Really disapointed with T500RS Im going Fanatec

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rabbitude

rabbitude

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wondewilley
Ive been on here quite a bit lately and reading all of the wheel threads. I curnetly have a G27 and have been pondering an upgrade for a while now. Its been a toss up between the T500 and the CSR-E. I have been very tempted to go with the CSR-E but I eventually decided on the T500 mainly because I thought it would be a solid good performing problem free wheel. Although the CSR-E is geting amazing reviews I was just very hesitant about Fanatec reliabilty and service.

Long story short I bought the T500 TH8 deal at costco. Obviously I did not expect to feel right at home with the new wheel and thought it may take a few hours to aquaint myself with the new wheel. However after many many hours I found myself missing my G27. I admit that the T500 feedback is much smoother and powerful and it felt much more precise. It just feels like the feedback of the wheel was working against me. I found that during very fast transitions I had to really muscle the wheel to get the car to go where I wanted. Due to the amount of force I had to apply I found it very hard to be precise. I tried several setings on several games and I was unable to overcome these problems.

I was also very dissapointed in the pedals. Sure they are very high quality and very precise but they just dont feel right at all. They did not in any way feel like car pedals. I just did not feel confident in any braking zones. In Iracing in the MX5 at lime rock i found myself braking earlier and still missing the corner. For as cool as these pedals are to look at the looks do not equate to performance.

So after a week or so I found myself regreting the purchase...big time. I just did not feel confident at all. The T500 seems to be very well made and Im sure many people will like the way it feels. But for me and my driving style it just did not work. Fortunatly Costco have one of the best return policies out there. I returened the wheel the other day with no questions asked. I do feel a bit bad for the inconvienece I caused Costco but in my mind this wheel is not worth it. On a side note I must say that the TH8 shifter is just incredible. I absolutely loved it and theres a good chance Ill get another, but because it was a package deal I had to return it.

So it looks like Im gonna try one of the new Fanatec wheels. Im still a bit hesitant but the reviews are overwhelmingly good. Im still not sure which one, im probably gonna wait few weeks to see what happens with the clubsport wheel and any new CSR-E rim choices.

I know theres a bunch of review threads out there I just wanted to share my thoughts.
 
I'm with u ,
I'm also looking to move on from my g27 but fanatecs reputation worries me. But it seems they are getting better.

I'm on the fence about the csr-e or the clubsport wheel. Just because Tomas showed the csr-e can change wheels it seems like it wasn't on the books to be done ; so it may be a while till they release new style rims. I don't care about being able to change wheels while driving but I'm not a fan of how " arcade " the elite looks.

If u do get a fanatec please post what you think about it.
 
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You should feel bad for Costco, with all their.... convenience! They sell CARS... life insurance... HOMES! and you return one of their world-class gaming accessories. Just shameful.
 
Have you consider the fact that you're probably would be happier with just the G27. Coming off a G25 and moving to the T500RS, I had the same feeling as you did- that my times weren't necessarily faster, I had to fight against the more powerful FFB and I miss the ease of driving with the G25.

With belt-driven wheel, the FFB is more uniform throughout. With the G25/G27, there's a noticeable loss of FFB power at both extreme allowing you to not have to be constantly aware of its power. With the T500RS, I find that if my mind wonders or if I don't concentrate, I'll lose control of the car. To me that's more realistic though frustrating.

When I decided to go with the T500RS, I knew exactly what to expect. And it was my intention to get a wheel that won't necessarily make me faster but one that provides smoother and stronger FFB. For me the immersion factor takes the centre stage.
 
I predict you will have a very similar situation of dissappointment with Elite, simply because if you think the T500 is too much to handle, the Elite isn't going to make life easier for you.
You have to give yourself time to build muscle by driving very focused for hours at a time with only a short break every now and then. This is how you train your mind and muscle or "muscle memory" and before you know it, in a few weeks it won't feel like a chore. Months or years down the road it will become second nature to have quick reaction and your arms should be at least strong enough to fight the wheel without fatigueing.
 
I'm the opposite. Like you, I went from a G27 to a T500. The FFB feels great to me, I don't feel like I'm fighting it to the point where it hurt. I quickly became comfortable with the size of the rim and the feel of it. When using the pedals I can definitely see room for improvement but they feel a ton better to me than the G27 pedals and mine were NIXIM modded.

At first though, I did kind of think "is this really twice the price better than the G27?" and I wasn't sure. But then I pulled out the G27 still on the wheelstand pro and just couldn't do it. It felt so small and toylike compared to the T500. FFB was so week and the rim felt so small in my hands. All in all, I'm very satisfied with my purchase.

I am sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy the wheel, but don't worry about how Costco feels. I actually did similar to you. I bought mine from Frys and then the next day saw the Costco bundle and ordered it immediately. I actually had to wait about 3 weeks before I could return the Frys wheel so I had 2 T500s sitting in my livingroom and couldn't use either because it was meant as a Christmas present from my wife. Good luck with the Fanatec, I know you will be getting a great product.👍
 
MOTORTRENDmitch
G27 all the way!
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Ya, all the way to the bottom of the stack....Don't feel bad, I'm an ex-G25 user of almost 3 years, I was ready for something new, and like Mykem said, using the G25 now feels like a toy, although I had great fun with it.
You get what you pay for, is what they say.
 
Hmm ...

I think you're just accustomed to the G27 - you're very fast with it, & adjusting to the new wheel is a struggle.

I haven't tried the T500RS, but I did have a Fanatec GT3 wheel &, although it was a fine wheel, & felt more like a "real" car, overall, I still preferred my G25. I wouldn't feel bad about returning to Costco - they'll probably re-sell as an "open-box" item. The ideal thing would be to be able to demo all these products before making a final decision. I wouldn't bet that you'll be 100% persuaded by the CSR-E either.

I don't care about being able to change wheels while driving but I'm a fan of how " arcade " the elite looks.
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Is that supposed to read "I'm NOT a fan of how arcade the elite looks." ?
 
I've had my t500rs for almost 2 weeks now and it just keeps getting better, I don't regret it one bit (I can easily return it to Amazon or sell it and make more money). My g27 is now in storage.
I have tried the Elite wheel at a friend's house and it's also a very good wheel and I like it but I will keep my t500rs for now because I really like the looks of a GT type wheel ("MY" decision). Although I will be considering the TSW wheel in the future.
In my opinion, if you're really happy with the g27 you should keep it and just keep enjoying the game with it. It's a very solid wheel and even Brian Heitkotter uses this wheel- and he is very fast. Even if the t500rs or the CSR Elite wheel is the best wheel ever made it still cannot and will not please everyone, that's just the way it is.
 
I love my Elite, I even like the rim :scared: don't flame me lol

I run the FFB on 100 and save money on gym membership :) after running races for a few hours my arms don't work anymore 👍

Daz
 
FCTaff
I love my Elite, I even like the rim :scared: don't flame me lol

I run the FFB on 100 and save money on gym membership :) after running races for a few hours my arms don't work anymore 👍

Daz
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That's exactly what we want to get out of our precious racing toys, uh? :D
 
I got my T500 about 2 weeks ago with a Rseat EVO V3. It is truly an incredible piece of kit. I've used my brothers G27 & it feels like a toy. You have to give it time to get used to it. Like when you drive a different car, feels strange at first.

I have a 2002 BMW M3, & drive it fast & hard. The T500 has very accurate feel to it, the pedals actually feel similar to my cars. T500 snaps back to center like a real car does, not sure if other wheels do that.

With awesome support for PS3, the F1 Wheel add-on, able to change pedal config & awesome shifter, you'd have to be on crack not to like it (no offense). Worth every penny.
 
I went from a G25 to a T500 just a couple weeks ago and it's much more precise. I'm still getting used to the feel of it and the FFB is different- I'm still tuning it in. After 5 years with a G25 it's a big leap.

I understand if the wheel doesn't feel right to you and you can't get the hang of it. It sucks when you go from front of the field to mid-pack (again) because of new equipment. I think given enough time you'd get used to it and start shaving time off laptimes, but for the price you paid you want results NOW. Let us know how the CSR-E work out. I didn't want to go that route because 1) it was going to be $150 more and 2) Fanatec equipment isn't very reliable. Why didn't you stick with the G27 and just get another?
 
I partially agree with the OP. I know I have to adjust from the G25 but I really feel like the T500RS does not convey the feeling of the wheel going light during the process of oversteer. Not that the G25 was good with its massive deadzone and weak sensations. The T500RS sometimes feels like a car with really heavy steering. The lotus elise (IRL) for example does not have power steering. However, its steering is not "super heavy". While most cars do not even come close to the feeling of the elise I think sim wheels should try to emulate its feeling. I feel like when I am about to counter steer, the T500RS 9 times out of 10 it fights me when it should not. iRacing, GT5, GTR, does not matter. Turning down the FFB help, but then the more subtle effects begin to fade. So far I have found 80-90% to be the setting. Basically, I have never driven a car that has acted as savage as the T500RS.
 
I moved from the G27 to the CSR-E and it was quick and easy to make the change. I did need to learn how to set the wheel up for GT5 (basically 900 degrees) and FM4 ( I run on 400 degree sensitivity). The FFB is stronger but the wheel is more precise and allows me to drive more accurately which produces let fight from the wheel. When I do get out of line I find that I recover more often than I did with the G27 because the wheel responds more quickly and accurately.
 
rabbitude
. Although the CSR-E is geting amazing reviews I was just very hesitant about Fanatec reliabilty and service.
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You should be...

I know it's sounding as trolling but I'm looking at my CSR-E for a month now and I don't know if fanatec is even working on my CSP problem.
They just don't answer the mail after replacing my loadcell...
In my opinion every mail can be answered in 48hours or less even if it's just to say that they're working on it.
Letting people, who love (and have to) get some tracktime atleast once a week wait longer than a week without reply, especially with the money involved, is not a good thing kindly said...

I've also read a lot on the forums before buying Fanatec gear, everything will be fixed eventually but they can and should improve the support if they want me to recommend Fanatec to friends.
 
Not sure how it will all work out yet, but my CSR-E was DOA. So far, it looks like a power brick failure but I'm not certain yet.

My advice? Wait a bit and see if Fanatec is able to improve their quality control and customer service by following some threads of people who have had issues.

BTW, I'm keeping my G25 around as a back-up for obvious reasons! It has never had the slightest issue in 5 years of ownership and fairly heavy use.

bladezzz
You should be...

I know it's sounding as trolling but I'm looking at my CSR-E for a month now and I don't know if fanatec is even working on my CSP problem.
They just don't answer the mail after replacing my loadcell...
In my opinion every mail can be answered in 48hours or less even if it's just to say that they're working on it.
Letting people, who love (and have to) get some tracktime atleast once a week wait longer than a week without reply, especially with the money involved, is not a good thing kindly said...

I've also read a lot on the forums before buying Fanatec gear, everything will be fixed eventually but they can and should improve the support if they want me to recommend Fanatec to friends.
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It's interesting to note some people like Dale Earnhardt Jr. uses a G27 wheel with the $700 CST pedals. A real steering wheel is design to multiply the force the driver applies to the wheel while ffb wheels are design to increase the force "coming from the road".
 
rabbitude
I admit that the T500 feedback is much smoother and powerful and it felt much more precise. It just feels like the feedback of the wheel was working against me. I found that during very fast transitions I had to really muscle the wheel to get the car to go where I wanted. Due to the amount of force I had to apply I found it very hard to be precise. I tried several setings on several games and I was unable to overcome these problems.
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You obviously have never driven a realy car and anyone that agrees with you obviously haven't either.

The g25/27 is a toy compared to t500

I have owned g25 then g27 then gt3rs v2 now t500. I also drive real cars!

The t500 is the closest thing to driving a real car.

I find it ironic that people want true simulation feeling yet they complain about how hard it is to drive?

No offence but people who find it hard to drive the t500 should stick with arcade racers and g25/27
 
fedexpress
You obviously have never driven a realy car and anyone that agrees with you obviously haven't either.

The g25/27 is a toy compared to t500

I have owned g25 then g27 then gt3rs v2 now t500. I also drive real cars!

The t500 is the closest thing to driving a real car.

I find it ironic that people want true simulation feeling yet they complain about how hard it is to drive?

No offence but people who find it hard to drive the t500 should stick with arcade racers and g25/27
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Your right Im 32 years old and ive never driven a real car, and this board is full of people who have never driven real cars. You clearly feel your the only one on here who has raced real cars.... Wrong buddy. I have a ton of experience racing a variety of real cars on real race tracks with a variety of real weather conditions, and there are tons of people on this board who can say the same. Hard does not mean real...

In my opinion and let me state that again... In my opinion when comparing the G27 and the T500 to a real car there are some things each wheel does better. If you have as much experience as you claim then you should know when the front tires of a real car lose grip the feedback of the wheel.... where there isnt any really. Also when the rear tires loose grip and the car starts to pivot on the front tires, the steering wheel feels very loose and numb, and in both situations it takes very little force to use my arms to turn the real steering wheel in any direction. Well in these situation the T500 is stiff as a board, you still have the muscle the wheel to get it to move. This is my main compaint with the wheel. I notice in Iracing when im being very smooth, hiting all my marks and not overdriving the car the T500 feels VERY real. But push a bit harder and I feel the T500 feedback is no where near as good as the G27. It was just kind of frustrating when I clearly know what I want the car to do and the industrial strength motor of the T500 is in my way, and again this is just my opinion.

I guess i just expected more. When I upgraded my DFP way back when to my G25 when it first came out I was overwhelmed by how real the wheel felt in comparisin. The best analogy i can think of, jokes aside, is when you have sex the first time without a condom. After seconds theres no going back, (consequently I now have 4 kids.) The first lap with the G25 was incredible. I immediatly felt much more in control of the car, more detailed feedback, more confident, and it was just so much more real and imersive. My experience with the T500 was nothing like this and I just feel for the price, it should have been.

Again I know there a ton of people on here who absolutely love their T500s, Im not trying to sway any of them, This was just my thoughts.
 
rabbitude
Also when the rear tires loose grip and the car starts to pivot on the front tires, the steering wheel feels very loose and numb, and in both situations it takes very little force to use my arms to turn the real steering wheel in any direction. Well in these situation the T500 is stiff as a board, you still have the muscle the wheel to get it to move. This is my main compaint with the wheel. I notice in Iracing when im being very smooth, hiting all my marks and not overdriving the car the T500 feels VERY real. But push a bit harder and I feel the T500 feedback is no where near as good as the G27. It was just kind of frustrating when I clearly know what I want the car to do and the industrial strength motor of the T500 is in my way, and again this is just my opinion.
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In the above situation, my t500 isn't stiff at all with the ford v8

What car are you driving in iracing?

What settings are you using? both iracing and in the t500 control panel?

I hope you know the weight of the wheel can be tweaked! i.e from a loose wheel for drifting to a hard to turn wheel which gives the effect of driving a heavy vehicle.
 
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