DiRT Rally tips: Next car

[dotmartin 0]

So I finished the Clubman Championship in third place with my Escort Mk2. Still struggling a bit with the rear wheel drive. Really enjoying the game but I find it hard to decide on what car to do next.

Does the community have any insight into this small problem? Is it time to step up to Group A to get into a 4WD car or should I do the logical thing, keep learning in a RWD car and choose something from the 1980s category? How do you play the game? 

[Porkhammer 78]

dotmartin said:

How do you play the game? 

Sideways. ;)

You should keep going with the RWD's, they're great for getting used to the game and its physics, and will make 4WD that much easier once you go for those. If you decide for the 80's RWD cars, I strongly recommend the BMW. The Sierra is a bit heavy and suffers from turbolag (unless you adjust gearing properly, then it becomes surprisingly fun, but I have a feeling you'll want to stick to default setups for a while), and the Renault doesn't like hairpins all that much. The only downside with the BMW I can think of is its default gearing. 1st is basically walking pace, so you can get off the line in 2nd. Other than that, great sound, handling, looks... and most importantly, it puts a smile on your face.

[LOSTVENGENCE96 0]

Of you decide 4wd, I'm really liking the Audi in group b. It was my first car I got a first place finish with. 

[YoMrWhite 11]

Group B can be a bit overwhelming if you just started - and later on, too. I would do 80's or Group A first, then go for the beasts.

[MrDeap 12]

I will explain accordingly how to tackle the corners when you don't know the stage at all.

How to corner on slippery stage.

You have to be aggressive on the first turn in(don't turn, rotate the car) If it's not enough you pull the handbrake for more angle. Sure you slow down a bit, but I'll explain the reason below.

The point of doing it is to gain speed for consecutive corner by placing the car in the right position & angle for every corners. On gravel or snow the car is always understeering, thus by simply turning the car will do it too slow & snapping the car to the other direction is faster.

In Initial D(Japanese anime) takumi the 4 wheel drift.
It start at 9:17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW0Lmv6erZU
Basically the front tire always understeer even while drifting. Obviously if you force the other direction it won't understeer.

Yes, the car should be sideway even before hitting the apex. Obviously, the apex is where you have to rotate to the other direction.

It seem a little disorienting at first, but once you get it right it's easy.

[JZStudios 631]

MrDeap said:

I will explain accordingly how to tackle the corners when you don't know the stage at all.

How to corner on slippery stage.

You have to be aggressive on the first turn in(don't turn, rotate the car) If it's not enough you pull the handbrake for more angle. Sure you slow down a bit, but I'll explain the reason below.

The point of doing it is to gain speed for consecutive corner by placing the car in the right position & angle for every corners. On gravel or snow the car is always understeering, thus by simply turning the car will do it too slow & snapping the car to the other direction is faster.

In Initial D(Japanese anime) takumi the 4 wheel drift.
It start at 9:17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW0Lmv6erZU
Basically the front tire always understeer even while drifting. Obviously if you force the other direction it won't understeer.

Yes, the car should be sideway even before hitting the apex. Obviously, the apex is where you have to rotate to the other direction.

It seem a little disorienting at first, but once you get it right it's easy.

Never seen that show, but I like the random shout out.

[dotmartin 0]

Thanks for your insight so far.

I really do feel that I will get the hang of the physics model eventually. It's incredibly fair, not like other games I have tried where physics are more stochastic, i.e. if I do x the car will do y in similar conditions.

Right now my strategy is survival, speed will come. Consistency is key for me at the moment. :)

I think I'll flip a coin on weather to go for a 1980s car or buy a new one in 1970s, they still offer a challenge and I'll continue to learn. What do you guys reckon? 

I changed my steering wheel rotation angle from full 1080 to something like 540, which gave me much better control and ability to meet the car in opposite lock a bit easier, especially when things go haywire.. :) 

[LOSTVENGENCE96 0]

If you stick to the to lower end cars, the Alpine has been getting rave reviews from PC goers. It's the only rwd 60's car and is supposed to blow the mini and fulva out of the water. 

[tbtstt 2,387]

I jumped from the 60's cars straight to Group B and I'm rather regretting it! I really struggled on the loose (Greece is my nemesis!), but I did manage to win on tarmac (Germany) last night. I intend to finish the championship I'm doing in a Group B car and then I'll probably go back to 70's or possible 80's.

I'm then thinking RWD Group B, Group A, R4 and then finally the WRC's! 

[Darhour 3]

M3 E30 is the way to go. Aspirated and responsive which is easy to tackle around corners.

[KevM 44]

On console, so far, I have bought.....

Alpine A110
Lancia Stratos
Ford Escort Mk2
Opel Manta
MG Metro 6R4
BMW M3
Subaru Impreza 555
'01 Ford Focus WRC

Mini Rallycross
Renault Clio Rallycross

Thats a whole lotta fun right there...  :D 

[Draconian666 0]

If you could pick one of those cars to race in a dirtrally rally tournament what car would you pick

[Spokster 0]

In the beginning I was struggling with RWD just like you, but I started out with the Lancia Stratos instead of the MK2 in the 70s, the car has great handling and is in my opinion the best controllable car from the 70s RWD cars, maybe you could continue with that an learn the physics more, I went from the 70s straight to group B but that's because I practiced a lot with those cars, but I think if you are just starting then you can also go for Group A, 4WD cars are easier to control in a straight line and on high speeds unlike the RWD cars which become rather unstable (using default setup) at high speeds, of course it's a matter of taste and preference, but this helped me develop the skills quickly for me.

I hope this helps :)

[ColinHughes 0]

Personally I haven't played with the rwd cars yet. I started in the mini coming first or second throughout the championship winning overall. I then brought the 306 maxi managed to drive very well and win that championship without too much hassle. Then I went for the Clio did two championships in rallycross winning the first championship coming second in the next went back to rally with a escort cosworth group a and now I'm starting to lose pace. Now I'm racing in the pro season done two events and I'm second overall think I need to learn the car Germany is my next event and I'm pretty confident I'll win that one had very good pace in Germany last time round. However I do fear that the ai might just have me in this championship I'm littrally driving as hard as I can so far with group a loving it from my first race in the mini to struggling with the escort
 The freedom with the career is fantastic it's all about practice and not expecting to win every time you race not sure if this is helpful or not just wanted to share my dirt rally story. Sorry about the bad grammar I suffer with dyslexia pretty badly lol good luck in your rwd journey.

[Spokster 0]

ColinHughes said:

Personally I haven't played with the rwd cars yet. I started in the mini coming first or second throughout the championship winning overall. I then brought the 306 maxi managed to drive very well and win that championship without too much hassle. Then I went for the Clio did two championships in rallycross winning the first championship coming second in the next went back to rally with a escort cosworth group a and now I'm starting to lose pace. Now I'm racing in the pro season done two events and I'm second overall think I need to learn the car Germany is my next event and I'm pretty confident I'll win that one had very good pace in Germany last time round. However I do fear that the ai might just have me in this championship I'm littrally driving as hard as I can so far with group a loving it from my first race in the mini to struggling with the escort
 The freedom with the career is fantastic it's all about practice and not expecting to win every time you race not sure if this is helpful or not just wanted to share my dirt rally story. Sorry about the bad grammar I suffer with dyslexia pretty badly lol good luck in your rwd journey.

Remember, winning in Dirt Rally is not the goal, it's survival while posting a good time and staying within the top 10 that is most important, if you can keep that up until you completed the Championship on Master difficulty, then you are doing alright, I often come in 3rd or 4th in a Masters Championship sometimes.

Don't let it bother you, just practice, keep driving championship learn the stages and upgrade your cars, you will familiarize yourself with the stages and cars over time and you will notice you'll become better. ;)