Gran Turismo 1: Top Starter Cars To Dominate Early Races

Nov 14, 2025 by Alex Braham 57 views

So, you're diving into the classic world of Gran Turismo 1 and itching to tear up the tracks? Awesome! But let's be real, your starting credits are tighter than a drum, and picking the right first car can make or break your early game experience. Don't worry, though; this guide will walk you through the best initial rides to get you winning races, earning cash, and climbing the ranks like a seasoned pro.

Why Your First Car Matters

Listen up, because this is crucial! In Gran Turismo 1, your first car isn't just a means of transportation; it's your gateway to the entire game. A well-chosen starter car can significantly impact your ability to win races, earn credits, and unlock new vehicles and upgrades. Imagine starting with a sluggish, underpowered car that struggles to keep up with the competition. You'd be stuck grinding easy races for hours, barely making enough money to afford basic upgrades. This can lead to frustration and a slow progression through the game. On the other hand, a smart choice can set you on a path to early success. A car with a good balance of handling, power, and reliability will allow you to win races more consistently, earn more credits, and quickly upgrade your vehicle to dominate even tougher challenges. Plus, the better your first car, the more enjoyable your initial experience with Gran Turismo 1 will be, keeping you engaged and motivated to explore everything the game has to offer. Trust me; the right choice will make your journey much smoother and more rewarding, so pay close attention to the recommendations below!

Top Contenders for Your First Ride

Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. These are the cars you should be eyeing when you first hit the dealership in Gran Turismo 1. We're looking for a sweet spot between price, performance, and upgrade potential.

Mazda Demio

First off, we have the Mazda Demio. Now, I know what you're thinking: "A Demio? Really?" Hear me out! This little hatchback is surprisingly capable for its price. It's nimble, easy to handle, and fuel-efficient, making it perfect for learning the tracks and mastering your driving skills. The Mazda Demio is an excellent choice for beginners in Gran Turismo 1 due to its affordability, user-friendly handling, and decent upgrade potential. When starting the game with limited credits, the Demio's low price point allows players to purchase it without breaking the bank, leaving some funds available for essential upgrades. Its nimble handling makes it forgiving for new players still getting to grips with the game's physics, allowing them to learn the tracks and improve their driving skills without constantly spinning out or crashing. The Demio's predictable behavior in corners helps players understand racing lines and braking points, crucial for mastering the fundamentals of racing. While it may not be the fastest car initially, the Demio offers plenty of upgrade options that can significantly enhance its performance. Upgrades such as improved suspension, tires, and engine tuning can transform the Demio into a competitive contender in early races, allowing players to earn more credits and progress through the game. Plus, the Demio's fuel efficiency is a bonus for endurance races, reducing the need for frequent pit stops. The Mazda Demio provides an affordable, manageable, and upgradable platform for new players to learn the ropes and enjoy early success in Gran Turismo 1.

Honda CR-X

Next up, we have the Honda CR-X. This front-wheel-drive sports car is a classic for a reason. It offers a great balance of handling and power, making it a joy to drive. The Honda CR-X is an excellent choice for new players in Gran Turismo 1 because it offers a blend of performance, handling, and upgradeability that makes it competitive in early races. Its relatively low cost allows players to purchase it without spending all their initial credits, leaving some money for upgrades. The CR-X's responsive handling and balanced chassis make it easy to control, helping players learn racing lines and improve their driving skills. Its front-wheel-drive configuration is forgiving and stable, reducing the likelihood of spins and crashes, making it suitable for beginners. The CR-X has a decent amount of power that allows it to accelerate and maintain speed on straights and through corners. Players can further improve the CR-X's performance through various upgrades, such as improved tires, suspension, and engine components, making it even more competitive. With these upgrades, the CR-X can compete with faster cars and win races, helping players earn more credits and progress through the game. The Honda CR-X is a fun and rewarding car to drive, enhancing the overall gaming experience and keeping players engaged. Overall, the Honda CR-X's combination of affordability, handling, performance, and upgrade potential makes it an excellent choice for new players in Gran Turismo 1, offering a platform for learning and enjoying the game.

Toyota Trueno GT-Apex (AE86)

And of course, we can't forget the Toyota Trueno GT-Apex (AE86). This rear-wheel-drive legend is a bit more challenging to drive than the other two, but it's incredibly rewarding once you get the hang of it. The Toyota Trueno GT-Apex (AE86) is often recommended as a good starting car in Gran Turismo 1 due to its unique combination of handling characteristics, upgrade potential, and cultural significance. The AE86 is known for its rear-wheel-drive configuration, which allows for oversteering and drifting techniques. While this can be challenging for beginners, mastering these techniques can make the AE86 incredibly rewarding to drive and highly competitive in races. The AE86's balanced chassis and lightweight design make it nimble and responsive, allowing players to maintain control even when pushing the car to its limits. It also offers a wide range of upgrade options, including engine tuning, suspension modifications, and tire upgrades, that can significantly improve its performance. With the right upgrades, the AE86 can become a formidable opponent in various races, allowing players to earn more credits and progress through the game. The Toyota Trueno GT-Apex (AE86) has achieved legendary status in the automotive world, particularly due to its association with drifting culture and appearances in popular media like Initial D. Driving the AE86 in Gran Turismo 1 allows players to experience a piece of automotive history and connect with a passionate community of enthusiasts. The AE86 offers a rewarding and engaging driving experience that can help players develop their skills and appreciation for car culture. Overall, the Toyota Trueno GT-Apex (AE86) provides a unique and enjoyable starting point for players in Gran Turismo 1, blending challenge, reward, and cultural significance into one package.

Essential Upgrades to Prioritize

So, you've picked your ride. What's next? Don't go blowing all your credits on cosmetic upgrades just yet! Here's the lowdown on the essential upgrades you should prioritize to get the most out of your first car.

Tires: This is the single most important upgrade you can make. Better tires mean more grip, which translates to faster cornering and shorter braking distances. Seriously, don't underestimate the power of good rubber. Upgrading the tires on your car in Gran Turismo 1 is crucial for enhancing its performance and handling, leading to improved lap times and greater control on the track. The stock tires that come with most starter cars often lack the grip needed to handle corners at high speeds, causing the car to slide and lose momentum. Upgrading to sport or racing tires can significantly increase the amount of grip available, allowing you to take corners faster and maintain better control of the car. The improved grip from better tires also reduces braking distances, allowing you to brake later and carry more speed into corners. This can lead to significant time savings on each lap. Different tire compounds are available, each offering different levels of grip and durability. Experimenting with different tire compounds can help you find the optimal balance between grip and longevity for different track conditions and driving styles. By investing in better tires, you can immediately improve your car's performance and make it more competitive in races, helping you earn more credits and progress through the game. Upgrading your tires is the most impactful upgrade you can make early on, so prioritize this to see the greatest improvement in your car's handling and performance.
Suspension: A good suspension setup can dramatically improve your car's handling and stability. It'll help you keep the tires planted on the ground, even over bumps and uneven surfaces. Upgrading the suspension on your car in Gran Turismo 1 is essential for improving its handling, stability, and overall performance on the track. The stock suspension on most starter cars is often too soft or not well-tuned, leading to excessive body roll, poor cornering, and reduced grip. Upgrading to a sport or racing suspension kit can significantly improve these characteristics, allowing you to take corners faster and maintain better control of the car. A good suspension setup will reduce body roll, keeping the car flatter through corners and improving stability. This allows you to carry more speed and maintain better control. Upgraded suspension components can be adjusted to fine-tune the car's handling characteristics to suit your driving style and the specific track conditions. Adjusting parameters like ride height, damper settings, and spring rates can help you optimize the car's performance. A well-tuned suspension will also improve the car's ability to absorb bumps and uneven surfaces, keeping the tires in contact with the road and maintaining grip. Upgrading your suspension is a worthwhile investment that will pay off in improved lap times and a more enjoyable driving experience. Prioritizing suspension upgrades will make your car more responsive, predictable, and competitive in races, helping you earn more credits and progress through the game.
Weight Reduction: Shedding some weight can make a surprising difference in your car's acceleration and handling. Look for weight reduction upgrades early on to make your car feel more nimble and responsive. Reducing the weight of your car in Gran Turismo 1 is an effective way to improve its acceleration, handling, and overall performance on the track. A lighter car requires less power to accelerate, resulting in quicker acceleration and improved top speed. Weight reduction also enhances the car's handling by reducing inertia and improving its responsiveness to steering inputs. This allows you to take corners faster and maintain better control of the car. Reducing weight improves the car's braking performance by decreasing the amount of energy required to slow down. This allows you to brake later and carry more speed into corners. Various weight reduction upgrades are available, ranging from removing unnecessary interior components to replacing body panels with lighter materials. Each upgrade can contribute to a noticeable improvement in performance. Reducing weight can improve fuel efficiency, allowing you to drive longer without needing to refuel. This can be particularly advantageous in endurance races. By reducing the weight of your car, you can unlock its full potential and gain a competitive edge in races. Weight reduction is a worthwhile investment that can significantly improve your car's performance and make it more fun to drive. Prioritizing weight reduction upgrades will make your car more nimble, responsive, and competitive in races, helping you earn more credits and progress through the game.

Tuning Tips for Success

Okay, you've got your car and some basic upgrades. Now it's time to dive into the tuning menu and tweak your settings for optimal performance. Here are a few quick tips to get you started:

Adjust Gear Ratios: Experiment with your gear ratios to find the sweet spot for each track. Shorter gears will give you better acceleration, while longer gears will improve your top speed. Adjusting gear ratios in Gran Turismo 1 is crucial for optimizing your car's performance on different tracks and driving styles. Shorter gear ratios provide quicker acceleration, which is beneficial for tracks with many corners and short straights. These ratios allow the engine to reach its peak power band more quickly, resulting in faster acceleration and improved responsiveness. Longer gear ratios provide higher top speeds, which are advantageous for tracks with long straights where you can maintain high speeds. These ratios allow the car to reach its maximum speed potential. Different tracks require different gear ratio setups. For example, a tight and twisty track like Autumn Ring might benefit from shorter gear ratios, while a high-speed track like Test Course might benefit from longer gear ratios. Experimenting with different gear ratios and testing them on the track can help you find the optimal setup for each track. You can also adjust individual gear ratios to fine-tune the car's performance. For example, you might shorten the first few gears for better acceleration and lengthen the higher gears for improved top speed. Adjusting gear ratios is an important tuning technique that can significantly improve your car's performance and make it more competitive in races. Taking the time to experiment with different gear ratios and find the optimal setup for each track will pay off in faster lap times and a more enjoyable driving experience.
Brake Balance: Adjust your brake balance to fine-tune your car's handling under braking. Moving the bias slightly forward can help with turn-in, while moving it slightly rearward can improve stability. Adjusting the brake balance in Gran Turismo 1 is essential for optimizing your car's handling and stability during braking. Moving the brake bias forward increases the braking force on the front wheels, which can improve turn-in response and reduce understeer. This can be helpful for tracks with tight corners where quick turn-in is crucial. Moving the brake bias rearward increases the braking force on the rear wheels, which can improve stability and reduce oversteer. This can be helpful for tracks with high-speed corners or slippery surfaces. The optimal brake balance depends on various factors, including the car's weight distribution, suspension setup, tire grip, and driving style. Experimenting with different brake balance settings and testing them on the track can help you find the best setup for your car. You can also adjust the brake balance to compensate for different driving conditions. For example, you might move the brake bias slightly rearward in wet conditions to improve stability and prevent wheel lockup. Adjusting the brake balance is an important tuning technique that can significantly improve your car's handling and make it more competitive in races. Taking the time to experiment with different settings and find the optimal balance for each track will pay off in faster lap times and a more enjoyable driving experience.
Ride Height: Lowering your ride height can improve your car's handling by lowering its center of gravity. However, be careful not to lower it too much, or you'll risk scraping the bottom of your car on bumps and curbs. Adjusting the ride height in Gran Turismo 1 is an important tuning technique that can significantly impact your car's handling and performance. Lowering the ride height reduces the car's center of gravity, which improves stability and reduces body roll during cornering. This allows you to take corners faster and maintain better control of the car. Lowering the ride height can also improve aerodynamics by reducing the amount of air flowing underneath the car. This can result in increased downforce and improved stability at high speeds. However, lowering the ride height too much can cause the car to scrape on bumps and curbs, which can damage the car and reduce its performance. It's essential to find a balance between lowering the ride height for improved handling and maintaining enough ground clearance to avoid scraping. Different tracks may require different ride height setups. For example, a smooth track like Test Course might allow for a lower ride height, while a bumpy track like Trial Mountain might require a higher ride height. Experimenting with different ride height settings and testing them on the track can help you find the optimal setup for each track. Adjusting the ride height is a valuable tuning technique that can improve your car's handling and make it more competitive in races. Taking the time to experiment with different settings and find the optimal height for each track will pay off in faster lap times and a more enjoyable driving experience.

Conclusion

Choosing the right first car in Gran Turismo 1 is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your early game experience. By selecting a car with a good balance of performance, handling, and upgrade potential, and by prioritizing essential upgrades and tuning techniques, you can set yourself on the path to success and dominate the early races. Remember to focus on tires, suspension, and weight reduction to maximize your car's potential, and experiment with gear ratios, brake balance, and ride height to fine-tune its handling to your liking. With the right car and setup, you'll be well on your way to becoming a Gran Turismo champion! So, get out there, hit the track, and start your racing journey today!