Tuning to simulate a car not in GT5

[morph25]

I'll be able to go drive the nurburgring next year in person and since it's a once in a lifetime chance, I wanted to be as prepared as I could be ahead of time. Obviously GT5 should not be used to become over confident but I also think it's not a bad idea to spend some time on.

I've taken the '07 M3 and changed the following to try to simulate the X1 xDrive35:
* ecu lowered to put out 300hp
* custom suspension and lifted the car the max amount (30mm? but the X1 is actually 6" taller (based on the E91 3-series touring wagon))
* custom transmission gearing matching the ZF 6HP transmission (or close to, first gear wouldn't go low enough to get the actual ratio it uses)
* added ballast to 1720kg (x1 weighs roughly 3800lbs)
* driving with comfort soft

I couldn't get near the 5.3s 0-60 with 300 hp and found that I needed about 330hp to get about 5.3s 0-60, so I often settle for about 315hp as the ring is less about HP and more about handling.

Obviously this is all best attempts, and I'd like to have settings that are both slightly above and below what the X1 would actually be like so that I can practice at both sides of the spectrum.

The main problem I'm really facing is the M3 rwd, not awd and in fact there are no BMW cars in GT5 that are xDrive or xi models. I had picked the M3 since I thought it might be the closest handling car but rwd does seem to negate this idea.

I've wondered about the Mini Countryman (the model year 2016 X1 and mini countryman will start to share the same chasis but the current e84 X1 uses the e31 3-series touring wagon chasis) and the Countryman in GT5 is the fwd, not awd version, not to mention about a forth less in weight, and smaller in all other dimensions, about 16" in length.

The X1 handles much more car like than an X3/suv in real life, close to what a 3 series is like but not as well as a 3 series obviously due to being 6" higher. I had tried the 330i but there were even more complications in tuning to get it to be like the x1 as compared to the m3.

Any thoughts on what cars and tunings are likely to get me practicing as close of a configuration as what may be realistic?

 

[CyKosis1973]

Any of the following will get you close(ish) to the type and size vehicle that you want, with 4WD. The Audis are probably a bit short and light and the Land Rover is probably over the top. The Infiniti, Mazda, Mitsu and Toyota are reasonably close in stature.

I appreciate that none of them are BMW's.

Audi A3 3.2 quattro '03
Audi S3 '02
Infiniti FX45 Concept '02
Land Rover Range Stormer Concept '04
Mazda MX-Crossport Concept '05
Mitsubishi AIRTREK Turbo-R '02
Toyota CALDINA GT-FOUR '02

In terms of using GT to familiarise yourself with the track, it's not a bad idea, but it'll never give you the full appreciation. Here's an unscientific demonstration...

 

[morph25]

Thanks CyKosis,

I agree GT won't ever replace the real world. I think it does help to learn the track and to learn what corners you have to be more careful on vs others. The ring also has many bumps, slick spots and different dynamics that aren't in the game either so a good combination of reading, youtube, GT, and driving smarts should always be considered.

I'll test out the cars tonight but a quick look at specs online gave me the following info:

Audi A3 3.2 quattro '03 - 4" shorter (height), foot shorter (length), 2" narrower, 9" shorter wheelbase, wife had one and it's suspension is waaay too soft/boat'ish irl compared to the x1.
Audi S3 '02 - Same specs as a3, but hopefully a better suspension, more like the BMW x1
Infiniti FX45 Concept '02 - 6" taller, about a foot longer, 2" wider, 4" longer wheelbase, maybe a possible candidate as it's proportionately oversized to the X1 which would help me train on the under performing side?
Land Rover Range Stormer Concept '04 - 10" taller, I stopped reading there, Rovers are in their own world when it comes to handling, at least irl.
Mazda MX-Crossport Concept '05 - 5" taller, 3" wider, 10" longer, but same wheelbase. Maybe a possible contender?
Mitsubishi AIRTREK Turbo-R '02 - 2" taller, same width, 2" shorter, 5" shorter wheelbase, used an open diff like the X1 does (not sure that matters in the game? thoughts?) but the most X1 like for dimensions.
Toyota CALDINA GT-FOUR '02 - Car, much shorter and doubt it would handle the same.

Anyway, I would have never guessed the Mitsubishi Airtrek would be so much like the X1 in body. But is this the best place to start for tuning a vechicle like the X1 or should I be considering other factors like wheel base, if the car is considered more 'performance' labeled like the A3 or S3 instead? I have no idea how GT determines performance and handling. Is it based on real world information or fudge factors and guestimating by the coders?

And for tuning, what aspects should I focus on (besides engine/0-60)? If I were to use the Airtrek, A3, or GX45? Like How many mm should I consider raising or lowering to perform like a 6" taller or shorter X1? Anything I can do to simulate a wider wheelbase?

Thanks,

 

[CyKosis1973]

To be honest, Morph, you're going to struggle to properly emulate your car. You're just going to have to make best endeavours. In terms of tuning the car, you can make a decent fist of matching weight, power and gears. It maybe easier to use the adjustable sports suspension, rather than the full kit. There will be less variables for you to content with. I'm sure with enough Googling you could find the suspension settings for the X1, but I've found that translating those settings to the game to be awkward, at best.

You're best suited to making the car feel like your real ride. Have a look through the stickies at the top of this thread, they'll help you set your suspension up. Sorry I can't give you a decent answer...

{Cy}

 

[morph25]

Actually, your answer is perfect. I had wondered if all having all the real world data would actually translate and it sounds like it won't. I'll match up weight, gearing+0-60, work from a sport suspension, and see how that gets things going.

Unfortuntely I've only test driven the car a couple times and would need hours of wheel time to know how it actually handles to work from, which I can't do until Europe.

I'll setup 4 or so of those cars you mentioned and learn them all and figure that the x1 will be somewhere around there. If I learn the weakest points of each around the track I should be decently prepared to avoid the majority of the surprises on the ring.

Thanks again.

 

[XDesperado67]

Just a random thought, but if the A3/S3 Audis are to small what about the S4 wagon?

 

[morph25]

Just a random thought, but if the A3/S3 Audis are to small what about the S4 wagon?

Actually, the A4/S4 wagon is closer, only about 5" longer (length), 5" shorter (height), same width, and 2"-4" narrower wheelbase.

Of all these cars on this page, which is actually likely to handle most like an X1 pre-tuning and be the most X1'ish? I'm guessing the S4 might be more 'on rails' than the x1 would really be but I'm not sure. Audi's always seemed (to me) to understeer and not be performance like but the most I've spent driving a bmw is about 30 minutes in the X1 and I can only go by what I read... Audi's AWD is different than BMW's xDrive which is an open diff and actually gives most or all power to the rear wheels unless there's slipping I've read, full 100% or 80/20 under normal driving (I'm not sure which of these it is actually, it's a bit undecided I think).