Great fun, untill you realise this is what your going to be doing for as long as you play it.
However that first race where you learn to not take corners at over 60mph may seem great and the graphics and car manufacturer names impress you at first, but after say 10 races, you will begin racing the same tracks again, every corner will feel the same, and the customisation will grow old very quickly. I felt that all i had to to do was bash A and move to the best part over and over again, it didnt matter what you upgraded it to because you always have enough money and you can't accidentally buy a worse part very easily.
The career mode is your standard, "win 3 races get a cup" but each time you get a cup all your getting is money you don't need or a car you don't want.
So the lack of variety really holds the game back from being as classic. It will definitely leave you feeling that theres no reason to keep playing despite gettting the first couple of races/upgrades perfect.