While Automobilista is a brilliant drive with plenty of choice of tracks due to a good basic package plus the Patrick Giranthon Megapack. I just find the vehicles to be a tiny bit.....numb when compared to rF2s 'full of life' cars (and I'm referring to the good ones here APEX, Pixsim's T280, BT44 etc). The latest beta build with the GTR and Brands Hatch is really very well done indeed. It just keeps getting better with every build it really does and if rF2 never existed I would be more than perfectly happy with the software. It would be my go-to choice for racing. But rF2 does exist and its vehicles just communicate a level beyond what AM can ATM. I just feel quite a bit more connected to the world when using rF2 (well beyond any other software I've ever used).
If you can, buy it. You won't regret it. It stands head and shoulders above rF1 but just doesn't seem to be able to make that leap up to rF2. IMO I think it'll prove a leap too far but its a bloody damn fine attempt. (I keep going back for its 'different' selection of vehicles. RallyX, Montana's, Super Tucks and a few others too.)
I bought last Friday and my felling is about the same than yours. Yes, some old rF1 aspects are still there, a bit of lack of feedback at low speeds, sometimes you need to "guess" you either should throttle the car or not at a slow corner exit. rF2 is more solid in this aspect and, indeed, rF2 cars seems to be more responsible in terms of physics, more "alive". Another Automobilista con is its AI, of course they're not that bad, but all in all is rF1 AI: no defensive line, AIs shy to try overtake you and unawareness of the player's car position. The AIW of circuits is very well done but it's blocked by a core limitation. And, no weather conditions too.
But, there's some pros that really excited me. FFB: the old and good realfeel.dll doing miracles, I'd dare to say the FFB is the best than all race-sims. rF2 FFB is also good, but there's some downs as F2s (ice front wheels) and the overdone steering-pulling of FWD cars. I've been lapping with FWD at the limit in circuits and my steering-wheel feel there's nothing to do with that. I think the best FFB rF2 car would be the average in Automobilista. Reiza did a impressive work in this field. Excellent.
Another pro is, paradoxically, the graphics. The overall colour balance of the tracks is very well done. As I've been at several of the real locations portrayed in game, I can say it's extremely immersive and matches well with real location. There's here a noticeable enhancement from rF1 original engine here, there's fresnel reflections, tarmac looks very believable, it seems they create a shader for vegetation, etc. The tracks are not rich in details as ISI official tracks are, but the overall looking is more natural. rF2 tracks have a natural yellowish due atmospherics particles simulation, AMS tracks are more clean. I really didn't expect that quality. Reflections, plastic and metal are the weakness, with cube-maps doing a poor job for a 2016 title, but it'll not disturb you except when you're driving very slow in the pits, for example. But the car-body reflection is much improved since GSCE.
Another pro is something that I really miss in rF2 nowadays: the plastic deformation. Cars' bodies kneads, deforms, there's visible damage, losing many more parts, etc.
Their "real-road" system is far away of rF2 system, for sure, but adds some dynamics during a weekend race. Not ideal, but interesting and even better than other sims except rF2.
Car dynamics are amazing even standing a step behind rF2. Of course the elected car official list would be appear weird for non-brazilian racers since there's Montanas, Formula-V, etc, but when you get them on track, the name of car is the less important, they behaves very distinctively and in a plausible way according to their main characteristics. Montanas are a blast, they have a loose rear-end as they should be, plenty of power and limited tyre grip, I can get enough to race with Montana.
Well, that's it. It's worth money, I like Reiza guys approach of business, no incomplete features left by the way, solid products.
