[VIPDRFT]

Originally Posted by Corbic

For Initial D to gain any credibility, it needs to dramatically change.What I liked originally was everyone's shock of a "lowly" 86 whopping on GTRs and FDs. It had a sense of authenticity. The show was full ofcocky, juvenile kids rocking performances cars that far out matched their ability to drive. Tak shows up and schools them because he's actually a seasoned driver.* Even then we eventually find out the 86 isfar from stock - Tak is just ignorant.*

The whole "random" advantage thing has worn out its welcome. Tak is no longer winning because he's awesome, he is winning because there are leaves on the track, fog, rain, opponent has cancer, guy hits a guard rail.. etc.*I was totally getting ready for him to ditch the 86 for the STI. Sooner or later you have to admit an 86 is just outvclassed by more powerful performance cars.

So this is how I think they should do it.*Word gets out some rich European tourist wants to do some down hill racing while in Japan. He's even rented a Porsche to do it. (RWB style911). He has connections and is rich, so Ryosuke agrees even though Tak and Keisuke think it's a stupid waste of time.

*Initially in the race Tak keeps up and is grumbling about the amount of power the Porsche has and it's SUPER WIDE tires. Leading up to this racewe can have them all talking about the history of the 911 (like theCivic vs 86) and the inherent dynamics of a rear engine car.*But just as Tak is about to pull some BS dive bomb take the lead move -the Porsche vanishes. Tak can't keep up with it in the straights orturns and it soundly crushes our Panda driving hero.*

After the race, everyone thinks that it was just this amazing car, but the Porsche Driver emerges from the 911 spouting nothing but complaints.The alignments are off, the dampers are set wrong, the throttle is lose.The brakes are biased wrong, there is 5kg to much in one corner. On and on.*He then thanks Tak and give him tickets to the Fuji F1 race that is happening the next day and tells him stop by.

The "Tourist" was actuallya F1 racer from Germany who enjoys street racing before a big event tohelp him relax. Ryosuke knew this all along and that's why he agreed tothe event.*Tak and crew go to the Race and our "tourist" takes 3rd. Afterwards he explains to Tak that at some point it becomes all about the Machine. A complete reversal from the start of the series - "it's all about the rider". In F1 everyone is so skilled and competitive, it's the micro-fraction differences in the cars that can win or lose a race.* If Tak really wants to see how far he can go - he needs to start learning to drive any car, not just his personal "toy".*

This sets Tak up for a quest to find a new car. This could be a whole season. Testing, borrowing, racing other cars - agonizing over what to get. I would actually, for once, be in suspense thinking "what will he decide... so I can buy one ahead of time to cash in on the ensuing Initial D tax!!"

THIS!

... or... remember in that one episode where a race driver (hinted at as Keichi Tsuchiya) calls Bunta and they chit chat? Why not have the driver be him?