I am beginning to explore the assists in different classes. I always race manual with a clutch and simulation steering. However, abs, tcm, and stability, why would you leave them on/off? I find higher class cars a and up almost require at least traction control. As for abs, does that really give you slower lap times?
Just looking to see anyone’s opinion on their setup…
I’m definitely not a top racer but here’s what I use for assists.
Normal steering - I started with sim steering but after reading a thread that said a lot of people (some top LB’s included) are quicker with normal i decided to give it a go and I am quicker with Normal.
ABS off - You can stop faster with it off, you just need to feather the brake and try to stay just before threshold of locking up.
stability and traction control off - I like the feel of having stability off not sure if it makes me faster or slower tho. As far as traction control goes I’m not using it in S class but might start in any higher classes. The cars I race/build don’t have quite as much horsepower in favor of handling so they are a lot easier to maintain throttle control and prevent wheel spin than some geared more for top end.
The best race car drivers don’t use assists, period. Some series allow assists if you are rookie, but that is very limited. I look at it this way, if you can’t move up in the car class without assists, then you should drope back down and find the hardest car in the class below. The fact that people use assists because they can’t control the car is one of the reasons multiplayer is the way it is. In a perfect circumstance the higher class cars will be faster without assists, but that might not be exactly true on the lower class cars due to gear ratios, power band, and other variables.
There are some really talented and fast drivers that are just to afraid to suck with assists off, even though it would only take a little time to master it.
Are you saying that the leaderboards are incorrect? Or do you consider someone who can drive faster with assists an inferior driver? I’ve tried using manual with clutch and it works great to up-shift, but the way i hold the controller (use index for braking) I will never be able to effectively down shift while braking. Sad part is i know if shifting properly manual with clutch IS faster.
Well as far as overall skill yes, but that’s not to say that the majority on Forza are crappy drivers, just that most don’t want to spend the time to master no assists. In my opinion assists should count against you on the LB. I like the idea, someone sugested, of having hardcore or pro lobby’s for people that want to play with everything off.
As far as the shifting, I can’t believe that Turn10 still hasn’t fixed the the shifting to make them accurate per the car. For instance the E21 has a clutch as per regulation but it is only used for the launch and reverse. Most of the supercars have automated manual gearboxes that have an automated clutch, even while in manual mode. I always run with manual and clutch. I swapped upshift to be LB, downshift to be RB, and clutch is A. Try it out and you should see why I made it that way.
That’s brilliant! I was trying to figure out a way to re-organise the buttons to be able to use clutch but couldn`t find a good combination. Thanks a lot!
I know a lot of games have different lobbies for pro and I agree Forza should too. Its possible right now that there just isnt enough people playing to be able to have that many different lobbies. I know right now if I`m trying to switch lobbies but stay in the same class I get rotated through maybe 3 different lobbies.
Dang that is brilliant. I will say this: most of the assists limit the potential of the car in some way when they kick in. They may benefit a really good driver who only triggers them in certain spots, but learning to drive without them has improved my driving much better than using them could have allowed.
Thanks for the tip macace21, I am certainly going to try this out. I am new to gaming and have yet been able to get use to the controller and figure out the best (most comfortable) setup. Seems I can only get about 13 different setups and not really completely programmable.
You know, I currently race with TCS and manual only and was kinda afraid to turn them off, but reading this has given me the confidence to try and master no assists. But to be honest I don’t think it’s fair to disrespect people who use assists if they can drive their car properly. Whatever you need to enjoy the game is fine by me.
I use different assists depending on the car. When I race the E21, I use no assists and I am able to control the car really well at max speed. However, on many of my lower car classes, I run into a lot of issues of spinning – thus, have to use my assists. Any thoughts (?), especially on RWD cars. I currently own 15 cars (just starting, new to gaming and Forza) and I have not tuned these cars. I only have one car tuned (Aventador) using open source (Stig). Thanks!
I meant no disrespect at all so I apologize if it sounds that way, but I come from real life racing background and enjoy Forzas “SIM” side. I am not saying that someone has no skill if they use assists, but in my opinion the person running consistent laps a second or 2 slower with no assists compared to someone with assists, is the better driver. Everything I have said in here is meant as either my opinion or real world racing fact, none of it is ment to disrespect anyone. Honestly, if anything I’ve said here does anything at all, I hope its to encourage more people to try running without assists.
To the person that needs TCS in the lower classes but not with the E21 (sorry on my phone and can’t see names will responding) my advice is tune for your style of driving the car and then practice. However, remember that production cars are ment, especially the newer supercars, to be faster with TCS/SC and ABS. Personally I can’t race anything under R-class and I mostly race X-class. My mind is too configured for the dynamics of an actual race car rather than a production car hyped up to be faster.
One last thing, for the higher end classes rember that you have to race reverse of the way you run lower end classes. By that I mean for example, in the E21 too much speed will shorten turn radias and reduce traction like normal, but not enough speed at given angles can reduce traction. A lot of people go to turn TCS off on the high whp RWD cars and find themselves spinning out a lot or having serious understeer. Some then try to tune out the understeer and find out the car just becomes a donut monster. There is a lot more variables involved with assists off, but with practice it is more than manageable. I run multiplayer X-class almost all the time and I rarely place less than 3rd now and usually that 3rd is due to getting hit. If any of you want to play around with it in a private lobby just add me and we can setup a little practice room.
Thanks macace21. I will take you up on the offer (using my E21), yet, you must remember I am a newbie!!
Sorry, I some how managed a double post here;)
Everyone I know who races manual with clutch (including me) uses B for upshift, X for downshift and A for clutch. You just get used to mashing two buttons at once. It’s extremely easy to use like that.
The best set up by far unless you have the wheel!
The suggested LB - upshift and RB - downshift and A clutch has merit!
I’ve been doing the a-x and a-b forever but I can see where the LB / RB WOULD BE GOOD.
Accel with right index. Clutch right thumb aand up shift with left and visa versa when braking. I get why he did it and I think the mechanics of it would work at perfectly. I’d be a little scared of fat thumbing where ever the hand brake would end up. But other than that its a brilliant set up, Very thought out.
TCS on/ off pending which is faster on a lap. That’s why I use it or don’t. Could careless if its considered good or bad. The GT and LMP cars use TCS. So do I if its faster around the track and take it off if it faster to go with out it. I just wish we could set the level. It can be on and not fire off. (Which would be the same as it not on). But if I get a little agressive , it will help out and fire on)
I’m still using ABS and TCS when racing the E21, as I find it completely unruly at times otherwise, though this is most likely just a skill issue on my part. I find that when I have the ABS turned off, it slows me down having to ease on the brakes enough to keep them from locking and still slow quickly enough.
As far as TCS goes, you can probably do without it on the e21, as its more of a ‘quality of life’ assist than anything else. It can be quite easy - especially in longer races - to overcook a corner badly if your concentration drifts, so for me its just a safety net to avoid some of the ocean of mistakes I tend to make 
Great discussion going on here - I might try the steering. Tuning is a lot of fun, and I find myself really enjoying the B, A class cars, but when I explore higher, I find the wheel spin is just out of control. Part of me wishes the cars would be locked with their “factory settings” meaning if you can’t turn off stability control, then you can’t. Only automated gears, then no manual option etc.
I really need someone to teach me tuning, as I have no idea what any of it means.
ABS off
Steering normal
TCS and STC both off
Shifting manual w/ clutch
Thing is, I like to tune my cars to be stable. I like knowing my car’s will handle me mashing the throttle while exiting a corner, and also knowing I have the advantage to just skid the littlest amount rather than an assist shutting my throttle down and slowing me down more. Assists make you slower. I only use normal because using sim on a controller is too ridiculous for me. I also find that rolling around corners, just off the throttle rather than braking while in corners is usually the best thing to do and makes for the best driving line. The less assists you have, and the “less” you drive, the faster you will be.