now that i own GT6 and Forza 5 and have played both, i can say with complete confidence, that my opinion of what GT can learn from Forza is more customizing options for upgrades and a livery editor.
GT's physics is better and graphics, to me are more realistic. Forza's cars are overly reflective, to the point where i do a matte finish on the hoods of all my cars. the refection in the hoods while i am driving in hood view is so distracting. i can't tell how much my car is rotating thru a corner. its hard to explain but there it is.
i soo wish GT would give us upgrades to the level and intricacies of Forza. i love the fact you can buy cams separate form valves and displacement separate from block work and so on.
I played FM5 today for the first time. My first time playing any Forza actually. I played for three hours with a controller on Simulation, No Aides (same type settings I use for GT5/6).
I never could get the "feel" for it exactly, just as you say. Perhaps it was the digital paddles for the gas and break compared to the analog paddles of the PS3. It felt distant and as though I was not actually in control. There was no sensation of direct response. Though I was right next to the TV, I may as well have been playing from 20 feet away. The immersion just isn't there. The experience of driving is much better in GT6. I'll be playing FM5 more though, so maybe seat time will change my view on it.
The tracks look better on FM5, but they should considering the XB1 and PS3 comparison. Racing at Laguna Seca on FM5 made me sad that GT6's version isn't that good. Spa was much closer though. Perhaps FM5's version of Spa is only better because of the extra "stuff" like crowds, helicopters, etc. The lighting and shadow effects are, perhaps, a bit better on FM5, but not the giant leap forward I expect GT7 on PS4 to have.
When I first saw the Track List for FM5 I thought they should be ashamed, but they do have some significant tracks. It wasn't as dreadful as I'd imagined.
Customization and Tuning seems to be in favor of FM5, but I didn't spend a significant amount of time in those options.
I was impressed with the tuning options from what I saw though. The calculated Benchmarking adjusted with each and every change in tuning made me drool.
All of the Online features appear to be drastically in favor of FM5.
There are cars FM5 has that GT6 needs. And vice versa. Obviously GT6 wins here, even only counting the "Premium" cars.
The biggest difference between the two may well be simply the presentation. FM5 adds a lot of little touches that add up to make for a huge production. The GT series doesn't have that.
Forza could do a better job conveying the "feel" of driving in addition to adding a significant amount of content and Day/Night transitions. They actually have good "bones" to build on for a very, very good racing game, but the driving experience just isn't on par with even GT5.
GT could add a lot of the "stuff" Forza seems to have done very well...Presentation, Customization, Online features, etc...and be the greatest racing game ever.
If anything the experience hammered home that I am very excited about the possibility of GT7 on PS4.
The head to head comparisons of FM6 vs GT7 will be mind blowing. There's no limits on either with their next iteration, so they both better bring it.