What's the best car racing game for the PS2?

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We just bought a PS2 for $60, and I got "Gran Turismo 3", but I'm more interested in the "Need For Speed" type of games -- with Ferraris and so forth, not just Corvettes like Turismo has. (Is there a "Need For Speed" for PS2?) Any ideas what the best racing game is for PS2?

I only have a couple games on the PS2, but I did get Test Drive Unlimited for the 360 (and PC sometime later, for mods and such). You get a lot of those exotic cars, shallow cop chases (but they are there), and an almost complete virtual Oahu! The game is primarily arcade-style driving. There is a simulation mode you can download for the 360, and it comes with the PC iteration (since it came out later). However, I do not think there is a simulation mode in the PS2 version, but you do not seem to mind. You also have a wide variety of camera angles, including a full cockpit view that you can look around in (with working mirrors I might add). TDU gives you a fair amount of customization. You can change rims, body colors (custom color shops too), interior colors, and performance shops (take note that the amount of customization varies between cars. There are also bikes with helmet cameras too.

tl;dr:
- arcade-style physics
- exotic cars (ferrari, lambos, bikes, even some muscles and tuners)
- cop system is present
- full-scale island with long stretches of road, winding ridges, and, of course, Honolulu and Pearl Harbor for some urban action
- well placed customization. not too complicated to use or over-the-top
- full 3D cockpits and helmet cameras
- hell, you can even customize your characters a little

This game is just so much fun, imho. If this sounds at least interesting, try renting.

Cool!

Need For Speed Carbon
I've got it, it's a fantastic game, very, very fun, with fairly decent graphics, a good storyline, a great selection of cars, and fast paced cop chases.

I'll run you through the storyline. The plot, is OK, but it's all a bit too unrealistic, you play as a driver, returning to the city(Can't remember what it's called... sorry ) and are immediatly chased by a guy called Cross(As I said, it's about as realistic as Action Man), you escape, choose a car type out of Exotic, Muscle, or Tuner, and then work your way up the ranks as a noobie street racer. During one of the first cut-scenes, where a race starts, the cops turn up, and everybody runs. You must, during the game, put together the pieces of the puzzle. So, you're left in this wierd positon, where the usual NFS girl(A bit like a Bond girl) shows you the ropes, the bad guy, a bald, idiotic show off, starts chatting her up, and you leave him behind during most races.

The best bit about the game is probably the cop chases, once they catch you speeding, they chase you, you then have to drive as fast as you can, knocking over lit up structures, which fall unrealistically, onto the cops, stopping them for a few seconds.

The main boss races of the game, take part on the canyon, where, you drive on extremely thin and twisty roads, trying to get as far away from your rival as fast as you can, sadly, you will fall off the edge of the canyon, resulting in you losing the race, these get extremely frustrating, and my brother(who has completed the game) ended up getting very very annoyed indeed.

That's all I can suggest, I hope it helps.

Thanks, that helps a lot! On "Gran Turismo 3", I've only tried the arcade style, so maybe the simulation style is better?
I've never played a game that gives you a choice, so I chose arcade style at random.
Gran Turismo seems like only a race track (formula 1 style) or real-road-driving-average-cars game. They don't have that nice in-between niche of driving truly exotic cars on real roads among regular cars.
I mean, when you're used to driving a Ferrari, a Corvette is nothing but let down, ya know?!

Now, "Spy Hunter" -- THAT's a cool car game, imo, even though it's not about racing. Heck, you can't even change gears, but the machine gun, missles, and oil slicks you can deploy sure make it cool! As does transforming into a boat or motorcycle. The jet-powered turbo boost is nice too. (The turbo jet works with the boat, too.)

Also, check out the Flatout games. All cars are unique, beautiful, and completely trashable.

the midnight club series,same type of racer as need for speed.

The Gran Turismo series will give you a completely different feel than the NFS, Midnight Club, and Flatout style games. GT is a simulation game, while the others are arcade games. In GT its all about handling and driving the proper line. In the others, its about going at full speed without hitting things. I love playing both. GT helps me improve my technique and helps me understand car setups, while NFS is just balls-out, fish-tailing fun, and I don't have to concentrate too hard while playing.

Try the burnout games, it has all the best cars (YOU CAN SMASH INTO A MILLION PIECES!! !! !! )

I got GT4 last night, and it's pretty awesome! I only begun to play it last night, because it was late, but the realism is pretty incredible. It's got well over 100 cars to choose from, so that's nice.