Stick at it, it gets better and better
It's very realistic, money takes alot of time to rake in and cars and houses don't come cheap. In the first hours of play i was contemplating giving up on the game it was quite boring but when i got into it and started winning cars and completing chapionships it becomes more entertaining.
The land is huge which gives you alot of room to hone your driving skills. this is useful as the driving is very difficult to get the hand of. Driving in first person mode is very realsitic with the interiors of the car resembling real life very accurately. Although handling isn't distincly different between cars the driving skill needed is quite high.
Test drive is a game which needs to be given a chance to get going but when it does it engrosses you to the highest level. One to at least try.