I have played this game, and there are some things I need to say ...
First of all, if you dont have a steering wheel, DONT buy this game, couse the keyboard controls are so fucking annoying, it's like, I press left and suddenly the car is sideways on a straight bit of road, evin with a steering wheel it feels so remote, like youre not really controlling it, just telling which side to go to ... :/
The graphics, I couldn't play it on all teh MAX settings, couse I only has a laptop, but evin on Medium/High settings It was great ...
Car damage, It's OK, but GRID has so much more realistic crashes ...
I really like the varety of cars, and the high deatail of 'em ...
BUT, Is it a real simulator?, like i saw an interwiev on youtube with guy from EA, and he was telling, that SHIFT would be going up against Gran Turismo ...
NEVER ! This game doesent feels like a simulator at all, just another touring-car game ... :|
But thats my opinion, others may think different ... ......

All NFS's after MW have been rubbish, and I'm afraid to say, that SHIFT doesent change anything ...