✦ Premise
May 2024. Freedom once more for Jack.
Time could be measured in eons between move-in day and commencement with how much happened. Within those four years, Jack tested himself in and across disciplines, meeting a myriad of professors who enriched his understandings. He formed a vast network of connections, including lifelong friends, that he would never forget. He went home while the world ended, built his own world in his room, and helped rebuild that world on return. He pulled many an all-nighter, played many a game in spacious halls, and held many a conversation. He helped peers and strangers alike, and they helped him in return. All of those moments weaved together in one ceremony where the takeaway, beyond some paper, was the formation of his very being.
“Pursue your dreams” was the sum of all statements, and with many in mind, Jack marched onward.
One thing Jack didn’t get to do much of during college was drive. Since he lived in close proximity to the campus and had friends with cars, there was practically zero need for private transportation. Should he need a ride, he could always rope friends with them into whatever escapades he entered. However, the idea germinated as the years passed, and given a side hustle of mentoring plus some extra money set aside from family, Jack decided it was time to reward himself. He, graduate-bound, knew he wanted a car capable of handling everything one could throw at it - friends, the elements, late-night grocery runs, early-morning exercise, sprints to class/work and back. Throughout it all, however, there was one wish for this car: it needed to be fun.
It must be a jack of all trades and a master of fun.
✦ Rules
TL:DR: Jack just finished undergraduate studies and saved enough to treat himself to a lively daily with the livability of four doors
✧ Model/Family name: CSR164 - Username
✧ Trim/Variant name: free
✧ Model/Family Year: 2020 (closest we can get to 2024)
✧ Trim/Variant Year: 2020 (closest we can get to 2024)
✧ Sedan and liftback hatch bodies only. This round is intended solely for sedans and liftbacks. While there are certainly coupes and true hatchbacks that could fit (see: GR86, GR Corolla), they would step outside the spirit of the situation. Any true hatchbacks can and will be binned.
✧ No Legacy car bodies (the ones in the Legacy Car Pack)
✧ Minimum 4 full seats
✧ Minimum 4 doors
✧ Wheelbase: 2.6 - 2.9 m
✧ Safety: Standard 10s or newer
✧ Maximum engine size of 4 liters.
✧ 3 way catalytic converter of either variety is mandatory
✧ 2 mufflers required
✧ Radial tyres ending in 5 only.
✧ Maximum octane: 95 RON (Jack fuels with 98 by default, but some stations will only have up to 95)
✧ Max Loudness: 45
✧ No Race Parts
✧ Max Price: $30,000
✧ No Active Aero
✧ Aero fixtures are allowed as long as the entry does not produce positive downforce. If the downforce produced is positive at any point in any aerodynamic curve on the downforce plot, the entrant will be binned. All aero fixtures must be visible and cannot be stacked on top of each other.
✧ Emissions: Must pass WES11
✧ Maximum Techpool: 80 M
✧ Negative Techpool is not allowed.
✧ Advanced Trim Settings: Allowed within reason. If you are making lots of adjustments, please let me know when submitting so I can review it sooner to let you know if it’s gone too far. No making something look like something it isn’t with advanced trim or fixtures(i.e. fake convertibles, two door to 4, etc)
Entries should be sent to both me and @chiefzach2018. Both a .car and forum post in this thread are required for an entry to be valid. Both need to be sent in before the deadline. Entries are accepted through the forum only.
✦ Priorities
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✧ Realism: Jack is allergic to cheese. A trip to the hospital will obliterate the budget. Ground your decisions in reality, and this will not be an issue. Sites like Carfolio, Automobile-Catalogue, and Wheelsage are all great resources when looking up car specs and visual details.
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✧ Sportiness/Performance: “fun” in this context is a balance between engagement and performance. Jack is capable of rowing his own gears but wouldn’t mind swapping to paddles with the right pitch. He also likes to put his cars sideways on occasion.
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✧ Safety: should an accident happen, all occupants need to make it out in one piece, ideally unscathed.
✧ Reliability: between graduate studies, work, social occasions, and miscellaneous excursions, the car needs to run without issues. Problems here may delay or cancel such plans.
✧ Value/Service Costs: there’s some money saved, sure, but Jack is still a broke college graduate. He’ll look more favorably on cars that do more with their cost. This will also include service cost for when the car inevitably needs maintenance
✧ Car Footprint: Jack needs the car to still be maneuverable while having plenty of cabin space. Parking spaces are only so large.
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✧ Comfort: Jack would appreciate some creature comforts, even if it’s mainly intended for the passengers.
✧ Prestige: if it has it, cool. If it doesn’t have it, cool. Luxury will not have much sway for this round.
✦ Inspirations
✧ 2024 Hyundai Elantra N
✧ 2024 Honda Civic Type R
✧ 2024 Subaru WRX Premium/TR
✧ 2024 Lexus IS300
✧ 2024 Toyota Camry TRD
✧ 2024 Kia Stinger GT-Line
✧ 2024 Kia K5
✧ 2024 Acura Integra
✧ 2024 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
✧ 2024 Toyota Prius GR Concept
Inspirations that are stylistically right and have the right vibes, but are too expensive for the challenge, the wrong body style, or both. They’re also a good inspiration for drivetrain layouts as well.
✧ 2024 Toyota GR Yaris
✧ 2025 BMW M235
✧ 2024 Audi S3
✧ 2024 Cadillac CT4
✧ 2024 Genesis G70
✧ 2024 Mazda6
Round Start: Friday, November 15th
Round Deadline: Sunday, December 8 at 11:59 PM PST