Question: does the character you choose make a difference?
Do the characters you choose make a difference? (apart from which car they allow you to use)
shareit depends, in Versus yes, because each character has special items some better than others, so if for instance, you pick Luigi and Koopa, you can get both fireballs from Luigi, and you get 3 green shells from Koopa, but if you play Battle mode, then you can any specail items unless you play bob-omb blast, which basicly all you get is bob-ombs. hope this helped.
shareIt matters huge actually. Overall the characters' weapons don't factor in that much once you become a pro. No matter the circumstance, if you take two equally skilled players, one in a light kart and one in a heavy kart, odds are the player in the lighter kart is going to win. They recover from the MANY hits you take in the game MUCH faster than the heavier cars due to their great acceleration. You get up to your top speed faster.
The only downside that affects me with a lighter kart is getting pushed around. I dunno how many times I've been turned backwards in a tight turn because I've collided with another kart.
All in all, Toad/Toadette is probably the best way to go, the mushrooms let you cut through the offroad and make your own shortcuts.