I think it's also a question of immersion vs speed. I bet a lot of people could be fastest with precise, non-FFB wheels with less than 900 degree steering. That's not what I'd want to use to race. My goal has always been to go with the setup that feels the most realistic to me. It's a lot easier for me to recover from a skid at 270 degrees of rotation in a road car, but if the real car offers 2.5-3 turns lock-to-lock, then 900 degree steering (or 1080 on a T500 RS) is how I'd want to drive that car. It's not that I think the higher steering ratio makes me slower. I think the reduced ratio makes me artificially faster. Realistic feel is also important. I don't think my PWTS or GT2 make me any faster than my old G25, but I definitely prefer the feel.
Inside Sim Racing has had some great wheel shootout videos in the past, and from what I recall, there wasn't any one wheel that was fastest in all situations (F1, GT, rally, etc), so they all had their strengths and weaknesses. Based on what I'm reading these days it seems the standard CSR wheel may be Fanatec's quickest wheel to date, while offering a good balance between the twitchiness of a G27, and the smoother road car feel of the GT2.
The jury's still out with the CSR Elite, but given its powerful twin motor system and improvements in the sensor technology, I expect it to be very fast and precise. I'm most looking forward to the substantial upgrade in build quality and feel, and hope the power upgrade offers superior dynamic range and rotational speed.
These wheels are so expensive and sim racing is such a niche. It might be worth having get-togethers in various parts of the world where people hook up all their wheels and compare notes.
The question I think that is burning for a lot of people including me. In console games and FM4 in particular, will the expected improved expereince from the "Elite" be worth the additional cost and allow a player to also improve their laptimes with the additional possible accuracy and specification it offers? Or will it really only show a larger difference in PC simulations?
I'd like to do a personal yet detailed mini review thread using 3 friends as test dummies and compare different wheels all together including your upcoming Elite against the CSR and the PWTS. My own plan is to help accertain each wheel in competition with more than one persons opinion for a proper wheel faceoff on FM4!
Amar has shown in his great/recent testing on GT5 that not always can the most expensive or highest spec wheel gurantee additional "race performance". The outlining question I put to Fanatec is does the Elite clearly come out on top as the "Elite Wheel" for FM4. This is particulary important because I think a lot of "Elite" customers could be PWTS/GT2 owners looking to consider upgrading or certainly not first time wheel buyers. They are the person that wants the best for their favourite console games and isnt that really what the "Elite Wheel" is all about?
Im ready and waiting for the oppertunity and certainly want to contribute with such an upcoming report.
