Gran Turismo 3 A-spec review

Gran Turismo 3 A-spec is the best value racer on the PS2 and the cheapest pick on this list. Polyphony Digital's product page dates it to July 10, 2001 and describes two ways to play: Arcade Mode for quick races and Simulation Mode for the full career of buying and upgrading cars. Rally racing returns with a refined off-road physics model, and each car was built to the specifications of its real counterpart at 4,000 polygons per vehicle. It supports two-player racing on one console and, through i.LINK, up to six players. Sony's later Gran Turismo 4 release calls it a PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits title, which helps explain why a used copy costs only $6.99 at DKOldies. Its car list is much smaller than Gran Turismo 4's, so treat it as a cheap starting point or a companion disc rather than a replacement.

Who it is for

Budget collectors who want a full simulator for under $10

Price

Used PS2 disc from $6.99 at DKOldies (regular price, before sales).

Original price: $6.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Arcade Mode for quick races and Simulation Mode for the full career
• Rally racing with a refined off-road physics model
• 4,000 polygons per vehicle, modeled on each real car's specifications
• Two-player split racing, and up to six players over i.LINK
• Soundtrack featuring 20 bands

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: $6.99 used, the cheapest disc on this list by a wide margin
• Strength: Same Arcade and Simulation split that later Gran Turismo games kept
• Strength: Pressure-sensitive DUALSHOCK 2 controls for throttle and braking
• Weakness: Far fewer cars than Gran Turismo 4, which lists more than 700
• Weakness: Six-player races need several consoles linked over i.LINK
• Weakness: No B-spec or Photo Mode

Key facts

• Developer: Polyphony Digital
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment America
• Release: July 10, 2001
• Detail: 4,000 polygons per vehicle
• ESRB: Everyone

Where it ranks

Gran Turismo 3 A-spec is No. 4 in our Best PS2 Racing Games verdict.