Submissions are closed!
Thank you everyone for participating, and please wait warmly while we go to bed. Time zone is a harsh mistress, after all. Expect Part 1 in less than 24 hours from now.
Thank you everyone for participating, and please wait warmly while we go to bed. Time zone is a harsh mistress, after all. Expect Part 1 in less than 24 hours from now.
2012 Jerboa City
Styling by @mat1476, engineering by @mcp928
Disclaimer:
I do realize other CSR cars are compact RWD and from the same era, however since CSR doesnât have a grand continuity (nor should it, too restricting) then by default I base the class exclusive claim on IRL cars. Yes, the BMW 3 series is a compact (or atlest was for a while) but it is a luxury sport. This competes with Focus, Malibu and Dart (in the US).
I know this is reaching, but it just sounds good in the advert.
Featuring the most indecisive judges in the world
Before we begin the reviews, we would like to announce the entries that have already fallen before they even got their chance to fight against the rest of the contenders. These cars, in one way or another, didnât adhere to the established rules.
@nialloftara - Exceeded Trim ET limit.
@Rise_Comics - Minimum environmental resistance not met.
@CMT - No ESC equipped.
@DoctorNarfy - Minimum environmental resistance not met.
@SpeedLife1 - Exceeded Trim ET limit.
https://i.imgur.com/KShLDTp.jpg
@Leonardo9613 - Minimum environmental resistance not met.
@Kyuu77 - Exceeded Engine PU limit by 0.3.
If you own one of those cars, then congratulations, you have unfortunately been instabinned.
In the coffee break room, the Emu Crocker Rally School team is chilling while a stack of magazines and a laptop are sitting on the nearby coffee table. Jim, the mechanic, and Trent, the instructor, are reading the copious amount of car pages, looking for the fabled new beginner rally car. Obviously these two seem to be the most excited people in the room after hearing that Mr. Crocker finally agrees to replace the old units.
T: "Okay, before we can propose a new car to the boss, the first thing we need to do is to find out the best bang for the buck out of a car. How many choices do we have currently sitting?â
J: checks list âTwenty nine cars, more or less.â
T: âLovely. Iâll start.â
@machalel - AAAA Sparrow LS
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/a/3/6/a36dfc5f9cd48e5946a4161c3dbf1dab5dc3f20e_1_690x388.jpg
T: âSo for the first car, weâve got the AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAâ
Everyone in the room: âAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAâ
T: ahem "So. The 4A⌠A4? A-A-A-A? Whatever, Iâll just call it the Aaa.
The Sparrow LS is safe, easy to drive, and reliable.
Pros:
Reliable and responsive engine
Easy to drive
Decent mileage
Good safetyCons:
Average stats of the bunch
Aluminium chassis
T: âOoh, this car uses a fancy semi-space frame chassis. Do you know how to DIY a bent aluminium frame?â
J: âLike hell do I know. Best we would do is send it back to the dealership to repair. And thatâs going to cost us a lot.â
T: âSo it is. But will you pick this car for the shortlist, if it werenât using aluminium chassis?â
J: âEhhh, probably? I have a feeling that there will be better cars down the list, though.â
Thus, the AAAA Sparrow was not considered.
@Bmaggiori - Nexra GTX
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/1/7/7/177e71dfb3dabca3d7cfa80c920ed4e15ad619ff_1_690x388.jpg
The Nexra GTX is an almost-decent all-around package that is riddled with some questionable engineering choices.
Pros:
Cheap to repair
Good engine reliabilityCons:
Power cuts off before peak RPM
Poor braking ability
A little slow???:
Longitudinal FWD
T: âHuh? What is this? A longitudinal front-wheel drive transmission? Is it really that simpler to repair?â
J: âNot only that, the premature RPM cutoff is a real chin scratcher as well.â
T: âBut the proposed service costs plan wonât lie, right?â
J: âI know, but⌠Should we really accept this one?â
T: âLetâs just put it in the âMaybeâ pile for now, rather than just bickering endlessly like this.â
Thus, the Nexra GTX was put on the new âMaybeâ pile. The cars in this pile are going to be compared at the end against each other, since the team had difficulty in reaching for a conclusion in time.
@Private_Miros - Cicero Cato 1600 TFS Ralley
J: âNext up is the Cicero Cato 1600 TFS Ra-- Rallye? Ralley? How the hell am I supposed to pronounce this? Ah bollocks, Iâll just read the review for this car.â
The Cicero Cato 1600 handles very well on the corners, but you might not be happy with its proposed maintenance plan.
Pros:
Decent safety equipment
Quite grippyCons:
Poor throttle response
Above average service costs
Below average reliability
T: âThis thing handles like a dream, or thatâs what Iâve heard at least.â
J: âAside from the slow engine rev, I see nothing wrong with it, to be honest. But I honestly donât know. Throw it to the Maybe pile?"
T: âEh, why not.â
The Cato 1600 awaits its verdict in the âMaybeâ pile.
@conan - AG3 VTR
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/9/6/3/963b45d1967e84d86df0b385202d61441a18298c_1_690x388.jpg
T: âBlack and red. Spicy.â
The AG3 VTR does very well for the price it offers, if you could get past the misleadingly-speedy black-and-red color scheme.
Pros:
Decently drivable
Good brakes
Good reliability
Very cheap to buy and maintainCons:
Itâs not fast
J: âWhat do you think? Is it any good?â
T: âItâs a damn cheap hatch, thatâs for certain. The interior is a bit bare, though.â
J: âAh, who cares about the niceties anyway. If anything, they did us a favor of pre-gutting the car.â
T: âYou may be right. Just needs a roll bar and itâll be Gucci.â
J: âUh, I ought to suggest against using copyrighted name in a professional review like this. Who knows if we might going to get copyright striked out of nowhere.â
T:
The VTR was put in the âYesâ pile.
@kobacrashi - AYO NR8
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/e/f/6/ef63e69bc3a80909b70955584ceb73e27bcfd9a8_1_690x388.jpg
The AYO NR8 is what we would call a âsport city carâ, because of how agile it is while still retaining very decent score in places that matter.
Pros:
Is on the more affordable side
Engine is quite responsive with acceptable torque curve
Reliability is eh, but is cheap to maintain
Best fuel mileage of all carsCons:
Spartan interior
Some users called it âcursedâ
T: âAAAAAYOOO!â
silence
T: âAAYOOOOO!!â
J: âPlease stop.â
T: âDEEEEEDADEEDAâOkay."
J: "Anyway, look at how low this thing sits from the ground! This car is going to eat a lot of mud in no time.â
T: âNah, we can fix that. I mean, itâs not like we canât change the suspension travel to make it taller, right?â
J: âItâs also using geared LSD⌠Are we going to be entirely fine with this?â
T: âMmmmaybe? Probably? Letâs just put this in the âmaybesâ.â
The NR8 was put in the âMaybeâ pile.
@yangx2 - Huangdou Shijie Sprite Cu
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/3/0/3/30394a5bca8a3c3bc447bebd140401fbb9bf1b6b_1_690x388.jpg
Despite its Chinese stigma, the humble Huangdou Shijie is actually impressively reliable (but thatâs mainly because thereâs really not much in it that could break).
Pros:
Cheap to maintain
Nearly-bulletproof reliability
Easy to driveCons:
Spartan basic interior
J: âOoh, I like this one a lot. It might not be saying much about how itâs going to handle on loose surface, but it might do well.â
T: âItâs not the cheapest option around, though. And I expected Chinese cars to be priced at around 10k or less.â
J: âI still think itâs worth a shot, though.â
The Huangdou Shijie was then put in the âYesâ pile.
@HybridTronny - Atera Atom SE
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/c/c/a/cca910764b0fda2bfdcc5e59e23242798f8269a3_1_690x388.jpg
An average hatch, with average performance and average styling, all wrapped up in a bright yellow shell.
Pros:
Cheap engine maintenance costsCons:
Average in every other aspect
J: âWould you take this?â
T: âMaybe? I mean, I guess if we arenât this early yet in the reviews.â
J: âWant to put it in the âMaybeâ pile?â
T: âYeah.â
J: âWeâre totally not delaying the judging for as long as humanly possible here.â
T: whistles
The Atom Atera SE was placed in the âMaybeâ pile.
@abg7 and @MGR_99 - Lyon Nave S1.6
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/8/1/0/8103e2c81c5212cd081978f33d8748151b955f29_1_690x388.jpg
T: âOhh, this one is a looker. But is it any good to handle?â
J: âLetâs find out.â
What the Lyon Nave lacks in straight line performance, it makes up for in affordability and handling.
Pros:
Easier to drive than average
Very good brakes
Cheap, cheap engine maintenance costsCons:
A little slower than average
T: âHmmm, this could be a contender to the Nexra. But which one is the better choice?â
J: âIâm not sure myself. Put it in the maybe pile for now, weâll take a look at some more cars before making a decision.â
The Lyon Nave was the next car added to the âMaybeâ pile.
@Oldenways - Quost Renner SSA i3
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/3/1/1/3118e3c2d56e540205d0bc6e9c48822c9bf08841_1_690x388.jpg
The Quost Renner, as good as it is to drive, made compromises on technical quality in favor of cheap price.
Pros:
Easy to drive
Cheap to maintain
Sips fuelCons:
Poor overall reliability
Weak engine response
Poor brakes
J: âYeah, I donât think I would take a risk choosing this one. Besides, we still have many more to look at.â
The Renner was not considered.
@NoahC - Yinzer Mantra VLSD
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/3/9/0/390219c3d68b15ff20dd33475ca06139a97b38ce_1_690x388.jpg
T: âWhatâs this envelope?â
J: âOh, that? It just came in a mailbox this morning and I forgot to hand it to the Boss. Itâs a personal letter from Yinzer addressed to him.â
T: âI want to read it.â
J: âMate, itâs rude to read letters not addressed to you-â
Trent ripped the letter open anyway.
J: âAh, piss.â
As Trent unfolded the letter, several pictures also fell from it.
T: âGood Lord, what is this car.â
Pros:
Quite cheap to maintain
Nice handling
Has AWDCons:
High price
Not very quick for the price it offers???:
Itâs a convertible
It has carbon fibre bits in certain places
T: âItâs got carbon fibre on it. Mmmmm, surely the new âuns would love to put a dent on those on their first day.â
J: âYeah, I donât think the boss is going to like it anyway. Too slow and expensive.â
The Yinzer Mantra VLSDâs proposal letter was put into a new envelope, and the crew also slipped in a new letter saying that they are not interested. That envelope was then thrown into the bin.
@Mikonp7 - Popas Rushba 4Door
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/d/f/0/df03a6a09ab7f114705567edfeb1147a0e30b4c7_1_690x367.jpg
Hailing from the harsh winters of Russia, the Popas Rushba comes in an affordable package but care is required to properly drive this car. Or should we say, âmanhandleâ it.
Pros:
Cheap
Has three stripes on the bonnetCons:
Takes forever to brake
Understeer issues⌠in a RWD car
Poor quality power steering
Slow
T: âHey, check this one out. Imported straight from the Motherland, and itâs quite low-priced, though not as cheap as the AG3.â
J: âHmmm, Iâm not sure⌠Hey, what about this next car right here?â
@thecarlover - RCM Fox EL
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/f/f/9/ff906212a7348e376f19c01ae538d7d9423a512e_1_690x388.jpg
You canât really go wrong with this cheap and very red hatchback, because it has little that could go wrong on you.
Pros:
Cheaper than the Rushba
Drives better than the Rushba
More reliable than the Rushba
Brakes are better than the Rushba
Better economy than the Rushba
Is not a RushbaCons:
Slower to accelerate than the Rushba
Lowest power output of all cars
J: âBloody hell. Yeah, Iâd take this car any day instead of the Russian car.â
T: âEven if itâs slow as sin?â
J: âEh, that might be concerning. But a cheap car is still a cheap car!â
The RCM Fox EL got put into the âYesâ pile, while the Popas Rushba didnât.
@VicVictory - Keystone Savant PXE
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/a/e/f/aefed4b5f74287cedc665f38dbd27f71596727ab_1_690x388.jpg
This giant sedan has nothing too offensive about it. Unless if you would call its crossover-like physique offensive.
Pros:
Easy to drive
Okay reliability
Cheap engine maintenance costsCons:
Sits right in the middle of the average pack
T: âThey certainly werenât wrong about it being inoffensive, but it seems pretty beginner friendly.â
J: âYeah, itâs even got a 6-speed, and the engine is pretty cheap to maintain, even if it is rather average everywhere else.â
T: âWeâll put it in the âmaybeâ pile for the time being, keep our options open.â
The Keystone Savant awaits its verdict in the âMaybeâ pile.
@SyberRacer - Rawshal Xeno
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/b/1/f/b1fcc42892c815d3a9b171f3ea7202321941996f_1_690x388.jpg
A quick hatch with bold styling, and a turbo that we wish spooled just a little bit earlier
Pros:
Good accelerationCons:
Sluggish engine
Turbo lags a little
Higher than average price
Poorer than average reliability
A little worse than average handling
J: âItâs making some good power, and it shows in that acceleration figure, but reliability doesnât seem to be the best and itâs a tad expensive.â
T: âThat turbo could be an issue for beginners, itâs not the most ideal setup from what Iâve heard.â
J: âWhile it is fast, thereâs been better cars overall. Iâm a fan of the styling though.â
The Rawshall Xeno was not considered.
@Rezn.TM - Masada Brazen RS1
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/4/b/6/4b629763b392dfadfa757c73e9699098d87dd7e7_1_690x388.jpg
Coming in at the top of the price range for the tested cars, the Brazen isnât quite what weâd expect at that price
Pros:
A little more comfortableCons:
Expensive in pretty much everything
Relatively average despite the price
T: âItâs pretty pricey, and it doesnât really have much to show for it.â
J: âThe interiorâs nice I guess, and it has AWD and LSD, but thatâs about it.â
T: âSo that settles that.â
The Masada Brazen was not considered.
@Arvok1 - Alfora Tutti
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/f/3/e/f3e00985a5f0cd2d15f849cfe7dc01306b413c04_1_690x388.jpg
The Alfora Tutti offers poor value for money, but hey, at least you can crash it and still come out alive.
Pros:
Ridiculously good throttle response
Safest car of the bunchCons:
Very poor brakes
Expensive price
Higher than average maintenance costs
Poor fuel economy???:
Dual solid axles
Billet steel crank, but cast piston and piston rods
Fuel octane not fully used
4-speed manual
J: âA 4-Speed? Are you sure you didnât grab an 80s copy? And surely these solid axles canât be good for driving dynamics.â
T: âItâs also pretty expensive, and those brakes certainly arenât helping its case.â
J: âRight, well i think that settles it.â
The Alfora Tutti was not considered.
@z2bbgr - SBA Rosales Mk.IV R150 ES
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/b/5/4/b54d83ed50410a3e9c4ec02f3308a379dbf1abda_1_690x388.jpg
A simple little hatchback with nothing too special about it.
Pros:
Cheap engine maintenance
Quite easy to drive
Decent fuel economyCons:
Somewhat expensive
Low engine reliability
Slow acceleration
J: âThat engine reliability looks rather concerning, especially considering it isnât cheap.â
T: âIt does seem pretty beginner friendly though, and engine maintenance is cheap.â
J: âEven still, I donât think the cheap maintenance can offset the downtime from the more frequent repairs.â
The SBA Rosales was not considered.
@Jaimz - DMC Blytz
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/7/6/2/762643171486172f8c2c342995910700056234c3_1_690x388.jpg
The DMC Blytz is what youâll get when you install all the good (and bad) traits of a fully-fledged sports car into a tiny, more affordable hot hatch body.
Pros:
Fastest 0-100 km/h of all cars
Most powerful engine of all cars on the list
Decently controllableCons:
Poor reliability
High service costs
High price
T: âThis oneâs got a 6 speed too, if quite expensive.â
J: âItâs lightning fast though, but that reliability worries me a bit. Maintenance isnât going to be cheap either on this one.â
T: âYouâre right. I think this if we were even going to pick this one itâs going to be more geared towards the higher-skilled drivers.â
The DMC Blytz was not considered.
@TheTom - AMW Cricket 1.8
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/a/3/4/a345f5492396aacc09780330bf874014d501d983_1_690x388.jpg
The AMW Cricket is fun to drive around, if a little high on the price bracket.
Pros:
Good acceleration
Good brakesCons:
Not the best value for its price
Turbo is slightly laggy
T: âI dunno⌠Is this going to be too much trouble to keep around?â
J: âIâm wondering that too. Itâs pretty expensive, and maintenance doesnât come cheap, reliability isnât good enough to offset that either.â
T: âIâll take that as a yes.â
The Cricket was not considered.
@Dragawn - Dragotec Discord
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/c/8/4/c8497f5d94807fb5703052bce66346b524e3e408_1_690x380.png
The Dragotec Discord is what we would like to call the âPerfect budget sports carâ.
Pros:
Cheap overall maintenance costs
Very reliable engine
Generally more affordable
Handles well on cornersCons:
There really isnât any
T: âThis car looks really niiiice.â
J: âI second that, Iâd be down to buy it off looks alone, but itâs got a solid kit to back it up too, reliable, cheap to service, decently quick, handles wellâŚâ
T: âI think we both can already agree on a verdict here.â
The Discord got accepted into the âYesâ pile.
@donutsnail - Legion Scram Spartan
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/b/4/6/b46ed4eb803164a9f8b28d2c40ab935bb6f1342c_1_690x388.jpg
As if held together by dried roadkill kangaroos and voodoo magic, the Scram Spartan is a very strange piece of engineering that, for some reason, works.
Pros:
Well-equipped safety options
Very easy to drive
Very responsive engine
Affordable
Very cheap maintenance costsCons:
Lower than average reliability
Worst fuel economy of all cars in the list???:
Thin aluminium chassis and body panels
2.4L OHV engine
Longitudinal FWD
J: âYikes.â
T: âHard pass.â
The Legion Scram Spartan was not considered.
@ST1Letho - ÄMZ Tiria 1.6
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/f/7/0/f704dbb7acb78398248d9cda1b558a91fcfb816c_1_690x388.jpg
A humble hatch of Czech origin, the Tiria blends in with the crowd pretty easily.
Pros:
Good fuel economyCons:
Average just about everywhere else
Somewhat expensive
Slightly laggy turbo
J: âIs this a Skoda? Oh never mind, not quite a Skoda, but still having Czech origins.â
T: âItâs very good on fuel, but itâs on the more expensive end of the budget.â
J: âAnd it doesnât have much to show for that price either. It has a 6 speed, but thatâs pretty much it. Turboâs rather unresponsive too.â
The Tiria was not considered.
@mart1n2005 - Courageux Saint-Malo GT
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/b/f/9/bf928ab0b6f304593607773bf5b8d3449bd5172e_1_690x388.jpg
This hatchback is a more affordable option, but it might stack up on repair costs pretty quickly.
Pros:
Cheap buying price
Cheap engine maintenance costsCons:
Poor general reliability
Poor engine response
J: âThese reliability figures donât look promising, and the general service costs arenât particularly cheap either.â
T: âItâs on the cheaper end of the scale though, and with some decent features, but it seems like the engine doesnât like to respond quickly. That could be an issue.â
J: âI donât think itâs worth the extra time in the garage, even if itâs relatively cheap.â
The Saint-Malo was not considered.
@zschmeez - Albatross Turlock 1.8T
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/3/1/3/31309c9df850be4d454ca3dd9b7ebd1bb6919a67_1_690x388.jpg
With 113 kW on the wheels, 5.6L/100km of fuel economy, and cheap price tag, this is solid car for city driving. But youâll need to have your wallet prepared on every oil change and general service.
Pros:
Good reliability
Good fuel economy
Cheap purchase priceCons:
Expensive repair costs
Braking performance couldâve been better
Every other stats are average
T: âThis one looks like it could be a good base. Itâs pretty cheap, and itâs reliable too.â
J: âThose brakes are worrying me a bit though, more cost to get it prepped.â
T: âThereâs nothing else that really sticks out to me, but thereâs some more value for money picks out there.â
J: âSo, is it a no or a maybe?â
T: âMaybe.â
The Turlock was put in the âMaybeâ pile.
@mcp928 and @mat1476 - PMC Jerboa City WDH
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/8/f/7/8f7cb24620759ab0c0006d1cc14783a060a9c10a_1_686x500.jpg
This stylish rear wheel drive hatchback has potential to be a good car, but unfortunately not in this configuration. We would recommend a higher trim level instead of this.
Pros:
Decent engine and overall reliability
Brisk accelerationCons:
A little oversteery
High price
Mediocre fuel economy
J: âWhat do you think? Good value?â
T: âIf it were $2.000 cheaper, then, yes itâs a good value. Otherwise, Iâll pass.â
The Jerboa was not considered.
@cake_ape - Mons Pluto
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/5/d/e/5de9fd159e875e1cb98cc26aec62da30c01d2df7_1_690x388.jpg
The Pluto has a lot of weaknesses.
Pros:
Easy to drive
Cheaper to maintain than averageCons:
Worst fuel economy out of all cars with turbocharged VVL engine
Touchy, overpowered front brakes
Understeery for an AWD car
Weird torque graph
Poor quality basic interior
T:
J:
The Mons Pluto was not considered.
@R30hedron - Rhebus Spirit
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/8/a/e/8ae67fda3739e8b3122758540234b066ed3731d6_1_690x388.jpg
Despite some eyebrow-raising compromises found on the rest of the car, the Rhebus Spirit is a mostly solid car.
Pros:
Decent handling
Good engine reliability
Good safety ratingCons:
Low quality brakes and chassis
Poor fuel economy
J: âOoh, Iâm a big fan of this carâs engine. Flat torque graph for days, and cheap to maintain, too.â
T: âToo bad itâs not clad in the best body. Would the boss agree to compromise everything just for a good engine?â
J: âWe can⌠You know⌠âBorrowâ an existing car that happens to use that engine and use it in one of our cars.â
T: âHey, I thought I was supposed to be the bad guy here, not you.â
With a heavy heart, the Rhebus Spirit had to be let go.
@Xepy and @CorsicaUnknown - Kadett CC
https://i.imgur.com/NXe5dNF.png
âThrow me around the corners, I dare you. I double dare you.â At least, thatâs what we thought what the car would say, since itâs so much fun to drive around in.
Pros:
Very good brakes
Snappy handling
Decent accelerationCons:
Awkward torque graph
T: âThe maintenance costs plan is a bit of a turn-off, but damn me if it isnât a nice handling car.â
J: âWant to put it on hold, then?â
T: âYeah.â
The Kadett CC was put in the âMaybeâ pile.
@GetWrekt01 - Sparsam Citispeed 1.7
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/2/0/6/206bc5f93c77e10cc9aafffd3dc0792e2136378d_1_690x388.jpg
We would describe the Sparsam Citispeed as the automobile equivalent of a cockroach: Small, quick, incites fear when you encounter one, and will make you feel very, very unsafe inside.
Pros:
Eye-wateringly quick acceleration time
Cheaper than average carsCons:
Sluggish throttle response
Not very good reliability and maintenance costs
Barely passes the safety regulation
Noticeable sportiness brake fade
J: âWhat do you think of this one? Itâs tiny like a kei car, but with honking huge engine crammed inside.â
T: âIâd drive this if I had wished for death. But nah, Iâll pass on this one.â
The Citispeed was not considered.
@XenoYparxi and @MasterDoggo - Karen Chungus XD
http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/6/c/9/6c9c5b0e68cc5c97460aca850e4cc04433cda800_1_690x388.jpg
This crossover already has the innate disadvantage against others for being larger than the average bunch, and its high price and poor economy does not help much either.
Pros:
Good handling
Good acceleration
Good brakesCons:
The name
Expensive to buy
Sluggish engine coupled with laggy turbo
Not-so-impressive fuel economy
J: âIâm just glad that they didnât call it a âSheilaââŚâ
The Karen Chungus was not considered.
J: âAlright, thatâs the last of them, and just in time for smoko too. Whoâs up for a cup of tea?â
T: âTEA? F@#$ING TEA? WHAT ARE WE, BRITISH? WE DRINK HUNTSMAN SPIDER BLOOD FOR SUSTENANCE!â
J: âMate. Ew.â
They decided to have a coffee instead.
Wasnât expecting this⌠Yay me!!
DMC take Franklin Marshall cars and sprinkle some pixie-turbo-dust on them.
But itâs so nice to drive in beam >.<
But indeed the brakes and throttle response needed to be better.
Itâs the first time that Iâm not insta binnedâŚ
Iâm quite happy with the âMaybeâ listâŚ
⌠âgiantâ sedan with wheelbase just barely longer than a Chevy SparkâŚ
But hooray for the maybe pile!
Erm, hate to be that guy, but did you open my car file before or after the update? It had a 46.2 in ER when I sent it in⌠If you want to reject it for rust issues thatâs fair, but it was definitely within the minimum.
Really? I opened the car after update, and it was ~43 on our end. You probably have suffered the same ER bug as kobacrashiâs car. We could make a retcon on the review if after weâve clarified that the car is indeed not bugged.
UPDATE: Nope, itâs still 43 with a freshly replicated car. Sorry.
Huh. Well, if I can take any solace, itâs that I can make a darn good engine, even if I donât know how to make a good car with that engine. The fact that two of my CSR entries have been docked due to brakes is mildly concerning though. I guess I donât know how to tune brakes. ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
@R30hedron
You got a great torque curve out of that engine. I canât get anything but a V8 to do that. Iâll post mine too since Iâm out anyway. My VVL is pretty visible, but oddly enough the idle and red line torques are only 14 ft/lbs off.
Congratulations to the âyesâ and âmaybeâ cars, looking forward to part 1.5.
Yeah⌠I had a weird thing where going from a basic to a standard interior added $130 a year in service costs. Which made no sense. But hey, made it to round 2, so
Haha, you can take solace that my entry for 107 (tried to make a land yacht that had a very small hint of sportiness) was binned for âbrakes turning to dust during sporty drivingâ ⌠and this one (tried to make a stripped down, but mechanically solid sporty hot hatch) was binned for âtouchy overpowered front breaksâ - among other reasons. So yea, youâre not alone who canât find the optimal break requirements for the clients. Chin up, and letâs try to hit that sweet spot next time!
The indecisiveness continues
After a quick coffee break (and a 5-hour long Minecraft session), Jim and Trent finally returned to the stacks of magazines to continue where they left off. The sky outside was already red, and the office was getting dark. They had to decide the cars right now, or theyâre not able to go home.
J: âOkay, so far weâve got 4 cars that are a definite âYesâ, but also 8 cars in the âMaybeâ pile.â
T: âIf you asked me, I wouldâve taken them all and put them all in a giant derby arena. See which car survives the longest.â
J: âNah, this ainât a Mad Max movie. After all, after some calcs we only have room for two, maybe 3 more cars if budget permits.â
T: âSo that meansâŚâ counts with fingers âFour to five cars must go.â
J:
T: âWhat?â
First car to secure the first spot was the Lyon Nave. It has some technical merits on top of reasonably good running costs and good looks.
The next in line was the big sedan Keystone Savant. Itâs not hard to pick this one, as it is similarly affordable (though not the cheapest one around) while providing solid enough specs to the table.
J: âSo thatâs two cars in. Do we have any room for a third one?â
T: pulls out calculator âDeducted from the budget Boss gave us, added with transport fees, fuel, and kit for prepping, we still have⌠$20.000 to spare for a car.â
J: âJust that much?â
T: âYeah.â
J: âAnd the only car with a $20.000 price tag isâŚâ
And finally, the Albatross Turlock was decided for the third car in the roster.
J: âDone for the day?â
T: âYeah.â
J: âMinecraft at 8?â
T: âHell yeah.â
And now for the finals.
Emu Crocker Rally School, several days later
The air was chill, since the Sun was too busy hiding behind the clouds to radiate its warmth. Earl âEmuâ Crocker was walking towards the line of cars, alongside Trent. Jim, meanwhile, called in sick.
T: âHere they are, Boss. Seven cars, all prepped with the right tires and ready for testing.â
Emu looked visibly unimpressed. He was still thinking about how much money that had been spent to purchase all these cars and their respective wheels.
T: âRelax Boss, we could always sell the rest back at near-full price after weâve decided which car is best for the job.â
EC: âThatâs not how economy works in real life, but fine. Which of these should go first?â
T: âWell, your call, Boss. Youâre the one whoâs driving them.â
EC: âThen⌠Iâll take the blue car first.â
The Lyon Nave S1.6 got its first turn on the course.
With the engine fully warmed up, the Nave pulled out of the parking lot with grace.
EC: âNot a fast one, innit?â
T: âWhat were you expecting with this much budget constraint? A Zenshi GT?âFirst corner in the course, and the Nave needed a little aggressive left-foot brake treatment. Second turn, the comeback was nice, and so on and so forth. Itâs rather slow and tends to understeer just a little bit, but its engine was linear and the handling felt very predictable.
After they were done, Emu felt content.
EC: âThat wasnât too bad to drive at all, actually.â
The next car in line was the white Huangdou Shijie Sprite Cu.
EC: âA Chinese car?â
T: âYou have to believe me when I say that this car had the best reliability track record of all cars.â
EC: âI somehow have doubts on how thatâs possible, but sure.âOn the course, the Shijieâs power was about on par with the Nave. Not fast by any means, but not horribly slow either. Itâs also somewhat more understeery than the Nave, but still generally very controllable on gravel. Praise the Lord for gravel tyres.
EC: âI⌠have nothing bad to say about this car, actually. Itâs not a broken, uncontrollable mess, itâs not expensive, and itâs not downright ugly either.â
After the two were done with the Shijie, Emu picked the black-red AG3 VTR. This spicy hatch was a surprising change of pace. While 77 kW engine rendered it noticeably slower than the Sprite under hard acceleration, the VTR made it up by actually feeling a lot faster than it is on the straights. With neutral handling and a very nice turn-in rate, it inspired confidence and kept teasing Emu to turn faster, sharper, and more aggressively while still providing stability when he screws up. For a second, Emu forgot that the car was front wheel-driven.
EC: âSlow car made fast, this is!â
Feeling happy with the last car, Emu then entered the lean, green, Keystone Savant PXEâŚmachine. And, as quick as a fire is put out by water, Emuâs face turned from excitement to disappointment when he saw how gimped the Savantâs handling was like. Technically, it was 14 kilograms lighter and had 7 more kW than the VTR, but somehow felt a lot more unwieldy than it. Every corner was plowed through as if the car had a hidden grudge against the tire walls. At least the engine was predictable.
EC: âThat was like being served a bowl of reheated mac 'n cheese for dinner. All the right ingredients are there, but something about it just feels⌠wrong."
To cheer himself up, the next car Emu chose was the Dragotec Discord coupe. Being the only RWD finalist, it had a drastically different handling character than its front wheel-driven competitors. The Discord was light, very quick, and agile, well composed in the corners and turned in every corner very well, when the throttle is not pressed.
However, as its name suggests, every time the car corners with the throttle open, the car had an internal argument where its front wheels wanted to perform a foxtrot, while the rear loves to pull tango spins. In other words, when used more aggressively it was more prone to spinning out than any other cars tested so far. Emu thought that this could potentially be an extra lesson on how to control a RWD car on slippery roads, as the rate of speed and acceleration can definitely be felt.EC: "This is probably the most excitingly dangerous car Iâve ever driven so far!â
Feeling his guts loose after several near-misses with a fence, Emu decided that they should take a quick time-out before continuing.
Ahhh, that was a damn good coffee. Where was I? Ah yes, the review.
The next chosen car was the Albatross Turlock 1.8T. Being the only turbocharged car of the lot, the snailâs whistling sounds was a surprising and welcome addition to the sensation. There was a noticeable lag waiting for the turbo to spool up, but once itâs fully spinning, the Turlock pulled hard through the course. All he had to do was keeping its engine from dropping below 2500 RPM. It was, once again, understeery like the previous cars, but not as much understeer as the Savant did.T: âSo, what do you think? Being a turbo engine, itâs going to need more expensive cans of oil, but itâs also quite affordable.â
EC: âHmmm, I might have to think about it first. Itâs not a bad car per se, really.â
Up next was the RCM Fox EL. Stomping the throttle, the two could already feel how inadequate the 63 kW engine was compared to the previous cars. The Fox took forever to get up to speed, even slower than the VTR, and that car is already slow. Entering gravel, it was clear how unhappy this angry-looking Canadian hatchback was to be taken anywhere thatâs not a tarmac road. It was slippery and quite understeery, about as bad as the Savant was, but at least itâs slow enough that it doesnât need a great effort to brake in every corner.
EC: âWhy was this a choice in the first place?â
T: âPrice and maintenance costs were cheap, so I thought youâd be happy with it.â
EC: âYes, I am happy, but a car this small isnât supposed to be this unwieldy.â
T: shrugs âYou get what you paid for, I guess.â
Finally, the test drive has concluded. All the cars had left mixed reactions from both the boss and the driving instructor. The day was already getting dark, and most of the shop crew have gone home.
T: âSo, Boss, how did they fare?â
EC: âSome did alright, but some were awful.â
T: âBut did you find a favorite of the bunch?â
EC: âOh, you bet I have. That thing deserves a quick trip to the dealership.â
So it is, as the days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned to years, the Emu Crocker School slowly grew larger and larger, each year adding new cars to their ever-expanding armada to choose from. From the cheapest, most basic model up to the fully tuned almost-WRC tier car, they now have it all for all levels of skill. But most of their lineup were derived from the same base car that remains a popular choice out of their entire fleet.
The AG3 VTR.
J: âThis was the best decision ever made, I have to say.â
T: âYeah.â
J: âMinecraft?â
T: âNah, Iâve grown out of it.â
J: âThereâs a new update now, featuring villages and raids.â
T: âBloody heck. Yeah, Iâll probably try that out one more time.â
J: âNice.â
2nd: @yangx2
3rd: @Dragawn
4th: @abg7 & @MGR_99
5th: @zschmeez
6th: @thecarlover
7th: @VicVictory
I am done writing for the day, now back to Minecraft
And quite rightly too! The AG3 VTR had the right mix of performance and affordability to go along with its panache.
Iâll happily take 4th place considering the strength of the competition. And if none of the top 3 can host the next round, I am available to take the reins, with or without MGR_99. In that case, please give me 24-48 hours to come up with a theme.
Iâll do the next CSR. But I am not at home at the moment (getting my car serviced). Iâll post something within 12 hours.
Ei congratulations man, thatâs a really good car. Looking forward to your CSR
Really dumb goof made by me. I thought driving assistance package 2 included ESC because when I tested it in Beam ESC was active.