Banshee

Vehicle

Banshee
A Banshee in GTA III. (Rear quarter view) A Banshee in GTA III.
Appearance(s)	GTA III GTA Vice City GTA San Andreas GTA Advance GTA Liberty City Stories GTA Vice City Stories GTA IV GTA Chinatown Wars
Vehicle type	Civilian car
Body style	2-door sports car
Capacity	2 (driver and 1 passenger)
Manufacturer	Bravado (GTA IV)
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The Banshee is a frequently recurring two-seater sports car introduced in Grand Theft Auto III, having appeared in all following Grand Theft Auto games since.

Design

GTA III — GTA Vice City Stories

"Popular with redneck lottery winners. And bootleggers."
- Official Vice City Bureau of Investigation file description, GTA Vice City.

In Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the Banshee resembles a 1992-1995 Dodge Viper RT/10, with its curvilinear design and dual single-exhaust ports, although the Banshee is narrower in width and has a different headlight design. This version of the Banshee is the only top-down convertible that the player cannot jump into without opening the driver door.

In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the Banshee resembles a 1984-1996 Corvette C4, with a more angular design and dual double-exhaust ports.

The GTA Advance rendition, which mimics the design of GTA III's Banshee, is also comparable to GTA 2's Rumbler, but is generally sleeker, sports the same single stripe as other Banshees, and comes with a covered top.

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  Grand Theft Auto III (Rear quarter view).

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  Early pre-release screenshot of a Banshee in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, which appears to remained largely unchanged throughout the development of the game.

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  Final design in GTA Vice City (Rear quarter view).

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  Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Rear quarter view).

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  Grand Theft Auto Advance.

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  Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (Rear quarter view).

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  Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (Rear quarter view).

GTA IV — GTA Chinatown Wars

In Grand Theft Auto IV, the Bravado Banshee resembles a 1996-2002 Dodge Viper Coupe, but has side exhausts and a shorter roofline resembling a third or fourth generation Dodge Viper. The front fascia loosely resembles that of several Marcos sports cars and the taillights resemble those of the Aston Martin DB9. Unlike the real-life Viper's V10 engine, the GTA IV Banshee has a 300ci (4.91 Liter) twin-turbocharged V8, according to the AutoEroticar website, and can be seen in-game if the player inflicts enough damage to cause the hood to come off.

Banshees in GTA IV are present as convertibles with rollbars, as well as hardtops. Similar to its real-life counterpart, the Banshee bears its own logo, resembling a screaming mouth with fangs (much like the real logo of the Dodge Viper) on the side panels, steering wheel, and upholstery. The standard Bravado logo is used on the front and rear of the car. The Banshee can be seen with an allover paintjob, or with a racing stripe down the middle.

Inside, the typical cozy Dodge Viper interior is found with black leather-clad sport seats sporting the Bravado logo.

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.

In the DS version of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, the Banshee appears similar to either the Phoenix or its GTA Vice City rendition, while in the PSP version it resembles its GTA IV rendition more.

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  Grand Theft Auto IV; with a hardtop roof (Rear quarter view without roof, unique badge, interior, engine).

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  GTA IV Banshee renders, including a disassembled model (taken from the artbook The Art Of Grand Theft Auto IV).

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  Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS version).

Performance

GTA III — GTA Vice City Stories

Being a front-engine, rear-wheel drive, with a 10-cylinder engine, the Banshee between GTA III and GTA Vice City Stories is one of the speediest sports cars but suffers from poor cornering due to its rear wheel drive, making it prone to fishtailing and spinouts in sharp turns (including handbrake turns). Examination of game data for GTA III to GTA San Andreas reveal the vehicle's performance stats remain unchanged, with a top speed of 125 mph (200 km/h), a weight of 2,240lbs (1,400 kg), a 5-speed transmission, an acceleration of 10.7 ft/s (3.3 m/s), and all-wheel brakes; these stats could be shared with the Banshee in GTA Liberty City Stories and GTA Vice City Stories. The Banshee's speed in GTA Advance is significantly high, nearly matching that of the police car, but has a marginally low crusher value of $448.

These traits remained unchanged until GTA IV, when its performance received significant tweaks.

GTA IV — GTA Chinatown Wars

The Banshee in GTA IV is powered by a 300ci Twin-Turbo V8 mated with a 5-speed gearbox with a RWD configuration. The GTA IV Banshee is the third fastest-accelerating sports car and the sixth-fastest car overall with a top speed of 103 mph (165 km/h).

Handling is superb, with a slight hint of oversteer thanks to its low weight that complements the very torque-y engine. The suspension is firm and low, often leaving the Banshee smashing it's body panels into low-laying objects, like curbs, and usually 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, however, due to its front-mounted engine it is much less resistant to frontal damage than rear and mid-engined sports cars such as the Comet and Infernus. It is more commonly found in GTA Chinatown Wars.

Overall, the Banshee is one of the more fun vehicles to drive, and well suited towards high-speed applications such as online multiplayer racing.

Variant

Chan Jaoming's modified Banshee in GTA Chinatown Wars.

Chan Jaoming is depicted in GTA Chinatown Wars to own a modified Banshee, which features a purple body with red stripes, a spoiler and light purple underglows at night, similar to the modified Comet. The car is obtainable in two missions: The first is in "Jackin' Chan", when the car is caught in an inferno following a failed attempt by the Irish gang to kidnap Chan, and the car must be used to transport Chan to safety; the player must fail the mission to obtain the car. The second is during "Clear the Pier", when Chan uses the car as a getaway vehicle. The player can pin the car to a wall and carjack it outright, allowing them to complete the mission while the car is in their possession.

Customization in GTA San Andreas

The Banshee in GTA San Andreas can be modified at a TransFender, but is only offered a bare minimum of modification options:

Italicized pricing denotes prices at the Las Venturas TransFender, which charges 20% more except Colors.

Colors Car Color 1 (primary body color): $150 Car Color 2 (stripe color): $150 Nitro 2x Nitrous: $200 ($240) 5x Nitrous: $500 ($600) 10x Nitrous: $1,000 ($1,200)

Wheels Import: $820 ($984) Atomic: $770 ($924) Ahab: $1,000 ($1,200) Virtual: $620 ($744) Access: $1,140 ($1,368) Off Road Wheel: $1,000 ($1,200) Mega: $1,030 ($1,236) Grove: $1,230 ($1,476) Twist: $1,200 ($1,440) Wires: $1,560 ($1,872)

Hydraulics: $1,500 ($1,800)

Prominent appearances

GTA Liberty City Stories

• In "Hot Wheels", Vincenzo Cilli instructs Toni Cipriani to pick up a Banshee for him, which is later revealed to be used as bait by the police. After learning of Vincenzo's disregard for Toni's safety and effectively quitting as his goon, Toni has the car crushed at the Harwood Autocrusher and Junkyard.
• In the opening cutscene of "The Trouble With Triads", Salvatore Leone is depicted to have purchased a brand new black-and-white with Maria as the passenger, suggestively indicative of his mid-life crisis. After showing it off to Toni Cipriani, he drives off, only to leave the car crashed at a tree as the player returns near the end of the mission.
• Leon McAffrey, a corrupt LCPD detective, uses a Banshee as his unmarked police car, suggesting the car is paid for via less legitimate means.

GTA IV

The Banshee requested by Stevie in GTA IV.

• Brucie Kibbutz owns a black Banshee with orange stripe, which he dubbed "The Bitch". He intended to use this car in the street race in the mission No. 1. The car failed to start (likely due to the fact that Brucie personally tuned the car). Having an alternative in mind, Brucie called his friend Stevie for a replacement car, a gold Comet. The fate of this Banshee is unknown as it is not seen afterwards.
• Lyle Rivas owns a Banshee that he uses as a getaway car in Search and Delete.
• Lenny Petrovic may use a gray Banshee as a getaway car during "Final Destination".
• A Banshee is requested as part of Stevie's Car Thefts, sporting a uniquely bright orange body and yellow stripe. As a new Banshee will respawn at the same spot until the player delivers one to S&M Auto Sales in Bohan, the player can save one at any safehouse before delivering another.
• A Banshee is driven by Shon Kikuchi (a Most Wanted criminal).

Trivia

• The Banshee plays the following radio stations by default when entered:
  • Radio X in GTA San Andreas.
  • The Vibe 98.8 in GTA IV.
• The Banshee in GTA San Andreas is one of a handful of vehicles where Carl Johnson kicks the driver instead of punching or slamming the head of the driver.
• Roman Bellic has a poster of a blue Banshee on the wall of his Hove Beach apartment.
• There is a glitch that only happens for the Banshees with the hardtops. When Niko walks over to steal one either he gets in the stance to jump in the car (Just as he does with the convertible variant) but then cancels the stance and opens up the door and gets in or the other way. The glitch can be seen clearly when viewing the theft of a hardtop Banshee using a closer camera view.
• Sometimes in GTA IV, light blue Banshees with orange stripes can be seen. This paintjob is very similar to the Gulf livery of the old Ford GT40 Race Cars.
• In GTA IV, the Banshee lacks windshield wipers, therefore, the windshield doesn't appear to have windshield wiper tracks, as seen on any other car.
• In perfect condition this car can be sold in the S&M Auto Sales for $8000
• When watching I'm Rich on the in-game television , a red Banshee with dual stripes can be seen. This feature was probably in beta.

Locations

GTA III

• Capital Autos in Harwood, Portland
• Outside Asuka Kasen's apartment in Newport, Staunton Island
• Kenji's Casino, Torrington, Staunton Island
• Parking lot west of Wichita Gardens, Shoreside Vale

GTA Vice City

• Next to a mansion with a Rockstar swimming pool in Starfish Island.
• Under a blue building north of the Pay 'n' Spray in Washington Beach.

GTA San Andreas

• In the Come-A-Lot casino parking lot.
• Spawn around Rodeo, Los Santos.
• Next to Cobra Marital Arts Gym in Garcia, San Fierro, after completion of the Driving School. The car is consistently colored blue with a black stripe. It also has a custom license plate spelling "DBP".
• Importable from Easter Basin, San Fierro, for $36,000 after exporting the car.
• Spawn around The Strip and the Old Venturas Strip in Las Venturas.

GTA Liberty City Stories

• Spawn around Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale.
• Behind the Big Shot Casino, Torrington, Staunton Island.
• AMCo. underground parking lot, Torrington, Staunton Island.
• In the Liberty Tree offices parking lot.
• Picnic area near Wichita Gardens, Shoreside Vale.

GTA Vice City Stories

• West of the Empire in north Downtown.
• Parked in front of a mansion in the middle of Starfish Island.

GTA IV

• Easily found at Francis International Airport while driving a Ripley. The player can find a bunches of them at the Airport parking.
• Often spawn around Alderney City (Alderney), Middle Park, City Hall, Castle Gardens, The Exchange, Castle Garden City (Algonquin), and Rotterdam Hill (Broker).
• Sometimes spawn around Francis International Airport (Dukes), Beachgate (Broker), Middle Park East, Hatton Gardens, Lancaster and Lancet (Algonquin)
• Occasionally spawn around Varsity Heights, Westminster, The Meat Quarter, Suffolk (Algonquin), and South Slopes (Broker), Liberty City.
• Spawn in traffic in GTA IV Multiplayer.
• In Mikhail Faustin's mission "Final Destination", Lenny Petrovic will attempt to escape in a Banshee upon fleeing the Guantanamo Avenue train station; if the player can kill Petrovic without destroying the Banshee, he/she can take the car.
• In "Meltdown", the player chases Luca through the streets of Algonquin in a Banshee which can be kept afterwards.
• Brucie will ask the player to steal a Banshee which is one of his Exotic Exports requests. This Banshee has a unique paint job (blue with a white stripe) not found anywhere else in the game.
• Likewise, Stevie will ask the player to steal a Banshee from Middle Park West as part of the Stevie's Car Thefts side missions. This Banshee has a unique paint job (red-orange with a yellow stripe) not found anywhere else in the game.
• In Hossan's random encounter, the man whom Hossan and Niko chase drives a grey Banshee with a stripe of a random color.
• The Banshee can also be encountered in Brucie's races, but taking it will result in forfeiting the race and a drop in Brucie's "like" percentage.
• Encounter when pursuing Shon Kikuchi (a Most Wanted criminal), who drives a Banshee as an escape vehicle. The player can obtain the car by killing the suspect without destroying the car (e.g. shooting the right side of the windscreen).
• At Auto Eroticar (occasionally).

GTA Chinatown Wars

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