This is one of my favorite series in the game because seems like the AI is so consistent. That allows you to choose a car, do a little testing for mods and make it really hard or really easy... My preference is really really hard.
The competition is only the Griffith when he is there. That is most all the time however, I believe I recall the MS Elise being the competition in one or two of the line up the game offers up. That being said:
I think one of the most challenging and fun cars is the Cobra which is, obviously the car you win there so if you don't want to spend the money this is all moot. The car is soooo tail happy it is a hoot to try and learn to control it. Cobra with racing tranny picking tires accordingly and whatever other mods to help you control it=fun times and a learning experience that will make you faster everywhere in the game. Cobra controlled=easy win even with no mods to the motor.
Mazdaratis are fun too. Can be a pretty easy win if you overtune them. (I say "them" because you can win the series in any one of them.) They can also be easily set up to make the series really competitive. I found the J model (old one stock 12x hp or the 13x hp) to actually be the faster one when tuned up so I would say the LS (new body style) is the choice if you want competive.
Any of the S2000 (Mugen, Spoon, Honda) are good choices for easy wins or competitive wins.
Ruf 3400s as well as the Griffith are pretty much a walk unless you really skimp on mods. Both are incredibly stable right out of the box and only get better with mods and correct tuning. They drive differently because of the difference in their platforms so the choice is your preference there. Of all of the choices, I think these are the hardest to make competitive. You can't hardly not lose with either of these just slightly tuned.
Silvia I've yet to try.
Benz is the same as the Mazda LS thing as far as I'm concerned although with fewer choices to make an easy win if you are fairly new to the game.
At Grand Valley, The Griffith jumps out ahead and pits at 5. If you are running clean laps in the 1'57.xxx range, you will pass him before he pits easy. You might even pass him at the 1'58.xxx range. I think if you are running clean 2'02.xxx and don't pit, you win... tight, but you win. Anything beyond that and you have a questionably tight race.
The Trial Mt. race is the tougher nut to crack in my opinion. If you won handily at Grand Valley, the same car will win here but if you barely won at Grand Valley, you will have a time of it here.
The Blue Beach is the easiest of the three as far as I'm concerned. AI doesn't ever seem to get this track for some reason or another. If you won handily at either of the two previous races, you will be all alone during this race. Want competitive here? I would suggest ditching some mods.
phattboy
Edit:
By the way... If you haven't already, you really should read the compendium that Der Alta put together for a slew of information in this regard. My opinion is it is a must read for GT3 players and well worth your while.
http://www.deralta.net/compendium
