I never think to check for demos.  Apparently, there's a Vita and a PS3 one.  I'll try both.

Cheers for the heads up!

Sonic Transformed. they took what worked in the original, and expanded on it. Unlike MK7 the transformations just arent for the aesthetic hell of it. WHen you fly it feels like you are actually flying a plane when you're a boat it feels like you are on water. More characters. Better track design, its just good. Matter of fact ill take it one step further and say its BETTER than any of the recent Mario Karts that have been released, and yes i played them all and they all felt like Ninty was playing it safe in comparison.

Honorable mention to Modnation a kart racer with actual challenge and a slew of custom options.

Definitely the first All Stars Racing. Blew me totally away. I am a MK fan so I was really surprised that such an arguably low profile game could come so close to it.
Transformed was just not as good with those wonky flying and swimming passages.

This thread reminds me that I own Mod Nation Racers and Sonic and Sega All Stars and Crash Tag Team Racing.

I guess Mod Nation out of those titles. It made me laugh.

I'm gonna have to say no, unless you weren't being serious. :P

I don't think I played any other kart racers except for Modnation Racers, which is a disappointing game.

Cool ideas but handles like trash.

I tried most of them and would choose Modnation. Honestly they are better than Mario Kart Wii in my book, it was a huge step down from double dash and especially 64, or maybe is because I hate the motion controls... I don't know.

Sonic all the way.

I'd still rank Mario Kart Wii above Transformed for its tighter handling, but only by a hair.
I hope Mario Kart 8 takes some lessons from Transformed but keeps its core accessibility intact, that could make it the best Kart racer ever made.

split second is the best