The Altezza = a drifiting natural!

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Duke

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I just ran the Beginner Altezza series last night, and I have to say, if ever there was a natural born drifter, it's the Altezza. Maybe I missed it, but I haven't really heard anybody recommend this car in the "How Do I Drift" threads. Even on slicks I was sideways half the time. I'm definitely going to have to try some exhibition drifting in this one!

That was a fun race series, too. I remember a thread from a while back where somebody was asking if the AI got faster as this series went on, and I'm here to say they definitley do. I wasn't tired, or off concentration, and Seattle is my favorite track. But I was pushing to the limit to win that one by decimal seconds, while the early races were a shoe-in.

They got more aggressive by far, too. I was spun or bullied off line numerous times. Nothing like having a perfect limits apex set up, only to get goosed by the 2nd-place car and sent wide.
 
I'll try that. Even though I don't know how to drift I'll try it
 
Brake fairly hard in a straight line, and turn in sharply as you ease off the brakes. As soon as the car begins to rotate, get into the gas hard. I guarantee you'll end up having to countersteer.
:thumbsup:
For a good starter, try the hairpin at the end of the front straight in Seattle (clockwise).
 
Hey thats cool, but I dont see whats so hard about drifting I actually try to drive the car around the tracks without sliding or drifting. I try to drive a very clean line all around without the drift.
 
Toyota seems big on drifters... first the Trueno (sp?), then the Altezza... :thumbsup: Maybe I should try the Altezza with Sim tires... :D

Yah. Post #900.
 
I noticed the same thing on the ALtezza Series. I remembered I passed the first three races, then I stopped. Later like a week I continued and I struggled to keep with the AI but at last I came first in the last two. Seattle and SSR5.
 
Originally posted by CudaMan
[Note the big "L" on the grille... in Japan... :p]
Click to expand...

Yeah, and well the fact the guy's talking Japanese sorta gives it away too. Just a bit. :rolleyes:

:D

That Altezza needs an alignment, hehe.
 
Rear wheel drive baby. You wont see too many front drivers doing the drifts.
In answer to GTS, drifting is actually sliding around a corner in a controlled slide, all the way through most of the corner.
If done correctly, you can achieve some great lines and fast corners.
Most drivers want to be right on the edge of breakaway (sliding) for the fastest laps, but drifting around with some cool tail sliding action is the tits. :D
I find myself doing the occasional drift quite frequently and there are those times Im in the dirt or grass from too much joy of going sideways.
Oh, just checked out the vid and it rocks. Man, I love that.
Sweet driving and if you check it out, youll know what drifting is.
The above post, never mind, just check out the video.
Misnblu
 
I'm no expert, but here's what I know:

Drifting is essentially when your two rear tires break their traction (usually because their spinning faster than the car is going, or because their still pushing forward while your car is turning in a different direction). Because of this, you can "tuck in your line" more, which means that you can go through the corner with a smaller radius, since your butt is swinging out, which helps point you in the direction of the exit. However, this only works well for controlled drifts, and for specific corners. For an example of an un-controlled drift, win yourself a TVR Speed 12, turn off ASM and TCS, and stick Simulator tires on it... and watch as your rear end suddenly seems to take the place of where the nose was a minute ago. :p As for specific corners, drifting doesn't work on everything... If you try to drift on every corner of a track, you're bound to go slower than if you just drifted on a few corners. Tight corners are generally no-no's when it comes to drifting, simply because you're not going fast enough, or you'll have a high likelyhood of slamming into the wall. Just try for yourself, and you'll eventually see which corners are the most ideal for drifting. ;)

On another note, drifting and powersliding are not the same thing. Dirfting is when your two rear tires break traction, while powersliding is when all four of your wheels break traction, thus sending you sideways. Powersliding is rarely helpful (though I have successfully used it a few times), and will eat up your tires.
 
Well, I never 'drift' for racing purposes. I just found the Altezza to be tailhappy during the racing series. When going for speed, I try to minimize the oversteer.

And '_cycler, I hate to contradict you, but IMHO there are two errors in your post above:

1) The only time I try to drift on purpose is for fast rotation on very tight corners. On sweepers, you are better off with a good smooth four-wheel-drift. Which brings me to point the second:

2) Powersliding is not breaking all four wheels loose. *That* is actually what true racers refer to as drifting - slight sideways motion by all four tires. Powersliding is a form of GT/exhibition drifiting - using power to break the rear end loose.
 
Originally posted by neon_duke
...They got more aggressive by far, too. I was spun or bullied off line numerous times. Nothing like having a perfect limits apex set up, only to get goosed by the 2nd-place car and sent wide.
Click to expand...

I did warn you about that in the TT thread! I'm glad it wasnt just me having problems with the other Altezzas at Seattle... Does drift pretty wild though...
 
:audi: TT series was ok I think...... :toyota: Altezza was fine aswell.....

How come you guys having problems? Are you sure you fully tuned? :D
 
only two words for a tune lexus in drifting "ARRRRRRRRRRRR SIIIIIIIIICK" I dunno about the LM version but I reckon it should have the same results
 
The Altezza series, or the car itself? What is giving you trouble?

The Altezza is deceptively powerful and fast, and has a pronounced oversteer. Try to be easy on the gas; brake very early so you can be smoothly accelerating through the turn rather than punching it as soon as you've got the car pointed.

Soften up the rear suspension a little to let the weight transfer back, and stay back, under acceleration.
 
Although I've never tried drifting with the Altezza, that car is a ton of fun to drive...It could be faster, but it has great handling...plus it looks pretty rad :)
 
I had absolutely no trouble in that altezza series, probably one of my favorites
 

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