only do I have to watch the track and what I'm doing, I have to chase an ever-shifting line that always seems to result in slightly funky everything and that I can never follow quite right (because it shifts based on speed, so when you hit the brakes, you suddenly find the indicated braking point running away from you).
 
practice with a x1 whr u need to have fast reflexes and that d x1 will wobble like hell on the g27...so when u drive normal cars u will be able to handle it btr
 
White & Nerdy
I've tried, it usually confuses me. Now, not only do I have to watch the track and what I'm doing, I have to chase an ever-shifting line that always seems to result in slightly funky everything and that I can never follow quite right (because it shifts based on speed, so when you hit the brakes, you suddenly find the indicated braking point running away from you).
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Yes, the driving line is ok for a few laps to get you round, but as you say, you just follow the line and get confused by the brake points. I wondered as you said earlier you never really learn the tracks - I used to find this if I used the line.
 
The driving line sucks & the braking points are way too conservative. The only thing I ever use it for is to guide me on strange snow/ice tracks when we do these races online.

As for a great practice car, buy an M3 Coupe '07 at the BMW dealership, change its oil & put sports soft tyres on it & have fun! 👍
 
iamsupernasty
Personally I think the premium rx7 is the most well balanced car in the game and the absolute best for learning about lines, weight transfer, etc.

SH or CS tires.
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This would be on my list for sure but more of a second or third stage car. I think one of the best, most balanced cars in the game and excellent for learning with is the GT12/BRZ/FR-S. Incredible right out of the box on CS tires and just over 400PP. You can use this car right up to 500PP by adding mods to it.

RX7 Type R' 02' would be the next step up from this car, on Sports Hards.
Great car out of the box again, no tuning needed, and it can be modded up to 550PP.

The Ferrari F430 Scuderia is an excellent choice starting around 550PP. You can move up to Sport Mediums if you like but it's still easily controllable on Sport Hards.

If you want to move up to race cars at this point, there's nothing better than one of the GT500 GT-R's on Race Hards around 600PP, stock tuning.

For tracks Laguna is a good technical track that requires you to be on the racing line or pay severe penalties. Deep Forest and Trial Mountain in my opinion have a little too much grip and give you a sense of overconfidence you won't get on real world tracks.

Stick to ABS1 and turn all other aids off. Your goal should be to learn how to reach the limit of the car and also finding out what happens when the limit is exceeded and ways to minimize the damage when you do so. Learn braking points. Learn each corner and whether you can trail brake effectively or have to brake in a straight line. Which corners can use a little trailing throttle to keep the back end in check. Where can you use curbs or not.

Smooth in and fast out is best at first, although the real aliens will put the car into a slight drift on entry. For now, concentrate on smooth in/fast out. One important thing I see a lot of guys online fail to do is use the whole track. On most corners you should enter the corner from as far outside as possible and on exit run as far wide as possible. If you can exit a corner and still have 4 or 5 feet of track outside of you, you make a mental note that you could have carried more speed through there and try to do that next time through.
 
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