(firstly where did the option for creating a poll go? I must be missing it or something) 
 
So ever since Drew mentioned how he like driving in the cockpit view, I started getting sold on the idea. I used to always be a far back behind the car kind of guy. Now I find myself loving the cockpit view even in the gymkhana events. I enjoy it so much that I am taken aback. I can't believe I do so good in this view seeing as how you get a minuscule amount of viewing area to race. Once I got used to the change in view I noticed that I started getting really immersed and on the edge of my seat at times. 
 
So who out there is a fan of the cockpit camera view? Who's a convert? What's your favorite view angle for racing games?

Me.

I believe you need to create a poll in General or Off-Topic and then attach it to a specific forum.  I think that's how it works.
 
Cockpit for me.

Me

In a flight sim, yes - in a driving game, no. 
if it's a simmy driving game i'll use "hood cam".  
in an arcadey racing game, the usual behind the car cam.

I love a bit of cock 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
pit view.

I always, in Dirt 2, turn it on and think 'wow this is totally awesome' and then immediately crash and burn and switch back. I just don't have the patience.

Hell yeah. No HUD cockpit view ftw.

I do...
I also have TrackIR which brings it to a whole new level. 
It's kinda crazy.
Haven't tried it in Dirt 3 yet so I'm not 100% sure they support it but it worked in Dirt 2.

It varies from car to car. If there's a big ass roll cage bar or netting blocking the windshield and I can't see anything, I'll switch to bumper.

I play every driving game in cockpit if there's the option. In fact its the only reason I'll really play a driving game.

It's cool but I only use it for a bit to check it out.  When I really want to get into it I move to the hood cam so I can actually see the corners better.  I never feel that the cockpit is any more realistic because you are always looking straight ahead and not at where you want the car to go.

Behind the car camera for me. Always.

I like it in the context only that everyone else is using it because it always feels to me like a gimmicky hindrance, that is to say though that I do enjoy using it on occasions. Hardcore mode is appealing to me at the moment because it forces cockpit cam  (you'll find people confused after a collision/spin and they'll drive in the wrong direction!). 
 
However, do I enjoy using it because I can do well with it? Heck no. I take twice as long to finish a track with it.

I play every driving game in cockpit if there's the option. In fact its the only reason I'll really play a driving game.

i heard you love COCKpit

*raises hand* 
 
I feel like I have greater control.

The only way I race, though the snow rally races can get intense from that point of view. Which is another reason to like Dirt 3.

Not me. Never have. Camera behind the car. 

I only use cockpit view in racing games.

Always, I seem to have far more control over the car in the cockpit view. I turned of the HUD for the trophy at first, but I love playing without it after that first race. The only time it comes back on is for drift events, just to see my score. 

I love it. Even in Gymkhana.

I always use the hood-cam. It provides a great sense of speed and it still gives you a good enough feeling for the dimensions of the car (plus, the reflections on the hood look gorgeous in Dirt 3).
 
Also, in my opinion the hood-cam comes closer to the focussed view I have in a real car. In a game's cockpit view, the car "around" the windshield is way more distracting and intrusive than when it is only located in periphal field of vision in real life.

I don't play racing games that often, but when I can't find a cockpit view I feel like that is a huge flaw.  I'd much rather the realistic view.  I know you can't see as much of the screen, but that's the point to me.  It's supposed to be a car, you're supposed to have blind-spots and your personal awareness should be something you develop not something you have shown to you in a third-person camera.
 
I can buy into hood view, I guess, but behind the car just reminds me of playing with toys or something and only works for me if your game is really arcade-like and there is a lot of stuff going on.  If it's trying to be a simulator, then third-person just makes the game boring.

I don't play racing games that often, but when I can't find a cockpit view I feel like that is a huge flaw.  I'd much rather the realistic view.  I know you can't see as much of the screen, but that's the point to me.  It's supposed to be a car, you're supposed to have blind-spots and your personal awareness should be something you develop not something you have shown to you in a third-person camera. 

For precision driving, sure. For drifting, no way.

Really like to use cockpit cam with no hud for the point to point stuff, but for the multi-car races and gymkhana I have to still go for the behind the car view.

I haven't played Dirt 3 yet, but I do enjoy using the cockpit views in Forza Motorsport. I don't use it in the more arcade-y games like PGR4 and Test Drive Unlimited 2 though, as I find it detracts from how the game is played. My standard view in most racing games is behind the car, and close. If a game has a good cockpit view and it complements the experience then I will make the most of it.

I am a hood view guy...

When just doing single player races or races online with friends, Cockpit. During Dirt Tour or online races against random people, Behind the car view. 

I prefer the hood camera in Dirt 2 and 3.  Cockpit view looks nice, but I agree with Jeff that it's just too restrictive, and isn't more "realistic". 
 
Sitting in the cockpit of a real car isn't restrictive, because you have peripheral vision, and can keep your head on a swivel. 
 
- Scott

Only in the rallies and trailblazer events.

I enjoy using it in Forza 3

I'm enjoying cockpit view in Dirt 3, Before that the last car racing game I played was rallisport challenge 2 which was 3rd person view and one of the earlier cmr games which I also did in 3rd. 
 
I love playing tourist trophy in cockpit view though I like me some crazy leanings

Me too   

I prefer the hood camera in Dirt 2 and 3.  Cockpit view looks nice, but I agree with Jeff that it's just too restrictive, and isn't more "realistic".  Sitting in the cockpit of a real car isn't restrictive, because you have peripheral vision, and can keep your head on a swivel.  - Scott

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.

Me.  
 
Yet when I drift and do Gymkhana I prefer third person and thats usually with any racing game that involves some sort of drifting. 

I use cockpit view in most of the game types, except Gymkhana.

I like the hood view. 

It's alright, but the small FOV really annoys me... so I usually play in third-person cam.

Cockpit view is the only view I will never use. I hate it. I cycle through the other options depending on game and mood.

forza, dirt and pgr? third person. 
burnout? bumper cam!

Drew turned me on to the idea of racing from cockpit view as well. I'd never been much of a racing game guy, especially ones that didn't involve running over pedestrians and boosting around turns and the like, but as soon as I jumped into that cockpit view I was sold. It's just so much more intense and real

I do prefer the inside view of vehicles when i'm playing a racing game.  

I like it a bunch, but sometimes it can be really hard to race in.  It gives a more intense "ohgodohgodohgod" feeling when going around turns and stuff at high speed, but it can be annoying when you hit a puddle in a car and you can't see shit until your wipers get the mud off.

Behind car view means you will lose.   I had to learn the hard way.   Even 'skidding' events.  I so wish it weren't true as I love out of car expieriences.

I have always used it and i'm accustomed to it and when i sometimes try the chase camera for laughs i don't have the same car control anymore and it kills the speed so i constatly hit the trackwalls.
 Also think the ammount of time the devs have used modeling those cockpits, it would be too cruel to use anything else.