Brian's
TOCA Touring
Car Championship
Car Write-up Page
All the cars in TOCA TCC have the same top speed, give or take 1 mph, but some are "faster" than others. Why is this? Well, not all have the same acceleration factor - while they all might reach the same top speed some take longer to get there than others. Despite the different handling characteristics of each, all are capable of good lap times and of winning races - I've won in Audi's, Ford's, Volvo's and yes, even in the Vectra. It seems that in race mode the performance of other cars is "geared" towards your own, in that I can always qualify mid-field or better despite the car I'm using. Winning in the "slower" cars means learning to drive a totally different race, for those that aren't as quick to accelerate need to get into and out of corners faster, which means less braking, cleaner faster lines, etc... In short, don't be afraid to try some of the other cars. It will maximise your enjoyment of a really great game, and let you find out what kind of race driver you REALLY are - remember, it takes a good driver to win in a great car, but it takes a really GREAT driver to win in a less than good car. In the interim.. here are my thoughts on the TOCA TCC pack...
AUDI
A4 Quattro - Only 4WD drive
car in the pack so it handles different. Great out of tight/slow
corners, or in the wet. Lacks initial acceleration due to higher
weight, so needs to have the revs kept up and be worked hard in
corners, letting the all wheel grip work to its best advantage.
Brakes are very good. Handling is fairly neutral thanks to the 4
wheel drive.
RENAULT
Laguna - Fast but very
twitchy handling. Needs a VERY smooth hand at the controls and
precise input. Not a car for those that over-correct or
"saw" at the wheel as it will leave the track. Brakes
are good, handling in inclined to oversteer. It's a car that
suits the careful and precise professional driver to bring out
its best.
VOLVO S40 - Despite its maligned reputation on the road the
S40 is a very good race car. Its acceleration lacks a little and
it needs to keep the revs up in corners, but otherwise the car
can hold its own against the Renaults and Hondas. Brakes are
good, and the handling is reasonably mild, with a tendency to
oversteer.
NISSAN Primera - While not as fast off the
line as some, the Nissan lacks nothing in top speed once wound
up. Brakes are excellent; it is possible to go in very deep under
brakes and NOT lock them up, thus making up places quite quickly.
Overall handling is fairly neutral, if just a touch sluggish,
often needing some firm input to point the car where it needs to
go.
VAUXHALL Vectra - The Vectra is lacking in
acceleration, but the steering responsiveness is superb. To stay
up with the pack it needs to have the revs kept up and be driven
hard into corners to make up for its lack of low end grunt.
Brakes are average, with a bad tendency to understeer under
brakes making things difficult, but it can go fast with the right
driving style.
FORD Mondeo - At first, it seems an all
around docile kind of car, but the Ford CAN win if driven by a
driver that knows his stuff. Lacking a little in acceleration, it
has to be driven hard into and out of corners, but fairly neutral
handling means this isnt too difficult. Brakes are average but
the steering response is good.
HONDA Accord - For whatever reason, the
Honda is the clear winner for acceleration & handling,
although in the real life 1997 BTCC, the Honda's didnt have it
all their own way. Steering tends to be a little light so care
needs to be taken or the car can "get away" from you,
but otherwise it's the pick of the litter - good brakes and
responsive handling make it the car to drive for most.
PEUGEOT
406 - Lacking
in acceleration, the Peugeot tends to get overlooked, but once
again it's a matter of getting the most from the car by changing
driving style. The car's suspension is the best of the lot - it
soaks up bumps allowing you to stay on the power all the time.
Brakes are good, steering is a bit sluggish, but the overall
handling is neutral so you can build up momentum.
Comments?
Rasberries? Donations?
Email me at :
The 1998
BTCC car set .GIFs are now available.
