Personally, this game doesn't interest me in driving. I just like to build engines and stuff for the cars. Pretty fun putting a V12 into some small car and then smashing it against a wall
Then you can get any car, engine, parts, tracks you want - for either version 2.2.1 or 2.3.0..
I'd recommend vstanced.com for some good mods
For the FFB if you go in the options, there is something like, Real Force Feedback, Emulated Force Feedback. If you mess around with those, and in Logitech profiler you get a kinda fake ffb which is better than nothing. Although I think 2.2.1 didn't have working FFB, try the one I linked to.
I also recommend SLRR Editor 2.1. It will allow you to modify what engines are suitable for what car. For example you can use a big BMW engine in some Nissan car etc.