Comments - Each car in NFS Shift essentially has it's own set of physics, so you can't really judge the game until you've tried a few cars. Only some of the cars can be upgraded to "factory works" cars, which removes the nitrous, and my guess is that these "works" cars will probably be the most realistic ones in the game.
If you do the invitational events as they get unlocked, and get all the "stars" for each event, tier 4 and the "works" cars will get unlocked before you complete all tier 1 events. You'll be able to start tier 2 with a "works" car.
I made a dual view video with the Zonda R (untuned) at Willow Springs:
http://rcgldr.net/nfss/nswszrd.wmv
I also made a pair of youtube videos, (same lap):
In car view with intro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL7xKsSiZsM&fmt=22
Chase view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgWZLsLfoIk&fmt=22
I was also able to run sub 1:13 laps at Willow Springs with the "works" Z06, with minor tuning, reducing tire pressure to 30psi was enough (Zonda default to about 27psi, didn't try that with Z06), and geared the Z06 for about 170mph. So the "works" Z06 and the Zonda R are about the same at some tracks. I'm still plowing my way through career mode, so I haven't done much testing with the cars.
The oversteer of the cars is visually exaggerated, but it does give a sense of what the rear end of the car is doing, and it looks cool. The in car steering wheel doesn't match your controller inputs, but it doesn't seem to affect the car, so it's best to ignore it.
Even with all assists off, NFS Shift make control inputs less sensitve than typical sim-oriented games. If there's an analogy to be made, then the difference from GTR2 to GTR Evolution, is about the same as the difference from GTR Evolution to NFS Shift. Turn too much and the car will understeer, but not by much. You can spin the cars with too much throttle, but again, most "works" cars aren't that throttle sensitive (some of the stage upgraded cars are traction limited (too much power, not enough grip)).
Even in iRacing, some cars like the Radical are relatively easy to drive. You can use lift throttle oversteer, countered with induced understeer (steering inwards too much) to control the car while drifting like GPL. In this video of the Radical at Silverstone, I use this to drift from apex to apex during the right left right sequence about 1/3rd into the lap and again in the left just before the final right hand hairpin.
http://rcgldr.net/ir/irssrad.wmv