Thrustmaster t 500RS Prices!
- Thread starter markydjay
- 64 comments
- 8,348 views
- 44
- ChibanaChosin
Now my question is, will it actually offer better, more realistic steering feel than I'm getting with my G25 in GT5? I'm skeptical, since I know that my G25 is capable of so much more than what GT5 does with it based on my experience with my G25 and GTR2. My suspicion is that Polyphony Digital simply didn't go to that much effort with steering feel (i.e., compared to GTR2).
I'll have to wait and see what people say about it.
I'll have to wait and see what people say about it.
- 1,011
- UK
- the_greeze
£450 GBP? It needs to be very special indeed for that price! And then there's the name: Thrustmaster... sounds like a sex toy! Lol
- 1,087
- scotland
- doobieduck
thats some price for a wheel
- 507
- Tulsa, OK
- greekbull
- greekbull
I agree hopefully it's worth the money but I has some really stiff competition that is at a lower price. With the great reviews Fanatec is getting with the GT2 this thing will need to be a world beater to justify a price of $600 most likely at least $700 once their shifter comes out. Makes the GT2 look like an even better deal now at $500 for the entire ClubSport Edition.
I hope it's good because the more good wheels we have on the market the more we as consumers win from the competition. I've had good luck with the high end Thrustmaster Flight simulation products in the past so hopefully this one is up to par with that type of gear.
Other thing to consider is price is always inflated at launch. GT5 sig edition was £200 at release, I picked up my copy for 80 pounds few days ago. Likewise I bought my DFGT after HMV had just dropped the price from 130 to 90. Prices always start mental, I've always been the type to be patient and get something when the prices get a bit more sensible that buy on day one and pay the premium
Actually the GT5 sig was originally 149.99 with an immediate drop before launch to 129.99 in most retailers in the UK. The DFGT has been available for 2 years hence the reductions available now, I paid 80 quid for mine a month ago. You'll be waiting a long time before the thrustmaster drops by a similar percentage.
I think the wheel looks good, not so sure about the pedals, but for me it's no good. I need a 360 compatible wheel ready for Forza 4 which is why I jumped at the chance to get a GT2, although I'm still waiting for shipping notice of my clubsport package, please be early January!!
The pre-orders of sig edition were 179.99 from Game and other retailers. And I do take your point but my point is still valid, I'm sure by mid next year 449 will be more like 350 and after a year or so maybe 300.
Anyone know what the G27 and G25 launch prices were and how they compare to current retail prices?
Anyone know what the G27 and G25 launch prices were and how they compare to current retail prices?
In the mood for an argument now lol! In august the "preoder" price was 179.99. I believe you're talking about the RRP of the Thrustmaster, yes? The RRP of GT5 was 149.99 at launch.
Either way I think you're banking on the Thrustmaster either being a sub-standard wheel compared to the Fanatecs or an unpopular product if you're hoping to pick one up for £300 in a year.
Let's hope that the brake pedal is something special for that price. Not just a standard potmeter brake. And ofcourse the throttle as well. Clutch is less important. A H.E.A.R.T. sensor with 16 bit resolution for the throttle and brake (with a load cell sensor or pressure sensor).
Yeah maybe 300 is a bit optimistic 
I was obviously a bit hasty on that one. But then again....
To answer my own question G27 launch price 330 and current price at play.com is 230 so a cool 100 pounds drop in 18 months ish. So I still don't think it's absolutely crazy to think the price will drop somewhat in a year or so.
I was obviously a bit hasty on that one. But then again....To answer my own question G27 launch price 330 and current price at play.com is 230 so a cool 100 pounds drop in 18 months ish. So I still don't think it's absolutely crazy to think the price will drop somewhat in a year or so.
- 1,000
- Northern VA
The T500 RS looks to be worth the price on paper, especially if the pedals are also very high performance. It does make me a little nervous that they're being so vague about the brake details though.
I don't understand why so many people equate expensive with overpriced. There are a lot of things I can't afford, but that doesn't mean they don't justify their high prices.
Frankly, there are already some pretty fantastic products at the lower price points. The DFGT is a great starter wheel. Fanatec saw a gap between the DFGT and G27 and tried to fill that. The G27 pretty much has a lock at the $250 range. And Fanatec again covers options from $350-$500.
Thrustmaster's tack seems to be to tempt people who already might be ready to splurge on a Fanatec ClubSport package to extend themselves just a bit more to get the "ultimate" consumer wheel.
I don't understand why so many people equate expensive with overpriced. There are a lot of things I can't afford, but that doesn't mean they don't justify their high prices.
Frankly, there are already some pretty fantastic products at the lower price points. The DFGT is a great starter wheel. Fanatec saw a gap between the DFGT and G27 and tried to fill that. The G27 pretty much has a lock at the $250 range. And Fanatec again covers options from $350-$500.
Thrustmaster's tack seems to be to tempt people who already might be ready to splurge on a Fanatec ClubSport package to extend themselves just a bit more to get the "ultimate" consumer wheel.
- 1,629
- Texas
- RC45
- RC45
AT $600 without an H-gate shifter it is pretty much nothing special at all.
Doesnt really matter how fancy the pedals are, at $600 it is offering nothing extra - and its price is now MORE than the console + the game.
To put that into perspective it is custom $2500 to $3000 PC wheel/shifter/pedals terrain - and those controller setups match highend PC prices because they are that good.
Thrustmaster hasnt produced a decent quality controller in 15 years - what makes youthink they will start now?
The Flight Sim throttle, yokes and pedals along with the extra radio and panel clusters cost hyndreds of dollars each (mostly because theyare the only game in the consumer space) but their plasticy build feel and quality leaves a lot to be desired.
The more I think abotu it, the more of a joke a mainstream wheel at $600 sounds like. Kaz is a multimillionaire, so the $600 price is liek a morning latte to him and in the context of his game of course he says "price is good quality excellent"... however, the G25/27 wheels are the mass-sellers because the number of people with $300 to spend on a game controller is huge.
The number of peopl ewith $600 to spend on a game controller is tiny - that is many peoples monthly rent/morgage amounts.
That is serious money for the majority of the people on the planet - and guess what %age of the 60 million people who bought into the GT franchise over the last 14 years fall intothe $300 category and what %aged fall into the $600 category?
The Thrustmaster wheel has White Elephant laser etched across the fornt of it.
- 2,822
- Espoo
- GTP_Raitzi
They made Hotas Warhog which is top quality product. Price is not a issue if quality is superb. Ferrari owners do bitch about the price as they can select a cheaper super car like GTR if they want. I welcome this new product to market however i have still two fanatec turbo S wheels and I am loving that wheel.(no new wheel for me for some)
- 1,000
- Northern VA
It adds 1080 degree steering and much stronger FFB than its next nearest competitor. It uses hall-effect sensors to measure steering input. That may or may not be better than optical sensors in practice, but it's certainly unique. It offers a suspended, production car pedal layout, something I haven't seen in any mass-produced pedals. In fact, I'm not aware of any other pedal box that lets you switch between floor-mounted and suspended layouts without installing it in a cockpit.
Console cost has no bearing on what a high-end wheel costs. The T500 RS looks to be packing $600 worth of performance on paper. Judging by the length of the T500 RS thread in the GT5 forum, there's plenty of interest here. I do agree the T500 RS won't appeal to the mainstream. But then, neither does the G27.
Also, I'm making an assumption that the T500 RS should work with PCs, hopefully with official drivers. Presumably it uses Immersion's FFB technology. It would be a real shame if it was PS3 only. Then it would be a tough sell.
Have you tried their high-end Cougar and Warthog HOTAS systems? They're hardly plasticky toys. The Warthog, especially, shows that Thrustmaster is capable of making class-leading products.
What makes you think this is a mainstream wheel? This is a statement product from a mainstream company, sort of like a Viper or Corvette Z06.
Anyway, we'll have our answers in January.
- 1,629
- Texas
- RC45
- RC45
The wheel is being promoted as an addon for a mass marketing comsumer level Christmas stocking stuffer console game.
That is the definition of mainstream. If they truly wanted to launch as the "specialist product in a specialist space" they would have done an iRacing launch. By choosing GT5 as their launch title I believe they are counting on large sales numbers for their return on investment.
Hell, I may just buy this setup if it proves to be better "in practice" than the GT2/3RS/G25/27 bandwagon. But os far it is only "better on paper" and there have been many products over the yearsthat should have taken the market by storm because of "performance on paper" but reality was different.
I just think their market aim and lack of shifter at launch is a ding on their process. At $600 they have alimited market slice and the folks they are competing with have a more complete offering at this time.
But as you say, time will indeed tell.
- 1,000
- Northern VA
I hear what you're saying, but I think Thrustmaster expects only a small percentage of GT5 players to invest in their top of the line wheel and take their racing experience to the next level. But that's a small percentage of a monstrously large audience. I think it makes sense to promote a new wheel to that audience.
- 1,629
- Texas
- RC45
- RC45
True, this is the same gamble Logitech took back in the day when they launched the then $299 G25, and they have sold many many units.
So I guess with inflation and all and the march of time, the 2004 G25 @ $299 is almost the same as a a 2011 T500 at $599. Almost
BUt I almost think the G25 was more adventurous and cutting edge as a mainstream high-end item back then as it included all 3 pedals, an H-shifter, leather bound sheel, strong metal construction etc. Thrustmaster shoudl have launched with all their bells and whistles available, but they also need to capitalise on the launch frenzy around GT5. It won't last for ever.
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