The Gran Turismo appreciation society: PH Blog

Matt reckons Gran Turismo transformed his car appreciation - what about you?

You may have noticed a slight Japanese theme to PH a couple of weeks back, where an imported Civic Type R was featured as both PH Hero and POTW plus a very expensive Skyline received widespread praise. Mainly from us.

Speed 12!

Which got me thinking - what is it that makes cars like that so special to people like us? While a few factors will have contributed, one stood out amongst the rest: Gran Turismo. It's only now that I've not played it in years, that I'm in a job talking about cars all day and that I really want to buy a car that the significance and influence of the game is being realised.

Back in 2000 I received a PlayStation 2 and Gran Turismo 2 for Christmas. Best Christmas ever. But GT3 came out in 2001, and that's arguably where the fascination properly began. Now when I get all frothy about special Skylines, silly Subarus and high-revving Hondas, it's because Gran Turismo introduced me to them and they all felt so exciting on a little TV.

While the modifying will seem horribly rudimentary now, for awareness of what worked and what didn't in making a car go fast it was brilliant. Gran Turismo showed the importance of weight, tyres and suspension; when you're 12 and believe that all the power is everything, that's a valuable lesson.

Then Gran Turismo 4 arrived, and so departed any hope of getting a girlfriend as a teenager. It featured the Nurburgring for crying out loud! In all seriousness though, the hours dedicated to Nordschleife laps (some of them even all on the tarmac) were invaluable when I finally came to drive it. To be able to make the most of limited time on a circuit thanks to a video game, I think, is very cool.

Of course there are other simulators. Certainly if experience of GT6 is anything to go by, there will be far better ones by now too. But it was the original for me, if you will excuse the clumsy ripping off of the slogan.

The best one?

Gran Turismo is the reason I want a RUF, a Spoon modified Honda, an M3 GTR and a Lotus Esprit, amongst many more. It was the reason I didn't want a Ford Ka as a first car, because the engine seemed so ropey. And Gran Turismo 5 is to blame for my worst university assignment grade, convinced as I was that it was good enough and I could definitely buy the game now...

So thanks Gran Turismo, I appreciate it. Thanks for showing me cars, tracks and modifications I'd never heard of and which I now adore. Whether I'll be so thankful when I finally get a JDM Integra Type R remains to be seen though!

Which is all a rather circuitous way to invite you to share your Gran Turismo memories; I can't be alone! What has it made you buy? What were your favourite tracks? Which Gran Turismo was the best? I look forward to reading them.

Matt