It never hurts to:
-
Snoop around and see how older versions of challenge were run or hell, even challenges in general.
-
Just ask beforehand about everything that isnt clear to you. More experienced individuals will be glad to help.
1 Like
I binged the previous challenges. There’s a lot of good stuff there! My only regret is not finding this forum sooner haha.
2 Likes
I couldn’t agree more. Having good sportsmanship is important everywhere.
You live, you learn. Let’s leave all that behind us and wait for OP’s updates. 
5 Likes
VALENS 612 gtv
5 Speed VLG Automatic Transmission
Haldex AWD System
6.8 Seconds 0-100KPH
Valens VLF-e Adaptive Suspension
VALENS 612 gtv Starting from 38000€
◩
12 Likes
On this forum, the host of a challenge retains - barring exceptional cases of mismanagement - full control over the challenge’s rules, outcome and placing, and their decision is final. Because of this, most challenges run with few if any disputes over reasons for elimination, and most such disputes are assumed to be ‘salt’.
This doesn’t mean that it’s wrong to point out what the host might have done wrong or suggest things to address that. You weren’t in the wrong on that front. However, I think that posting a full rebuttal to your bin notice (acceptance of bin notwithstanding), complete with lamentations about how the judging was careless, did turn people off. Similar story with the later replies.
I think the others will agree that it’s all good. Hell, I’ve rubbed people throughout this community the wrong way plenty of times. Just remember that Host is King and Respect is King #2, and I look forward to seeing your creations in other challenges.
10 Likes
Wait, aren’t subs closed?
OP forgot to make a rule about the Ads being posted after the deadline I think.
Well ads aren’t mandatory and i submitted before the deadline.
2 Likes
I used to get instabinned quite often when I started joining these challenges, mostly for the same reasoning you had. I really only cared about how my car performed in Beam, and not Automation.
Another thing you will learn if you stick around, these challenges are host specific. It sometimes seems like the host is looking for something specific, and if your not on that path then sucks for you. But then there’s the spreadsheet thing where you gotta know your SHIT, cause a lot of people here do.
Honestly, this is one of my best cars to date, i thought this one was gonna go the distance lol but the fact that I got binned with some people who have actually went all the way in previous challenges…doesn’t bother me too much…it happens.
As stated before, no matter how great you feel your vehicle is, there’s some that are better. I’ve been there. It is what it is.
Maybe you can get the winning .car file at the end and compare 
.
4 Likes
One more bin
I forgor 
about this one
Stockholm 419SBSE4
(The 419SBSE4 is, as its promotional material suggests, average at best. It has stats and average running costs, comfort, drivability, et cetera. What isn’t average, however, is its use of TRX tyres that are very small in diameter, its engine that can run on 85 RON with a little tuning as well as the use of ITBs, and its poor fuel economy. Also, peak power is at redline and the supension is poorly synced.)
Next round of bins coming soon™
5 Likes
I have a question, What even are TRX Tires?
Michelin had these tires that ended in 0 instead of 5, and they were all metric including specific wheels. There’s more to it but basically they were a good idea but ultimately the market didn’t support them. I sold a LOT of them in the 90’s though. Plenty of TRX-specific wheels floating around then.
3 Likes
Thought the TRX wheels were some kind of reference to the truck
trx tyres were for metric wheels.(diameter in mm)
Width ending in 0 is not really trx specific.
1 Like
Sports tires that were an option on basically everything and standard on many supercars way back in the late 70s, early 80s. As the others said, fully metric measurement (including rim size) and notably could have their width end in zero. Whenever we see a janky (too big rim or too low profile, 0-ending width, etc) wheel in an Automation challenge, we call it “TRX” for simplicity and to not break character.
10 Likes
I even made the ban on TRX tires an explicit rule in TMCC 14 and CSR 137, both of which I hosted:
Also, by the 1990s, such unusual tire sizes had begun to fall out of favor in real life anyway.
Phase 2 Bins
Friday
The week had been tough for Takeshi. In addition to juggling the exceedingly heavy workload the typical salaryman had to deal with, Takeshi was also responsible for sourcing cars to be reviewed in the next issue of Go Go Drive! He reminisces a conversation he had with his boss on Monday.
…
Monday was terrible as usual. Hung over from a night of drinking and constantly being bugged by a crimson-haired woman he saw in a dream who is now living rent-free in his head, Takeshi found it harder than usual to focus on work.
“Hey, Takeshi!” the director called in a rather cheerful tone, “How’s it going?”
“Everything is going well, sir.” Takeshi repied, knowing that something was up.
“Listen, Takeshi.” the director said, “You’re always up to date with the latest car news, right?”
“Well, I do try to keep up…” Takeshi said
“Perfect!” the director exclaimed, “You’re gonna get us cars to use on the next episode!”
“Wh-”
“You’re gonna get us four sport wagons, alright?” the director said, “You should know, it’s the kind of stuff we discussed on Saturday, except better!”
“But sir, don’t you think it would be better to spread this task among more people?” Takeshi said, “It should be done quicker that wa-”
“Hush.” the director said, silencing Takeshi, “I’m giving you with less work this week so you can focus on finding those cars. Sounds good, doesn’t it?”
“…Not really.” Takeshi thought, remembering how saturated the Automationverse car market is.
“In any case, I’ll be counting on you.” the director continued, “I want it done by Monday next week. You can start right away. Anyway, have a good one.”
The director gave Takeshi a thumbs up, before walking away. Takeshi hated the idea of deciding the content of an episode, but he also knew that it was futile to complain. If he did, he’d most certainly be put out of his job which, in all fairness, pays quite decently.
“Damn that old geezer!” Takeshi thought
Begrudgingly, Takeshi went took some magazines and went on the new-fangled internet. After finding the appropriate models and noting them down, Takeshi went on to call each manufacturer/importer, knowing the bureaucratic nightmare he’d have to go through to even see the cars. Regardless, he toiled on, and managed to make appointments a number of manufacturers. With the clock striking eleven at night, Takeshi left the office and took the train home to rest for the night, before spending the next few days car-hunting.
Arlington Antares Touring 3.0 SR
The very next morning, Takeshi went to the Arlington dealership to see the Antares. Arlington has had a good reputation for quality and reliability, and that trait seems to be carried onto the Antares as well. The engine, while not the most advanced, produced an ample amount of power. The rest of the car was also good, being easy to drive, sporty and comfortable all at once. Its only real weakness, however, was its styling which seemed a little too boy racer-like with its colour, fat tyres, hood scoop, and red accents.
With that, Takeshi left the Arlington dealership and headed to the Hakaru dealership.
Hakaru Calida 2.0i UK
At the Hakaru dealership, Takeshi was given a look at the Calida 2.0i UK. While the car didn’t look bad by any means, it didn’t look sporty either. If anything, the Calida was just a regular family wagon, given its unexciting specifications and performance and its low price.
Takeshi went out for lunch, and proceeded to go to the Yamada dealership
Yamada Fusion-R PREMICA-R Vitesse Turbo V6-2500
Arriving at the Yamada dealership, Takeshi saw a short girl with large horns on her head and a woman with short pink hair scolding a silver-haired girl who seemed to be doing a bad job of cleaning the showroom floor. He watched the exchange, noting that the girl referred to herself using the rather archaic “wagahai”. The girl noticed that she was being watched and looked back, causing Takeshi to move along to his destination: the Fusion.
Takeshi immidiately noticed the odd door situation with the Fusion: it had a sliding door on the left side, and a normal door on the right. Door aside, the car was a very good one. It had a turbocharged 2.5l engine producing 280PS, equal to Japan’s fastest cars. It was easy to drive and is also very comfortable. However, this comfort came at the cost of handling since the car was quite heavy. Takeshi had also heard of Yamada cars rusting to hell in places like Europe and America, but he did not think much of it since he’s never seen a badly rusted Yamada where he lives.
And with that, Takeshi called it a night and went home.
Saarland Ambrosia Pilger V6
(@Knugcab)
The next morning, Takeshi went to the Saarland dealership where he was given a look at the Ambrosia. From the outside, the car looked very sensible and business-like. Its driving experience was also business-like: not exactly spirited but certainly capable, with its powerful and well-built engine and its Torsen differential. Its ride quality, was compromised by its suspension geometry, but the car was comfortable nevertheless thanks in part to its well-built interior. Takeshi also noted the Ambrosia’s cavernous cargo area, measuring 1710 litres. Still, Takeshi had to give the Ambrosia some thought before deciding whether to include it in the show or not.
Afterwards, Takeshi went to the Hedenstam dealership.
Hedenstam SW5 Thor
When Takeshi arrived at the dealership and saw the SW5 Thor, he knew that he was looking at something special. With its subtle styling that informs Takeshi just enough of its actual performance and the fact that Alfane took part in developing the vehicle, Takeshi was suitably excited to take a further look. He had heard of the Thor’s many merits, including its powerful engine and sporty handling. However, the salesman regrettably informed that they would not be able to sell any Thors at the moment due to flaws with the braking system, which required the cars to be sent back to Sweden to be fixed.
(Binned due to negative brake quality)
Disappointed, Takeshi headed out to the Munot dealership
Munot Meteor 55LS Sportvariant
Arriving at the Munot dealer, Takeshi took a look at the Meteor. Takeshi liked how the front end looked but once he got to the back, he thought that the taillights and license plate indent didn’t go together very well. The engine featured in the Meteor was a rather unique one: a five-cylinder with five valves per cylinder. While it was certainly not the most powerful engine around, it managed to bring ample performance along with good fuel economy, better than most competitors thanks to its valvetrain. The driving experience was also sublime. Its handling was playful but controllable, while being comfortable at the same time. However, despite its reliability, the Meteor wore its tyres down quickly thanks to its camber angle and had a much smaller cargo area than its competitors due to its small overall size, even for Japanese standards.
It was a good car with a low price, but Takeshi still had more to see. Next stop was the Homura dealership.
Homura ST3000VSX
When Takeshi looked at the ST3000VSX, he was in absoute awe of its style. It asserted its dominance and showed its performance pedigree in a subte and restrained way; a mature sports wagon. The Homura ticked just about every box there is: a large cargo area, good comfort, and good driving characteristics despite using a 4-speed automatics where others used five speeds. It was economical to run, and is also reliable.
Much like the Munot, the car offered good value for money. And with that, Takeshi called it a day.
Kaizen FCE25
(@66mazda)
The next day, Takeshi headed to the Kaizen dealership to see the FCE25. Kaizen have always been known for their Teutonic styling and engineering, and the FCE25 is no exception with its straightforward business-like appearance. The car is certainly capable, producing a healthy 250hp. The car was pleasurable to drive and the ride was firm. Build quality is good although the cargo area was not very big. And with that, Takeshi left for the Courageux dealership.
Courageux Courchevel CSLuxe
Upon arriving at the Courageux dealership, Takeshi was impressed by the Courchevel’s stately and elegant look. Everything flowed together cohesively though Takeshi wished that the headlights and taillights would wrap around the corners some more. While the car was good all round, it wasn’t exactly sporty. Nevertheless, the car made a strong impression on Takeshi, who now wanted to buy one once he could afford to do so. And fortunately for him, the Courchevel was cheaper than most of its competitors. And cheap to run, too.
Nanahoshi Cenfaur TourerX Limited
(@Xepy)
Next, Takeshi went to the Nanahoshi dealership. First and foremost, Takeshi liked how the Nanahoshi looked. It was unique, unlike other cars with a similar body style. It looked Teutonic, but still felt distinctively Japanese. Under the bonnet was a decently powerful engine. However, Takeshi thought that the ITBs were too good to be true for a car in this price point, and he also believed that a car with such advanced and expensive technology should make even more power than the current engine does. Still, the car tempted Takeshi with its other strengths, leaving him conflicted.
GSI Vardo
When Takeshi took a look at the GSI Vardo, he thought is, for the most part, a good car. It is powerful, comfortable, sporty, and has good drivability while also being economical to run. The only real downside was its styling which looks rather flat. Takeshi also felt that the rear could be stretched out a little more to increase storage area but maybe the folks over at GSI were trying to make a smaller and lighter car. The car also lacked an LSD, which would have been appreciated. Other than that, it was a solid car.
Yes. Just yes. Or maybe not.
MAHG Sigma Rapide
(@S31)
While the Sigma Rapide was a good sports wagon all around, Takeshi mainly took issue with its engine which, while powerful, peaked at redline. That alone would have ruined the driving experience which is a shame because the rest of the car was well engineered, although the bodykit felt a little too flashy and street racer-like.
Capriolo Turismo-S
(@kookie)
Next up was the Capriolo Turismo-S. Although it undeniably had the undeniable Italian flair, the Capriolo lags behind in terms of performance. While 215hp is a good power figure, competitors with similarly-sized engines make more power than that. The car also lacked an LSD which made cornering not as sharp as other cars, and the car used solid discs all around, which is rather strange for a sports wagon at this price point. Takeshi is sure that consumer’s wouldn’t mind paying a little more for vented discs and an LSD, but it is what it is.
Halvson - Harrier sPORT 2.0
(@lotto77)
The Harrier sPORT was quite an attaractive car, both in terms of looks and what it has to offer. Aesthetically, the emanated a sense of fun, of youthful joy that so many need these days. The engine is quite powerful for its size, but Takeshi was mildly annoyed at its 2000cc displacement which obligated its buyers to pay more tax than other cars with 2l engines. In spite of this, it still had very good value for money, giving good storage space, a Torsen LSD, and premium interior/stereo. However, the car was quite thirsty for its size and power output
Valens 612 GT-V
(@pen15)
“God, that is SEXY!” Takeshi thought, looking at the 612 from the window. Going in the dealership and inspecting the rest of the car, Takeshi kept getting more and more impressed. It was quick. It was comfy. It was easy to drive. Running costs were low, and reliability was high. And then he looked at the rear seats.
“Aw hell nah.” Takeshi thought, “These are the worst seats I’ve ever sat on!”
Disappointed, Takeshi left the Valens dealership.
(Binned for +3 rear seats)
Kozukumi Ryuta VI - Engineered by Valliore
The last car Takeshi looked at was the Ryuta VI. From the outside, it was wild like a prancing Italian horse, and indeed it had the power to back it up. The tyres, while appearing extremely beefy, are actually 225mm wide. Despite that and its large engine, the car was surprisingly economical to run and was also very reliable.
Arriving home after a rather long commute, Takeshi took his shoes off and immidiately threw himselftowards the couch, lying on it to get some much-needed rest.
“Man, that was tiring.” Takeshi sighed, “Why’d the old man entrust me and me only to do all this, anyway?”
Takeshi let out another sigh. He looked at his watch. It was 9.30PM and he was getting hungry.
“Man, I should’ve stopped stopped at the convenience store or a restaurant…” Takeshi thought.
Regardless of what Takeshi thought, however, his stomach wasn’t going to fill itself up.
“Ah, fuck it.” Takeshi thought, “I’m really starving here…”
Takeshi got off the couch and went to his fridge. Being an office drone, there wasn’t much inside: a bowl of rice he had cooked a few days prior, some eggs, a jar of chopped garlic,and cans upon cans of beer. Takeshi also had several cups of ramen, but he wasn’t feeling like eating instant food tonight. So, there was really only one thing he could make from what’s inside the rather depressing fridge.
Takeshi placed the bowl of rice, an egg, and the jar of garlic on the counter while he grabbed the carbon steel wok that his uncle had given to him when he first moved into this apartment. He placed the wok on his gas stove, turning it to its highest possible heat and pouring some oil in, but not before opening the window for ventilation.
Once the wok started smoking, he deposited a decent amount of garlic into the wok, stirring it with his wooden spatula as the garlic crackled in the hot oil. When he could smell the garlic becoming fragrant, he cracked an egg (with his two hands because he can’t crack it with just one without breaking it into smithereens.) and started stirring and once it had begun to set, he emptied the bowl of rice into the wok, breaking up the large clumps and stirring once again.
The smell of Takeshi’s cooking permeated the apartment and also out the open window. The kitchen was getting hot but he paid no mind. Takeshi took a bottle of soy sauce located conveniently on a little shelf on the counter and poured it to his liking, stirring and adjusting to taste. Takeshi added a a pinch of vetsin and white pepper and continued stirring, tossing the rice like chefs would in restaurants. Once Takeshi was satsfied, he killed the heat and emptied the wok into an awaiting plate.
“Whew.” Takeshi said, admiring his work, “I haven’t made fried rice in a while!”
He took a whiff of the steaming pile of fried rice. The distinctinctive aroma of the wok was there, along with a hint of garlic. He knew that he nailed it this time. Takeshi took a spoon from his drawer and brought the plate to the dining table. He admired his work once again.
“Itadakimasu.” Takeshi said, helping himself to a spoonful of his fried rice right afterwards.
…
One filling meal later, Takeshi cleaned his table up and washed the dishes. Normally, Takeshi would leave the dishes to be dealt with some other time but today he felt strangely motivated. Maybe it was the food he just made, or maybe it was something else. Setting the washed dishes aside on the drying rack and returning the garlic back into the fridge, Takeshi went back to the living room, and took his notebook out from his bag, where he had taken notes on the cars he had seen.
“Hmm…” Takeshi thought, “There’s plenty of good cars out there, all with flaws of their own of course. I like a lot of them, but well, there can only be four.”
Takeshi took a pen and sat on the couch, crossing his legs. He opened his notebook and began reading through, thinking carefully about the choices that he will make.
…
Some time later, Takeshi dropped his notebook and pen. It was 12.08AM.
“Ugh… My work is finally done.” Takeshi said, picking the notebook up again, “Well, guess these cars are gonna appear in the show then…”
The Finalists
- Yamada Fusion-R PREMICA-R Vitesse Turbo V6-2500 (@variationofvariables)
- Homura ST3000VSX (@donutsnail)
- Nanahoshi Cenfaur TourerX Limited (@Xepy)
- Kozukumi Ryuta VI - Engineered by Valliore (@vero94773/@debonair0806)
22 Likes
Well, seems like I have achieved my goals with the engineering, the Ambrosia V6 is not really a pure sports wagon, but the sportiest I had in my lore, more a comfortable executive car that has some grunt in its V6 version, and the old fashioned suspension system compared to some of its competitors has its roots in that the 1994 model is a development from the 1987 model floorpan, also a result of lore. I am happy that I got far enough to just fall short of four more competent competitors considering that the Ambrosia had some compromises after all.
5 Likes
Whoops, did I miss the brief again? Yare yare.
Side note, since when does my brand have a reputation of quality? Did I just get promoted around here?
5 Likes