Forza 2 Car Guide: 5 Great Cars For Beginners

There is no doubt that the Forza series is one of the greatest racing franchises ever made. While other franchises - like Burnout and even Gran Turismo - have made a name for themselves based on fast arcade-line mechanics that encourage insane drifts and impossible maneuvers, Forza 2 is a much different beast. It is the most realistic racing simulation available, and while that has likely cost it some sales, it also makes it a unique experience.

Unfortunately part of Forza's experience is difficulty, and Forza 2 only reinforced this idea. The cars in Forza 2 handle as you'd expect cars to handle in real life. You can't steer them around a fast corner by using the hand-brake, and you can't expect a heavy car to go around a tight bend at anywhere near the same speed as a light one. The physics of each car is modeled realistically, and this means that some of the cars in the game are absolute barbarians - just as in real life. Treat them even slightly wrong, and you'll find yourself flying into the gravel. Forza 2 makes no mention of which cars are difficult, so picking the right car can be impossible if you're new.

Of course, this is where this guide comes in. The 5 cars listed here are easy to drive, can be modified to fit different class and horsepower ratings, and are easy to buy early in the game.

 This older-model BMW M3 is quite a bit less powerful than the newer versions, but it is also far less expensive, making it easily available to new players. The comparative lack of power is in fact a very good thing for newer players, as it helps ensure that you won't find yourself on another continent when you mess up, and it also makes this car available in a wider variety of classes - you can use it for class C, B, and A.

But like all the cars on this list, the real reason the BMW M3 E36 is a good beginner's car is its wonderful handling and excellent response. Despite being rear-wheel drive, which is typically much more difficult to handle than front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the BMW M3 E36 doesn't go into a tailspin at the slightest hint of trouble. There is a great deal of grip to be had - even without any upgrades - and once grip is lost the car will merely begin to lose its tail slightly, allowing you to take your foot off the pedal and right yourself. Understeer isn't anywhere to be found, so you can take corners with surprising speed.

The BMW M3 E36 reacts well to power upgrades, and reacts very well to tire upgrades. Putting track tires on it gives it an incredible amount of grip. The BMW M3 E36 also reacts well to weight-reduction upgrades. The curb weight of this car is almost 3,300 pounds, which is fairly porky and the only area of weakness.