Sometimes "check your bargain bin" isn't a bad thing!!
The graphics are much better yet the controls and things game play wise seem to be much the same, perhaps just a tiny bit more simulation than the previous 2. The main layout has been cleaned up from the previous Gran Turismo, things are more organized and easier to find. I do however find buying parts to be a task, the layout for buying parts wears on me fairly quickly. Purchasing cars seems to be a bit of work as well, you need to go through 2 screens of the same car before you can actually purchase it.
These short comings really do nothing to hold Gran Turismo 3 back though, the game play is what I came for and it delivers on all angles! Sometimes "check your bargain bin" isn't a bad thing!!