Gentlepeople, your racing game recommendations please

Dear fellow Spotters,

I need (want) a racing game. Naturally not just any, a good one, a specific one, one that ticks some of my boxes. I will tell you which boxes:

Open ended and/or Career mode
Customizable cars and/or Wide selection of cars
2003-2009 (needs to run nicely on an AMD 64 3000+ 1.8Ghz and NVidia 7800GS, but I'll be able to tell)
Street racing preferably, but it's not that important.

My short list:
Need for Speed Underground 2
Need for Speed:Most Wanted
GRID
Midnight Club II
TOCA 2 Touring Cars
GTR 2: FIA GT Racing Game

Any racing games you might recommend? Which of the titles above did you like best?

NFS Underground 2 and Most Wanted fit your description best.
GTR 2 is really good if you're looking for an incredibly realistic sim but it hasn't got anything you're looking for.
GRID is decent but I found it to be very annoying a lot of the time but the drifting wasvery good.

Woah quick!

Back in the day I played my copy of Fatal Racing! (Whiplash for US market). Although it doesn't tick any of the boxes, it was heaps of fun.
Some more titles I've come across:

TrackMania Sunrise
RACE 07 - The WTCC Game
Test Drive Unlimited

NFS Underground

NFS Most Wanted

GRID

I'm afraid Dirt2 will struggle on the system, too new I'm afraid.

Currently have 2, 3 games shortlisted:

Need for Speed Underground 2
Burnout: Paradise
Testdrive Unlimited

I can get the first two for 12 euro (no not each, both for 12)

Out of the initial list above, I've played Need for Speed Underground 2, GRID, and Midnight Club II. Of the three, my hat's off to NFSU2, with GRID being a close second. Have you considered Need For Speed Carbon(and what are people's thoughts on that)? Carbon was okay, not my favorite but it fits in with the kind of game you're looking for.

I did look at Carbon, I have no idea why, but Underground 2 looked more appealing to me.

I'll make up my mind in an hour or two. Currently there are 3 in my basket, NFS Underground 2, Burnout Paradise and Test Drive Unlimited. (total approx. 25 euro). Not sure if I'll get both Burnout Paradise AND Test Drive Unlimited.

it doesnt have customizable cars but you might wanna try Burnout Paradise

it doesnt have customizable cars but you might wanna try Burnout Paradise

boybrushdred

Thank you everyone. I just placed an order for Need for Speed Underground 2, Burnout Paradise and Test Drive Unlimited. Couldn't be bothered to pick two out of three. That'll keep me racing for a while and a bit.