RAKtheUndead said:
I wrote this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.105860-Probing-The-Inaccuracies-The-Automobile] and this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.198484-Probing-The-Inaccuracies-Motorsport]. I think you can tell what my prevailing opinions on cars are.
I disagree with your stance on drifting, Nitrous, and Turbochargers.
Drifting, to me anyway, is just like any other automotive activity, a good way to pass the time...calling it "useless" outside of motorsport doesn't make much sense.
Nitrous has been around for a lot longer than the fast and the furious, and anyone even remotely knowledgeable on the subject knows what a fantastic gas it is.
First off...nitrous is never used in the lower gears as the resulting torque would cause a loss of traction. Second, it is hardly ever used outside of drag racing because of the limitations you pointed out. Third, nitrous is a safe additive as long as you aren't a dumbass. Fourth, it adds, at most, 50 pounds to the weight of a car, which the horsepower gain more than covers. As I said earlier, it's primary use is in drag racing, where it not only increases the amount of fuel you can burn, but cools the intake charge as well. Where gains are most noticeable are on turbocharged cars, where it is used to help the turbo spool faster. Not everyone uses alcohol powered cars, as there are many different classes that are only allowed to run gasoline. I have never seen a race, outside of video games, where nitrous was used to gain an edge.
Speaking of turbochargers, forced induction is the cheapest, outside of nitrous, way to increase power. Again, as long as you aren't a dumbass, turbocharged and supercharged engines last every bit as long as natural aspirated cars. So yes, they pretty much are a "win" button if you have the money to properly install a system. You don't need two turbos to eliminate lag either, as modern programing and turbo design have taken great strides in that department. Whether it disqualifies you in your particular racing class is another matter, and usually the addition of a turbocharger kit bumps you into Prepared classes.
So...just nitpicking, the post is great for people unfamiliar with the "scene".
