> I’m not sure that VR is the best way to “feel” a car in this way either.

I'm pretty sure it isn't. Just like about everything in human experience, almost nothing can be replicated just as well in VR. VR can give you a rough sense of space, but your body has no sensation, no touch, no feedback, it's so far from reality that you can't really just rely on VR to design things.

Plus, there are things that you don't notice in short time but need to "sink in" with everyday and long-term usage. This is also very hard to replicate in VR.