Best Driving Simulator

[Sabre]

I was in the mood for driving, and had lent Grid to my brother. So I played my nephues Forza 3 while he was away. Although he smashed the second disc, what I played was great. Gameplay is still no grid, but the lack of grind that GT is so fond of won me over. It's clearly a gearhead game with lots of dumb down options.

[Asper Sarnoff]

I've got to be honest, I haven't really played any of these. I haven't got any other gaming systems than those of Nintendo and a computer. None I know of either that's had these games, save for my cousin who lives 3 hours drive away, which owns an old Gran Turismo game.

However, Gran Turismo 5 looks so incredibly smashelicously awesome. Over 1000 cars have been promised, great graphics, and quite the realistic experience if one is going to judge by what has been confirmed so far. So I'll go for that one.

While clearly not a driving simulator. Test Drive Unlimited 2 is in the works, and that one I'm defiantively going to get.

[Geo Stelar]

Kick-ass graphics, a large selection of real cars, and high-quality sound as well, I'll go for Gran Turismo

(I was talking about GT5 above ^^)

[ThePointingMan]

I'll go with Gran tourismo, seeing as how I have never heard of Forza before...

[Sabre]

Forza is like GT, but with damage and various options to make the game easier if you want to. For example, you can tweek every little facest of brake pressure, ride high, gears ect if you want to, or you can just click the button for 'upgrade' and it will do all the hard work for you.

You can also paint it up or DL custom paint jobs like this

http://cache.kotaku.com/gaming/images/hellokittyforza.jpg

http://ui03.gamespot.com/2/61ae236bb47844ea830fbe60380c0aec_2.jpg

Just put forza paint into google and see what people have made.

As I said before, the thing that angers me on GT is that you have do the same few cups dozens of times. That kind of grind is irritating. That said, GT does seem to have the better car sellection so far. Early GTs were to Japan heavy, Forza seems to go for US cars alot, but as I said, I was playing with less then half cars because of only having 1 disc.

EDIT: Also

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYfiDAnBEOA

[CrypticQuery]

I have to say Gran Turismo.  I've been playing since it started on the PS1, although I prefer arcade style driving games, I'd have to say that this beats Forza.  With Gran Turismo 5 on the way, I can't wait to see the amazing selection, newly included damage modeling, etc. 

[Mr. Foxer]

Best game as to realism? I don't know about realism but Forza seems like the way to go, I don't have it but I've played some of the GT games and they're not that fun. GT is a bit like NFS as far as I've seen, the worst thing that can happen when you crash into someone is your windshield will break.

[Sabre]

I have to say Gran Turismo.  I've been playing since it started on the PS1, although I prefer arcade style driving games, I'd have to say that this beats Forza.  With Gran Turismo 5 on the way, I can't wait to see the amazing selection, newly included damage modeling, etc.

They are doing that? Took them long enough. Guess they finally sorted that out.

For me, the best racing games are grid and Fzero on cube, but they aren't too realistic.

[Asper Sarnoff]

How could I forget!?!

The most realistic racing simulator I've tried, by far, is one called Live for Speed S2.

It's made by a bunch of blokes who are really into car, the damage models are spectacular, the physics are realistic, and best of all, the basic version is free.

Tough, one have to have a wheel and pedals to get full advantage of it. Its hard, and not as much overall fun as the more arcade style games either.

http://www.lfs.net/

[Geo Stelar]

For me, the most fun car game is Burnout.

Plus, I know this is off-topic, but the Mario Kart DS and Wii games are great driving games too.

(Not spamming, but I uploaded a video in youtube showing Drifting and snaking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svB8GQEBc8A)

[Ant]

I'd recommend trying GT Legends if you have a PC with XP. Its old version of starforce makes it a pain to run under anything later than XP without killing your bootup.

60s and 70s GT cars, realistic handling and setups, real tracks and some of the best sounds I've heard people bother recording for a car game. There are many user recorded alternatives to install too to make it sound even better.

Wikipedia to the rescue

[Sabre]

I'd recommend trying GT Legends if you have a PC with XP. Its old version of starforce makes it a pain to run under anything later than XP without killing your bootup.

60s and 70s GT cars, realistic handling and setups, real tracks and some of the best sounds I've heard people bother recording for a car game. There are many user recorded alternatives to install too to make it sound even better.

Wikipedia to the rescue

If I was going to get a PC racing game I'd get GTR, I've heard alot about that one, but to me racing games work better on consoles.

[Asper Sarnoff]

I'd recommend trying GT Legends if you have a PC with XP. Its old version of starforce makes it a pain to run under anything later than XP without killing your bootup.

60s and 70s GT cars, realistic handling and setups, real tracks and some of the best sounds I've heard people bother recording for a car game. There are many user recorded alternatives to install too to make it sound even better.

Wikipedia to the rescue

That sounds like just up my street then. Especiall since the game cover has a picture of my car.

Thanks Ant.

[Ant]

If I was going to get a PC racing game I'd get GTR, I've heard alot about that one, but to me racing games work better on consoles.

GTR and its sequels are made by the same folk as GTL, SimBin. They are like modern day car equivalents of GTL. Sadly, I think they're now out of business.

edit: No, I'm mistaken. They are still developing games.