Marcus Stray

To remain competitive in Forza Motorsport, it’s necessary to upgrade one’s vehicle at some point. There is the option to do a quick upgrade, but a little extra effort goes a long way.

It’s not rocket science. There are no tricks to upgrading a car, but it’s important to strike a good balance between power and handling while remaining within the performance limits.

Get A Grip
Any race series normally requires selecting a car, which one can then upgrade as the series progresses and in-game currency is earned. The first things I like to upgrade are the tires and brakes; can’t go fast if you can’t stop fast. This gives the player more control when approaching and maneuvering through turns.

Selecting between Street, Sport, and Racing tires will depend on the car and the player’s preferences. I always like to do a few practice laps to see how the car handles before altering anything. On some vehicles, like the 2016 Mercedes-AMG C63 S or the 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4, the stock tires are pretty decent so I upgraded things like brakes and suspension before sinking money into tires.

Sometimes upgrading tires can put the player over the Performance Index limit. I found that this was the case in a muscle car series; I selected a 2018 Ford Mustang GT for one and found myself struggling to keep it under control since the Performance Index only allowed modest upgrades.

The Little Things
Small upgrades can and often do add up. I treat upgrading a car in Forza Motorsport just like I would IRL: that is, I focus on things that would be considered “bolt-on” upgrades. Most of the things under the Fuel and Air tab in the Upgrade Shop fit this description.

Nothing Beats Practice
True to the name “pony car,” it’s almost comical how frustrated I got trying to wrangle the Mustang GT around corners. Patience truly is a virtue, things went a lot better when I stopped trying to compete and went with the flow.

Truth be told, I don’t have a lot of experience driving such heavy and powerful cars, so that could also have a lot to do with how frustrated I felt with the Mustang GT at first. Not really my cup of tea, being honest, as much as I like pony cars. Luckily I was able to upgrade the GT in another series later on. For some variety, I also tried a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Super Sport, and the experience with the GT paid off.

Seriously, I have always enjoyed driving, so I’m happy to run laps to clear my mind. It also helps to at least familiarize oneself with the track before the race starts. If you’re like me and enjoy driving, you could spend as much of the limited practice time on the track as you can. This doesn’t ensure success, but it helps a lot. It also presents an opportunity to make adjustments if necessary.

Be Patient, Finish Strong
Nice guys finish last, they say. Well, they also say speed kills, so there’s that, too. Thankfully, playing a video game means no direct risk of physical injury when crashing out, but it’s better (in my opinion) to just finish the race even when faced with a setback.

An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure, which is why it’s important to take time to practice. I’m really starting to sound like an old man with these old adages, but it’s true! Slow and steady wins the race, after all.