Repeatedly fooled: The Open-top convertibles

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JockeP22

JockeP22

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The game has successfully fooled me four times so far. I have purchased the Ferrari California, BMW 507, Honda S2000 and the Mercedes SL 55 AMG each time under the impression that I was in fact acquiring a model with the top down. Turns out it is not the case.

At the dealership and in the 'paint room' they are all open-tops, but in the garage and "in-game" on the track they are not.
It's a bit disappointing not to get the product advertised so to speak.
There should be a notice or some sort of heads-up information before
purchase.

Not a rant, just merely wondering why they program some cars in two different ways and you only find out about it post-purchase.
 
I'm not entirely sure why they would do this, my only guess being that you wouldn't compete in a real race with the roof down, and PD thinks its more 'realistic' (or something) to limit convertibles to always having their tops on. Just my thoughts, but even still I wish it didn't force the top on...
 
Ferrari California had the top down in GT5. I don't know why it was changed. As far as I know the only convertible constantly having the top down is BMW Z8 (apart from Cobra and etc.).
 
challengerrt10
Ferrari California had the top down in GT5. I don't know why it was changed. As far as I know the only convertible constantly having the top down is BMW Z8 (apart from Cobra and etc.).
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I was going to say that I thought the only ones were Z8 and the GSX-R/4.
Does the Cobra stay top down on track?
The Z4 is open-top at the dealers but not on track.

Z8 is open-top on the actual track and of course the GSX-R/4 but it's perhaps not what you would call a convertible xD
 
Chameleon9000
I'm not entirely sure why they would do this, my only guess being that you wouldn't compete in a real race with the roof down, and PD thinks its more 'realistic' (or something) to limit convertibles to always having their tops on. Just my thoughts, but even still I wish it didn't force the top on...
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Look up images of MX5/Miata racing. It's not uncommon for them to race topless.

masterrugalm
maybe it's because if you roll over, your driver would die? :D
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Ah, the magic of the GT universe, where a blanket on a few tent poles is stronger than a steel roll cage. ;)
 
This is another example of PD's nonsensical / inconsistent game planning.

Some cars have some thing, some do not... All cars should be the same in the same game (visually, functionally etc). Convertibles should all be able to have the top down, especially as the interiors have been modelled.

GT4 did have most convertibles top down and it was always cool to see from the high camera angle the driver steering and also changing gear. I loved how fluid the hand movements were and also the crossing over of hands when doing tight turns....a visual features they also inexplicably removed from GT5 and 6 (oddly it was on GT5P).
 
JockeP22
I was going to say that I thought the only ones were Z8 and the GSX-R/4.
Does the Cobra stay top down on track?
The Z4 is open-top at the dealers but not on track.

Z8 is open-top on the actual track and of course the GSX-R/4 but it's perhaps not what you would call a convertible xD
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Shelby Cobra (not AC) has always got the top down even when it's raining. I wouldn't say that GSX-R/4 is a convertible. Other cars with the top down or just "without roof" on the track are: Jaguar XJ13, Corvette Stingray Racer Concept, Plymouth GNR, Ferrari 330 P4, MX5 Touring Car. I think that it's all. I don't care about standards.
 
It could have something to do with reducing the graphical load on the system. PD may have reduced the LOD of the interiors when viewed from outside of the car, to the point where they weren't happy with the way the interiors looked from the chase cam. So to hide that, they forced all the convertibles to have their roofs up. I have nothing to back this up, but it's an idea.
 
In real life, convertible cars would be far from ideal for racing. The car body is far less rigid, far less aerodynamically efficient, and also theres the problem of the rolling, its dangerous.
 
You know, when this thread was originally posted it came up in the feed, didn't know it was the GT6 section.

I briefly thought it was posted by someone who would consistently sit in what they think are convertible cars looking for the roof button then come to the realisation it's a hard top :lol:
 
Chameleon9000
I'm not entirely sure why they would do this, my only guess being that you wouldn't compete in a real race with the roof down, and PD thinks its more 'realistic' (or something) to limit convertibles to always having their tops on. Just my thoughts, but even still I wish it didn't force the top on...
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I remember reading something along those lines years and years ago - early days of GT.
But my thoughts are... if you're a driving simulator as opposed to a racing simulator... wouldn't it be more simulator-like to drive a convertible with the top down.

If the idea is that a racing series wouldn't allow a Miata with the top down and no roll cage. Surely they wouldn't allow a stock RX7 without one either.

Crazy PD. Inventing rules to protect the virtual driver. One step ahead but on a completely different track.
 
NixxxoN
In real life, convertible cars would be far from ideal for racing. The car body is far less rigid, far less aerodynamically efficient, and also theres the problem of the rolling, its dangerous.
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Well, the S2000's X-frame is apparently exceptionally rigid, more so than most conventional hard top cars of the time. The rest is true, though.
 
NixxxoN
In real life, convertible cars would be far from ideal for racing. The car body is far less rigid, far less aerodynamically efficient, and also theres the problem of the rolling, its dangerous.
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This is not always true.

If the car is designed as an open top roadster (ie MX5, S2000, etc), there is no "loss of rigidity" due to not having a roof.

Typically, it is only cars which are first designed with a rigid top, and then later converted to convertibles, which suffer a loss of rigidity (and/or subsequent gain in weight in an attempt to reinforce the weakened chassis).



I do agree that convertibles are typically less aerodynamically efficient, although I would think this would only have an impact at speeds higher than most roadster/convertible street cars race at. People race MX5s with hardtops, soft tops, top down, and sometimes top down / windshield removed, and no one really gains a significant advantage one way or the other.

As far as rolling over, to compete in most sanctioned racing events, you need a helmet and roll cage of some sort anyways - roof or no roof. My guess would be that having a full roof (with a cage inside) is still safer, but I wouldn't be surprised to find someone who could provide evidence which could suggest the contrary.
 
Yes, in case the car is designed as a roadster, it doesnt suffer the rigidity loss. But normally designed cars with top, the convertible version does
 
Imari
Look up images of MX5/Miata racing. It's not uncommon for them to race topless.



Ah, the magic of the GT universe, where a blanket on a few tent poles is stronger than a steel roll cage. ;)
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hahaha GT it's full of magic! for example on SSR X you can go at more than 300 km/h hit the e-brake do a 360 spin, and not only you don't roll over, you can release the brake and hit the gas and continue going forward! back on topic: it seems they used this "magic" blanket for cars instead of having bob's head all over the ground, but I don't think it's the case since there are other cars that doesn't have a top, doesn't anyone have a video or a image of, say, the shelby cobra doing a rollover?
 
From PDs side they can save a little in rendering a roof as opposed to a more detail-demanding interior. Hopefully in GT7 on PS4, where resources are not so restricted, we will be able to choose roof up or roof down.
 
Another example of how random PD is. Or perhaps a sign that the game is unfinished? I really don't know. We should have an option to chose if we want the car with the top up or down. GT4 had that option, so there is no excuse why GT6 shouldn't. It's just another of those little good things left out of the game in order to focus on pointless features.

OP, I love your avatar, by the way \m/
 
I agree that the game should be more transparent when it comes to things like thos.

challengerrt10
Ferrari California had the top down in GT5. I don't know why it was changed. As far as I know the only convertible constantly having the top down is BMW Z8 (apart from Cobra and etc.).
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I don't mind that the Ferrari changed. In my opinion, it looks much better when closed.
 
For a realistic answer to this question, having the roof up means not having to render anywhere near as many objects in 3rd-person view. A roof panel has less polygons than all the seats, driver, dash, etc. etc. - all stuff you can't see while in 3rd person (or that runs at a much lower level of detail when in 3rd person).
 
masterrugalm
maybe it's because if you roll over, your driver would die? :D
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Convertible cars these days have two or more bars that shoot up from behind the rear passengers headrest should the computer detect a sudden change in the angle of the chassis, my moms E36 had this feature.
 
I had avoided driving these cars because they were convertables thanksfor the heads up lol

Funny how we dont have a single hard top s2000 and the one convertable has its top up
 

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