I dont know if the update I installed had this big an effect or if I  am just now 'getting it' but I take back everything negative I had to  say about the handling, its superb. 
I went back to my '97 Civic Type R and it felt like a tank, exactly how I  would expect such a car to feel after driving the Nissan GT. I could  really feel the weight, it was very heavy and I could tell that it had  stock suspension with the way the weight was transfering from left to  right. It felt very spongy and quick steering adjustments were not  possible because of it.
I was not breaking enough into the corners and the heavyness of the car  was very apparent the way it just kept on going deep into the turn, the  feeling of inertia was very good. 
At times I felt like I was on the edge of the tyres grip levels, just to  check if this was just a feeling I pushed a bit harder and started to  slide. 
Very pleased with the game now, graphics & AI aside.