CSR Elite wheel: 3 steps forward and 2 steps back.

[12thgear]

You guys are too quick to trust a guy with 1 post (troyslough or whatever his name is).

I'd feel much more confident if this review was written by an experienced member of this community

At least that guy from iRacing forums that wrote his CSR-E review is a well respected member of the community with a super high iRating (meaning he is dangerous opponent on the field)

This is why when I conducted the csr-e testing poll I only accepted votes from established members 👍

We've all got to start somewhere. I thought his first post was constructive and useful.

 

[Zoom!Zoom!]

...I thought these where made in Germany lol

The ffb belts are made in Germany.

You guys are too quick to trust a guy with 1 post (troyslough or whatever his name is).

I'd feel much more confident if this review was written by an experienced member of this community

So you don't think we should trust him when he recommend the wheel in spite of the rim? He pointed out both what he like and dislike about wheel so is it only his post count that you found not trustworthy?

 

[sandboxgod]

I'm always suspicious when a 1st time poster makes a thread personally. For next few weeks I'm personally going to be very susipicious of any csr-e threads or posts from newbies due to a recent fallout

edit- I'm just getting paranoid

 

[Energizerrr]

What fallout?

 

[Mayaman]

People with low post count who make long drawn out threads about how product X Y Z sucks should raise anyone's eyebrow. If you don't think so the you're naive.

Personally I've beenusing my CSR E now for five days non stop with Force forces set to 100% in F1 2011 on PC and the wheel is gold. Not a single issue or any of the other stuff. As you know the force in F1 2011 is pretty insane. Also doing Dirt 3 on PC set to 100% which practically wants to destroy the wheel. No issues.

Now if the bolt holding the shaft comes loose over time wheel see.

But flexing the wheel rim like you're bench pressing? Or any ther ridiculous "stress test" is pretty silly IMO. I don't see anybody trying this stupid crap with any other wheel. It's almost like there's some higher standards that Fanatec is held to. Get a grip, they're a small company still trying to get better and all the Logitech zealots can't stand that. All I know is they have raised the ante twice now delivering a product that is superior than a product released by a giant corporation with unlimited resources.

Some of you are very biased and have a vendetta, but like to feign neutrality.

 

[12thgear]

People with low post count who make long drawn out threads about how product X Y Z sucks should raise anyone's eyebrow. If you don't think so the you're naive.

I think skepticism is fair, though Troysloth does not seem like a troll, and his impressions certainly weren't completely negative. His name sounded familiar, and sure enough, he's been on the Fanatec blog too. He seems on the up-and-up to me.

Personally I've beenusing my CSR E now for five days non stop with Force forces set to 100% in F1 2011 on PC and the wheel is gold. Not a single issue or any of the other stuff. As you know the force in F1 2011 is pretty insane. Also doing Dirt 3 on PC set to 100% which practically wants to destroy the wheel. No issues.

Now if the bolt holding the shaft comes loose over time wheel see.

Please share your F1 settings! I couldn't make it feel right at all. Dirt 3 is amazing with the CSR Elite, but I run 70-80% feedback in the game.

I have no issues with any loose parts in my CSR Elite, but I took apart the wheel housing, since it's refreshingly easy to get inside this wheel. Two of the four screws that hold the wheel housing onto the aluminum hub were tight, and I tightened the remaining two just to be safe. I don't think this will be a major issue. It'll be easy for end users, and should be easy to correct at the factory.

But flexing the wheel rim like you're bench pressing? Or any ther ridiculous "stress test" is pretty silly IMO. I don't see anybody trying this stupid crap with any other wheel. It's almost like there's some higher standards that Fanatec is held to. Get a grip, they're a small company still trying to get better and all the Logitech zealots can't stand that. All I know is they have raised the ante twice now delivering a product that is superior than a product released by a giant corporation with unlimited resources.

I share your opinion regarding some of these tests, but as prices get higher, products are going to get more scrutiny, justified or not. Fanatec's reputation precedes it too. It'll take a long run of perceived reliability to right past wrongs. That's just the nature of the beast. It takes forever to build up good will, but you can lose it in an instant.

Fanatec is straddling an interesting line. On one hand, they're a boutique company doing cool things for enthusiasts. I love that they release several firmware updates, and that they're ballsy enough to sell something like the V2 kit for the GT3 RS. On the other hand, they're also making the official Forza wheels, including the "mainstream" CSR. I really hope the CSR line helps them reach critical mass, but I also hope they retain the best parts of their unique character.

 

[Mayaman]

12th I respect your opinion and agree on several points. I also think the OP while doing something I would never do,"why would I do that", wasn't technically trolling. But the whole flexing thing was rather silly to me, like I said I've been hammering this wheel for a week and never had to put those forces on the wheel. It's like creating a problem that wouldn't exist otherwise. Then it's funny to watch the haters start the feeding frenzy.

Anyway, I'm away from home for the holidays, I'll post my settings when I get back. I will say that I love F1 2010 way better than 2011. The wheel reacts MUCH better and also for some reason the track IR and the camera seems more real.

 

[LogiForce]

I think you guys are forgetting something when it comes to forces on the rim. I am sure you are forgetting the fact that there are people who just tend to vent their anger or frustration sometimes by hitting the top part of the rim. Hence I said earlier that it has to be idiot proof.

So I wonder if you could break that thing if you did that? Also I don't mean by forces like my grandma hitting it. lol

 

[12thgear]

I think you guys are forgetting something when it comes to forces on the rim. I am sure you are forgetting the fact that there are people who just tend to vent their anger or frustration sometimes by hitting the top part of the rim. Hence I said earlier that it has to be idiot proof.

So I wonder if you could break that thing if you did that? Also I don't mean by forces like my grandma hitting it. lol

A formula rim can't come soon enough for frustrated races. Then they'll just wind up smacking air. Actually, the biggest strain my wheel sees is from careless friends. When they climb out of the hot seat they often will grab the wheel like a handle. I always cringe when I see that and have to correct them.

 

[superbike81]

Well, stupid people don't deserve nice things anyways. If a person can't control their anger enough and theyhave to hit something, maybe they should punch themself in the face instead, it might knock some sense into them.

There is absolutely zero reason that a "test" such as this one shown in the video should even be a minor concern to anyone looking to purchase this wheel. Unless you've got more stress and testosterone built up than common sense.

 

[sandboxgod]

An 8 out of 10 seems pretty harsh. I dont know bout you guys but I wouldn't shell out all that cash for a wheel that's only a B. Thankfully this wheel is very awesome

Why a numeric score? What wheel did this guy use before that he's using as a baseline. How did he total up the score?

We don't know because we don't know this guy.

Seemed like a good write up. But yeah I just don't trust such a lengthy post from a newbie poster. 3 steps forward but 2 steps back? Is this for real lol

Merry Christmas and all that btw. I'm typing this in a rush before the wife nails me. Supposed to be playing with the kids I'm sure!

 

[superbike81]

Maybe he's a closet Paula Abdul fan?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xweiQukBM_k

 

[bumer]

Actually, the biggest strain my wheel sees is from careless friends. When they climb out of the hot seat they often will grab the wheel like a handle.

Exactly. I hate that too, that's why I don't like my friends to use it, but do they listen? Of course not! This problem isn't probably that big of a deal with CSR E or upcoming CSW as they have metallic parts, while my GT3RS is plastic and could brake easily.

 

[sandboxgod]

I just remembered this part:

This is an improvement over my Turbo S wheel.

Need to test the head jack thing. Still wrapping my head around Forza 4. my beloved Acura ARX-01b behaves much differently than the ARX-01c in iRacing. In iRacing I'm bout off 5 seconds from the leaders. But in FM 4 I'm way off atm. So to get to the point- I've not tested online on the xbox yet. I'll see if I organize something small with some close friends and start off small with some much weaker road cars til I get to use these physics and lack of road surface FFB. Good game tho can't diss it

Maybe he's a closet Paula Abdul fan?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xweiQukBM_k

lol!

 

[Mayaman]

Lol, it has to be idiot proof? Sorry my friend but this would open the can of worms or "why does my CSR E cost so much". I mean let's have some common sense here. How about not twisting a steering wheel in a way it was never designed to. In my 27 years of driving I have never, NEVER, twisted a steering wheel in that manner with that amount of force.

 

[Patrocles]

My CSR Elite wheel arrived Tuesday. I took off early from work to get it. I left work at 10:00 am, went and put gas in my car, found the UPS man, got my wheel and was home by 10:30.

Then I had to update the firmware in the wheel. It was a painless procedure. I had already downloaded it and printed the instructions. If you follow the instructions step-by-step it goes smoothly.

Next was setting it up on the wheel stand. I had already purchased an extra Rennsport wheel stand when they had the cyber monday special. The new stand was pre-drilled for the wheel without using the extra bracket, so I mounted the wheel directly to the stand, added the Clubsport pedals and CSR Shifter and was ready to race.

Now about the steps forward and back.

Step 1 forward: The base of the wheel.
The wheel base is incredible, like an engineering work of art. You've seen the pictures, but it is even more amazing to see it for yourself. All metal construction, that massive belt turned by 2 FFB motors and the clear cover to let you see it in action was absolutely stunning.

Step 2 forward: The paddle shifters.
The paddle shifters are a vast improvement over the shifters on my Turbo S wheel and the GT2 wheel. They have a very light, but positive movement and a distinct click to let you know the shift has been completed. And the new AutoClutch feature which was added almost feels like cheating. I only plan to use it on the S class and above cars where I would normally use the paddle shifters anyway. For the lower classes, nothing beats the realism of a clutch pedal and h-pattern shifter.

Step 3 forward: The buttons and center of the wheel.
This is an improvement over my Turbo S wheel. The Turbo S was very creative the way it integrated the buttons into the design of the wheel, but it was the best as far as ergonomics. The new button setup is much better and each button has a nice positive click. I have mixed feelings on the little thumbstick for the d-pad, but by the end of the night I got used to it.

Step 1 back: Wheel rim covering.
The majority of the wheel rim is covered in an almost smooth rubber looking material. There are 4 small patches of Alcantara at 3 and 9 o'clock which had bumps and wrinkles in them. Although it's not as slippery as the plastic of the CSR wheel, it just boggles my mind why Thomas would choose this wheel covering after the fully leather wrapped wheel of the Turbo S and full Alcantara on the GT2 and GT3RS.

Step 2 back: The rim construction.
This is a major step back. It seems like the rim was just an afterthought when you look at the quality of the other components. It must be very thin plastic because there is major flex in the entire upper half of the rim. I made a short video to show the flex. I was not pushing hard on the wheel at all. Here is a link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6f3RiAEtK4&context=C3fee93eADOEgsToPDskLJ-P3TEnB2i6Jpj-ozxHfy

One other problem noted with the wheel is that I can't get any headset to work properly when plugged into the wheel. This was a problem with my Turbo S wheel. It's a problem with my friends GT2 wheel and my other friends CSR wheel and continues with the CSR Elite wheel. My recommendation for anyone with a fanatec wheel who wants ingame chat on Xbox get the official M$ wireless headset to take the wheel out of the equation.

Overall I would give the wheel an 8 out of 10. I went into the rivals mode and was able to beat my times on every one I tried. I especially like the improvements in driving the S and R classes of cars with the new paddles. The FFB let's me feel things I never felt before. I can immediately tell now when the front tires lose traction and the car starts to push. Feeling the rear end slide is a little more subtle, but with practice I was able to feel when that was coming too. There is a deadspot in the FFB at the center of travel, but I read that it has been fixed already in a firmware to be released.

Even with the problems with the rim, I am very happy to have purchased this wheel. After a couple days with it, I am really getting comfortable with it and my lap times are already improving. I would recommend it to anyone who asks me.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/24/csrewheel2.jpg/

Thanks again!

That flexing of the wheel seems a bit extreme. It would not affect me personally since I am not so hard on my wheel and I also the 'hands at 9 and 3' when driving'.

 

[Energizerrr]

A formula rim can't come soon enough for frustrated races. Then they'll just wind up smacking air. Actually, the biggest strain my wheel sees is from careless friends. When they climb out of the hot seat they often will grab the wheel like a handle. I always cringe when I see that and have to correct them.

This.

 

[VWMasteR]

Actually, the biggest strain my wheel sees is from careless friends. When they climb out of the hot seat they often will grab the wheel like a handle. I always cringe when I see that and have to correct them.

I know I'm being super annoying when I do it, but I school everyone in the proper process of getting in and out of the rig AND moving the seat forward and back. In a car all the parts are more solid and there isn't anything other that the wheel to grab on to. This I understand. In my rig however there are a bunch of things to grab and lean on so the wheel doesn't have to take your weight. I completely sympathize with you.

Maybe he's a closet Paula Abdul fan?

ahahahah... man I remember when she used to pop up on the radio all the time on my way to getting through another difficult day in Grade 4

 

[LogiForce]

Lol, it has to be idiot proof? Sorry my friend but this would open the can of worms or "why does my CSR E cost so much". I mean let's have some common sense here. How about not twisting a steering wheel in a way it was never designed to. In my 27 years of driving I have never, NEVER, twisted a steering wheel in that manner with that amount of force.

So you are saying that you are an idiot with 27 years of driving experience and thus know how idiots behave because you are one yourself? At least that is how I interpret your comment. Knowing previous comments of you I know that your not so I doubt that is what you meant with it, but that is how I read it. Sorry. Again by no means do I think you are an idiot my friend.

Also be honest with me here guys... do you seriously all think that the parts in the CSR Elite cost 500 bucks altogether? LOL
I still believe that whether or not the wheel is decent enough for normal use, it could have been built more properly for the money you have to put down for it.
Using a metal tubing for the rim would have made it much sturdier and would've given it a better feel and equally to the base matched quality. Okay, maybe Thomas would've wanted a few bucks more... but it would've been better in my opinion. Including some idiots who do stuff to wheels that normal sane drivers don't, they would even be pleased.

 

[NewLaw]

I had to wait until this morning to open my elite up.

The wheel doesn't bend when I drive. If I push and pull on it the same way the op does in the video I can make it bend but who drives that way. Even when I yank the wheel to correct a mistake or when I'm pissed off with my driving I don't pull towards me or push away. Not a concern for me in the least.

I do plan on buying a better rim when one becomes available because I don't like the seams in the rubber coating. I'm hoping they wear down after hours of use but I'd still buy a new rim if it were made better.

 

[Mayaman]

I have no idea how you got that from my comments but I guess all reason left this thread long ago. All I can say to people is, just play with the vastly superior G27. Problem solved.

 

[Stones]

...
Yes, the CSR/CSR-E wheel is very basic and a cheap, but I still don't blame Fanatec fully, I think Microsoft may have had some input on the wheel design as well.

Basic and cheap? I think not. To each their own.

 

[thehawk05]

Also be honest with me here guys... do you seriously all think that the parts in the CSR Elite cost 500 bucks altogether? LOL

You can make that argument for every single thing that is mass produced.....the cost of the materials is no where near what the selling price is. But shareholders want profits and development and tooling has to be paid for too. I work in manufacturing and if people had a clue what costs are involved for tooling, moulds, CNC programming, etc they'd be floored.

 

[Stones]

You can make that argument for every single thing that is mass produced.....the cost of the materials is no where near what the selling price is. But shareholders want profits and development and tooling has to be paid for too. I work in manufacturing and if people had a clue what costs are involved for tooling, moulds, CNC programming, etc they'd be floored.

R & D .....always big bucks.

 

[12thgear]

You can make that argument for every single thing that is mass produced.....the cost of the materials is no where near what the selling price is. But shareholders want profits and development and tooling has to be paid for too. I work in manufacturing and if people had a clue what costs are involved for tooling, moulds, CNC programming, etc they'd be floored.

I agree. My father owns a fab shop and yeah, setup and tooling can be incredibly expensive. R&D isn't free either. A product is way more than just the raw cost of parts. Now over time the profit improves dramatically. I'm sure today's CSR makes a lot more money for Fanatec as it builds on so much of the initial tooling and development of the original Porsche wheels.

 

[FCTaff]

New people joining the ISR forum to slate the Elite, I agree it makes me suspicious also.

Why would you go to the trouble of joining a forum to moan. If every post was OMG it's rubbish and you post to agree, I can understand that. When 99% of the posts are singing it's praises and a negative thread is created 1st post. Then you must question the motive I think. He could be 100% legit but he could also be bogus.

 

[Stones]

...
He could be 100% legit but he could also be bogus.

That's quite a long writeup to be bogus. It's all perspective.

 

[superbike81]

Basic and cheap? I think not. To each their own.

It's good that you like it, nothing wrong with that. Just most of the reviews I've seen mention that the wheel rim doesn't look or feel like something you would expect on a $500 wheel. I can't comment on the feel, but it does look like a toy. Exactly why I refresh Thomas's Blog page every day waiting for them to open up the ordering for the CSW.

 

[LogiForce]

You can make that argument for every single thing that is mass produced.....the cost of the materials is no where near what the selling price is. But shareholders want profits and development and tooling has to be paid for too. I work in manufacturing and if people had a clue what costs are involved for tooling, moulds, CNC programming, etc they'd be floored.

I know hence I said that the wheel could be easily improved. Putting that extra bit of quality in would cost more. The to some annoying seems would be gone as well. In the end the unit sells better that even though with less profit per product you will have enough revenue and the shareholders and everyone else would be happy as well.

 

[Spagetti69]

I know hence I said that the wheel could be easily improved.

Fanatec have some extra rims coming out for this wheel coincidentally.

For people who want to spend extra upgrading.