Still loving GTA IV
The new car physics certainly took a lot of getting used to after GTA III based games on the previous generation consoles, but, I find them far more expressive and with far more entertaining results when you loose control of a fast vehicle. The main difference is a more accurate inertia model, you have to start braking a lot sooner when travelling fast to not overshoot the turn, but, you get used it - just dab the handbrake about half way through, nudge the steering wheel to get sideways, then counter steer and apply power to leave the slide into the new direction :) The difference in handling between different types of car is a lot more pronounced in IV too. Not many cars can brake very well, especially in the wet.
After playing it, a lot, for nearly a year and a half now, I think its one of the best games ever made. The depth of experience, the fantastically varied and funny things that can happen by accident, and the quality of the script writing and voice acting, not to mention the unbelievable environment, cars and people, just make it an amazing 'place' to play in. Its not without its flaws and annoyances, but overall, it is truly groundbreaking.
I liked that they took away the fitness and food nonsense of San Andreas, and I love New York as a setting, I think its where the franchise belongs, if for nothing more than blasting a Lamborghini (lookalike) off a steep hill and hoping you land on all 4 wheels. Or not. :)