As prestige for the era goes, a well-handling sedan like a BMW E23 or Benz W126 gave up nothing to their 2/3-door competitors. And being able to carry (and impress) passengers certainly helps somone trying to schmooze in Monaco.
It’d be nice to see interiors cared about.
I am not objecting against that, because you’re absolutely right (not to mention the W116 6.9 that I think was still produced for 1980…droooooool!) , in this case it is more a matter of me wanting this exact subject for the challenge (and the short backstory written up as sort of an excuse afterwards), hence sedans not being cared for this time.
Personally, I am all for making interiors and I think they are a part as interesting as the exterior in this game. Especially in a segment like this where they could be really nice at the time compared to the breadboxes “regular people” were driving around in. It’s just that it seems like people are losing interest in challenges as soon as “interior” is mentioned, if you don’t require one but will factor it in you will still get some salt about being unfair, with that said I am all for including them but I don’t want it to put people off the challenge, so…I would gladly hear other people’s opinions there.
IMO the main thing against interiors is the additional time they need. I have little skill in making them, as I’ve made just a few, but with enough time, I’ll usually want to include one in my car - even if it’s just a basic outline with no details, looking ok only from the outside. That’s why I’m all for encouraging interiors, but slightly against requiring them.
BTW, I really like the theme and even have an idea already of what I’d like to build for this - if it doesn’t end up too over the top… 
This entirely, I’m no stranger to making interiors (and have even had people say mine are nice for some reason I don’t get it), but the fact of the matter is that they’re a decent bit extra of rather fiddly work that’s not 100% essential to the looks of a car or the car itself in auto, which is understandably offputting to some.
That being said if someone makes a 2010’s challenge with required interiors I will cry, my skills run out in the 00’s…
V16, yay or nay?
This challenge would make for a great QFC, but with the actual QFC45 still in progress, making a new standalone thread just for this early '80s grand tourer competition makes perfect sense.
Oh, I sometimes forget that the V16 DLC exists since I don’t have it. The answer is “nay”.
Well, to me (and also according to Volvo themselves), it feels like if the 262C was more influenced by the American “Personal luxury coupés” of the era, it is also rather obvious that it is based on an existing sedan if you ask me, and it would not look all that sleek if you put it next to the inspirations. I won’t instabin anyone based on design alone as long as the other rules regarding the body is followed, but on the other hand I would probably not put something in the style of a 262C all that high when it comes to the styling score (it is of course always hard to tell until you see the actual car). I suppose you’re mostly talking about styling now, since other things like performance would put the Volvo out of the competition anyway.
So sedan based coupes are definitely out? Would a shooting brake based on a 3 door wagon type of body be ok though?
Also for a one off challenge like this with no expectations of carrying on with another round I can’t see the harm in at least expecting an attempt at an interior, the 70’s and 80’s are well catered for with ready made fixtures as it is anyway.
Are we allowed to enter with multiple cars or is only one entry allowed?
Are the market stats important? Or even a certain stat required?
Are any Car & Engine Suggestions allowed (The Blue, Yellow or Red flashing notifications)
Is it even possible to pass WES4 with Leaded Fuel? AFAIK you can’t even use catalytic converters when using leaded fuel. EDIT: Nevermind, I just realized it is 
Oh! I think I’ve made a car without any… at least once? 
Well I can’t speak for Knugcab, but usually no red ones is ok, and deciding if the rest matter is up to you. I guess it won’t be different this time.
(BTW, I think most of my cars have some yellow warnings, even those scoring high in challenges)
I suspect with the BMW 6 series in the inspirations there is some wiggle room there, but I take it there’s a high risk of seeming too pedestrian if you take that route. I may anyways since I have something that fits the bill though.
I still would not say that “sedan based coupés” are “definitely out”, there are coupés with sedan equivalents that could absolutely work here even if they have shapes at the outer ends of the scope, though I can’t think about some good 1980 examples even if they may exist. I mean, even something shaped like the Volvo 780 could have worked if the challenge was held a bunch of years later (styling wise there is). In the exact case of the 262 though, it is IMO too obvious that it is just a coupé roof slapped on top of a 200 series Volvo, and without sporty ambitions, so well, that exact car would maybe not have scored very well styling wise. But if you get results that looks as sleek as you would expect a car in this class to be, I won’t care if there is a sedan equivalent to the body you’re using, or even if Automation classes the car as a sedan.
Shooting brakes…absolutely, as long as they give off an air of a shooting brake and not just a regular 2 door station wagon I am not objecting against them. I can’t think of too many IRL examples in production in 1980, but I think the Lotus Elite was still in production, for example, so something like that, sure.
That was kind of my idea yes. The 6 series is somewhat in the outside scope and could maybe be seen as the soft border that you will start taking greater risks after passing. As I said, don’t sweat an instabin for styling unless it is really, really wrong or bad, it is somehow fun that there is a rather great diversity between cars that could fit the brief. I guess it is like usual in challenges, you’re taking greater risks when you’re straying too far away from what is expected, and only you can decide if it is worth it or not. I really can’t say if a car would score high or low on design without seeing it, and if I told you something then there would not be much of a challenge left, so I guess this is about as clear as I can get.
EUDM or USDM license plates?
Edit: Literally missed the bolded title of “Monaco, 1980” right at the tippy top
I’m expecting the EU-sized (unscaled) plates, given that our client is based in Monaco.
I won’t care too much about that. From what I know (correct me if I am wrong) there are no Monaco plates in the game. I am by no means an expert, but when looking them up, they seem to be rather small and would fit an US plate recess. On the other hand the cars themselves are more likely to be EUDM in this case, so it somehow feels more natural with EUDM plates too. But plates won’t be reason enough for a bin as long as they are there and not resized…
che bella maccina!
The Cavaliere Nobile Zenturio. The elaborate choice.
A GT that fits in our time. It does have tax advantages with a displacement of just 2000ccm, still delivers 282 horsepower at surprisingly low consumption. Latest safety features and an interior that will leave no wish unfulfilled with mind-blowing technology and finest materials. A handling like you can expect from an exclusive Italian machine. Not to forget it seats the rear passengers comfortable and spacious.
Cavaliere Nobile. Cuore e mente.
I did a compromise on interiors. They won’t be needed, they will be judged. A good looking interior will not give a huge advantage, but still an advantage. A bad looking interior will not give a disadvantage over not doing one at all. So, if you really don’t want to make one, you can join anyway and still stand a chance. If you want to make one, it will not be work that’s just wasted. I think that with almost three weeks to go, this is a viable solution.
Since there has been no rules discussion for the last hours, and since the deadline for the deliberation has passed, I declare this challenge open for submissions now!
