JOC6D: Born Free
From @bdub1 and @mart1n2005
British Columbia 1985:
Earl and Wendy have realised whilst owning their go anywhere Ariete that seeing what the Canadian wilderness has to offer is their favourite past time, and travelling to South Carolina to see their family there would be a really great vacation. The Ariete however is not really up to this kind of long journey and the cost of motels on the way would be astronomical.
The only solution to this is some kind of new motorhome so they can travel the distance in comfort and not rely on rest stops on the way.
Previous Rounds:
Priorities:
- reliability. This vehicle could be out on the road for weeks or months at a time so a breakdown in the wilderness would be a terrible outcome.
- fuel economy. Similar reasoning to above as you can travel further between fuel stops and spend less on fuel in the first place.
- design. Obviously these vehicles are supposed to be function over form, but design coherence and nice touches would be good.
- comfort. This is much a house as a car and while the living comfort isn’t really going to swayed by suspension setup an uncomfortable journey isn’t going to help.
- purchase price and service costs. The money for this vehicle is set aside but between two great vehicles the cheaper one is always the better one.
- driveability. These are usually large vehicles so the easier to drive the better.
- environmental resistance. This is a rugged home away from home vehicle that needs to keep the elements on the outside.
- off road. Dirt roads are probably the worst that’s going to be driven on, but the more capable the vehicle the less likely it will become stuck.
- prestige It’s always nice to impress others at the camp ground.
- sportiness This isn’t a sports car and outright performance isn’t too important but the ability to move out of it’s own way is useful.
- safety. Earl and Wendy are old enough to realise death in a fireball of a motorhome isn’t something they want.
Rules
General Rules:
- Round will be run in the stable branch of the game.
- 1985 trim and variant years, model and family years can be earlier.
- no race parts.
- no open wheeler or legacy bodies.
- design and mechanical realism is expected to a degree
- No making the vehicle wildly different in size using 3D construction.
- In the same vein, no changing the vehicle massively with advanced trim settings either. Making any parts invisible is fine however.
Techpool:
- $40m total combined
Price:
- 18,000 price limit.
Engine:
- 91 ron fuel.
- wes 5 emissions limit.
- 45 exhaust noise limit.
Trim:
- van, mpv or pickup bodies
- Front row only, either two or three seats.
- For front engined cars solid axle rear suspension is priced as is, any type of independent rear suspension incurs an extra $1,000 penatly
- Rear engined vehicles can use McPherson for free, but $500 extra for double wishbone rear.
- “0” on weight optimize slider to attempt to simulate added interior weight and costs.
- weight distribution slider also must be at “20” to simulate more added body to rear of vehicle.
- These weight sliders aren’t included in the total cost. So discount that price from your cost.
- radial only tyres.
- no functional aero or aero undertrays.
- Vehicle must appear like an actual motorhome. Either a van conversion or camper shell on a pickup body. Obviously this required the use of 3D shapes to create the body.
- Interior design is part of judging criteria. The rear motorhome section is obviously the most important, and the front cabin part doesn’t have to be as detailed. However there is a massive amount of 80’s interior bits for automation so is probably the easiest era to design an interior for.
- The vehicle should at least sleep two people, have seating area and some kind of kitchen. The beds can convert from a sofa or be in a “pop-up” roof section. Use the mannequin mod to get an idea on height. You don’t necessarily need to be able to stand up all the time however as smaller motorhomes cope just fine with a low roof.
