How to choose and improve a car in Forza Horizon 4: a guide for beginners and pros

Forza Horizon 4 is not just a racing game, but a virtual fleet with more than 450 cars, each with unique characteristics, history and tuning potential. But how not to get lost in this diversity? Which cars should you buy first, and which ones should you avoid? And most importantly, how can you turn an ordinary production car into an invincible monster on the track or off-road?

This article will help you understand the key aspects of choosing machines in FH4: from budget options to start with to legendary rarities that cost millions of credits. We will analyze top models for different classes, we will reveal the secrets of effective tuning and tell you where to look for the best deals at auction. We’ll also look at the typical mistakes of newbies who waste credits on useless upgrades.

It doesn't matter if you play for S1 900+ supercars or prefer to drift on old Japanese "cramps" - here you will find useful information for every playing style.

Top 5 cars to start with: budget but effective

Beginning players often think that they need expensive supercars to win. In fact, in Forza Horizon 4 There are dozens of cars available that, after proper tuning, will outperform cars from higher classes. The main thing is to know what to look for when buying.

Here are our recommendations for the first 100,000 loans:

• 🚗 Honda Civic Type R (2015) - perfect balance of price and performance. Easy to tune to suit the class A 800, excellent road holding on turns.
• 🏁 Ford Focus RS (2016) — a front-wheel drive monster with potential for drifting and circuit racing. Cheap to repair.
• 💨 Subaru WRX STI (2005) - a classic rally car that, after upgrading the engine and transmission, becomes tireless off-road.
• 🔥 BMW M3 (2005) — one of the most balanced cars in the game. Suitable for all types of racing, including drag.
• 💰 Volkswagen Golf GTI (2016) — the cheapest car on the list (about 25,000 credits), but with the right tuning it will outperform many cars in its class B.

All these models can be found at auction at a price up to 50,000 credits, if you look for options without upgrades. And after installing basic improvements (engine, transmission, suspension) they will easily rise to the class A and above.

How to properly tune a car: step-by-step guide

Tuning in Forza Horizon 4 — it’s not just about installing the most expensive parts. It is important to understand here how each upgrade affects the behavior of the car on the road. For example, increasing power without improving the brakes and suspension will make the car uncontrollable.

Let's look at the process using an example Nissan GT-R (R35) for class S1 900:

1. Engine: First, we improve the standard engine as much as possible (increase in volume, turbine, intake/exhaust). Only if there is not enough power, we consider a swap.
2. Transmission: for drag - short gears, for the ring - long. Don't forget about the clutch and differential.
3. Suspension: We select the stiffness of springs and shock absorbers to suit the driving style. For drifting - softer, for precise turns - harder.
4. Brakes: we definitely improve it to the maximum, otherwise at high speeds the car will “dive” when braking.
5. Tires: off-road - Rally, for asphalt - Race. We select the pressure experimentally.

Check machine class (target PI)

Determine the type of racing (drift, ring, drag)

Save current setting (slot 1)

Install basic upgrades (brakes, suspension)

Test after every change -->

One of the most common myths is that an engine swap is always better than a standard upgrade. In fact, a swap often throws off the balance of the car, requires additional modifications to the transmission and increases weight. For example, swap V8 on a passenger car will make it a front-wheel drive “torpedo”, which will be difficult to keep on the highway.

⚠️ Attention: Never improve the appearance (body kits, spoilers) until the technical tuning is completed. Many visual tuning parts add weight and worsen aerodynamics, which will then have to be compensated for with expensive upgrades.

Where to buy rare cars: auction vs. car showroom

B Forza Horizon 4 There are two main ways to purchase cars: car showroom (fixed prices) and auction (trading between players). Each of them has its pros and cons.

Parameter	Car showroom	Auction
Price	Fixed (often inflated)	You can find it cheaper, but there is a risk of overpaying
Availability of rare cars	Limited assortment	Almost all game models, including DLC
Upgrade level	Stock versions only	You can buy already tuned cars
Search time	Instant purchase	Lot monitoring required

You can save up to 70% cost on rare machines, if you know a few tricks:

• 🕒 Time: The best lots appear in the evening hours Moscow time (18:00–22:00), when online is at its maximum.
• 🔍 Filters: Use model search and Ends Soon sort to find cars that are selling in a hurry.
• 💰 Sniping: bid in the last 10 seconds to avoid a bidding war.
• 🚫 Deception: Don't buy cars with "gold" settings - often these are just overpaid stock versions.

Example of a profitable deal: Porsche 911 GT3 RS (2019) in the car showroom 500,000 credits, and can be found at auction for 150 000–200 000, if you keep an eye on lots with low seller ratings (many sell cheap to get loans faster).

The best cars for each class: from D to X

B Forza Horizon 4 vehicle classes (D, C, B, A, S1, S2, X) determine their performance (PI - Performance Index). To win online or earn maximum rewards in PvE, you need to select cars that optimally balanced for your class.

Here are our recommendations:

Class D (PI 100–499)

• 🏆 Mini Cooper S (1965) — the best car to start a career. Lightweight, manoeuvrable, ideal for narrow British roads.
• 🚜 Ford F-150 Prerunner (2019) - an unexpectedly fast off-road pickup truck.

Class S1 (PI 801–899)

• 🔥 Ferrari 488 GTB - the best choice for circuit racing. After tuning it overtakes many S2 cars.
• 💨 Lamborghini Huracán Performante — a balanced supercar for any track.

Class X (PI 900+)

• 🏁 Koenigsegg Jesko - the fastest car in the game (speed > 400 km/h), but requires skill to drive.
• 💥 Bugatti Chiron - easier to manage than Jesko, but loses in overclocking.

For class S2 we recommend McLaren Senna is one of the few cars that combines high top speed and excellent cornering handling. But Aston Martin Vulcan, despite the high PI, loses in real races due to poor aerodynamics.

Why do some cars with high PI lose in races?

In Forza Horizon 4, the final Performance Index (PI) takes into account not only power, but also weight, drive, and aerodynamics. For example, heavy Dodge Challenger Demon (S2 998) will lose Porsche 918 Spyder (S1 998) on winding roads due to worse handling, despite the same PI.

Hidden Gems: Underrated Cars in FH4

There are dozens of cars in the game that players avoid due to low popularity or discreet design. But some of them, after tuning, become real “killers” in their class. Here are our favorites:

• 🦸 Volvo 242DL (1982) - after installing the engine V8 and full tuning turns into an unstoppable class drifter A 800.
• 🚀 Peugeot 205 T16 (1984) is a legendary rally car that outperforms many modern cars off-road.
• 💎 Mazda RX-7 Spirit R (2002) — the rotary engine allows you to reach high speeds, which gives an advantage in drag racing.
• 🛡️ Tank Pool’s (1946) - yes, there is a tank in the game! Not the fastest, but essential for freeride exploration and fun online battles.

One of the most underrated cars - Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio (2017). In the stock version it loses to its German competitors, but after installing a turbine and improving the suspension it becomes one of the best cars in its class S1 for circuit racing. Moreover, it can be bought at auction for 100,000–150,000 credits — 3–5 times cheaper than similar in performance BMW M5 or Mercedes-AMG E63.

⚠️ Attention: Some rare cars (for example, Ford GT (2017) or Porsche 911 GT2 RS (2018)) may disappear from the auction after game updates. If you see them at a reasonable price, buy them right away, even if you don’t plan to use them. In the future they can be sold at a higher price.

Typical mistakes when choosing and tuning cars

Even experienced players sometimes make mistakes that cost them victories or credits. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. Pursuit of maximum PI. Many people strive to bring the car to S2 998, but they forget that in some races the class limit is S1 900. For example, seasonal tests often require cars of the class A 800, and your tuned monster will be useless.
2. Ignoring weight. Installing heavy body kits or wide wheels increases weight, which negatively affects acceleration and braking. Always pay attention to the power to weight ratio.
3. Incorrect drive selection. Front-wheel drive cars are difficult to tune for high classes - they lose traction when accelerating. If you plan to bring your car to S1/S2, it is better to immediately choose models with all-wheel or rear-wheel drive.
4. Upgrading “unnecessary” characteristics. For example, improvement Offroad types of tires for asphalt racing or installing aerodynamics on a drag car.

Another common mistake is buying cars just for the collection. For example, some players spend millions on Lamborghini Centenario, although she loses in races to cheaper ones Audi R8 V10 Plus or Nissan GT-R Nismo. Before buying, always check how the car performs on the track, and not just look at its rating or design.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about cars in Forza Horizon 4

How to quickly earn loans to buy expensive cars?

The most effective ways:

1. Farm seasonal events (especially weekly challenges with bonus +100% for awards).
2. Sell duplicates of rare cars at an auction (for example, Ford GT 2017 or Porsche 918 Spyder can be sold for 1–2 million credits).
3. Use skills (skills) for additional bonuses. For example, skill Wreckage Bonus gives +10% credits for destroying objects.
4. Participate in online adventure games with friends - team bonuses increase rewards.

Avoid buying expensive real estate in the early stages - it is better to invest in cars that will bring more profit in racing.

Which car is better for drifting?

Three parameters are important for drifting: rear or all wheel drive, balance of power and weight, adjustable suspension. Best options:

• Nissan Silvia (S15) Spec-S (2002) — classic drifting, easy to customize.
• Toyota Trueno AE86 (1983) — light and maneuverable, ideal for beginners.
• BMW M3 (E30, 1991) — a balanced car for experienced drifters.

For tuning for drift:

• Install manual transmission with short passes.
• Reduce rear tire pressure (up to 1.0–1.5 bar).
• Use high lock differential (70–90%).

Are DLC cars worth buying?

Cars from add-ons (Formula Drift Car Pack, James Bond Car Pack etc.) often have unique characteristics, but do not always justify their price. Recommendations:

• 🔥 Worth buying: Aston Martin DB5 (1964) (from Bond Pack) - one of the best ring machines in the class S1.
• 💰 Not worth it: Formula Drift BMW M5 (2018) — too expensive for its characteristics, there are cheaper analogues.

Before purchasing, check to see if you can find a similar car at auction for less. For example, McLaren F1 GT (1997) from the DLC is worth it 3 million credits, but at auction it is sometimes sold for 1.5–2 million.

How to win races against Drivatars on high difficulty?

Drivevatars (AI rivals) in the level Unbeatable may seem invincible, but they have weaknesses:

1. Use rewind. Feel free to roll back after mistakes - this is not prohibited in single races.
2. Choose tracks with long straights. Drivevatars do not cope well with high speeds on straight lines where they can be overtaken.
3. Tune your car for a specific track. For example, for Goliath (the longest race) you need reliable brakes and a fuel tank, and for Dirt Racing — rally tires.
4. Exploit their weaknesses. Drivevatars always slow down before turns - use this to overtake them when entering a turn.

If you lose in a particular race, try changing your car. For example, on Dirt tracks Subaru Impreza 22B STI often outperforms more powerful opponents due to better grip.

Is it possible to play without tuning?

Yes, but with reservations:

• B single player campaign you can go through most of it on stock cars, choosing the ones that are suitable for each test (for example, Jeep Trailcat for off-road use).
• B online It will be difficult without tuning - most players use optimized settings, and the stock car loses in acceleration and handling.
• For seasonal events Cars of a certain class are often required, which can only be achieved through tuning.

If you don't want to go into settings, use preliminary tunes (Preset Tunes) from the community. They can be downloaded from the tuning menu using hashtags (for example, #S1Drag or #A800Drift).