Fanatec CSL DD: Entry Level, $350 Direct Drive Wheel

DriveSpark
Assuming paddle shifters cost the same as the CSL base they add $100, the cheapest pedal set is $100 too - in reality you're going to want the next set up at $230). So we're now at $750 at least.

A G29 is $342 on amazon right now, T300 is $400, T150 cheaper still. I think there will always be a market for them because not everyone is going to want to drop $750+ on a wheel. In terms of value for money the gear/belt wheels at their current prices - they really should be $200-250 like they were a year or two ago. I doubt if Logitech/Thrustmaster are too worriedand wouldn't expect them to lose any significant numbers of sales.

All that said, fanatec appear to be stepping it up which is great news. If they could make a belt wheel with load cell and come out the same/similar price to the TM/logitechs that would really shake up things.
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Why would you need paddle shifter if you buy a steering wheel..

Ps5 dd+ pedals+rim could be sold for around 600-650eur.
 
This looks like it could be a gamer changer for the wheelbase market.

Sadly I fear it's going to be another paper launch with most customers simply not able to buy one - as with so many things during this pandemic.
 
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this is an awesome form factor & price, certainly a great upgrade from the old CSL & a game changer for mid market wheel bases.

Well, no PS5 support so my wallet’s been ordered to stand down from DEFCON 2 to 4.

Great news that more DD’s are coming soon, hopefully my ideal CSW PS5 is on the list so I don’t need to spend A$2900 on the PS4 DD F1.
 
Seriously, a massive fail on Fanatec. They basically don't care about Playstation customers. This is not compatible with PS4/5! If you want a better WB, they'll happily take $1800 from you for the F1 bundle!
Now, it also is most likely a Sony issue.
 
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Racer294
Seriously, a massive fail on Fanatec. They basically don't care about Playstation customers. This is not compatible with PS4/5! If you want a better WB, they'll happily take $1800 from you for the F1 bundle!
Now, it also is most likely a Sony issue.
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How is this a fail? A direct drive base at belt driven prices is great for everyone. Besides that, as I put in a previous post, they're already working on a PS5 licensed version.

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This is a nail in the coffin of Thrustmaster's market share. No doubt.

Logitech will always have its buyers as a big name brand at comparatively cheaper prices so uneducated consumers will continue to go into a brick-and-mortar retail store and purchase Logitech as their first wheel. In Australia, retailers don't stock Fanatec or Thrustmaster but every games or technology store has Logitech.

With Thrustmaster sleeping on direct-drive, I don't see why anyone would ever purchase from them with this CSL DD. This is a real unit. Anyone who has used direct-drive knows you can't go back to belt or gears after trying direct-drive. Fanatec also specialises in presentation and packaging giving the veil of upmarket, and the Quick Release system and version 2 on this new CSL DD will ensure that consumers purchase an alternate rim and stay in the Fanatec ecosystem. The Clubsport V3 pedals are years old and still sell incredibly strong.

I also saw the Fanatec sponsorship at the recent Bathurst 6 Hour this month. Fanatec ads run everywhere across the web on Google Ads and motorsport journalism and they have great partnerships with iRacing and esports.

If Thrustmaster lose the official Gran Turismo wheel partnership, their business is about to seriously tank. I love my TH8RS shifter and all that, but without a quality rim for people to purchase, consumers won't tempted to enter the ecosystem. This CSL DD is a nail in the coffin for mid-range manufacturers like Thrustmaster.
 
A Gilmore-Go-Happy roller coaster this announcement was for me.

Email comes with the announcement and immediately I jump into curiosity mode.

The price tag made me ecstatic.

And I shared your thought
Carrera1963
I bloody well hope that if they release a Clubsport DD that it’s PS4/5 compatible though!
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Then read the not compatible with ps and got gutted.

Where after you saved my day.

FPV MIC
View attachment 1005959

👍👍👍
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Now the waiting begins for an update on the PS compatible version
 
xeronima
Now the waiting begins for an update on the PS compatible version
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I'll start a "PS5 DD Fund" jar & add to it every day :sly:

If the CSL DD is then released with a PS5 version, I'd be very tempted (with the 8Nm upgrade)...

Otherwise I'll be happy to spend a bit more for a PS5-compatible CSW DD (maybe with a 2021 F1 wheel in time for F1 2021 in July!)
 
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Simply fantastic, DD wheel base is high system level of construction. The price is not cheap, even because you need to add a steering wheel and pedal set, and total price depend on what type of wheel and pedal you choose.
 
$350 for the CSL DD base, plus $99 for CSL pedals and $199 for a wheel... $648 gives a pretty good setup!

Given the existing CSL F1 bundle of base+pedals+wheel is $599, I'd expect there might be a new bundle around that price point.
 
Racer294
Seriously, a massive fail on Fanatec. They basically don't care about Playstation customers. This is not compatible with PS4/5! If you want a better WB, they'll happily take $1800 from you for the F1 bundle!
Now, it also is most likely a Sony issue.
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I actually think there is a real possibility that Fanatec will be the official partner of GT7 instead of TM this time around.

Maybe the delay of GT7 has delayed such an announcement.

Either way - Fanatec have already said they are working on a PS version.

I wouldn’t lose my cool just yet.
 
This is very interesting. I'm close to buying a rig, gaming pc and eventually wheel upgrade. This could make decisions a little more interesting. I wonder what effect this will have on Thrustmaster but more interestingly higher end DD wheels. How many times can I write interesting in one paragraph?
 
I may be tempted to pick one up, at least the version that is PlayStation compatible. That way I can play both PC and Gran Turismo. Probably keep the CSW 2.5 as backup.
 
Carrera1963
$350 for the CSL DD base, plus $99 for CSL pedals and $199 for a wheel... $648 gives a pretty good setup!

Given the existing CSL F1 bundle of base+pedals+wheel is $599, I'd expect there might be a new bundle around that price point.
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Agree 100% with what you are saying but I'd add that CSL pedals are not great and I'd argue that someone spending $550 on the wheel setup and only $99 on the pedals has their budget balanced a little wrongly.
 
GlamFM
I actually think there is a real possibility that Fanatec will be the official partner of GT7 instead of TM this time around.

Maybe the delay of GT7 has delayed such an announcement.

Either way - Fanatec have already said they are working on a PS version.

I wouldn’t lose my cool just yet.
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This might be why TM spent a lot of time on the new F1 wheel, they might be looking at F1.
 
Carrera1963
I'll start a "PS5 DD Fund" jar & add to it every day :sly:
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Your and me both I started mine a long time ago but have been waiting for a game release that would justify getting a PS5.

There was a lot of good releases on PS4 and my thrustmaster t300 have served me well. But as it's coming of age a long desire upgrade is finally getting here 💡
 
GlamFM
I actually think there is a real possibility that Fanatec will be the official partner of GT7 instead of TM this time around.

Maybe the delay of GT7 has delayed such an announcement.

Either way - Fanatec have already said they are working on a PS version.

I wouldn’t lose my cool just yet.
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If only... They definitely made FM7 great to drive. If they only could at least make Sony let the CSW back to PlayStation, I might buy the PS5 and next Gran Turismo after all.
 
Daz555
Agree 100% with what you are saying but I'd add that CSL pedals are not great and I'd argue that someone spending $550 on the wheel setup and only $99 on the pedals has their budget balanced a little wrongly.
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I used the CSL pedals for a year, they're very well made & good enough for non-LC pedals - certainly better than the Logitech ones, and the TM GT ones I had before.

PSN:And-War
I like how they call in entry level when its 350, who has a spare 350
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Pretty sure that's the same price as the "old" CSL base, and they sold ****loads of them. It's an entry-level Fanatec wheel base, but I'd say mid-market for sim racing in general.
 
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Just been on the EU site, looks like they've completely discontinued the CSL and CSW belt drive wheelbases. The only bases available seem to be Podium DDs. I'm guessing that this means the new DD is better than the CSW 2.5 and they didn't want to undercut themselves
 

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