The 2015 Mazda Demio XD Touring is an entry level hatch from the quirky Mazda make, giving players of Gran Turismo 7 a strong appetiser into the Hiroshiman brand of weird right at the start of the game—it's one of the only five diesel powered cars in this game, and one of the only two that are road cars. It's also one of the three starter cars the player can buy upon starting the game. Despite its big quirk of being a diesel powered car, the fourth gen Demio I strongly opine offers the most traditional driving feel among the three starter cars available, and it might just be the pick among its litter as well.
Style by U-SKE01: MAZDA SPIRIT RACING MAZDA2 '22
#stai #supertaikyu #yugurena
Seething up front is Mazda's patented SKYACTIV-D 1,496cc turbo diesel powerplant, driving the front wheels via a proper 6 speed stick shift, immediately setting itself apart from the CVT saddled Toyota Aqua and the 7DCT Honda Fit with no manual mode (in real life). As if that wasn't enough, the little Mazda is the only one among the three starter cars that comes stock with a limited slip differential to further its sporting credentials, no doubt helpful in keeping all its turbo diesel torque in check, which can reach a peak of 219.6N⋅m (162.0lbf⋅ft) from just 1,500rpm, which the car will idle at if equipped with an aftermarket anti–lag system set to weak.
But of course, gobs of low–end torque is to be expected from a diesel engine. Heck, it's its selling point.
Another thing you ought to expect from a diesel on–track is that it really doesn't like to be revved out, which practically necessitates the car being driven on manual shifting mode, making it perhaps the most beginner unfriendly starter car, paradoxical as that sounds. The car may have a rev limit low enough to bump your head on at 5,500rpm, but power peaks at 4,000rpm, past which the entire block might as well fall off the car for all the difference it makes. The rev bar in the game starts counting from around 4,3, and I've had best results shifting the car not far past that at around 4,4, making the human ear and a set of earphones much better tells for shifting the car than the game's displays. Contrast this to the tabletop torque curve of the Honda Fit that almost doesn't mind being shifted whenever, and the CVT of the Aqua that eliminates shifting entirely while keeping it in peak power for its driver, and the Demio looks almost cumbersome and unrefined to drive.
That theme continues into the twisty bits of the track as well; the diesel Demios suffer a hefty fifty kilo (110lbs) mass penalty over its petrol counterparts of the same grade, and it has a centre of gravity that feels to me to be markedly higher than not just the other two starter cars, but of its compact hatch class as a whole. When that package is suspended above the soft springs and economy oriented tyres the Demio comes with, the end result is a car that necessitates the utmost care when being eased into a corner; the car takes a tiny moment before it really responds to asks of its driver, and the Comfort Medium tyres don't take much abuse before giving up. It hates being braked when off balance, and is rather difficult to coax into biting an apex for a car of its size and mass, requiring braking just that bit earlier than would be intuitive, sometimes even with pointing the car towards an apex before slamming on the middle pedal. It's the sort of car that requires drivers to smoothly connect the next few corners and set the car up for them well beforehand, as the Demio doesn't respond well to sudden compensating maneuvers. In short, despite its starter car status and low speeds, the Demio nonetheless demands the full attention of its driver to be driven well, and can even peek into dangerous snapping territory if abused, with its soft springs, tall cg, and short wheelbase.
With the aforementioned cornering concerns coupled with its abysmal power deficit to the other petrol hybrid starter cars, it's no surprise that the Demio is the slowest of the three in a hot lap scenario. Yes, the Aqua drives god–awful, and is dead in the water after around 4 minutes of flat out driving, but the Toyota is unethically fast when it still has charge. Even a Fit depleted of its hybrid battery charge has a pronounced straight line speed advantage over the Demio, to the point where a Demio with the full, close quarters slipstream of the Fit can't overtake when pulling out of the tow to pass when both are driven with manual shifting. Not to mention, the Demio is also the most expensive of the three when bought new from Brand Central, costing a whopping 19,500 Credits in contrast to the 16,500 and 17,900 Credit asking price for the Fit and Aqua, respectively, though it is the cheapest when bought at the start of the game from the Used Car Dealer.
Despite its shortcomings against its direct rivals in the game, I have a strong respect for the Demio, and look towards it fondly like I do most Mazda models. I think the Demio has achieved a sweet balance between capability and communication. The Aqua is unethically quick in terms of one lap pace, but it's just hopelessly clumsy in the corners, and never "talks" to the driver about anything until the car hits the wall. The Fit may corner effortlessly and mostly without drama, but it also tends to build unfounded confidence in its driver because of it, only to let go suddenly when push comes to shove. The Demio may at first appear cumbersome to drive, but that's because the car is always "talking" to the driver. I'm always cognizant of where weight is on the car, and am constantly made cautious of how I tip the car into a corner. I'm always forced to respect it. It trains me to perceive the nuances of a car's feedback better, and conditions me to be smooth, calculated, and deliberate in my driving. I daresay that my time in the Demio has made me faster in the Fit. In my Time Attack runs, I've managed to lap Streets of Willow about a tenth quicker with a charged Fit than the Demio, which is a gap that's much smaller than I expected, given how lethargic the Demio feels in comparison to the Fit, along with its gaping 35HP power deficit. It hung with the Fit in the corners, and even had short lived advantages out of them with its absurd torque. If you're from the generation that thinks a Mk I Golf GTI is fast, the diesel Demio is just as quick. That is to say, despite specs and sensations dictating otherwise, the Demio is deceptively capable still.
Yes, it's the slowest and least beginner friendly of the three starter cars. But, a first car that trains its drivers to treat all future cars right I'd argue makes for the best starter car in any scenario. I wrote in my review of the Demio back in Gran Turismo Sport that the Demio may have a "2" in its name in most markets, but it's the gateway to many firsts for many people. While I may not have started my GT7 journey with the Demio, it will have the honour of starring in the first GT7 COTW videos I'm uploading to YouTube!
Laguna:
https://youtu.be/nRVwKw5v3Hc
HSR:
https://youtu.be/n5z5y64UxCY
No comments:
Post a Comment