If you already have the game:
"What the hell was that intro movie about?"
Yeah...it's an interesting one, isn't it.
Your guess is as good as anybody's. The woman doesn't actually have anything to do with the game.
"Where should I start first?"
It depends on what your goals are (see the following questions), but it will probably be a good idea for you to "learn the ropes," so to speak, by trying out the Driving Revolution mode or taking a low-powered car for a spin in Time Attack mode.
"How do I get *name of a car*? What's the best way to earn cars?"
If you're trying to earn cars for Time Attack and Free Race:
Be aware that cars earned in Enthusia Life do not affect your Time Attack or Free Race selections. You must do one of two things --
A. Play Driving Revolution and earn an "S" on every single level, earning the various classes of cars as you go, until you've unlocked every class.
B. Play Free Race and earn your opponents' cars (up to 5 cars at a time) by winning races without getting black flags (no collisions and no off-course driving) on the standard settings (3 laps, normal difficulty).
If you're trying to earn cars in Enthusia Life:
Drive cars that are similar to the one you're looking for. If it's a Japanese car, drive a Japanese car, if it's RWD, drive a RWD car, etc. There are themed events that limit entries based on categories like these, and you'll be more likely to find the car you're looking for in one of them. It's worth mentioning that you only need to finish in 4th place or better to be eligible for the car lottery after a race.
Prize Cars:
In Enthusia Life, several cars, especially R-class cars, are available as prizes for completing specific races. Hun200kmh originally found out there are always R-class prize cars in RS Championship races. Here is a list of where you can find them (numbers refer to the week in each month):
RWD Championship (April)
- Nissan Pickup (Rally car)
- Mercedes Benz CLK-DTM (Race car)
- Peugeot 206 Rally Car 2000
- Toyota Supra ESSO Ultraflo (Race car)
FWD Championship (June)
- Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution (Rally car)
- Opel Astra V8 Coupe 24h (Race car)
- Subaru Impreza (Rally car)
- Honda G'ZOX NSX (Race car)
4WD Championship (August)
- BMW M1 Procar (Race car)
- McLaren F1 GTR (Race car)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (Rally car)
- Nissan Xanavi Nismo GT-R (Race car)
Other prize cars are available from a "One Make Race" event that will pit you against a field of whatever car you're driving (eg. if you're driving a WRX STi, every car in the race will be that same type of WRX STi). Some require a specific car; others are open to a list of cars. Note: An exception is the BMW 3.0 CSL, which is awarded by the Good Old Touring Car Race event in RI (see below).
RIV
- Use a qualifying car -- Win a Mazda Eunos Roadster S-Special typeII (NA)
Alfa Romeo Spider Quadrifoglio Verde
Austin-Healey Sprite Mk1
Chevrolet Astro
Citroën 2CV6 Charleston
Citroën C3
Citroën DS 23 Pallas
Daihatsu Copen
DMC De Lorean
Fiat 500 F
Fiat Abarth 131 Rally
Honda Beat
Honda City Turbo II
Honda Civic RS
Honda Insight
Honda Mobilio
Honda S800
Mazda Cosmo Sport
Mazda Demio
Mazda Savanna AP GT
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
MG MGB Mk1
Mitsubishi Colt
Mitsubishi eK Wagon
Mitsubishi Galant GTO MR
Morris Mini Cooper 1275S Mk1
Nissan Bluebird 1600 SSS Coupe
Nissan Cube
Nissan March
Nissan Moco
Nissan Skyline GT-R (KPGC10)
Nissan Skyline GT-R (KPGC110)
Smart Fortwo Cabrio
Subaru Young SS
Suzuki Cappuccino
Toyota 2000GT
Toyota Alphard V
Toyota bB
Toyota Estima Hybrid
Toyota FunCargo
Toyota ist
Toyota Land Cruiser 100
Toyota Prius
Toyota Sports 800
Volkswagen Beetle Type I
Volkswagen New Beetle
Volkswagen Polo
RIII
- Use a qualifying car -- Win a Honda Civic Type R (EK9)
Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA
Aston Martin DB5 Vantage
Audi A4 3.0 quattro Sport
Audi Allroad quattro 2.7T
Audi TT Roadster 1.8T quattro
BMW 2002 Turbo
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Sport Coupe (C2)
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Citroën Saxo VTS
Daihatsu Storia X4
Ford Mustang GT (1966)
Ford Thunderbird
Honda Fit 1.5T
Honda Odyssey Absolute
Hyundai Coupe/Tiburon
Jaguar E-Type 4.2
Jaguar X-Type 2.5 V6 Sport
Land Rover Range Rover
Lotus Elan S.3 SE
Lotus Esprit S2
Lotus Europa Special
Mazda Atenza Sedan 23E
Mazda Atenza Sport 23Z
Mazda Eunos Roadster S-Special typeII (NA)
Mazda Roadster RS-II (NB)
Mazda Savanna RX-7 GT-X
Mercedes-Benz G500L
Mitsubishi Pajero Short
Nissan Elgrand
Nissan Fairlady 240ZG
Nissan Primera 20V
Nissan Wingroad
Opel Vita GSi
Peugeot 106 S16
Peugeot 206CC S16
Peugeot 406 Coupe
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455
Renault 5 Turbo 2
Renault Alpine A110 1600SC
Renault Avantime
Renault Clio Renault Sport 2.0
Subaru Legacy Lancaster 6
Toyota Altezza RS200 Z Edition
Toyota Celsior
Toyota Corolla 1.8 Luxel
Toyota MR2 G-Limited Supercharger
Toyota Sprinter Trueno 3door GT Apex
Toyota Voltz
Volkswagen Golf GTI (V)
RII
- Use a qualifying car -- Win a Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II (R32)
- Use a Honda Civic Type R (EK9) -- Win a Honda Civic Type R (EP3)
Alfa Romeo 147 GTA
Alfa Romeo 156 GTA
Alfa Romeo GT 3.2 V6 24V
Alfa Romeo SZ
Audi A8 4.2 quattro
Audi TT Coupe 3.2 quattro S-line
BMW M3 Sport Evolution
BMW Z4 3.0i
Cadillac Seville STS
Chevrolet Camaro Z28
De Tomaso Pantera GTS
Fiat Abarth 1000 TCR
Ford Mustang Mach 1
Honda Accord Euro R (CL7)
Honda Civic Type R (EP3)
Honda Integra Type R (DC2)
Honda Integra Type R (DC5)
Jaguar S-Type R
Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione II
Lancia Rally 037
Lancia Stratos
Lotus Elise 111S
Mazda Savanna RX-7 Infini
Mazda RX-8 Type S
Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG
Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG
Mercedes-Benz S600L
Mercedes-Benz SL500
Mini Cooper S
Nissan 180SX Type X
Nissan Cima 450XV
Nissan Silvia K's (S13)
Nissan Silvia K's Aero (S14)
Nissan Skyline 350GT-B (V35)
Nissan Skyline Coupe 350GT Premium (V35)
Nissan Stagea
Saab 9-5 Aero 2.3TS
Subaru Legacy B4 RSK
Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon GT-B E-tune II
Toyota Aristo V300 Vertex Edition
Toyota Celica GT-Four WRC
Toyota Celica SS-II
Toyota MR2 GT-S
Toyota MR-S V Edition
Toyota Soarer 2.5GT Twin Turbo
Toyota Vitz RS Turbo
Volvo S60 R
Volvo V70 R
Volkswagen Golf R32
RI
- Use a qualifying car -- Win a Honda NSX Type S Zero
- Use a Honda NSX Type S Zero -- Win a Honda NSX Type R (NA2)
- Use a Honda NSX Type R (NA2) -- Win an Audi R8 Team GOH 2003 (Race car)
- Use a Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II (R32) -- Win a Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nür (R34)
- Use a Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nür (R34) -- Win an Audi R8 Team GOH 2003 (Race car)
- Use a qualifying car -- Win a BMW 3.0 CSL (Race car)
ASL Garaiya
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
Audi RS6
BMW M3 GTR Street Version
Caterham Super Seven Superlight R500
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Sport Coupe (C3)
Chevrolet Corvette Z51 (C5)
Dauer EB110 GT
Dodge Viper GTS
Ford GT
Ford Mustang GT (2005)
Honda S2000
Jaguar XJR 4.0 Supercharged V8
Mazda RX-7 Spirit R
Mercedes-Benz SLR
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III GSR
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR T.M. Edition
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII GSR
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII GSR
Nissan Fairlady Z Version S (Z33)
Nissan Silvia spec.R (S15)
Nissan Nismo Silvia R-tune (S15)
Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec (R33)
Nissan Nismo Skyline GT-R S-tune (R34)
Ruf CTR
Ruf RGT
Ruf Turbo R
Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
Subaru Impreza 22B STi
Subaru Impreza WRX STi Version VI
Subaru Impreza WRX STi Limited (GDB Type I)
Subaru Impreza WRX STi (GDB Type II)
Subaru Legacy B4 2.0GT spec.B
Tommy Kaira ZZ-S Coupe
Toyota Supra RZ
TVR Cerbera 4.5
TVR Tamora
Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA
BMW M3 Sport Evolution
BMW 2002 Turbo
Fiat Abarth 1000 TCR
Ford Mustang GT (1966)
Honda S800
Mazda Savanna AP GT
Mazda Savanna RX-7 GT-X
Morris Mini Cooper 1275S Mk1
Nissan Fairlady 240ZG
"Help! I can't unlock *name of a car*!"
If you keep on racing against the car you want, but keep on earning something else, or nothing at all, there isn't much that can be done. Just keep on trying. 
"How do I get *name of a track*? What's the best way to earn tracks?"
Tracks are earned by making progress in your Enthusia Life career. As you achieve certain ranks, tracks will become available in all modes:
- Rank 950 -- Autumn Hill
- Rank 900 -- Marco Strada
- Rank 850 -- Victoria Garden
- Rank 800 -- Route de la Seine
- Rank 750 -- Burgenschlucht
- Rank 700 -- Autumn Mountain
- Rank 650 -- Victoria Road
- Rank 600 -- Edge of the Road
- Rank 550 -- Tsukuba Circuit (night)
- Rank 500 -- Pacific Gateway
- Rank 450 -- Dragon Range (downhill)
- Rank 400 -- Dragon Range (uphill)
- Rank 350 -- Tsukuba Circuit (wet)
- Rank 300 -- Wintertraum
- Rank 250 -- Löwenseering
- Rank 200 -- Nürburgring Nordschleife
Note: Several tracks are available from the beginning in Time Attack mode, including the Nürburgring. Also, you cannot "lose" tracks by losing your ranking.
Reverse versions of the tracks are earned by winning races in Free Race, without black flags, on the standard settings. You will unlock the reverse version of the track on which you win. There is no reverse version of Mirage Crossing. You cannot do a Time Attack on a reversed course.
"How can I access the next class of races? I'm stuck doing the same races over and over!"
The different classes (RIV, RIII, RII, RI, RS) are opened when you reach certain ranks. If you lose ranking, you will be kicked out of the higher classes, so be sure to maintain your rank:
- RN -- Always open
- RIV -- Two wins or five races in RN
- RIII -- Rank 800
- RII -- Rank 500
- RI -- Rank 300
- RS -- Rank 50
"How does the game figure out the ranking points you earn in Enthusia Life?"
Ranking points are the product of:
Odds x Class x Place
Your odds are shown to you before the race starts (lower is faster, but higher is better for points). Each race class contributes a different number of points (RN = 10; RIV = 20; RIII = 50; RII = 200; RS = 500). And your finishing place in the race affects the overall score (Six-car races: 1st = 1.0; 2nd = 0.6; 3rd = 0.4; 4th = 0.2; 5th or 6th = 0; Two-car races: 1st = 1.0; 2nd = 0).
So for example, if you went into an RII six-car race with 9:1 odds and got 2nd place, your ranking points would be:
9 x 200 x 0.6 = 1080 points.
"What about your skill and tuning points? How are those calculated?"
- Basic Points = 40
- TCS Off = +5
- ECS Off = +5
- Manual Transmission = +10
- Race Length = +1 / ~150yd
- Place = Six-car race: (1st = +10; 2nd = +6; 3rd = +4; 4th = +3; 5th = +2; 6th = +1)
Two-car race: (1st = +10; 2nd = +1)
- Set the Fastest Lap = +25
- Drive a Lvl.10 Car = +25
- Off Course = Subtract 1.2x the Enthu points lost to off-course driving
- Collision (Fence) = Subtract 0.4x the Enthu points lost to wall hits
- Collision (Car) = Subtract 0.8x the Enthu points lost to hitting cars
"I don't get this tuning system. How do the 'Tuning Levels' affect the cars?"
Instead of buying or equip parts yourself, you earn upgraded or racing-spec parts as your car gains levels. Most cars gain racing brake pads, racing transmissions (with straight-cut or closer-to-straight-cut gears), and performance intake and/or exhaust systems, and you can actually hear when these mods have been applied if you listen closely enough. Other examples of mods you can hear include blow-off valves or wastegates on turbocharged cars, and aggressive VTEC systems on some fully-modded Hondas. There's also a difference in sound between the bumper cam (more intake noise) and exterior cam (more exhaust noise), so if you're listening for changes or just for the fun of it, don't forget to try different views!
The first upgrade you earn (Lvl.2, Lvl.5, Lvl.8) is weight reduction. The amount of available weight reduction is unique to every vehicle, and heavier vehicles shed more weight than lighter vehicles. Each level represents around a third of the total available weight reduction for that car.
The second upgrade (Lvl.3, Lvl.6, Lvl.9) is an improved tire compound. All cars in this game are equipped with "period" OEM-style tires instead of a universal tire, which means that older cars and economy cars do not have as much grip as newer cars or sportscars. The "tire" tuning level awards the following modifiers to the base value of grip:
- 0.03
- 0.06
- 0.10
The "power" tuning level (Lvl.4, Lvl.7, Lvl.10) affects different cars in different ways. The only way to know for sure how much power you've gained is to do acceleration or top speed tests and analyze the results. Each type of engine has a different "Power Up Rating" representing the amount of power awarded by each level (by percentage), where '1' offers the smallest increases and '6' offers the largest increases:
- Rotary Turbo
- Turbo
- Rotary
- Supercharged
- Naturally Aspirated
- Hybrids
Less-powerful cars also receive a larger boost in power by percentage, although they might still be weaker than a car that is more powerful to begin with.
Suspension mods, gear ratios, and differentials are determined by your input in the "Settings" menu. The "gear ratio" setting is an adjustment of the final drive ratio, and the "limited slip" setting determines the strength of your limited slip differential. A "limited slip" setting of zero (all the way to the left) is always an open differential, no matter what car. Keep in mind that the default setting for Toe or Camber is the "stock" setting for that particular car, not zero degrees.
"How do I beat the game? How do I get 100% completion?"
To "beat" Enthusia Life, you have to win the final race of the RS calendar, called the King of the Year race (abbreviated KotY around this forum). To enter it, you have to be Rank #6 or better and get into a roadcar (A-class or lower; not R-class) before the final week. The AI drivers in this race are some of the toughest in the game, so don't underestimate them, and don't worry about taking a slow car to boost your odds.
If you win, you'll get to see the credits roll, and unlock an option in Library to watch the credit sequence anytime. After that, you have the option of continuing your Enthusia Life career, unlocking cars and upgrading them to Lvl.10.
There are two "sections" in which you can achieve 100% completion, as noted on the Save Play Data screen; DR (Driving Revolution) and FR (Free Race). To get 100% in DR you have to get an "S" on every level. To get 100% in FR you have to unlock every car and every track (including reverse versions).
After you reach 100% in FR, you should have the option of setting the AI difficulty to "Expert" under "Free Racing" in the options menu.
"After the credits, it says something like 'This is not the end. The legend has just begun...' What is that supposed to mean? Is there going to be an Enthusia 2?"
One way to interpret it is because you can continue your Enthusia Life career after the credits, the "legend" that has "just begun" is your "legend."
No one knows if we'll see an Enthusia 2, and the chances of that happening are extremely low. However, traces of Enthusia's legacy showed up unexpectedly in a coin-op arcade game in 2010. Check out the link to see what Enthusia could have looked like in HD!
"I'm doing really well in Driving Revolution. Why can't I get an S?"
You cannot get a single "Good," "Bad," or "Miss." All of the gates must be "Great" or "Perfect," and 80% of the gates must be "Perfect."
"How the hell are you supposed to do that on Level 17, Stage 4?!?"
Congratulations, you've reached the "Mission 34" of the Enthusia world.
Good luck, and keep on practising. It is possible.
"I heard that there's a random track generator. Where is it?"
It's Mirage Crossing. It isn't really a random track generator -- more like a track with a few variations that are randomly chosen each time you play it.
"I see you guys have argued about Enthusia versus Gran Turismo versus the real world rather extensively. Can I say something about them?"
If you feel you have something new to bring to the discussion and can argue without resorting to personal attacks and insults, by all means, stir something up. 
"I'm starting to get bored just racing by myself. What can I do to spice things up?"
Participate in the Tsukuba Time Attack League, Enthusia License Hall, or start a new challenge of your own! 
There may not be a lot of activity around here anymore, but you'd be surprised how many of us still play this game.
Thanks for reading, and good luck in your Enthusia racing career!
2/25/06 -- Version 1.0
2/23/07 -- Version 1.1 -- Added video for DR Lvl.17 St.4...minor touch-ups here and there
4/30/08 -- Version 1.1.1 -- Fixed link for EBGames Enthusia page
12/9/10 -- Version 1.1.2 -- Removed dead links to official game website; minor touch-ups; new questions and insights gathered from the Japanese 2ch Enthusia community wiki (http://www.wikihouse.com/enth/) and strategy guide
1/16/16 -- Version 1.2 -- Cleaned up a few things, removed outdated links, added info on unlocking prize cars
11/21/16 -- Version 1.3 -- Updated tuning level information from strategy guide, replacing machine-translated info from the 2ch Enthusia wiki
6/6/19 -- Version 1.3.1 -- Corrected formatting for current version of GTPlanet