1. I would actually flip the spring rates and shock settings around. Soft springs up front and stiff springs in the rear will help keep the weight on the front wheels, since they're the ones doing the turning AND the accelerating. The rear is just kind of along for the ride. No real reason to have any weight back there when the front wheels are doing all the work.
I acknowledge there are proven tunes that get a percentage of the population around the Forza tracks faster than the majority. Many of those tunes are as far removed from real-world tuning as can be. I can't deny that.
I submit tunes tested to give the driver overall improved control and cornering ability. How fast the driver is able to go after that is up to the driver.
In this example, 61% of the Focus' weight is located over the front axle. 39% at the rear.
I'll use an analogy of two body builders, arms raised and apart and palms up, looking a little like (American) football uprights. (I figure this isn't necessary for the old guard here, but new members or lurkers may benefit.)
Imagine one body builder's arms as the front pair of springs. The second body builder's arms as the rear springs. Both men are holding up a large wooden plank at each corner. There are cinder blocks piled on the plank to simulate the Focus' distributed weight.
Both men are equally strong and can benchpress the same maximum amount of weight individually(Mr. A can press 700 lbs, Mr. B can press 700 lbs).
If the Focus' weight was equally distributed 50/50, then each body builder would be holding up 1054 lbs.
Any deviation from 50% weight distribution means one body builder is supporting more weight than the other.
If the body builder at the front of the wooden plank has to support more weight, it means he has to exert more force to move or limit the movement of that weight. And since he's holding the weight over his head(above the ground), he's doing just that. Limiting the movement of the plank against the downward force of gravity.
Imagine a strong crosswind against the two men and the items they're holding. That air pressure applies a slight force causing the supported items to tip slightly away from level position(the body builder's arms support the plank, but they are not absolutely rigid, they can flex under the load).
If the body builder at the front of the plank is supporting more of the car's total weight, would you say he needs to exert himself more to counteract the crosswind and return the plank to a level position? More weight means more work required to support and move(or limit movement).
If the body builder at the rear of the plank is supporting less of the car's total weight, would you say he needs to exert himself less to counteract the crosswind and return the plank to a level position? Less weight means less work required to support and move(or limit movement).
What might be the effect of placing a stronger body builder at the rear of the plank?
If the body builder at the front of the plank was having difficulty returning the plank to level position, what would be the effect of the body builder at the rear if he applied more force from the rear to level the plank? Would it help? How much extra force would be required to try and manipulate the plank from the rear if the bulk of the weight is at the front? Would there be any compromise? Perhaps a possibility of snapping the plank?
Replace the body builders with conventional springs. Would you need increased spring stiffness to support the heavy end or light end of the car? If the engine, drive wheels, steering wheels and, as a reuslt, majority of the weight are at the front of a FF car, would it not be more critical to ensure maximum stability of the front end of the vehicle?
I know Forza 2 tuning works in a myriad of ways for different players. I find speed through confidence in the car. I've been kicked from more lobbies than I care to mention as a result of having the car that pursues, keeps up or passes other AH or leaderboard cars for nothing more than my ability to commit the car through a turn. I've literally seen other players nudge against my car and rebound away as if they struck a tank. My car continuing along its path.
More importantly though, I've seen a growing number of cars/drivers who clearly have "the right stuff". Many of my best races have been against such drivers, neck and neck, conservative car-to-car contact, and near bumper-to-bumper pursuits. Absolutely brilliant replay footage. Great camaraderie afterwards. A stable tune, however you achieve it works wonders for competition.
