First racing wheel, what should it be?

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LightningRider

LightningRider

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ThePhenom92
My girlfriend recently bought me Gran Turismo 5 XL Edition as a birthday gift and I plan on playing it with a racing wheel. I've done plenty of research on wheels but don't know which one I should go with.

I can save up money to get any wheel I want with my main target being the Thrustmaster T500 but after reading several reviews on how it breaks down quickly or the complete opposite, I don't know what to think anymore. I know it's an amazing wheel but I don't want to spend 600 dollars on a three month experience.

Should I instead go with a G27 or is there a better Fanatec wheel out there instead? Are the pedals good with the wheels that come with Fanatec wheels? Can I replace the G27 wheels with Clubsports and is it worth it?

What I'm mostly looking for in a wheel are the following:

Great FFB wheel, quiet or if it's noisy I don't want it waking up my entire building.
Amazing pedals.
Reliability. This is incredibly important to me. The wheel and pedals must be reliable. If they do break down, it better be after hundreds of hours, and at least several years of use.

I'm open to any suggestions and a budget isn't an issue as I don't mind saving up for the best playing experience out there. Thanks for all the help :)
 
LightningRider
My girlfriend recently bought me Gran Turismo 5 XL Edition as a birthday gift and I plan on playing it with a racing wheel. I've done plenty of research on wheels but don't know which one I should go with.

I can save up money to get any wheel I want with my main target being the Thrustmaster T500 but after reading several reviews on how it breaks down quickly or the complete opposite, I don't know what to think anymore. I know it's an amazing wheel but I don't want to spend 600 dollars on a three month experience.

Should I instead go with a G27 or is there a better Fanatec wheel out there instead? Are the pedals good with the wheels that come with Fanatec wheels? Can I replace the G27 wheels with Clubsports and is it worth it?

What I'm mostly looking for in a wheel are the following:

Great FFB wheel, quiet or if it's noisy I don't want it waking up my entire building.
Amazing pedals.
Reliability. This is incredibly important to me. The wheel and pedals must be reliable. If they do break down, it better be after hundreds of hours, and at least several years of use.

I'm open to any suggestions and a budget isn't an issue as I don't mind saving up for the best playing experience out there. Thanks for all the help :)
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If your just starting out I would suggest the G27 or if you have the cash get the T500.
 
Just my opinion based on experience with Fanatec GT3 RS, T500 and G27:

For only GT5 the T500 is overkill IMHO. Fanatec CSW and Elite are also overkill.

If you are looking for reliability go for the G27. It is the best "bang for the buck", it includes everything (wheel, shifter, pedals) and it is fully compatible (even the LED-shift-lights work in GT5!). And no cooling fan. The only time, the G27 is becoming a bit loud is during rally-sessions. And it can be modded easily later. If you are looking for a compareable set of Fanatec GT3 RS + pedals + shifter you have to pay a lot more. IMHO it is not worth it.

For GT5 a load cell brake is not a "must have". I use stock G27 pedals without ABS at the moment (I used Fanatec CSP and T500 before).

So again, as you are a sim-racing beginner and looking for GT5 only at the moment, this would be my suggestion. Where do you mount the wheel to? Do you plan on a wheel stand or racing rig?
 
My T500 has had a few issues during the 18 months I've had it , but nothing that I couldn't deal with. (I have reasonable mechanical knowledge but zero electronics skills) I can understand your apprehension in dropping a pretty large sum of money on one , especially after reading all the bad experiences of owners on the forums but I feel that they paint a bad picture. If all the happy users posted , I don't think their reputation would seem so bad.

If you're after the best playing experience , I'd recommend the T500. I bought a G27 last week after my T500 developed a problem that I couldn't immediately diagnose (its fixed now). Also the G27 was on sale so it was a good buy :) I got it all set up in my cockpit but felt less than excited about it after an hour of use.
The rim is smaller that the T500 and the leather had less grip that the TMs rubber.
The FFB could be tweaked to a similar strength to what I like but the "detail" was gone. All those little bumps in the track had been subdued into a vauge representation of what I was familiar with.
The pedals were okay but I would have needed to mod the brake if I'd kept using it.(to be fair I have modded my TM brake but its still better in standard config with the real feel plate fitted)
The paddles are much closer to the rim on the 27. I kept catching my fingers on them when going to shift.

In short , the T500 has ruined me ! I can't go back to a "lesser" wheel now. The G27 felt like a toy in comparison. I know heaps of people that use the 27 and love them too , so I'm not saying they are a bad choice , just no comparison to the TM wheel in my opinion. Rightly so considering the price difference too. :)

I think the G27 is good value for money , especially if you can get one on sale. If you don't mind spending the money , I'm sure you'll be happy with the T500 though , but be warned. It will ruin you ! :)

Great FFB - T500
Quiet - both wheels are good , the T500s fan won't wake the neighbours but its annoying enough for the user. I have replaced the standard one , so all good there.
Reliable - G27
Pedals - T500
Value for money - G27
 
Quality and price range = G27. It's the best wheel on the market. Those RS500 and Fanatec wheels are overpriced. But comes with fantastic pedals.

G27 as complete set is fantastic. Once you bough then never regret it.
 
ussr
Quality and price range = G27. It's the best wheel on the market. Those RS500 and Fanatec wheels are overpriced. But comes with fantastic pedals.

G27 as complete set is fantastic. Once you bough then never regret it.
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You get what you pay for :)
 
If ya play only gt5 then g27! If ya play on pc too then t500rs! I have both and they are great but t500 has stronger ff and pedals are a bit better than g27's imo! Hope this helps. Peace out:)
 
Best wheels, according to Mr. S:

Up to 150$: Logitech Driving Force GT (100$)
Up to 300$: Logitech G27 (200$)
Up to 600$: Thrustmaster T500 RS + F1 rim
Up to 1200$: Fanatec CSW + BMW rim + F1 rim

No, seriously: I have to agree with what Mahnegold said. The G27 is probably your best shot if you want to play GT5 but not a serious sim like rFactor2. In that case the GT3RS is your best budget option - the list above should help as well.
 
if youre unsure about how serious youll get into the game, or how much use youll get I just bought a DFGT as my first wheel.

The pedals arent nearly as bad as i expected.
teh wheel functions fine, although i wish its diameter was a little bigger.

you can get a stand and DFGT for the price of a G27.

once you assess your tiem and investment you can decide where you want to go next; cockpit, full setup, etc.

just another option for you. budget was a factor for me, unfortunately. if it wasnt i would have gone for the g27 for sure.

good luck. ill never play another racign game without a wheel. theres no comparison
 
LightningRider
My girlfriend recently bought me Gran Turismo 5 XL Edition as a birthday gift and I plan on playing it with a racing wheel. I've done plenty of research on wheels but don't know which one I should go with.

I can save up money to get any wheel I want with my main target being the Thrustmaster T500 but after reading several reviews on how it breaks down quickly or the complete opposite, I don't know what to think anymore. I know it's an amazing wheel but I don't want to spend 600 dollars on a three month experience.

Should I instead go with a G27 or is there a better Fanatec wheel out there instead? Are the pedals good with the wheels that come with Fanatec wheels? Can I replace the G27 wheels with Clubsports and is it worth it?

What I'm mostly looking for in a wheel are the following:

Great FFB wheel, quiet or if it's noisy I don't want it waking up my entire building.
Amazing pedals.
Reliability. This is incredibly important to me. The wheel and pedals must be reliable. If they do break down, it better be after hundreds of hours, and at least several years of use.

I'm open to any suggestions and a budget isn't an issue as I don't mind saving up for the best playing experience out there. Thanks for all the help :)
Click to expand...



I guess I am the lone person who is going to present a different point of view. I started playing Forza 4 with a Microsoft Wheel and pedal set and then migrated to the CSR XL Value Pack. The thing that my friends noticed right away was that having a load cell for a brake makes all the difference in the world and that given the choice of the CSR Wheel or the CSR Elite Pedals... we would all use the Microsoft Wheel and CSR Elite Pedals over the CSR Wheel and Standard Pedals. Though once we put a half squash ball under the standard pedals it made a huge difference.

And the CSR XL Value Pack is $359 for the wheel, elite pedals and 2 shifters (H and sequential). This set is also compatible with XBox 360, PS3 and the PC.

I have had this package for over a year now without issues until last week when I noticed the alcantara was coming apart on the right side of the wheel. This was cause by a friend who is rather rough when driving I have never problem. In my main setup I am using is with a Fanatec GTR3 RS v2 wheel and it feels great I have had it about 4 months no issues yet.

I have my secondary set with the standard CSR pedals and though functional they are much more difficult to drive with.

I have not had the opportunity to try the TRS but I have tried the G27 and it is a good choice, but it does feel a bit like a toy in comparison.
 
1. G27. Just mod the pedals with stiffer springs and a foam insert for the brake.

2. CSR value pack. Nothing is as reliable as the g27. But the CSR is by far the most reliable Fanatec wheel. You will get a great set of pedals with this package.

IMO the T500RS has horrible pedals. Modded or stock, I hated them. If you are only on console you are stuck with them.
 
paskowitz
1. G27. Just mod the pedals with stiffer springs and a foam insert for the brake.

2. CSR value pack. Nothing is as reliable as the g27. But the CSR is by far the most reliable Fanatec wheel. You will get a great set of pedals with this package.

IMO the T500RS has horrible pedals. Modded or stock, I hated them. If you are only on console you are stuck with them.
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1. As previous posts state, probably the most reliable and can take tons of abuse, good CS as well.
There is a well-known GTP member that literally lugged his wheel back and forth to a remote location in South America because of his job, and it has never failed on him.

2. CSR is probably the most reliable Fanatec wheel that uses the "Porsche" case design because it runs much cooler than the GT2/GT3 and their predecessors. The better airflow on CSR vents has a lot to do with this.
I have all 3 wheels, both the GT2/GT3 run as cool as the CSR if vents are exchanged.

I don't believe the T500 pedals are as bad as they are made out to be. I have seen Mahnegold get into the low 300s with no ABS/no aids using that pedal in previous GT5 TT.

Mrbasher has only had those pedals for a few days and he is in 700s with no ABS/no aids on the current GT5 Autumn Ring TT.

Given that neither of the above-mentioned users is in your league Paskowitz, I would say that's pretty damn good performance for horrible pedals.
 
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It's just my opinion.

It's more than their feel. I have big feet and I found them to be small. I also thought they were pretty close together. Finally the throw was a bit short for me. They are very sturdy and the inversion is cool but that does not really matter to me.

Then you consider the price. All that together leads me to the opinion they are underwhelming.

Also what do mean by in my league? I am not very fast.
 
paskowitz
Then you consider the price. All that together leads me to the opinion they are underwhelming.

Also what do mean by in my league? I am not very fast.
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The T500 competitor's price surpasses the T500 price by at least $200 last time i checked, depending on the pedals and wheel one chooses. Oh, I forgot as CT you got it at half price.

You made it to GTA right? So obviously you have way more time invested in GT5 than most posters here.
So one can assume that also means consistently fast, not necessarily fast as in the fastest on LB.
BTW, that was meant as a compliment, no doubt you earned that through very hard work.
 
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Mahnegold
Just my opinion based on experience with Fanatec GT3 RS, T500 and G27:

For only GT5 the T500 is overkill IMHO. Fanatec CSW and Elite are also overkill.
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Not sure I understand what you mean by this?

For the OP. I've had a pretty good experience with the T500 reliability wise. A calibration issue but very easily fixed and nothing that kept me from using the wheel.

I love the T500 and the only game I use it for is GT5. The wheel gives you a fantastic experience. The pedals are good not great but in my opinion improved greatly by the skate board brushing mod. Of the four wheels I've owned or used, DFP, DFGT, G27, T500, it is in a whole another league. The G27 is quality, but not close to the T500.

You can't really go wrong with any of the wheels that have been discussed. The big question is if you get a lower end one will you want to upgrade within months.
 
paskowitz
1. G27. Just mod the pedals with stiffer springs and a foam insert for the brake.

2. CSR value pack. Nothing is as reliable as the g27. But the CSR is by far the most reliable Fanatec wheel. You will get a great set of pedals with this package.

IMO the T500RS has horrible pedals. Modded or stock, I hated them. If you are only on console you are stuck with them.
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Just to confirm... I believe the CSR value pack has the standard CSR pedals... you want the CSR XL value pack with the CSR Elite pedals these are the ones with the load cell I have both, there is a night and day difference between them.

With the Fanatec pedals there a multiple adjustments you can make to the pedal if you want....
 
mcfizzle
Not sure I understand what you mean by this?

For the OP. I've had a pretty good experience with the T500 reliability wise. A calibration issue but very easily fixed and nothing that kept me from using the wheel.

I love the T500 and the only game I use it for is GT5. The wheel gives you a fantastic experience. The pedals are good not great but in my opinion improved greatly by the skate board brushing mod. Of the four wheels I've owned or used, DFP, DFGT, G27, T500, it is in a whole another league. The G27 is quality, but not close to the T500.

You can't really go wrong with any of the wheels that have been discussed. The big question is if you get a lower end one will you want to upgrade within months.
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Oh that's just my point of view. I just wouldn't spend 400€ for a single (console) game. I own T500 and used it for GT5 and it's great! It offers better performance than the G27. But I think this wheel needs a good PC sim to show it's real potential. Difficult for me to discribe in English...
 
There is a lot of adjustments on the T500RS pedals as well. I just can´t understand why so many people use term as horrible/hate on them. Maybe it´s mainly those that just have them laying on a flat floor and can´t give them proper back support. I noticed particularly with the brake mod that even though I get them to stay in place on my metal plate I suspect the rubber feets it uses give way as you brake so you have to use much much more power then if you can plant the pedals against a wall.

I can get away with that with the nixim modded G27 pedals and also some other pedals I used where the difference in perceived resistance was much more negligable. When I managed to both put the t500 pedals against my back plate and also angle them more so the pedals is more truly vertical in the rally position I had to use less then 50 % of the brake power as before. I was quite astonished it could transform like that. I can more conveniently get up to 100 % braking power without killing myself which make you loose resistance and perhaps stay on full power for to long or just not get there at all.

But the adjustability of them is great and certainly not far of the clubsports I used to own and is so universally well received. the T500 pedals has a much better feel then the clubsport pedals to me. Clutch aside that is. I can´t do any straight comparison as I don´t own the clubsports any longer. I liked it a lo tin regard of performance where I felt it truly matched my CST pedals in term of brake feel. The brake pedal as I liked it was a bit like braking on a plank. Stock configuration was not good at all to me. But super short brake distance with solid progressive reisstance and you just know when you are on full brakes and can start to ease off seem to be a good receipt for an easy going brake pedal. On the T500RS I can quite effectively mimic my clubsport pedal feel by going for the short travel. I only use 25 % of the potentiometre travel but thanks to the 10-bit resolution it´s still remarkable precise.

I am back to full throw now. It just feels more natural for me so I hope I will find it preferrable or close enough. I certainly did preferr racing with my CST pedals due to the superior feel and full size over the club sports. That set has more precision if you are skilled enough to take advantage of it. Drawback is being full sized you may feel the need to go shoes and loose a bit of the feel you get when just in socks? I am not consistant enough I feel I can truly say one set of pedals is faster then the others but good pedals for me let me adjust to them quickly.

Just writing this because I don´t quite understand now that I got the pedals set correctly why so many find them horrible. Often horrible with no explanation of what about them that is so bad. People expect loadcells nowaday but part from that what is so bad? Load cells have to be replaced so what I would like in T500RS 2 is perhaps pedals with the same sensors as on the wheel plus load cell mod on the side. But that would probably up the price quite substantially.
 
First off I'd like to thank everyone for their input. I feel much more comfortable about what I will do and I will go with the G27 to start off. The fact everyone here says it is extremely reliable and a great choice purely for GT5 sold me on them. If I become more serious about sim racing or just have the money lying around, I'll get a T500 and see what all the hype is about.

A wheel stand is what I'll most likely go with as a whole cockpit would take up so much space in my room. A wheel stand pro is perfect for those looking for a sturdy and compact racing experience correct?

I'll most likely check out several of the pedal mods around here and see what they bring to the table with the G27. Once again I really wish to thank you all for the help and support, you guys are the best!
 
as a starter get a DFGT and see if you even like wheels etc... with the money saved you can then invest some sort of stand or cockpit which is more important than having the best wheel. a wheel without some sort of stand or cockpit loses a lot of its benefit imo

my 2 cents
 
See you got both the RGT and T500RS. I wonder if they are similar regard to ffb apart from the capability of course? I run GTR 2 and it don´t have any T500RS profile so not sure what I should start to build my ffb profile for :)
 
There is a lot of sense in Lunarwolfs comment - to get a DFGT and wheelstand. They hold value well.

I think it depends on what kind of deal you can get on a G27. DFGT's seem to be getting more expensive and G27's are getting cheaper so you may not need to pay a lot extra to get the G27.

As well as a Wheelstand Pro (superb kit in my experience) I would budget a little extra for a tactile transducer and amp to give a bit of rumble to your gaming which makes it so much more realistic and immersive. Personally I think it adds as much to the game as a wheel and would therefore be the next logical purchase.

I note you are in the USA so you could get an Aura Pro for $45 from Parts Express and either get a subwoofer off Ebay for $30 - $50 and take the amp out of it or a subwoofer amp new for $75.

Happy sim racing!
 

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