TOCA 2: Touring Car Challenge

The Good
TOCA 2 is an intermediate-level sim, with a fairly shallow learning curve...while pretty much a blind monkey could win a Novice Race, and Standard Races aren't all that challenging either, Expert may provide a challange to a part-time sim racer. Physics modeling is fairly good. Damage modeling is very lenient. The cars represented have different layouts and 'feels' to their performance, they're not all equal! A wide variety of cars to chose from, as well as a good selection of tracks. Excellent voice commentary pre-and post-race gives a TV-like feel. Graphics are quite acceptable. Realistic (and consistant!) opponent driving behavior...get rough with them too much, and they'll remember it!

The Bad
The crap points-required system to advance in the championship, meaning the game can be too frustrating at points (15 is a VERY high marker). This can be defeated with a cheat code, but then you feel cheap. The Support Car Series are surprisingly harder than the actual game, despite driving (supposedly) lower-class cars and opponents. Questionable physics there (a 129mph Fiesta?). Finicky with recognizing the wheel. Force-feedback primitive at best.

The Bottom Line
Currently available for 20$ or thereabouts, you really can't consider this a waste of money. Driving sim fans should get it if only because it represents a rather underdeveloped market for sims. Purists will be disappointed, but race fans should love it.