Best Wheel?

[guybo]

If you are making a purchase of several hundred dollars you have to consider customer support. I have experience with customer support from Fantaec, Thrustmaster and Logitech. Logitech has the best customer support.

I had a G25 that died within a month of purchase, they took care of the return no probs. I also have a G500 mouse that had a prob and Logitech accepted the warranty service even though I didn't have the receipt.

Thrustmaster had excellent support when my T500 wheel had a prob with the shifters. I had an answer from customer support within days and the replacmeent part was to me within 2 weeks.

Fanatec support is every bit as bad as I had read about. They are infamous for a reason. I had CSP's (paid $240 and they lasted less than a year) and I had to contact customer care 4 times for 6 problems. The least amount of time I had to wait for a response was 10 days, a couple times I got no answer at all without several emails and going to the NoGrip forums where one of the mods has contact with Fanatec directly. Fanatec kept feeding me BS and refused to RMA the defective pedals- which I had to completely break down 2 times and partially break down every couple weeks.

These T500 pedals have yet to need a break down after almost a year of use.

 

[FormulaKimball]

I just got a G27. Hahahaha i am loving it. I am regreting ever buying that DFGT. I mean i went though 3 DFGTs.

Glad to have this info - I'm on my 2nd one myself and it's time for a replacement (dead paddles, loose wheel, sometimes creaky/noisy). I kind of didn't want to buy yet another plastic wheel.

@Saidur_Ali, you said you are more or less as fast with either wheel, do they feel about the same feedback-wise? I take it the G27 is smoother and quieter as one might expect with the better materials... have you also had a G25?

 

[DriftEmotion FC]

Glad to have this info - I'm on my 2nd one myself and it's time for a replacement (dead paddles, loose wheel, sometimes creaky/noisy). I kind of didn't want to buy yet another plastic wheel.

@Saidur_Ali, you said you are more or less as fast with either wheel, do they feel about the same feedback-wise? I take it the G27 is smoother and quieter as one might expect with the better materials... have you also had a G25?

I have (had ) a G25 and i used to video chat with a friend who had a G27 just looking at the wheel turning i could tell it was smoother the G25 is a great wheel but just loud, DFGT is louder and has a higher pitched whine noise, the G25 is still loud and has a deeper growl and the G27 smooth and barley any noise

 

[oqvist]

I have (had ) a G25 and i used to video chat with a friend who had a G27 just looking at the wheel turning i could tell it was smoother the G25 is a great wheel but just loud, DFGT is louder and has a higher pitched whine noise, the G25 is still loud and has a deeper growl and the G27 smooth and barley any noise

I never experienced much of a difference between the G25/G27 in noise levels. My G27 is insanely loud at heavy loads nothing you can do with night racing and it´s so loud headphones don´t help that much.

I don´t think anybody should look at logitech wheels if noise levels is an issue. Belt driven approaches appear to have a bigger chance of success for natural reasons

 

[Lock2Lock]

I never experienced much of a difference between the G25/G27 in noise levels. My G27 is insanely loud at heavy loads nothing you can do with night racing and it´s so loud headphones don´t help that much.

I don´t think anybody should look at logitech wheels if noise levels is an issue. Belt driven approaches appear to have a bigger chance of success for natural reasons

Something must be wrong with it hahaha. I just got my G27 today and it isn't loud at all. And his G25 had a deeper pitched sound but as loud as the DFGT.

The G27 can't even be heard. If you can hear it there has got to be something wrong with it.

The G25 doesn't have the gearing like the G27 that makes the G27 quiet.

The DFGT is insanely loud. Anytime i had a mic on people would ask what is that noise. It is higher pitched then the G25 but yeah.

If you have a G27 and it is loud then then i would get your warranty out and start calling to get it swapped

 

[oqvist]

Drive some with it with ffb enabled and you will surely come back and state that you can hear it I promise you that. The characteristic clonk clonk clonk for example is hard to miss. And if you run the rFactor2 beta you will probably be shocked first and wonder if it´s broken .

DFP GT may be even worse of course so you don´t react so much to it?

 

[Lock2Lock]

Drive some with it with ffb enabled and you will surely come back and state that you can hear it I promise you that. The characteristic clonk clonk clonk for example is hard to miss. And if you run the rFactor2 beta you will probably be shocked first and wonder if it´s broken .

DFP GT may be even worse of course so you don´t react so much to it?

Hahahaha very wrong you are.
Hahha who would run without FFB hahahahahahaha?

Ummmmmm when i wake up i will record for you.

I mean let's be realistic.
It makes vibration noises over rumble strips. And you can barley hear it in any other sense.

Others will confirm this is am sure that the G27 is quiet for a reason. It is almost silent. It's duel motors and gearing is the reason.

But the G25 is louder and the DFGT is insanely louder than the G25.

For example me and others have heard only the person shifting and hitting the clutch in the mic. You do not (at least not supposed to) hear the G27's motors loudly.


Here is what the G27 sounds like. This guys does a side by side comparison of the G27 vs the G25.

Hey even drives with the G27 FFB on toward the end of the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_pOVy0q30c&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[oqvist]

I don´t think I have ever heard somebody suggesting the G27 is quiet as in inaudible. It appears we have different definitions of the word . For me inaudible means you just can´t hear it. That has never been the case with any gear driven wheel. I have mostly used logitech ones from logitech driving force GP, Momo Force RED, DFP, G25 and last G27. They all make noise and quite frequently a LOT of noise.

Dual motors may help some and helicals gear may make a slight difference as well. But it´s still very noisy I feel in comparison with the T500RS I have currently as an example in real world applications.

It´s not the motor you year but the gear mechanisms in the wheel causing rattles. It´s perfectly normal I am afraid.

 

[avens]

Buy a Logitech G27, DFGT is boring, Fanatic has problems and bad customer support, and thrust master is just to expensive unless you have 600$ to blow but if you do the thrust master is a great wheel but G27 all day, it will last you a life time if you treat it right

He said money isn't an issue therefore he can and should go for the very best one instead of the value for money ones. Right now the best wheels massively available are the t500, including its accessories that make it pricey but allegedly much better, and the top of the line fanatec products, including the expensive pedals.

BTW if it really isn't a problem then there are much better solutions than the t500/fanatec, which consist of custom made parts (expect $500 on the shifter alone), then there's the cockpit (thousands), 3 screens (cost depends on what you want), top notch pc (Some thousands and/or 3 ps3s and 3 gt5s), a small screen for timings and others (they are really worth it), button box (this too), hopefully motion (that's were it gets expensive, though it is not as infrequent as it sounds) and so on.

But now that the OP realized he can spend current used muscle car money on a simulator he will want just a wheel, pedals, shifter and a decent cockpit. Think of $1000 instead of more than $10k on the example above lol.

 

[Lock2Lock]

I don´t think I have ever heard somebody suggesting the G27 is quiet as in inaudible. It appears we have different definitions of the word . For me inaudible means you just can´t hear it. That has never been the case with any gear driven wheel. I have mostly used logitech ones from logitech driving force GP, Momo Force RED, DFP, G25 and last G27. They all make noise and quite frequently a LOT of noise.

Dual motors may help some and helicals gear may make a slight difference as well. But it´s still very noisy I feel in comparison with the T500RS I have currently as an example in real world applications.

It´s not the motor you year but the gear mechanisms in the wheel causing rattles. It´s perfectly normal I am afraid.

Oh ok. Yeah sorry for the confusion

 

[CJDA9]

@avens

So right now I'm hearing that the T500 is the best, but probably out of my range as far as price. Up next seems to be either one of the Fanatec or G27 wheel.. I may do a bit more research on these..

This is why we are suggesting the G27. 👍👍

 

[Ripster]

@avens

This is why we are suggesting the G27. 👍👍

No were not.... the GT3 RS v2 package... 👍👍👍

 

[ravey1981]

lol at all this....but in the US there is currently an offer for the GT3 RS, elite pedals and a CSR cockpit (the old rhinoseat cockpit) for $399.... now that is an absolute steal...if you don't want the cockpit, sell it and you've got a decent wheel and pedals for very little indeed.

For the record I have a g27 with load cell modded pedals and I wouldn't swap it for anything at the moment, fanatec has questionable quality control and thrustmaster ts500 is expensive and not without fault either.

 

[Ripster]

lol at all this....but in the US there is currently an offer for the GT3 RS, elite pedals and a CSR cockpit (the old rhinoseat cockpit) for $399.... now that is an absolute steal...if you don't want the cockpit, sell it and you've got a decent wheel and pedals for very little indeed.

For the record I have a g27 with load cell modded pedals and I wouldn't swap it for anything at the moment, fanatec has questionable quality control and thrustmaster ts500 is expensive and not without fault either.

Close... I think the pedals are the standard CSR's at least they are in the US. I would fore go the cockpit for the CSR Elite Pedals and Shifters instead for $259. A much better set of pedals I own both and you get both shifters and put $140 back in your pocket.

 

[ravey1981]

Yeah you're right, just the standard pedals...not worth it then. Load cell is a must, I could never go back to pot brakes

 

[mrbasher]

I figured I'd throw this up here since were comparing wheels... I posted on the T500 thread as well, but I figured it would be interested to see what you all thought as well.

I happened upon this inside my T500 this evening.

 

[Clevohead]

Makes Fanatec look like an overpriced toy

 

[guybo]

That is why the T500 wheel is so friggin' big! I really is a monster on my desk. I also like how the pedals can be mounted hanging (GT style- how I have mine) or flat, in the normal style (F1 style). I hang mine and to me it's a lot more comfortable.

If money is an object, the G27 is the only way to go. You get the wheel, with LED; pedals with clutch; and you get a pattern shifter. Plus you get Logitech's great support. It's a no-brainer really- plus it's the most popular wheel (by far) out there today so there are lots of hardware mods for it and lots of other users if you need advice.

I'd recommend to get a T500 of course (I got mine on sale a year ago for $450) but if you have a budget to stick to, go with the one everyone else is going with- G27.

 

[Conza]

Hmm, interesting replies so far.

Unless you're an avid Porsche fan, I wouldn't get the Fanatec, personally, and I don't subscribe that they are superior to the G27, which is my wheel, won't say they are bad either, just not better (someone will now say, yours is better than Fan A not Fan B or something).

I started with the DFGT (still love it), I know money is no object but it actually has benefits to the G27

The upgrade benefited me, via clutch & shifter, but the clutch is so buggy I don't bother, shifter works fine by itself too, pedals are better, but mostly for me the large metal paddles, they are nice, make a nice click, and the leather wheel feels great, done some 20k kms (12k miles?) on it, no sign of wear, and the 6 buttons are 'ok' about half as good as the DFGTs.

Down sides to the G27, no PS button (hugely important), no on wheel controls, only controls are on/above shifter, more wires, an inferior mount imo, I don't believe GT5 uses it properly, when the PS3 turns on it spins really fast, in GT5 though it spins back slowly, oh and most of all, no horn button? What were you thinking Logitech.

So its not, imo, an obvious choice, there's serious downsides to the G27, knowing what I know now, not convinced the upgrade was worth it, I still take my DFGT on a stand to a friends place every month or so and say to myself 'god I love with wheel!' it just feels so durable, and the response and feel is still really good, 95% as good, only real downside is A. Sound (no helical gears) and B. Pedals, which are usable, but offer little to no resistance, they are no comparison to the G27.

Either way, excellent wheels.

Oh, but the T500RS must be the best, that motor picture shows it has the power to beat Fanatec, and I'm sure the Logitech wheels easily bow out to it, its also got horn button, imo, at a reasonable price I'd seriously consider it because its the best of both worlds and more.

EDIT: But $600 isn't reasonable, I'd probably pay 400ish, then again I bought my DFGT for $120 in early 2011, and my G27 for $200 in early 2012, so I'm a price hunter.

 

[avens]

@avens
This is why we are suggesting the G27. 👍👍

I see. I just read the OP, in which he said "price is not a problem"...yeah right. These days the g25/27 is the second entry level wheel and is only a part of the package, the other major one being a cockpit and all the commercial ones cost much more than a new g27.

 

[Patrocles]

Well, the T500 sounds nice. Although $500 might be just a bit much to be real honest.. Although I will look into a stand. Last time, I put it on a cheap table and it didn't work so well...

Does anybody have an idea of what a well priced G27 would be?

If price is not an option as in first post then I second recommendations for the T500 or the CSR Elite and Clubsport Pedals V2. Excellent gear all around!

I had a G27 and both wheels mentioned above are definitely better hardware.



If price is an option as you are now suggesting then get a G27 for around $200. It is a decent wheel and will work well with GT5. Then you can plan and save for the upgrade to the Thrustmaster T500 or Fanatec CSRE+CSPV2s!

 

[FormulaKimball]

Thanks for all the great replies, so much good info. I think I've finally discovered why I ended up disappointed with the GT3 v2 wheel - it's the single FF motor. I wasn't quite sure how to interpret the sales language on the Fanatec site but that point should probably be made clearer. In the same way that the Logitech DFGT/G25/G27 dual mechanism was far better than the DFP's single one, the dual motors in the newer Fanatec gear are also crucial and the single motor GT3 will have the same side effects as the DFP (in particular, clunky and slow when changing directions especially hard changes for chicanes, etc).

I'm not ready to plunk down $630 for the base and F1 wheel yet... so it looks like the G27 or just another DFGT will be the way to go.

 

[Mahnegold]

The DFGT has only a single FFB motor.

 

[Ripster]

Thanks for all the great replies, so much good info. I think I've finally discovered why I ended up disappointed with the GT3 v2 wheel - it's the single FF motor. I wasn't quite sure how to interpret the sales language on the Fanatec site but that point should probably be made clearer. In the same way that the Logitech DFGT/G25/G27 dual mechanism was far better than the DFP's single one, the dual motors in the newer Fanatec gear are also crucial and the single motor GT3 will have the same side effects as the DFP (in particular, clunky and slow when changing directions especially hard changes for chicanes, etc).

I'm not ready to plunk down $630 for the base and F1 wheel yet... so it looks like the G27 or just another DFGT will be the way to go.

I don't know why I feel like I need to defend the Fanatec GT3 RS v2 but it actually has 3 motors from what I understand. One for the FFB, one for ABS vibration and one for motor vibration.

In addition:

Logitech G27 - $249.99 from Amazon I think it is the going rate
- G27 Wheel - 900-- degrees of rotation
- G27 H - Shifter
- G27 Pedals (non-load cell)

Fanatec GT3 RS v2 - $259.95 from Fanatec site
- GT3 RS v2 wheel 900 degrees of rotation
- CSR H & Sequential Shifters
- CSR Elite Pedals with load cell

Thrustmaster T500RS - $549.00 from Amazon
- T500RS wheel 1080 degrees of rotation
- No stock shifters available (Thrustmaster VG TH8RS for another $111.47)
- Pedal (non-load cell)

And I am not sure the Thrustmaster shifter is compatible with all games.

Based on the price differences and what you get, I don't get how you would choose anything over the GT3 RS v2. You can add a load cell to either the G27 or T500RS but at a substantial cost. So really, the G27?

 

[Lock2Lock]

The DFGT has only a single FFB motor.

I wouldn't do it. Hahahaha if he wants a DFGT i will save him some money hahha. G27 now and the practically brand new DFGT is in a box

 

[oqvist]

T500rs is single motor as is some of the higher end wheels. Nr of motors is not really crucial:-)

 

[Conza]

Its good to have people fighting for both sides, So I just want to stretch your G27 comments, then add more of my own about the GT3 RS V2 and Fanatec model line break down in general. Feel free to rebut my comments, this is mostly an observers take.

Logitech G27 - $249.99 from Amazon I think it is the going rate
- G27 Wheel - 900-- degrees of rotation With Helical gears and wrapped in leather
- G27 H - Shifter 6 speed
- G27 Pedals (non-load cell) All with excellent travel resistance and feel stock, and many modifications if you're that obsessed

Fanatec GT3 RS v2 - $259.95 from Fanatec site
- GT3 RS v2 wheel 900 degrees of rotation
- CSR H & Sequential Shifters
- CSR Elite Pedals with load cell
...
...Based on the price differences and what you get, I don't get how you would choose anything over the GT3 RS v2. You can add a load cell to either the G27 or T500RS but at a substantial cost. So really, the G27?

Yeah, really, they kinda aren't competitive in the same price bracket, for the same buck the Logitech package is better, in fact, you say $259.95, I'm on the US site now and with Elite Pedals its $329.95? Do you mean the entry level pedals? I would get the adapter for G27 pedals and the G27 pedals instead of those guys.

For more than $230 (G27 prices in the US), you can spec a better Fanatec package, but once you do that, you drift dangerously close, then even past the T500RS price of around ~$500 USD.

Fanatec, from what I can tell, do some things the G27 won't and vice-versa.

Fanatec has the option of inverted pedals ($130, $200, $300 moving up), compatibility with a 360 ($200, $250, $630/$700), and many additional accessories.

However, I can't find a package I like, particularly the wheel? What is going on there? Ok you have the entry level Porsche ones, forget them, especially with no Porsche in GT5.

Then you move up, and they are selling wheel units, without a base, The Clubsport Wheel Base? So that's $450 + $250 for a round wheel, wait a minute, thats $700 for a wheel, and are there pedals included? No? Another $200 for the mid-range inverted pedals, $900 bucks? Are you kidding me Fanatec? At this price point, the T500RS wins on bang for your buck, never mind the features.

The Logitech G27 isn't perfect, but its much simpler, one package with everything you need, properly configurable with GT5, buttons, strength, ect all at around $230.

The T500RS, also not perfect, super strong nice wheel, great paddle shifters, excellent inverted pedals, and only $510 on ebay new? That's less than the FM CSR Elite, alone. And yes, no shifter, but the TH8 for... ~$88 USD is excellent, you'll still be ahead.

Fanatec, as I said before, seem to be trying to be at the G27 price point, inbetween G27 and T500RS, then at T500RS' price point, and finally 'above' the T500RS' price point.

They aren't bad wheels, and for some, PC Sim racers and Forza guys, their wheels may make sense, they don't to me because I only play GT5.

And for GT5, they aren't mapped, don't feature in game button controls of any kind, just driving controls, they are more expensive at the same product level, which is difficult to determine, aren't supported by a massive corporation which is reknowned for their product support and worst of all, the wheel options are all either BMW, Porsche, F1 or Forza, there's no blank 'hey look at us we're Fanatec and we're awesome' wheel, like Logitech and Thrustmaster only do, that's a deal breaker for me right there, never mind the options and features.

$510 may be out of your budget range, its out of mine too, but if you're considering Fanatec, it should only be at that or much above that price bracket. Otherwise at $230, the G27 is unbeatable. And all you're really losing, is non-inverted pedals without a load cell and 360 compatibility, do you want that?

Rant concluded

 

[DriftEmotion FC]

Also i heard you can use the g25/g27 shifter with the T500RS but idk if you can on GT5 will someone look into that for me?

 

[G219]

Take the GT3 RS Value Pack.

At $259 and with load cells, it's a no-brainer......unless you're looking for 360 compatibility.

 

[Morgoth_666]

Take the GT3 RS Value Pack.

At $259 and with load cells, it's a no-brainer......unless you're looking for 360 compatibility.

That is a pretty attractive deal. Cheaper than what I paid for my GT3 with Clubsports in the old bundle too... and I still don't have shifters yet.

I'm also not sure what missing "in-game button controls" Conza was referring to. I can make the buttons on my GT3 do anything I want them to do in GT5, I just had to spend 2 minutes setting them up. I even have a horn. It doesn't come with a pre-mapped control for the in-race settings menu, but you can certainly set that up as well if you want. It makes more sense for me to have that on a second controller anyway, I always have one nearby.

The ability to adjust the wheel's settings on-board is another big big plus to the Fanatec wheels, especially given many console games' lack of ability to make the necessary adjustments from there. Some games are virtually undriveable with 900 degree or higher steering and the other adjustments you can make can go a long way towards a more comfortable experience. I'm honestly a bit surprised anyone still releases anything other than an entry-level wheel without similar controls.

I'm not saying that the G27 isn't a great wheel or anything, but if my price range was around 300 bucks I'd still probably get another GT3 bundle as long as it comes with a load cell brake like the current one. My only issue has been with durability, sadly something they seem to have a less than great reputation for. Of course, if I had to buy everything separately I might choose differently as the price jumps up a lot.