Banshee

File:Banshee (GTA3) (front).jpg
The Banshee during its first appearance in Grand Theft Auto III.

The Banshee is a recurring two-seater sports car. As of the release of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, the car has appeared in the following games:

Design

GTA III — GTA Vice City Stories

The Banshee is front-engine, rear-drive and boasts the deep rumble of 10 cylinders.

In Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas it resembles a first-generation 1990s Viper RT/10 (more curvilinear design; dual single-exhaust ports, although the Banshee is narrower in width and has a different headlight design), whereas in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories it looks to be a 1980's Corvette C4 (more angular design; dual double-exhaust ports). The 1990s Viper RT/10 version is the only top-down convertible that the player cannot jump into without opening the driver door. In GTA San Andreas, it can only be modified in TransFender.

The GTA Advance rendition is comparable to GTA 2's Rumbler, but is generally sleeker and sports the same single stripe of other Banshees, while earning the distinction of being the first Banshee in the series with a covered top.

GTA IV

In Grand Theft Auto IV, the Bravado Banshee resembles a 2003-2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, but has a Panoz Esperante-esque front end. Despite the real Viper having a V10 engine, the GTA IV Banshee has a 300ci twin-turbocharged V8, according to the website AutoEroticar. The Banshee is also one of the cars requested from Brucie for his Exotic Exports and one for Stevie's Car Thefts missions (it is orange with yellow stripe and an orange shine).

There are different versions and paintjobs on the Banshee in GTA IV. The paintjobs range from plain coloured or coloured ones with a racing stripe in the middle. The racing stripe is often randomly coloured in yellow, grey, or bright orange. Banshees in GTA IV are present as convertibles with rollbars or have hardtops.

Similar to its real-life counterpart, the Banshee bears its own logo, which appears to be an open mouth with fangs (presumably screaming), on the side panels, steering wheel, and upholstery. However, the standard Bravado logo is used on the front and rear of the car.

Performance

GTA III — GTA Vice City Stories

The Banshee is originally introduced with mixed traits. On one hand, the vehicle is one of the speediest sports cars in the games, but suffers from poor cornering due to its rear wheel driver as it is prone to fishtailing and spinouts in sharp turns, even if the handbrake is utilized. These traits remained unchanged throughout its appearances until GTA IV, when its behavior received significant tweaks.

GTA IV

The Banshee in GTA IV is powered by a 300ci Twin-Turbo V8, coupled to a 5 speed gearbox in a RWD configuration. Dramatic through the first and second gears, the Banshee is the third fastest accelerating sports car, with a top speed just shy of other sports cars. Handling is superb, crisp with a slight hint of oversteer, which compliments the very torque-y engine. The suspension is firm, which often causes the Banshee to hop about on uneven streets at higher speeds. Braking is very good; the Banshee outbrakes every other vehicle in the game, and ABS is standard on all models. Crash deformation is acceptable, though due to it's front-mounted engine, drivetrain damage is more susceptible than rear and mid-engined sports cars. Overall the Banshee is one of the more fun vehicles to drive, and well suited towards high-speed applications, such as online multiplayer racing.

For whatever reason, the Banshee is not recognized as a sports car by the game, as friends and dates that normally like or dislike sports cars in particular (as opposed to e.g. all expensive cars) will not have the same reaction to a Banshee. This doesn't appear to have any other effect on gameplay.


Locations

GTA III

GTA Vice City

GTA San Andreas

GTA Liberty City Stories

GTA Vice City Stories

GTA IV

GTA Chinatown Wars

  • In BOABO Merchant
  • Usually seen in south and middle Algonquin

Modifications (GTA San Andreas)

  • Colors (two exterior areas)
  • Nitro (all)
  • Wheels (ten varieties)
  • Hydraulics

Trivia

  • In Grand Theft Auto IV, the default radio station in the Banshee is The Vibe 98.8.


Gallery