That’s what I expected, given that I used the 308 GTB as my benchmark - and I’ll be rewarded with a top-4 finish, at least.
Regardless, I’ll host the next QFC if no other person in the top four is willing or able to do so.
And the LS30 is, in fact, something of an outlier among the finalists - a naturally-aspirated V8 in a world of turbocharged six-cylinder engines.
Maybe it’s just me but I really like salmon colour and don’t think it’s unflattering. Very good reviews otherwise.
It’s been a bit since I looked at the car but I think I was going for a out and out Grand Tourer. So easier to drive, but still has the performance there.
Also, I never really made it a point to fiddle with the weight sliders so maybe that can be something I experiment with in the next few comps.
And that’s why I usually don’t do so well in these comps solo. I can’t really style to save my life.
It reminds me of when I hosted QFC55, in which one of the entries I received looked like a finalist on paper, but was done in by an overly stiff spring rate:
I’ve also observed that only one of the four finalists is front-engined. I thought about making my entry an FR one, too, but realized that I would use too much ET to move the engine as far aft as possible, to get the best possible weight distribution with that layout - hence my decision to stick with an MR setup.
(Yet again) THE FINAL FOUR
One luxury coupe. One sports car. One supercar. One race car. A uniquely diverse four-corner lineup to determine the king of the hill in a show of performance to repudiate the very word ‘malaise’.
It’s fitting then, to start with the vehicle that most reminds one of malaise. With an admirably quad-Webered 3-liter V8 making 220 hp, the LVC sportscar isn’t necessarily slow, but it does have that vibe of a snooty exotic that’s about to have its jaw fractured by a brolic 400ci Pontiac Arlington lowballing its power figures for insurance purposes. Cutting out the cute jokes, compared to the other three finalists, this mid-engined Italian is actually the most practical and reasonable car here, being the most driveable, easiest and least frequent to service and all that… And that’s the downfall. Out of this quartet of the worthy, the LVC also sports by far the most ho-hum interior, and is actually too cheap compared to the rest. You’re not cool as ice and blissful as snow when you seem too bare and tame when the competition rolls by. As a consolation price, I will say: this is my favorite powertrain here.
The Ventus Kingsman is honestly really pretty and cool. A long, low, dramatic FR coupe with cool lights, graphics and raised hood. It acquits itself well, and among the top three is the most mature and well-rounded… But again, this is not a competition where the jack of all trade wins. And not one where we ignore a hand-cranked rack on a straight-six FR car with bad reliability and an over-complex twin-scroll turbo that, in real life, wouldn’t appear till much later. But honestly, and this has precedent in my other challenges, the outlier - in this case, the only front-engined car - in the finals is either first or last. This isn’t first, so - aside from the under-utilized LVC - it’s behind the two race-bred chimaeras.
The Helios homologation car is special - real special. Fast- the fastest around. Corners well, too. Leagues above the other two cars mentioned. Hell, for something with a tiny wheelbase, it’s mighty comfortable. Amazing. Simply stunning. If you do the math, though, this is in second - not first. Why? Well, it’s just not pretty enough. Stubby, over-simple. and - though wedges are in around this time - unimaginatively “geometric”. It’s a far cry visually from the winner, and has a couple more issues as well - like going through 12% of its own cost yearly on just servicing, on average, and just being the more expensive car. Now, this didn’t matter in cutting through all this car’s lower challengers - but with the winning car, stats just aren’t enough.
You know, I don’t like that certain Ger-- okay, Porsches. I hate the damn things. I think they suck. I think they’re tryhard!Beetles with no actual style, bought by over-rich nerds with no taste. I know at least one sumbitch in this community feels the same way and would be real happy to hear me validate him. But a car patterned - skillfully, to boot - against a racing, flat-nosed version of an original, crazy, murderous turbo - that I can at least respect. That being said, while it is pretty and it is a really cool recreation, that isn’t why the Zacspeed comes out on top. The real reason is that, aside from fitting nothing but 2 people and being a bit of a pig to run (not as much as the Phénix, though) it ticks every box that a truly mad, excessively fast and undeniably defiant late 70s supercar has to have. Stunning, terrifying, unmatched.
Fun Facts
Congratulations to Zacspeed for blowing everything out of the water in this round! To be fair, though, I brought a knife to a gunfight with my entry, and somehow squeaked into the final four with it - I didn’t expect it to do as well as it did.
And if the entire top 3 passes, I’ll happily host QFC59 instead.
The man cant stop winning
Took a bit for some consensus between the team. but we shall be taking the reigns for QFC59. Minus Xepy just due to them handling CSR. Ruleset and page should be up by the end of the week
Just wondering if there’s any update on when QFC59 is coming? I’m personally hoping for something boring and practical like a truck or family sedan, since I tend to fail miserably at making anything fast and cool 
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Still working on it.. Odd availability issues from Zach.. but.. I’d say ya on the money OMB
