This is a video game, a driving game or simulation, consisting of some cleverly put together code, but only that.
Yet, it somehow manages to give the cars in this game CHARACTER. That is an astonishing achievement on PD's side there. Even in real life, some car makers manage to not give a car any character at all (most VW, Hyundai,... don't get me started...

.
So, how has PD done that? Playing Forza 3 with a 360 Wheel a while back was fun, the cars handled sufficiently different, but it failed to send the cars' character through the wheel. Playing GT5, with my Fanatec OR with a gamepad, I somehow feel how the cars communicate their different traits over to me and, like in real life, I LOVE THAT
...and don't tell me it's all down to Force Feedback!