When GTPlanet reviewed the VisionRacer VR3 earlier this year, we really loved what we saw. Anyone dedicated to their sim-racing hobby would be hard-pressed to find something to match the VisonRacer’s ergonomics, beauty, or quality of construction. Craftsmanship is not cheap, though, and the VR3 is still a significant investment for most gamers. To help out, the VisionRacer guys are offering a special price just for GTPlanet readers: $999 with free shipping to the U.S..

To take advantage of the offer, shoot them an email and let them know you’re coming from GTP. Shortly thereafter, you’ll have the perfect accessory for Gran Turismo 5 ready and waiting in your living room. I use a VR3 myself, and it has completely changed the way I view sim racing. If it’s something you’ve been considering, this promotion is a great opportunity to take your hobby to the next level for less money than ever before.

UPDATE: Just learned from the VisionRacer guys that, due to the incredible response from this promotion with free shipping for U.S. customers, the promotion will soon be coming to other countries as well.  If you’re in the UK, sit tight!

The Logitech G25 was one of the first steering wheels to introduce a clutch pedal and gated 6-speed shifter.  It’s success has prompted other wheel manufacturers like Fanatec to jump in the game, fueling competition in this niche market to new heights.  Now, with the G25 pushing 3 years old, everyone is watching Logitech to make a move.

Rumblings about their next device have been occuring in all corners of the web, but we’ve just nabbed the best confirmation of the new wheel thanks to the keen eyes of GTPlanet reader “Homerfreak”.  One of the developers at Codemasters accidentally included the Logitech G27 in the list of compatable wheels for their new game, DiRT 2.  Unsurprisingly, the post was quickly edited, but not before Homerfreak wisely nabbed this screenshot.

This isn’t the first time the G27 name has been mentioned, though – if you take a look around the web, you’ll not only find rudimentary information, but pictures, too!  Of course, nothing has been confirmed officially by Logitech, but here are a few changes you can almost certainly count on from leaked photos:

• Thicker steering wheel.
• 6 buttons on the wheel.
• Shift indicator lights.

Few people gave much weight to these pictures when they surfaced late last year.  However, although the final design could obviously change, GTPlanet can independently verify their authenticity for now.  It’s important to closely watch the development of Logitech wheels, given the company’s long, close relationship with Polyphony Digital.  It would not be unreasonable to expect the G27 to hit at roughly the same time as GT5… Stay tuned!

Since steering wheels first became popular accessories for racing games, the search to find the best way to use them has been ongoing.  Over the years, we’ve seen lots of creative solutions from just about everyone (including Sony!), and lots of different products have attempted to fill this niche market with varying degrees of success.  While everyone else was making noise, though, one company has spent the last 5 years quietly developing and refining their own high-end racing seat.  So, does the VisionRacer VR3 take the lead?  Read our full review to find out…

First Impressions

It feels a bit like Christmas morning when the VR3 arrives in a large, heavy box, carefully protected under several layers of heavy-duty plastic.  Once you rip through the packaging and open up it up, you’ll get your first look at the the parts and pieces that make up your VR3.  My particular unit included smaller boxes for the LCD stand and G25 shifter mount, both of which were included in the larger box (so shipping them was not an issue).  Here’s what you’ll find in the box:

• Black Racing Seat
• VR3 Frame (2 pieces, front and back)
• Seat Mounting Plates
• Seat Adjustment Arm
• Logitech G25 Shifter Mount (optional)
• LCD Stand (optional)
• Leather Tool Kit

One thing you may notice missing in that list -- instructions!  At first I was a bit concerned, but I had the appropriate PDF file sitting in my Inbox just 30 minutes after contacting VisionRacer’s support department.  They were pleasant to work with and apologized for the packing oversight.  My VR3 is the first in the United States, so a minor kink is understandable.

Assembly

On the VisionRacer’s website FAQ, they compare the VR3’s assembly process to that of “building your new race car”.  They aren’t kidding!  My unit took 4 hours, grease, sweat, and a few drops of blood to assemble from start to finish.  There is nothing particularly difficult about it, but I was working alone and the stiffness of the tubular steel frame made a few steps particularly challenging.  Getting a friend’s help would cut the time in half.  If you don’t have any friends, don’t worry -- everything will change once you get this thing running.

The first step -- mating the two pieces of the frame together -- required quite a bit of wrestling (this is where a friend would be especially handy).  Next, I secured the arm which holds the wheel to the base, along with the faux-carbon fiber spine that increases its rigidity.  Things got a little more difficult when attaching the seat mounting plates to the adjustable brackets.  It looks simple enough, but you must find a way to get the brackets moved out far enough on each end to insert the bolts for the mounting plates.  Yes, you just attach and slide the seat’s adjustment arm, but without the weight of a seat on the brackets this is a bit awkward (and there’s not much a friend can do for you here).

You’ll be itching to attach the seat once its mounting plates are secure, but heed the instruction’s warnings and attach the shifter mount first.  Everything is fairly straightforward from there, but get ready to do a quick modification to your G25’s components.  The large clamp in the center of the shifter will have to be removed via tiny screws on the bottom, but it’s not a big deal -- just make sure you have a tiny Phillips screw driver ready to go (one isn’t included in the VR3’s tool kit).  You’ll also need to remove the “spacers” on the steering wheel’s clamps, but no tools are required for that.

One of my favorite things about the VR3 is how easy it makes cable management.  A small hole in the top of the steering wheel arm is perfectly situated to collect the cables as they exit the G25’s steering wheel, and a matching hole at the front of the unit keeps clutter to a minimum.  Unfortunately, there is no way to discretely route the cable attaching the G25’s shifter.  It’s not long enough to tunnel through the frame, and has to be strung directly up the “spine” to the wheel.  Although not messy, it’s a shame a more elegant solution isn’t available.

For the other cables, though, the VR3 includes a 1-meter long “wire feeding line” with a small hook at the end, which makes it a snap to get everything pulled through the wheel arm.  A word of warning: thread all necessary cables through the arm before you bolt it into place, as the end connectors won’t make it past the screws inside the frame.

Adjustment

The only thing adjustable about the VR3 is the seat itself -- it slides forwards and backwards (with the mounted shifter along for the ride), and the height of the front and rear of the seat can be selected (four selections are available in the front and two in the back).  As a result, my initial impressions were not good, and I was concerned that I would not be able to find a suitable driving position.  If I moved the seat forward to comfortably reach wheel, I was too close to the pedals, and when I  moved back, I was too far away from the wheel.

This initial conundrum was obviously a concern, but the problem was actually with my seating position.  I was sitting too far “down” in the seat, in a more reclined position like the one assumed in a formula car.  After ensuring that my own rear was as far back as possible, everything fell into place, and the VR3 suddenly fit like a glove.  I am not an ergonomics expert, and I have not had anyone of unusual size in my VisionRacer, but comfort could be an issue for taller players (I’m 5′11”) with long arms and legs (thanks to our commenters who mentioned they have had people as tall as 6′5” in their VR3’s without issue).  Everyone else, however, should be able to use the VR3 comfortably for hours on end with very little adjustment.

The Fun Part

So, what’s it like to actually use this thing?  As soon as you take control of the wheel, you will completely forget about the fact that you’re sitting in the middle of your living room.  It’s surprising how the location of the gear shift makes the experience considerably more immersive.  Unless you drive a Porsche Carerra GT, mounting the G25’s shifter at the same height as the steering wheel is a waste of the muscle memory you have developed over the years in a real car.  With a proper seating position and securely mounted steering wheel, pedals, and gear shift, you can “forget” about the real world and concentrate on what is happening on the screen -- and isn’t that how it should be?

Indeed, I’m not sure that you could give a racing seat a stronger complement -- you’re playing to concentrate on the game, not the seat or steering wheel, and a combination of the VR3 with the G25 allows you to do just that.  The seat itself is made of high quality materials and is very comfortable, and can quickly slide back for easy entry and exit.  As someone who has personally played Gran Tursimo with a controller for many years, it’s amazing to finally experience “optimal” conditions right in my own home.

Some people have raised complaints about the lack of a keyboard holder, and it is something which you will need to take into consideration of you plan on using the VR3 with PC racing simulators.  I have tried the seat with rFactor, and it can be tough to find a place for the keyboard.  A wireless keyboard offers the best temporary solution, but it won’t be an issue at all for console gamers.

Practicalities

As fun as it is to use, let’s be honest -- the VisionRacer probably isn’t for everyone.  At $899, it’s priced for enthusiasts, but considering its sturdy construction and ergonomic qualities, it begins to look like a reasonable investment for even more casual players.  Granted, you will need to find a place to keep it, and coming in in at 63” long, 23” wide, and 43” tall you need a good size closet to stow it away.  Of course, the VR3 looks so good, that’s the last thing you want to do!  The polished stainless steel chassis presents a clean look, and the quality of all the materials make the VR3 look more like a modern piece of furniture than a video game accessory.

Another practical aspect that’s unique to the VisionRacer is the available LCD mount.  It latches on to the wheel arm with two heavy-duty red clamps, and provides a standard VESA 100mmx100mm mounting point which should easily accommodate nearly any flat-screen TV under 26”.  The top of the mount even includes a small “platform” for your PS3/Xbox 360, turning the seat into a self-contained arcade machine.  This frees your VR3 from the entertainment center, and lets you keep it in any part of your house that works for you -- be it a basement, office, or spare bedroom.  You could probably even attach caster wheels to the holes in the unit’s “feet” and move it anywhere you like.

The Big Picture

If you take a look around their website, you’ll see that VisionRacer, as a company, has very ambitious plans.  Each VR3 unit is sold with a unique serial number, which will be used to identify and register owners into international online competitions sponsored and organized by the company.  They are also working directly with Sony and Logitech, which could pay significant dividends down the road.  Most of the details are just now falling in to place, but it’s encouraging to see the manufacturer embrace the community that will inevitably form around their product while becoming genuinely excited to foster an “ownership experience” long after the date of purchase.

Conclusion

To make a long story short, if you enjoy playing racing games, you want a VR3.  There are simply no alternatives at this price point which can provide the same comfort or build quality.  Yes, there are cheaper seats out there, and no, the VR3 is not completely flawless.  It’s special, though, in the way it fills that sweet spot between utility, luxury, and value.  If you’re serious about this hobby, you owe it to yourself to invest in a product that will let you get the most out of it for many years to come.

Where to Buy

Head on over to VisionRacer.com to learn more and place your own order.  International shipping rates are determined on an individual basis.

Photo Gallery

Sim racers love their hobby, and we’ve seen some pretty impressive setups over the years (see our Racing Cockpits forum for more).  This, however, raises the bar to a completely new level – it’s a full size replica of a Ferrari F1 car wired up for video gaming, and it can be yours for £13,500 ($18,944 USD).  The mysterious model is actually listed for sale on a website where ‘real’ F1 cars can be bought and sold, but this one substitutes a PlayStation 2 in place of a V10.  Yes, that’s right – more than $18,000 and you don’t even get a PlayStation 3!

Of course, it does come fitted with “play Station 2 steering wheel and pedals”, and they even throw in a copy of F1 ‘06.  That’s nice, but it does make you why the owner wouldn’t splurge for a PS3 and a copy of GT5 Prologue…  Regardless, this mother-of-all racing seats includes the necessities like real mirrors, seat belts, and slick tires.  Information is scarce, and the seller can only be contacted by proxy which makes it even more difficult to find out more about this ridiculous toy – it will probably take $18,944 to find out. Check out the full listing and place your order right here.