This is a guide to show you how to effectively handle the different types of cars in Colin MacRae Dirt. There are front wheele drive, rear wheel drive and four-wheel drive; all of these handle very differently and it's important you know the dangers, pros and cons to each vehicle type.
The Problem
Driving in Colin Mac Rae Dirt is easy...if that’s the mode you have it set on. But as you up the difficulty level you’ll notice your car handles differently, the engine responds differently, that gravel shifts a little bit more and your car’s level of damage increases to the point where completing one stage means that for the next stage your car will be in utter smithereens. This is a quick driving guide for Colin Mac Rae Dirt for the three main sets of vehicles.
Front Wheel Drive
Front Wheel Drive (FWD)
For this mode one must remember that most of the action will be on the front wheels. To have the front of the car at its optimum level of performance, tap on the brakes when you’re about to enter a corner. This will shift the weight of the car to the front to allow for more grip on the turn. But be careful – you can’t simply turn the wheel to fast other wise the back of the car will slide out wildly leaving to pinned to a tree. Also, you must keep momentum to prevent your car from stopping dead in the dirt with the wheels still spinning.
For FWD cars, you must also remember that on long straights, the slightest touch to the steering wheel can send the car into a wobble which can rapidly turn into a spin. If this happens, tap the brakes to get more grip at the front and then accelerate to keep the back in and the car on a straight and fast course.
Rear Wheel Drive
RWD
These cars are very difficult to drive, especially when grip is at a minimum such as in snow, sand and gravel. Firstly, when accelerating, its best to go full throttle as weight will go to the back of the car giving the back wheels more traction.
For cornering, it’s best to slide rather than turn. This is because turning can lead to you either turning the wheel and continuing in a straight line or over-steering. As you approach a bend on the outside, turn slightly into the centre. When you enter the corner lift of the accelerator and turn the wheel. When you’re about halfway through the corner turn the wheel the other way to correct he car with the pedal to the floor.
Four Wheel Drive
FWD
These cars are the best for rally. They are a bit slow through corners but are consistent.
When turning a corner, its best to break in a straight line and then turn while accelerating just clipping the apex of the corner. This will prevent sliding and at worst the back end may kick out a small bit which can be corrected by turning the wheel to full-lock the other way for half a second while accelerating.
Driving on straights is easy due to the high level of grip and the only other thing to remember is that the steering can be a bit unresponsive at medium speeds.
I hope this guide will have you gliding, sliding and coasting through the stages in no time in Colin MacRae Dirt for the XBOX 360