G27 - Should I Take The Plunge?

[PedanticNerd]

So at the moment I use a DS3 controller for GT5. I'm not exactly a 'hardcore' racer but I love sims, especialy Gran Turismo. So I'm not looking to shave a second or two off of my lap times.

But I want a wheel for the experience. I hear many, many good things about the Logitech G27, for example the H-pattern gear shifting, the force feedback and the pedals which are all supposed to feel very convincing and realistic compared to other wheels.

I'm also at the age where I'm starting to look at driving lessons. So... will a wheel setup help me to familiarise myself with the feel of a car? In real life I do grass track kart racing (basically go-karting round a field ) but this year's series doesn't start until April. Will the wheel give me a help both in kart racing and on the road?

Ideally I'm looking to buy both the G27 and a Wheel Stand Pro (as I have no surfaces to put the wheel on) and that's gonna cost £350-£400.

But at the same time I've been saving up for driving lessons and university. Already I have about twice the money for the wheel in my bank but that's for those things. I'm gonna get a job soon, so I guess the extra money will go towards the wheel.

So, should I spend that amount of money on a wheel? It seems an obscene amount to spend but the way I see it, it'll help with my performance in-game and IRL but most importantly it'll give so much more enjoyment and experience, which a DS3 just can't convey.

Guys, is it worth it? Should I save up and buy it, or just save up for driving lessons and university (bearing in mind I already have some money in the bank and won't start uni until September 2012).

All your advice is welcome and will be appreciated.

 

[freight48]

I would blow my money on it. It's not fully compatible. The DFGT is a great wheel. I recommend it.

 

[poolhaas]

it's up to you i guess. i bought a g27, although i'm not a hardcore racer (i still suck), but i get used to it more every day
maybe if you're not planning on using it alot, the DFGT is a better option (price wise)

 

[TRACT10N]

I'm waiting for my g27 to get here...tuesday seems soooo far away. I decided to get it because I am a hardcore racer and want to drop my laptimes. I just barely missed the cut for the gt academy with the ds3 so I'm hoping the wheel will help me do great the next time a gt academy type of event rolls around.

 

[vwtechnician]

There are some small annoying issues with it but I have to say, well worth the investment for me, overall I love it. Definitely cuts down lap times for me, too. The main thing you will have to worry about is figuring a way to mount it securely. Especially if you're going to be using the clutch pedal just putting the pedal cluster on the carpet isn't going to cut it. I used a cheapie ebay race seat that came with sliders, about $120 worth of 1 inch square tube from home depot and a welder to put a frame together for mine and it came out awesome. Realistically, unless you have a suitable seat laying around, you will probably spend as much building one as the playseat costs. I just felt like building one.

Edit: If you aren't concerned with having a clutch pedal and properly placed (ie by your thigh) shifter then the dfgt wheel is probably good enough for you. If I'm not mistaken the steering/force feedback is the same as the G27 (they are both logitech) so that would cut down on both initial cost and be easier and cheaper to make a secure setup for. For me I've never owned a car in my life that didn't have a 3rd pedal and that was a big sticking point for me, I just had to have that even though in all reality it probably slows me down vs using the paddles. Oh well, I'm old fashioned I guess, gotta have the 3rd pedal.

Edit 2: re-read and saw you mention the driving stand....I would be wary of any stand for the G27 that has the pedals on the ground. Especially if you're going to use the clutch pedal it will not stay put with just the flip down feet on carpet in my experience.

 

[PedanticNerd]

Thanks for all your feedback! Two of the biggest selling points for me with the G27 are the clutch pedal and the H-pattern gear shifter.
The DFGT may be the more sensible option price-wise, but I think the gear shifter is sequential. Personally I'd rather have an H-pattern shifter for the immersion factor, so do any other wheels offer this too?

Plus the DFGT looks noisy, which could start to get on my nerves

 

[liQster]

well, i got my g27 since gt5´s release now. also got a perfect rig for it. i can only say that it´s awesome to play gt with a wheel like that and it will definately boost your fun ingame ALOT. i can´t even imagine playing the game with a ds3.. (even though i played gt1-4 with pad). you will feel the same way, once you enjoyed the game with a nice wheel/rig setup. once you have a wheel, you won´t use the ds3 for any racing games in the future, EVER

i can´t mention enough how important the rig is for the g27. like vwtechnician said, if you wanna use the clutch + HS you have to mount the system somehow. you don´t have to get an expensive rig like the fusion or smtgh, there are ways to do this cheap (just look in the forum, there are many rigs which didn´t cost much money but do it´s job..)

don´t think gt5 will really help you with your driving in rL imo. mby to get used to the hole shifting thing, but since it´s hard to find the biting point in gt5 with the g27 you won´t get the same driving experience like in a real car.. another thing is that you don´t actually feel the car with your body when it´s about to slip. sure, you feel the over- and understeering on the wheel, but unless you got some kind of hydraulic simulator it won´t be the same

anyways.. imo the wheel gives you a good impression of how a race car could feel like in rL (i can´t say if it´s realistic since i never have driven a f430 scuderia on nürburgring hehe) and you will have fun with it. so if you feel like it, buy it. you won´t regret.

 

[poolhaas]

I'm waiting for my g27 to get here...tuesday seems soooo far away. I decided to get it because I am a hardcore racer and want to drop my laptimes. I just barely missed the cut for the gt academy with the ds3 so I'm hoping the wheel will help me do great the next time a gt academy type of event rolls around.

i was actually pretty good with ds3, not gt academy good, but it's a big difference with a wheel the first weeks.
i hope you'll eventually make it though 👍

 

[Ya Pops]

How about a Fanatec GT2? (or GT3RS if you only want it for Ps3/PC)

Do you have an X360 or thinking about getting one?
What other games do you play, or are looking forward to?

 

[JGW]

I have the G27, and I love it. Having said that....I think I am going to get the GT2 when they become available again and use the G27 pedals until I can get the clubsports.

 

[eecubed]

If I were you, my priorities would be
1) tuition for university
2) driving lessons (basic 1st and then performance)
3) G27

Buy the G27 after you have taken care of the other two. Your education is an investment that will benefit you throughout your life and will pay you back many times. It's the same for driving lessons, especially if you extend your lessons to performance driving school.

Having a G27 for a game is nice but it definitely falls into the optional category - a "want" vs a "need". You can't really use it to help you learn driving in real life either. It's not good enough for that and it's not safe to try. The wheel will likely last 2-4 years before needing replacement so the payback is not as long lasting as the other two.

 

[nw99]

^ Eactly what he said.
I have the G27 and the Wheel Stand Pro, but you'll spend mostof your gt time driving LM, Group C cars and the X2010, 2 of which you will be lucky to see and one which you will never touch, so if anything I suppose it could emphasize the handling of the car you would be learning to drive, making it feel worse than it really is after driving the X2010!

 

[Egg and Spoon]

@PedanticNerd

Only you can decide what order to do things. What's important to you it what counts.

As for the G27 It is a very nice wheel and I wouldn't want to go back to racing with the DS3.

With the wheel I find I can put the car just where I want it rather than just aiming for a spot and hoping.

I really wanted the G27 for the H shift. Now that I have it, I rarely use it. For fun and for driving old cars it's great for realism, but if you're racing I think your gear changes are going to be more productive using the paddles.

So, I'd say don't lust after the G27 with H shift when a cheaper alternative without the H shift might do you just as well.

Ideally you need to try one out somewhere first.

 

[vwtechnician]

Thanks for all your feedback! Two of the biggest selling points for me with the G27 are the clutch pedal and the H-pattern gear shifter.
Plus the DFGT looks noisy, which could start to get on my nerves

Another thing to consider would be trying to find a G25. I wish I had. The wheel is the same, pedals are about the same but H pattern shifter has a dial allowing you to switch between a 6 speed H pattern and a tiptronic shifter. There are times when I really miss that, namely in crazy powerful race cars and when rallying. Rally is sooooo hard using 3 pedals (unless your name is Walter Rohrl http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdy8CG09rSU )and due to the constant opposite lock the paddles are tough, too. You can never keep track of which one is shift up vs shift down when you're constantly sliding all over the place and throwing the wheel around that much. To top it off, the only thing the G27 has that the G25 doesn't is 4 more buttons on the steering wheel....which don't even work or do anything in GT5. In hindsight I really wish I had tracked down a 25 instead.

... i can only say that it´s awesome to play gt with a wheel like that and it will definately boost your fun ingame ALOT. i can´t even imagine playing the game with a ds3.. (even though i played gt1-4 with pad). you will feel the same way, once you enjoyed the game with a nice wheel/rig setup. once you have a wheel, you won´t use the ds3 for any racing games in the future, EVER

Totally agree here. The only time I can even consider using a DS3 anymore is when grinding A spec for money in PiP while watching TV. Definitely with the rig as well. Get creative, look at some stuff online. You can put something together for little money that will do the job.

 

[M.Ponsiglione]

Get one now!

 

[speedracer_-44]

Don't over value the shifter's H pattern. You'll quickly learn to love the paddles. Go for the cheaper wheel. DFGT is so much better than a DS3.

 

[DA__dogg]

Now that I'm at the point where I got to grind endurance races, I will be buying the DFGT and a sawhorse to set it up on. OP, if you plan on playing this game long enough to spend 4 hours or more at a time racing, you gotta get a wheel. I've tried the Indy 500 twice and my hands hurt bad not even halfway through.

 

[tgrey]

Personally, I wouldn't ever buy a wheel that didn't have an H pattern. Sure, I use the the paddles more for real racing and grinding, but when I'm just driving for fun I always want the shifter. But then again, I drive a manual transmission every day, so maybe I'm just used to it.

 

[Rado-Steve]

Fanatec GT3RS I'd go for..........looks Soooooo much better than the G27

Alcantara and carbon Flappy paddles, what more could you ask for

 

[Unidos]

Why spend money on a steering wheel when your probably going to get bored of this game in a few weeks??

 

[stormbringer]

yes, get the G27 for sure. its great. you cant compare a controller to a wheel.
Shame some of the buttons cant be programmed, but that doesnt really matter.

if not the G27, get some other one. I have it, love it, and will never go back to the controller again.

choose the G27 or one of the GT5 licenced wheels.

 

[liQster]

Why spend money on a steering wheel when your probably going to get bored of this game in a few weeks??

don´t really see your point. he can use the g27 for other games, too. like race07 (gtr evo). there will be another gt in a year or so. once you have a wheel you will use it. mby more in the beginning than later, but it´s a long term hobby once you recognise the fun you have with the setup

 

[PedanticNerd]

After reading through all your advice and thinking about this overnight, I think if I'm going to do this, then I may as well do it right. I'm going to save for a G27 because that's exactly what I want. Spending such a large amount of money on something which doesn't offer absolutely everything I'm looking for would, for me, defeat the object. (No offence to anyone who bought a different wheel haha)

As for the order of commitments, what better excuse to look for a job than for a wheel? I vow to never spend my savings on it, so I guess finding a job is the only way. I'll still have the job after I buy the wheel, and from that point I can get stuck in with my driving and university.

This, I think, is the best way I should approach it. I'll get the wheel I'm after, without compromising my other priorities, and afterwards I'll still have a way of saving up for what's more important.

Thank you for all your advice, guys. It takes a lot for me to feel comfortable with spending large amounts of money, and with this situation I do. So thanks!

 

[Coldon66]

If I was you I'd opt for the DFGT and the WSP. I have both and honestly they are great, especially in regards to the 'value for money' factor. I don't think I've had one day not playing GT5 for the past month and a half since I got them.

That way, you save some money towards your studies and get increased pleasure in the GT5 experience. The DFGT is a budget wheel, but it is a very good and adequate wheel. The G27 is quite a bit more expensive. If money wasn't in the equation I would tell you to get the Fanatec GT2 and the clubsports pedals. They are the business...

 

[PedanticNerd]

@Coldon66, I have considered the DFGT and I know it is a great wheel, but there are things I want such as the H-pattern shifter and clutch pedal which it doesn't offer.
Yes, it's a lot cheaper, but it's still very expensive and if I'm going to spend a large amount of money on something, I want it to be perfect or else I feel cheated.

I mean no disrespect to you or your choice of wheel, and I see and agree with your point of view, but for me, I know I just won't be satisfied unless I get exactly what I want. We're talking an extra £100 here, but I'm prepared to spend that in order to do so.

 

[Sohvakettu]

Look up some of the PC wheels if you want "perfect". ECCI is one name to look up. Not supported on consoles though.

 

[tgrey]

@Coldon66, I have considered the DFGT and I know it is a great wheel, but there are things I want such as the H-pattern shifter and clutch pedal which it doesn't offer.
Yes, it's a lot cheaper, but it's still very expensive and if I'm going to spend a large amount of money on something, I want it to be perfect or else I feel cheated.

I mean no disrespect to you or your choice of wheel, and I see and agree with your point of view, but for me, I know I just won't be satisfied unless I get exactly what I want. We're talking an extra £100 here, but I'm prepared to spend that in order to do so.

I'm with you, when I purchased mine I looked at cheaper options... but I view it as an investment to keep me from getting into trouble on the streets. One good ticket will be more than my racing setup, and that's not even counting the insurance hikes for a few years.

If I'm gonna drop 150$ or more on it, I may as well drop a little more to have it be perfect, or else I'll want to upgrade in a year or so.

 

[Coldon66]

@Coldon66, I have considered the DFGT and I know it is a great wheel, but there are things I want such as the H-pattern shifter and clutch pedal which it doesn't offer.
Yes, it's a lot cheaper, but it's still very expensive and if I'm going to spend a large amount of money on something, I want it to be perfect or else I feel cheated.

I mean no disrespect to you or your choice of wheel, and I see and agree with your point of view, but for me, I know I just won't be satisfied unless I get exactly what I want. We're talking an extra £100 here, but I'm prepared to spend that in order to do so.

Hi, no offence taken. I fully understand that you want the best you can afford. If truth be told, although I am very happy with the DFGT, I already want to upgrade to the GT2 and clubsport pedals, when I have the spare cash. So when you do take the plunge go for the best you can afford - probably may be better, since in the long run if you like these type of sims, then it may be a wise choice to go for something more expensive, as long as you will put it to longterm use. Only my opinion, hope it helps.

However, you are doing the correct thing asking forums such as this to voice their opinions and recommendations for you. Once you get a wheel, you will realise how much better GT5 can be and you won't go back to the dualshock controller I don't think.

 

[PedanticNerd]

Look up some of the PC wheels if you want "perfect". ECCI is one name to look up. Not supported on consoles though.

I can't even afford a wheel at the moment! What makes you think I have a top-of-the-range gaming PC??? Haha

I view it as an investment to keep me from getting into trouble on the streets. One good ticket will be more than my racing setup, and that's not even counting the insurance hikes for a few years.

If I'm gonna drop 150$ or more on it, I may as well drop a little more to have it be perfect, or else I'll want to upgrade in a year or so.

Glad it sounds like the right thing to do. And that's as good an excuse as any, I guess. Might make my parents feel a little bit more comfortable with the whole ordeal

So when you do take the plunge go for the best you can afford - probably may be better, since in the long run if you like these type of sims, then it may be a wise choice to go for something more expensive, as long as you will put it to longterm use. Only my opinion, hope it helps.

However, you are doing the correct thing asking forums such as this to voice their opinions and recommendations for you. Once you get a wheel, you will realise how much better GT5 can be and you won't go back to the dualshock controller I don't think.

It's settled then. I'll find myself a job and get saving! Oh and thanks for the thread feedback - I was sure this topic had been covered 100 times before and was waiting for it to be closed down

Well, I've said this a few times before, but thanks to everyone for your advice! This is an expensive investment but thanks to you I know it's the right thing to do, and can still be done without compromising my other commitments. Thank you all!

 

[evil_c5]

I love mine, got the fanatech stand and wheel and its taken the game to a new level for me....

played online last night with some friends for a few hours, and had the most fun since i got the game.