It is indeed overwhelming!
Still open to suggestions
Agree! It is personal indeed.
A bit of background, I came back to sim racing recently, a couple of months ago, after around 2003 when I was playing Richard Burn Rally, and tried GTL, GPL. For a few seasons I raced autoX locally in ES class in Toyota MR2 na. I actually got 5th place Indexed one year, that was something. Hardware: I am still on the old gold standard Logitech red Momo steering wheel but with recent upgrade of Thrustmaster T-LCM pedals.
My impression of Assetto Corsa was shockingly good value with a very high quality product with boundless amount of add-on availability. I actually downloaded Dirt Rally 2, but felt it's like of strange. So onto my journey/car selection in AC.
Initially I was struggling with the feel of cars.. which is a given for a newbie. I am sure that initial frustration is more common than we like to think. Then I started doing it systematically like when I approached AutoXing. I picked a simple track, Drift (trioval) and I picked a car and just tried to accumulate my seat time while getting the feel. (Still very lacking in my weekly seat time, probably 3 hrs) (Oh, getting dial in with the controller setting was another thing.) I came to realize high power is not so easy, so I dropped KTM cross bow and drove NA Miata, then found MR2 SC, that I drove a lot and got consistent with it. Oh, the 125cc Kart was actually great on the trioval. My favorite car there is actually a Lancia Stratos.
No body will probably tell you to do this, but I found that the best way to learn/find the line is actually just keep it in 3rd gear and just work the brake and steering to get the line right. When I started downshifting for the turn the time was not always quicker. Yeah, keeping things simple. When AutoXing we pretty much keep it in 2nd all the way.
In AC, I have only really driven Laguna Seca which is in my "backyard". (Ridden Riverside and track Thunderhill.. time to hunt those down.)
I tried to drift but "suck" does not even describe it.. think I need specific lesson to do. Love the FD though, had one good drift sesson on trioval. It's funny how everyone suggests a low power car to learn to drift and all the drift car mod out there only has high power/torque.
Oh, I do have one recommendation.. Caterham academy. Fun, responsive, good torque not so peaky. I like a car that is responsive in wider speed range. Responsive yet not like snap, violent turn-in/oversteering, Some body movement is good, not too stiff. Lancia Fulvia for some reason is very light/fast steering for a fwd car, never driven one and wonder if that is how it is. I want to download and learn Alpine A110. Did 1:46.212 on Laguna Seca with a 911 last night. Not bad, spun a few times at the Corkscrew.
I think I need to find "fun" and "satisfaction" not only in lap time. Otherwise it is .. work. Sorry for ranting.
Yeah, have fun experimenting!
