Acquiring new vehicles is central to the excitement of Forza Horizon 4, offering players access to over 700 cars for racing, drifting, and exploration across Britain’s dynamic open world. This guide explores every method to expand your garage, from straightforward purchases to competitive bidding and exclusive unlocks.
Navigating the Autoshow: Your Primary Marketplace
The Autoshow serves as the game’s main hub for buying cars directly with in-game credits. Accessible via the pause menu under the ‘Cars’ tab, it lists vehicles by manufacturer, class, and price. Filters allow sorting by affordability, performance index (PI), or ownership status, making it easy to find options within your budget.
To begin, fast travel to the Festival Site or any Autoshow icon on the map. Select ‘View All Cars’ to browse. Entry-level rides start at a few thousand credits, while hypercars demand millions. For example, budget-friendly starters like the Audi TTS Coupe (around 52,000 credits) offer solid A-class performance upgradable to S2.
- Filter Tips: Choose ‘Affordable’ and ‘Not Owned’ to see buyable options immediately.
- Presets: Many cars come with body kits or upgrade presets for instant customization.
- PI Classes: From D (low-end) to S2 (top-tier), match vehicles to race requirements.
New players should prioritize versatile cars for early races, building credits for bigger purchases later.
Auction House Mastery: Snagging Deals from Players
The Auction House introduces player-driven economy, where you bid on or buy out cars listed by others. Located at the Festival, access it via ‘Cars’ > ‘Auction House’. Search by make (e.g., Aston Martin), model, or filters like rarity or PI.
Bidding wars can drive prices high for rares, but bargains exist on common cars or during low-traffic times. Rare vehicles like the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon or Zenvo ST1 often appear only through auctions or specific unlocks, not direct buy.
| Search Filter | Purpose | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Narrow by brand | Find all Koenigsegg models |
| PI Range | Match race needs | S2 900+ for competitive PvP |
| Rarity | Target exclusives | Epic or Legendary cars |
| Buyout Price | Budget control | Under 100,000 credits |
Pro tip: Set buyout prices to avoid bidding delays. Post-purchase, a save delay of about 35 seconds occurs per car, so batch buys wisely.
Forzathon Shop and Seasonal Exclusives
The Forzathon Shop rotates cars purchasable with Forzathon Points earned from challenges. These include limited-time vehicles not always in the Autoshow or Auction House. Festival Playlist rewards further gatekeep premium rides, like preorder bonuses or DLC packs.
Seasonal events tie into weather changes—summer, autumn, winter, spring—affecting car performance. Winter demands snow tire specialists like the Hoonigan Gymkhana 9 Ford Focus RS RX (500,000 credits, S1 886).
Unlocking Free and Reward Cars
Not every car requires credits. Barn Finds reveal hidden classics through clues. Wheelspins and Horizon Life milestones gift random vehicles. Story completions, like Drift Club or World’s Fastest, unlock uniques such as the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 or Zenvo ST1.
- Barn Finds: Dig up vintage gems across the map.
- Wheelspins: Common, rare, or epic drops from PR stunts.
- Player House: Own properties for passive rewards.
Preorder and VIP perks include free hypercars like the Pagani Zonda Forza Edition (S2 986).
Top Recommended Purchases by Category
Curate your garage strategically. Here’s a selection of standout cars:
| Category | Car | Price | PI/Class | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Best | Koenigsegg One:1 | 2,850 CR | S2 993 | Straight-line speed, PvP |
| Drifting | Mazda RX-7 Spirit R | Free (Car Pass) | A 800 | RWD slides |
| Winter | Hoonigan Ford Focus RS RX | 500,000 CR | S1 886 | Snow handling |
| Budget | Audi TTS Coupe | 52,000 CR | A 740 | Upgradable all-rounder |
| PvP | Lamborghini Veneno | 4,500,000 CR | S2 943 | Multiplayer dominance |
These picks shine in solo, Rivals, or PvP modes.
Credits Farming for Bigger Buys
Earn credits via races, PR stunts, and auctions. Sell duplicates or tuned cars for profit. High-multiplier events like speed traps with top cars (e.g., Koenigsegg Agera RS, speed 10.0) maximize gains.
Aim for 1-2 million per hour by chaining seasonal championships.
Customization After Purchase
Post-buy, tune in the garage. Adjust upgrades, tunes, and wraps. Forza Edition cars boost skills like speed or handling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I access the Autoshow?
Pause menu > Cars > Autoshow, or fast travel to Festival.
What’s the fastest way to get rare cars?
Auction House bidding or completing Horizon Stories.
Can I sell cars for credits?
Yes, list in Auction House or quick-sell via garage menu.
Do seasons affect car buying?
Yes, seasonal shops and playlists unlock exclusives.
What’s the max garage size?
Up to 100 slots, expandable with Player Houses.
Building the Ultimate Collection
Combine methods: Autoshow for staples, auctions for rares, rewards for freebies. Experiment with classes and tunes to conquer every event. Forza Horizon 4’s car roster rewards exploration, strategy, and grinding.
References
- Ultimate Forza Horizon 4 Auction House Guide — Drifted.com. 2023-05-15. https://www.drifted.com/forza-horizon-4-auction-house/
- Forza Horizon 4 car list: The best cars for every season and PvP racing — PC Gamer. 2019-12-10. https://www.pcgamer.com/forza-horizon-4-cars-guide-the-best-cars-for-every-season-and-pvp-racing/
- Cars – Forza Wiki — Forza Fandom. 2024-01-20. https://forza.fandom.com/wiki/Forza_Horizon_4/Cars
- Forza Horizon 4: How to Buy Cars — YouTube (How To Video Game Guides & Gameplay). 2017-10-05.
- How to buy cars on Forza Horizon 4 — YouTube. 2018-11-12.
- How to Buy Cars for CHEAP in Forza Horizon 4! — YouTube. 2018-10-20.
- Buying cars is…painful — Official Forza Community Forums. 2019-03-14. https://forums.forza.net/t/buying-cars-is-painful/77450