Fanatec Announcements: CSW V2 Reviews Out

[novadave]

Aaah, learned another thing. I am a European guy. So i'm more of a F1, DTM, Rally guy.

Does anyone have a pic of the steering wheel in this years cars then?

there are no team steering wheels used in NASCAR.
all the wheels are from the aftermarket and must conform to NASCAR rules.
they can be made from aluminum or steel and must be 15" in diameter. ( 381 millimeters )
here is a link to the supplier.
http://www.circletracksupply.com/15-SUPER-LIGHT-ALUMINUM-STEERING-WHEEL-DISHED-OR-FLAT.html

 

[LogiForce]

there are no team steering wheels used in NASCAR.
all the wheels are from the aftermarket and must conform to NASCAR rules.
they can be made from aluminum or steel and must be 15" in diameter. ( 381 millimeters )
here is a link to the supplier.
http://www.circletracksupply.com/15-SUPER-LIGHT-ALUMINUM-STEERING-WHEEL-DISHED-OR-FLAT.html

Well if Thomas puts that aftermarket wheel with some tuning menu additions on the CSW I am sure a lot will be happy.
Plus I learn something new every day it seems. At this rate I might start to like the sport a bit and maybe more. I guess knowing the reasoning, history and rules and so on behind a sport like this makes it more fun.

 

[Caz]

The history: illegal alcohol runners all showing off how fast they can go.

 

[LogiForce]

The history: illegal alcohol runners all showing off how fast they can go.

That is something I wondered about when watching Top Gear about NASCAR a while back. Why the heck would one want to show off and attract attention in those days?
It's like a prisoner shouting through the prison "look at me and how fast I can get out of prison". Makes no sense.
Oh well, I am sure the Dukes of Hazard was based on this.

 

[porsche 9146]

there are no team steering wheels used in NASCAR.
all the wheels are from the aftermarket and must conform to NASCAR rules.
they can be made from aluminum or steel and must be 15" in diameter. ( 381 millimeters )
here is a link to the supplier.
http://www.circletracksupply.com/15-SUPER-LIGHT-ALUMINUM-STEERING-WHEEL-DISHED-OR-FLAT.html

http://www.momo.it/products.php?id_cat=3&id_subcat=17&id_sub_racing=3&id_product=159&l=en

this is a fairly popular wheel in stock car racing these days.

there's regulations about the size and construction of the wheel, yes, but there's multiple constructors who make different sorts of wheels. for example, jeff gordon's wheel is a custom momo kit that has alcantara at 9:00 and 3:00 and rubber everywhere else. the wheel used is entirely up to the choice of the driver, not the team or manufacturer.

 

[thehawk05]

The history: illegal alcohol runners all showing off how fast they can go.

Not exactly.

It was "shine" runners who built fast cars and honed their driving skills to avoid getting caught by the cops if a chase ensued. Eventually these guys got the idea to race their cars against each other on dirt tracks thus eventually leading to the birth of NASCAR.

 

[porsche 9146]

and of course you have to remember that these rednecks did not create ovals. NASCAR was founded in 1948, while the indianapolis motor speedway (which was far from the first oval, but certainly the most famous oval of the era) opened 39 years earlier in 1909.

 

[Fanatec...]

the chryslers entered in NASCAR are all dodges.....

I have to correct myself. We delivered to the Chrysler Motorsport division and not "Team Chrysler". I am just an ignorant European who knows very little about NASCAR. But I like to drive it actually (virtually).

Hey Thomas, just out of curiosity what do you think is the absolute cheapest you could make a FFB wheel with pedals if mass produced (ie total quantity produced >5,000)?

Fanatec made reasonable wheels down to 35€ (non-FF) in the past and we sold several hundred thousand wheels so far. I think we could make a good FF wheel for 99,-. We have an advantage because of our direct sales strategy. But it is not likely that you see that. The lowest price we are targeting to make within the next 4 years is a 150,- wheel. In fact, despite the good reviews and the very competitive price, the 911 Carrera is the slowest selling wheel in our portfolio.
Our customers are very demanding and want the best.

 

[paskowitz]

Fanatec made reasonable wheels down to 35€ (non-FF) in the past and we sold several hundred thousand wheels so far. I think we could make a good FF wheel for 99,-. We have an advantage because of our direct sales strategy. But it is not likely that you see that. The lowest price we are targeting to make within the next 4 years is a 150,- wheel. In fact, despite the good reviews and the very competitive price, the 911 Carrera is the slowest selling wheel in our portfolio.
Our customers are very demanding and want the best.

I have always been curious about the viability of computer based simulation for driver education. Nobody has tried it on a large scale. It would be a great way to teach young kids how to drive in the US. The amount of new young drivers is decreasing and accidents are increasing. Not only are young kids losing interest in cars they are losing respect as well.

Obviously it would not work on the federal level (nothing there works), but maybe at city ymca's (youth center) or other organizations. The other problem is that there is no real software in place. GT5's license tests don't quite count.

This is something that would have to be studied for many years in order to determined its validity.

IMO the only reason the carrera is the slowest selling is because it has the most competition (dfgt, tm F4xx, ms wheel, madcatz, even the g27 on sale). Not mention the sin die hards have so many options, there is little incentive to save money and go for the carrera.

 

[sandboxgod]

Come on Thomas what's up with those csr-e rims. Latte predicts you gonna make us wait til E3. Say that isn't so!

But this would be the 1st time Latte prediction would fail....

 

[porsche 9146]

I have to correct myself. We delivered to the Chrysler Motorsport division and not "Team Chrysler". I am just an ignorant European who knows very little about NASCAR. But I like to drive it actually (virtually).

interesting! can't wait to hear more.

it's worth noting that parker kligerman, penske racing and by extent chrysler racing development driver, was a noted GT3 RS user before it broke, then he bought a T500 RS. from the sounds of things, I'd guess he'll be working with a CSW from here on out!

 

[Raitziger]

I have always been curious about the viability of computer based simulation for driver education. Nobody has tried it on a large scale. It would be a great way to teach young kids how to drive in the US. The amount of new young drivers is decreasing and accidents are increasing. Not only are young kids losing interest in cars they are losing respect as well.

Have you tried the PC game that teaches city driving :
http://citycardriving.com/

I have not tried it and it might be total crap in terms of physics, but that actually could teach kids to drive. Of course car control training should be done with better platform like GT5, life for speed etc.

 

[AGP5000]

I have to correct myself. We delivered to the Chrysler Motorsport division and not "Team Chrysler". I am just an ignorant European who knows very little about NASCAR. But I like to drive it actually (virtually).

It is ok, just like I know very little about(calling myself ignorant without saying it ) any specifics or knowledge about Indy/F1. But, I too like to race it virtually!

So, what does this mean then Thomas? Just curious. When I see kids playing Nascar The game with the Madcatz MC2's, I see they have no interest in what it is other than the game, and to have quick fun. But, if those 6 wheels with Team Chevrolet were a combo of GT2's, CSR's, Elite's & Pedals, I see there being much more interest, and kids/guys not wanting to just leave so easily & hang around. There are literally +-40,000-80,000 people weekly that would walk right by it & possibly give it a go if they saw something worthwhile. And many are families or men my age. That is big time exposure. Just my 2 cents.....

Our customers are very demanding and want the best.

+1. For Nascar though, it would be nice to have the more economical option(Like the CSR value bundle). I know most would still want top notch, but for children begging Mom or Dad, the parents would like the lesser of the 2 evils so to say........

 

[lemansfanatic]

I get a feeling we might see a Chrysler Nascar rim for the CSW and maybe the CSR E in the future. As well as a F1 rim from McLaren maybe? Gotta love the silent hints from Mr. T from time to time. ghehe

On a side note... love the new McLaren F1 car design of this year's F1. ^_^

Yes props to them for not doing the ugly stepped nose. i agree McLaren rim would be an interesting wheel for the csr-e or csw, but part of me thinks that its going to be a german wheel if indeed Fanatec actually agrees to a replica... Now as to which German F1 team- Red Bull, or Mercedes... Yes and yes please

It was "shine" runners who built fast cars and honed their driving skills to avoid getting caught by the cops if a chase ensued. Eventually these guys got the idea to race their cars against each other on dirt tracks thus eventually leading to the birth of NASCAR.

And of course the Dukes of Hazzard. yeeeeeee haaaw!

 

[lemansfanatic]

Thomas since you're listening, how about colaborating with game makers and selling each version of the wheel with a specific game. For example, if a kid wants to buy Nascar 2012, he will google it and find that "people who bought this also bought" the Fanatec Clubsport Wheel/ Nascar Edition that comes complete with NASCAR THE GAME 2012, the critically aclaimed Fanatec CSW base with dual motors, and replica NASCAR steering wheel. i know it would be expensive but if you worked with game producers i'M sure you could get a liscense agreement that would work for both parties. and you would broaden your target audience and give you product more profile. more hits more impulse buyers who would spend any amount of money on NASCAR but might not have known there was something like this wheel on the market.
Then of course you repeat this for F1 2012 with the "Formula Edition CSW" bundle

 

[tribolik]

The lowest price we are targeting to make within the next 4 years is a 150,- wheel. In fact, despite the good reviews and the very competitive price, the 911 Carrera is the slowest selling wheel in our portfolio.
Our customers are very demanding and want the best.

Of course they do... thats why in that price range they rather buy a DFGT.

 

[Spagetti69]

Your on top form today Trib. 8^)

 

[LogiForce]

Of course they do... thats why in that price range they rather buy a DFGT.

Indeed and mostly due to 'free pedals', reliability and the fact that they can buy it at a retailer. At least I think these are the main reasons as I never looked at a DFGT coming from a FFGP myself and thus having the same pedals and wanting a clutch.

 

[Mr Latte]

Come on Thomas what's up with those csr-e rims. Latte predicts you gonna make us wait til E3. Say that isn't so!

But this would be the 1st time Latte prediction would fail....

Well I was hoping as much as estimating really. We would see the full range of Clubsport products.

It would be good though for Thomas to confirm if the Clubsport stuff is likely to be more of a priority over the new Elite Rim(s). I do know one thing though that looks pretty much 100% certain Thomas will not be stopping over at ISR this year during E3.

 

[novadave]

http://www.momo.it/products.php?id_cat=3&id_subcat=17&id_sub_racing=3&id_product=159&l=en

this is a fairly popular wheel in stock car racing these days.

there's regulations about the size and construction of the wheel, yes, but there's multiple constructors who make different sorts of wheels. for example, jeff gordon's wheel is a custom momo kit that has alcantara at 9:00 and 3:00 and rubber everywhere else. the wheel used is entirely up to the choice of the driver, not the team or manufacturer.

thats a bit strange.
i could have sworn that is what i said in my post.
built by the aftermarket - 15 " diameter - steel or aluminum.
and actually most of the wheels are actually made by one of three manufacturers around the world.
and yes a driver can request a specific wheel but it will need to comply with Nascar specs

 

[amf7]

looks pretty much 100% certain Thomas will not be stopping over at ISR this year during E3.

Your kidding

Hopefully we will see things before E3! WHEN is it btw?

5001 posts!

 

[amf7]

Double post.

 

[ilonioum]

Last year Fanatec had a lot of pressure because of Forza 4 release. They had to deliver the wheels on time to prove they can be relied on.

This year there are no deadlines for Fanatec to meet and most of the products they are planning to release were under development from early 2011 and they have already revised the electronics of CSW which is supposed to be the new flagship product. If the test are successful there should be no reason to hold the production line. In the end the need to maximize the ROI and delaying the production would cause losses in sales.

But lastly one very important point. It is better to delay the production than to release an unfinished faulty product.

 

[LogiForce]

In the end I just hope that when Fanatec products are released that they will meet the expectations of the end-users, are reliable and well build in terms of hard- and software quality.

 

[Fanatec...]

It was a good thing to concentrate on the CSR E first and then move to CSW. Now we are producing the pre-production units at the moment and they will be carefully tested by beta testers and all the regular QC tests including a 24/7 gaming life test.

The CSW is our flagship and we want to make it perfect. We also added a few more features to be prepared for the next 5 to 10 years. That is the target life cycle of this product.

 

[Raitziger]

It was a good thing to concentrate on the CSR E first and then move to CSW. Now we are producing the pre-production units at the moment and they will be carefully tested by beta testers and all the regular QC tests including a 24/7 gaming life test.

The CSW is our flagship and we want to make it perfect. We also added a few more features to be prepared for the next 5 to 10 years. That is the target life cycle of this product.

This is the best news I have herd this year!! You just got yourself one 100% sure CSW customer.

 

[lemansfanatic]

Ya, but dont forget about us Elite owners who spent a great deal of money for your product. flagship shmagship

 

[paskowitz]

It was a good thing to concentrate on the CSR E first and then move to CSW. Now we are producing the pre-production units at the moment and they will be carefully tested by beta testers and all the regular QC tests including a 24/7 gaming life test.

The CSW is our flagship and we want to make it perfect. We also added a few more features to be prepared for the next 5 to 10 years. That is the target life cycle of this product.

Not to sound blunt, but considering the price (hopefully it has not changed too much), it is nice to know my investment will carry into the future.. I think this is the right course of action.

 

[LogiForce]

It was a good thing to concentrate on the CSR E first and then move to CSW. Now we are producing the pre-production units at the moment and they will be carefully tested by beta testers and all the regular QC tests including a 24/7 gaming life test.

The CSW is our flagship and we want to make it perfect. We also added a few more features to be prepared for the next 5 to 10 years. That is the target life cycle of this product.

That's quite a bold claim, 5 to 10 years. I will be curious to see how this will be achieved with the preparation for the extra features. 10 years is a long time when it comes to anything computer related, hence i'll look at that claim a bit more skeptical. Especially because its a gaming peripheral no less, and they tend to evolve quite a bit (thinking back from the first joysticks to now).

 

[Spagetti69]

Ya, but dont forget about us Elite owners who spent a great deal of money for your product. flagship shmagship

GT2 users got dropped too with CSR updates.
It happens.