Caterham Fireblade - whats the point?

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TheChef

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Sorry if this has been answered else where in the forum. The Seach proved very usefull for the 5000 other questions I had.

I'm a fair weather GT4 player. Not got the greatest of technique so normally rely on earning loads of credits from one race/series i can win consitently to buy/upgrade my next car so I have at least double the HP of the starting line up.
So far the tactics are working well but... Whilst trying to buy a suitible care for the lightweight cup I stumbled across the Caterham Fireblade '02 well within the 3400mm maximum lenght specifications. So I earnt my 60,000 to buy it, bought it (well chuffed!) but when I try to enter the Beginners Area I get a message that this car is a 'special' car so I cannot use it (Not so chuffed!). So my questions are:

1) I can understand the Nike car is not really useable as its a fictional motor and you cannot buy it (i belive - only win it) But the Caterham is a real car, theres one outside my office window. From what I remeber There was no warning it wasn't useable in any race mode GT4 just took my credits! So whats the point of it being there? - or did I miss anything? and
2)Are there any other querky cars out there that don't do 'what they say on the tin'?

I would have had the same problem with the 'Boxer Spirit' series had it not been for this Forum.
 
There are about 10 or so cars in the game which aren't useable in races because of the high polygon count, these include the Auto Union Streamliner, Benz and Daimler Patent Cars, Nike One and the Caterham, plus a few more. The polygon count is high because you can see the driver working the controls, so there isn't enough polygon space to render 5 more cars, hence time trial only.

This has been asked hundreds of times before btw.
 
The prowler I think is also 'special'.

I think teh eaon it is special is because they can't put any form of roof up. You see, the PS2 can't handle 6 cars and a moving driver, as you will see when driving a convertible in 6 car races. And becaue of that the Fireblade is special.
 
The car is open so you can see the driver inside (I've seen Super 7's with a cloth roof on but I guess the Fireblade can't have one), and I guess PD couldn't get the PS2 to run well while displaying the driver in the cockpit unless there are no other cars on the track with you. I can't think of any other car you can buy that cannot be used for any racing with other cars, but some that you win like the motor carriage/motor wagon, pretty much anything where the driver must be exposed while driving.
 
I think what the TheChef was trying to say was, that he didn't know it would do that because it was available at a Price in the Car Lot. The others cars that don't allow you to race are all Cr. -- cars, so it came as a surprise to both him and me, when I found out you couldn't race it.

Perhaps PD should have warned you somehow or made it a Prize car instead...

Oh well... no big deal... 👍
 
Found myself in the same situation. Bought that car because it met the standard for the race and was disappointed when I couldn't use it. :banghead:
 
You have not missed much by not being able to race this car, since it is not very good.
It's small and light and tuned to176bhp you would think it would be quite fast, but it goes very "light" in corners and even on straights say over 90 MPH.

It has no areodynamics so there is not you can do about that, all in all a disappointing wee car. :sick:
 
*Makes a mental note never to buy that car*
I think there was a list in another thread naming the cars that can't be used in races, hopefully this doesn't become another one of those, cause even the other one just became repetitive.
 
zenarcher
You have not missed much by not being able to race this car, since it is not very good.
It's small and light and tuned to176bhp you would think it would be quite fast, but it goes very "light" in corners and even on straights say over 90 MPH.

It has no areodynamics so there is not you can do about that, all in all a disappointing wee car. :sick:
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Just goes to show how much peoples opinions can differ. I totally disagre with you, the Fireblade is a wonderful car to drive, I personally don't care that I can't drive the car against others, I would have bought GT4 for just the 'ring and the Fireblade.
 
Heh, I fell foul to this one as well and got the exact same car.

To me, if it wasn't PD behind this, people would be so incredulous at such sloppy design and implementation, that they'd be laughing. I'm not talking about the game in general, but things like this are truly amateurish.

"Let's have a race in which only a few cars can qualify, but let's not tell the player which ones these are, and let's make them click through every single dealer, every single make, right through to the actual purchase screen - which they then have to cancel out of - just so they can see if that car matches the races specifications. And then, once they have wasted an hour searching in vain, let's make sure that half the cars that are 'eligible' you can't actualy use - ahahahhahahahahha - and then ... to make it so much sweeter, let's not the player that she can't use it, let her buy it and only tell her when she gets it to the race track! OH MY! MY POOR ACHING SIDES!!!"

:?

It's possibly some of the most blatant poor design that I have ever witnessed in a game and is starkly at odds with how wonderful other parts are. I'm not annoyed I can't race open top cars - I understand the logic behind it - but not being told of that fact is ... weak.
 
zenarcher
You have not missed much by not being able to race this car, since it is not very good.
It's small and light and tuned to176bhp you would think it would be quite fast, but it goes very "light" in corners and even on straights say over 90 MPH.

It has no areodynamics so there is not you can do about that, all in all a disappointing wee car. :sick:
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yeah i dont like this car that much either, i thought it would be cool cuz its so light... but its not 👎
 
i love the caterham
i have it pretty well max out as modifications go so the car can haul pretty good.
at le mans i had it doing 185mph on the mulsanne straight.
but i hate it when i cant race it against anything. that sucks
 
Scaff
Just goes to show how much peoples opinions can differ. I totally disagre with you, the Fireblade is a wonderful car to drive, I personally don't care that I can't drive the car against others, I would have bought GT4 for just the 'ring and the Fireblade.
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good, some caterahm fans, hey all i have to say to everyone is, you do not know what your missing on, this car in real life was voted as the purest driving tool presently in production, all i ask i do some GOOD research before making comments about how fast the car goes, the car infact goes like stink, ive bee in a standard caterham and that has a very weedy engine, but ill blow sooo many other more powerful cars around the track, and as for acceleration.........................ill leave you to do some research, and handling......i have nothing else to say.
 
zenarcher
You have not missed much by not being able to race this car, since it is not very good.
It's small and light and tuned to176bhp you would think it would be quite fast, but it goes very "light" in corners and even on straights say over 90 MPH.

It has no areodynamics so there is not you can do about that, all in all a disappointing wee car. :sick:
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Hahahaha. You're joking, right?
 
I was seriously pissed off to how crap GT4 has made this car... i mean in reality in standard spec, it should kick ass on any twisty circuit against anything but a pure race car.

in the game it's slow, doesn't handle and accelerates like a golf cart. have sony never actually seen how quick these things really are.

and of course the double disapointment of not being able to actually race the thing...
 
bambi851
I was seriously pissed off to how crap GT4 has made this car... i mean in reality in standard spec, it should kick ass on any twisty circuit against anything but a pure race car.

in the game it's slow, doesn't handle and accelerates like a golf cart. have sony never actually seen how quick these things really are.

and of course the double disapointment of not being able to actually race the thing...
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Anything but a pure racecar? Try this: buy the Caterham and the Lotus 111R. Now, modify each car within reasonable amounts. I'm talking under 220hp. Now, drive your fastest lap with each car, any track you'd like. Compare laptimes. The Caterham *should* blow away the Elise. It did for me. Now take your Elise and try it out in a Family Cup, in a level 10 race. You will outrun any car on the grid. 200 A-spec points and 500$ to show you that the Caterham *if allowed in any race* would be very fast, far faster than anything, like you said, short of a LM racer.

I love the Caterham. It is pure driving enjoyment, therefore it doesn't matter that you cannot drive against anyone. If you're going to modeify it 'til it has double the hp of anything else, then you're completely missing the point of the Caterham in the first place. What would it matter what if you cannot race anyone if you're not going to see the opponants after turn 1 anyways? It is most certainly not the car for you.

"Let's have a race in which only a few cars can qualify, but let's not tell the player which ones these are, and let's make them click through every single dealer, every single make, right through to the actual purchase screen - which they then have to cancel out of - just so they can see if that car matches the races specifications. And then, once they have wasted an hour searching in vain, let's make sure that half the cars that are 'eligible' you can't actualy use - ahahahhahahahahha - and then ... to make it so much sweeter, let's not the player that she can't use it, let her buy it and only tell her when she gets it to the race track! OH MY! MY POOR ACHING SIDES!!!"
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Even better. They tell you that your car is not legal, then, to rub it in your eyes, they have the AI driving that exact "illegal" car that you tried to enter with. Pffffft.
 
eliseracer
Anything but a pure racecar? Try this: buy the Caterham and the Lotus 111R. Now, modify each car within reasonable amounts. I'm talking under 220hp. Now, drive your fastest lap with each car, any track you'd like. Compare laptimes. The Caterham *should* blow away the Elise. It did for me. Now take your Elise and try it out in a Family Cup, in a level 10 race. You will outrun any car on the grid. 200 A-spec points and 500$ to show you that the Caterham *if allowed in any race* would be very fast, far faster than anything, like you said, short of a LM racer.

I love the Caterham. It is pure driving enjoyment, therefore it doesn't matter that you cannot drive against anyone. If you're going to modeify it 'til it has double the hp of anything else, then you're completely missing the point of the Caterham in the first place. What would it matter what if you cannot race anyone if you're not going to see the opponants after turn 1 anyways? It is most certainly not the car for you.
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couldnt have said it better. i didnt know what to say to people who overtuned it, that majorly misses the pint by adding extra weight, the fireblade is inFACt a personal project.... go read EVO magazine.
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That's what I had in mind with "It is pure driving enjoyment". evo - The Thrill of Driving.

Ironically, the very Fireblade in GT4 was photographed and modeled after the Fireblade that an editor of EVO owns.
 
eliseracer
That's what I had in mind with "It is pure driving enjoyment". evo - The Thrill of Driving.

Ironically, the very Fireblade in GT4 was photographed and modeled after the Fireblade that an editor of EVO owns.
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hahah you know about it aswell, awsome project, the sum of the materials he used must have cost him a fortune, but then again he's an editor, the capri project was also interesting but took far too long to complete.

oh i cant remember how much the car was on the scales but i think it was mid 300's (going to check...................but soon relises that he dosnt have the issue anymore) do you know?
 
It serves a purpose for people like me who time trial more than race the ai. I do more TT and rally than racing. You could make a whole list of "whats the ponit cars", even ones you can race with.
 
GT4 pushes the PS2 to it's limits, and it shows. However if not for quirks like this it would be pushing the consul over those limits, which we all know you can't do without adverse effects. All in all, GT4's shortcomings are the fault of the PS2 not polyphony digital.
 
olympia21_ca
I think what the TheChef was trying to say was, that he didn't know it would do that because it was available at a Price in the Car Lot. The others cars that don't allow you to race are all Cr. -- cars, so it came as a surprise to both him and me, when I found out you couldn't race it.

Perhaps PD should have warned you somehow or made it a Prize car instead...

Oh well... no big deal... 👍
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Why do they give out a Nike twice. They could replace one of the Nike's with this car as a prize car.
 
First of all, don't go knocking the Caterham Fireblade. I may not be British (much less European), but as an American, I love this machine because it's unique and very agile. It is a very unique machine, and I've seen Caterhams race Autocross events on TV or something. If there was a race that you can run at Gymkhana where you can do Autocross, maybe it would add some replay value for the cars you can't take circuit racing. I think you can still test some machines regardless. Anyhow, back to the Caterham. How can you hate this machine? It's a super-sweet machine to attack turns with. I even said it was like a Formula One machine because of its high-revving engine, precise steering, and great performance. I'm actually disappointed that its specs can make it able to compete in those compact car races... but you can't enter them with this. If PD could have pulled it off, there could have also been a One-Make race series featuring Caterhams. So it may be a Special Car, but what you can't race in GT Mode, you probably can in Arcade Mode. Am I knocking PD for all of this? I'm a little disappointed. But you can still unlock it for 60,000 Credits by buying it off the lot. Perhaps if PD could have made some lesser-polygon variations, it would be possible to make it work.

I think "TOCA Race Driver 2" demonstrated having several cars on the track, with visible drivers. That is, if I'm not mistaking from my PS2 gaming experience. PD will have to research and use Trial and Error to get 6 (or maybe more) Caterhams to a race track. I'd probably suggest getting the ones with the cloth top and maybe fake a visible driver. Regardless, the Caterham Fireblade is still a fun car. And if you dislike the Fireblade, perhaps you dislike real cars, even if they aren't Ferrari Enzos and Porsche Carrerra GTs.

Fun Fact: My favorite Caterham Fireblade colors: Azure Blue and Diablo Red
 
inferno
GT4 pushes the PS2 to it's limits, and it shows. However if not for quirks like this it would be pushing the consul over those limits, which we all know you can't do without adverse effects. All in all, GT4's shortcomings are the fault of the PS2 not polyphony digital.
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You are wrong and right at the same time. PD didnt have to make it the way they did. The car is raceable in Enthusia and Sega GT2002. Its all in the design. Just like its not the PS2's falut there are only 6 cars in a race. The game was designed around 6 cars. So they add more details to the cars.
 
How can anyone not like the Caterham Fireblade?
Enter a corner in a wrong line, just tip the breaks and ur going again where every other car would punish u by digging a tunnel in the sand. This thing drives like a Go -Kart!
Sure, it does take a little while before u can get the max out of it, because its limits are so far out. But im pretty sure when u do a lot of time trials with it, it will have its name firmly planted on the top of each track's record times list!
Fireblade Rocks! ( Stay off the Kerbs though...)
 

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