I've run into several "GT" loading screens that stick for several minutes, while just moving between menu screens. Not to mention, when booting the game up and getting to the title screen to select the game mode, it takes nearly a minute for your select cursor to even show up, even after the background scene has loaded.
 
My PS3 isn't that old, it's a 60gb, and I did the full install on first boot.
Is anyone else experiencing this?
 
P.S.: This entire post was typed during a "GT" loading screen.
 
***EDIT***:  
It's a problem with GT5 trying to contact the GT servers.

We found that just unplugging the ethernet cable or disabling the internet connection (if you use wireless) helps. It seems that if GT sees the PS3 is not connected to the internet in the first place, it doesn't bother attempting to contact the servers. Cuts down on the "GT" loading screen time immensely. 

Launch day problems.  Should iron out soon enough or im sure they will have to patch it straight away.  You think they would have had enough time to sort it all out.

Likelihood is that it is your PS3/Copy of the game, I've been laying solidly since I got home and it's not stuck a single time.

Maybe it is my PS3, I should also mention that the initial install timer stated it would take 30 minutes, and after an hour it was still installing.
 
I don't have any junk on my PS3, I wonder what's gone bad.

" Maybe it is my PS3, I should also mention that the initial install timer stated it would take 30 minutes, and after an hour it was still installing.  I don't have any junk on my PS3, I wonder what's gone bad. "

Well before you said this I was going to just say, sign-off PSN and then you won't have to wait on any communication between the server than you. But from the above quote maybe your PS3's laser is on the way out. The install isn't too good at predicting how long it will take, for me it said 20 minutes for most of it and took 38. But an hour does sound a lot. 

But sign-out of PSN and if that solves it put it down to first day issues.

Guy with an OG fatty PS3 on another place reports similar behaviour, like his HD is getting old and clunky. The PS3 HD file system is FAT32 derived, if there was a way for scandisk and defrag to work that would do the trick
 
edit: Maybe not, guess it is about the connectivity and the server being overloaded since logging out of PSN fixes it

Having same problems (apart from installation), I have new slim version. It might be connection problem to servers... Lets hope that they patch the load times.

I deleted the GT5 install, and when I restarted GT5, I got the patch but got an error when trying to get the EULA stating a "Connection to Server could not be established". So I guess it IS at least partially a server issue. 
 
In the meantime, running it straight off the disc.

It's constantly checking the server if you're online. 
 
Don't worry about it too much.  It's making checks for the browser mode site, and whatnot.

yeah same thing is happening to me. the funny thing is i didn't have to problem until today. last night the menus and the cursor were working fine.

Reminds me of the LBP issues when it first launched. I'd play offline right now if you can.

"  Whenever you get the silver GT sign in the middle of the screen, that is a network load. The reason that screen takes (sometimes several minutes) is because it can't communicate with the server. There really needs to be a cut off point at which it just gives up, and if there already is, then it needs to be much sooner.  "

Yeah the same things are happening to me but I'm sure they are nothing but Launch Day woes.

There are loading screens, but minutes long? Didn´t experience this.

" Guy with an OG fatty PS3 on another place reports similar behaviour, like his HD is getting old and clunky. The PS3 HD file system is FAT32 derived, if there was a way for scandisk and defrag to work that would do the trick "

Oh don't say that, it is a pet peeve of mine when people talk such nonsense. The PS3 doesn't use FAT32 or any variation thereof for its internal hard drive it uses UFS2 (Thats  Unix File System) which is robust file system used from small computer to super computers with out the need of scandisk or defrag.

However it cannot read from NTFS (I hope this has changed, and if it has no one told me :) ) which is why if you are using a large external storage device you have to make sure it is formatted FAT32 etc. and not NTFS

Quick update: "GT" screens are going by much faster now, 6-8 seconds.
 
Guess the network issue has been resolved...
 
FOR NOW.

Very, very, janky so far. I've had to quit out of the game four or five times already. One measly arcade race under my belt.
 
My 60 gb launch model has never given trouble, I really don't think it's starting now. Not all of a sudden.
 
Sloppy work. Not pleased.

I hate to make this comparison, but I'm used to playing games on my 360 or PC and just having them work, maybe after a 5-minute optional install on the 360 at the most. This is ridiculous. I hope the experience gets better when I actually start playing the game.

The timer for the install IS completely jacked, best to wait it out.
 
@DanceDanceKennypants said:

" Very, very, janky so far. I've had to quit out of the game four or five times already. One measly arcade race under my belt. My 60 gb launch model has never given trouble, I really don't think it's starting now. Not all of a sudden.  Sloppy work. Not pleased. "

Man, you guys are having it rough. Apart from one 30 second pause going into GT mode earlier today, it's been nothing but smooth sailing for me!

I just want to confirm that this is an issue with the GT servers at the moment, if you're locking up on the black screen with the grey GT logo, that's when the game is trying to contact the servers. They need to add the ability to cut itself off if it doesnt happen soon enough, or if there is one in the game, it needs to cut off a lot sooner.
 
Edit: To fix, take your PS3 offline.

yeah, there are loading problems. i just think it's first day launch type of stuff.

"
yeah eurogamer/sony say its just a problem with GT5 always being online and the servers currently being hammered.  quick fix is just to play with the system offline. 
 
 http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-11-25-sony-limits-gt5-to-ease-online-gridlock     "