Picking some of the more interesting cars in Microsoft's XBox racing simulation

We at Drive Cult are fans of Forza Motorsport 4. The racing sim from Microsoft's turn 10 is an involving and addictive way to pass the winter months when (in the UK at least) it is not so easy to get out and drive your old and rust prone Italian GT.

One of the most appealing aspects of the game is the sheer variety of cars available to try out. Virtually every genre of post World War II car is represented in some shape or form. The only notable exception is the lack of  Porsche's that are so far missing from the game due to a licensing issue with Electronic Arts, although there are a couple of modern 911s badged as RUFs.

As a result of playing the game, I have started to lust after certain cars I would not have even considered before, and I would be lying if I said I hadn't gone and browsed through the classifieds to look at examples of their real-life counterparts for sale after playng the game.

Below in alphabetical order are ten of my current favourite cars in the game, there are still many cars I've not tried yet so this list will probably change in the future.

1. Alfa Romeo Guilia GTA.

Alfa's little coupe was a force to be reckoned with in touring car racing in the sixties. Light in weight and with great handling balance the little Alfa is a blast to drive on the twistier courses in Forza. The car shown in the Photo is 'shared' from fellow Drive Culter Jamie Wolfcale's garage and I suspect the colour scheme is inspired by the Giulia Sprint recently owned by Dickie Meaden.

2. Audi Quattro Sport S1

There are not many rally cars in the game and no option for any off tarmac action, but that doesn't stop the mightly Quattro Sport being a blast to drive in the game. I would particularly recommend giving it a try on the Fujimi Kaido hillclimb circuit.

3. BMW 2002 Turbo

A rival but a newer design than the Alfa, the little 2002 Turbo is one of the coolest cars BMW has ever produced. Here liveried up as a seventies racer, (livery not my own work by the way) the 2002 offers lots of turbo lag fun.

4. De Tomaso Pantera

The in game credits to buy each car are designed to reflect approximate real market values in US dollars. At 45,000 credits the De Tomaso Pantera is something of a bargain. With some careful choices in the upgrade department you can get the car tuned to a very good facsimile of a Le Mans racing spec Pantera. An appropriate livery (again not done by me) helps complete the look.

5. Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

The most expensive car ever sold at auction is also an expensive buy in the game. It's worth it though for the digitized version of the wailing V12 and lots of fun sideways action.

6. Ferrari 365GTB4 'Daytona'

This was always going to be in the list and I've already talked about a comparison with the real thing here. This time I've shown it in street trim less the bumpers. Driving the computer version flat out down the Mulsanne is probably the only time I will ever hit top speed in a Daytona!

7. Ferrari 458 GT2 'Risi Competizione'

Right up to date now with the latest Ferrari LM GT car. Arguably the quickest R3 level car in the game it is also easy to drive fast, and looks and sounds great doing it.

Being easy to drive doesn't mean you can't crash it though

8. Mercedes 300SL 'Gullwing'

A stalwart of all the Forza games on the XBox 360, the real Gullwing has a reputation for tricky handling. From the safety of the lunge sofa I've had no such issue with this car modified to resemble a fifties style club racer. Fitting American racing wheels from the upgrades also make passable replicas of the optional rudge wheels fitted to some 300SLs.

9. Peugeot 905C

When it came to Le Mans Prototypes it was a tough choice. The latest Audi R18 is the easiest to drive of the LMPs I have driven so far but it's not that charismatic. The waling rotary of the Mazda 787B is addictive but that car is a real challenge to drive without spinning. Splitting the difference is the Peugeot 905C which was the ultimate Group C racer, with a Formula 1 style 3.5 litre V10 and won Le Mans outright twice in 1992 and 1993.

10. Plymouth Satellite GTX Hemi

Sixties and seventies American Muscle cars are heavily represented in the game, and driving them online allows me to induldge a motoring guilty pleasure of mine. Before playing the game I would have said the Plymouth Hemi Cuda would have been my favourite, but when playing the game you can't beat the sight of the Grabber hood scoop rising from the Plymouth Sateliite GTX Hemi. Add the upgraded suspension, brakes and some 17" Torque Thrust wheels and it even handles quite nicely too.

• Tweet