how much faster (lap time) does the wheel make you?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr-McNUGGET
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Mr-McNUGGET

Mr-McNUGGET

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Mr_McNUGGET
Just like the title says. How many seconds dropped off your lap time using a wheel vs. using a controller.
I love gt. I have always wanted a wheel, but, I'm also a cheap bastard. I was wanting to see if it would be really worth it.
 
A lot, beyond comparison. And not only that but with pad I could do 1 fast lap, on wheel I can do many laps within 0.050/0.100 so not only does it make you faster - but it makes you a lot more consistent.
A wheel is hard to master (if you never used a wheel before you're looking at about 3 months) but when you do master it... oh boy, what a change.
PS. Never buy a wheel just to become faster, it doesn't work like that.

At first you'll become slower, then you'll spin out like crazy - but when you get used to countersteering and correcting then you'll prosper.


Oh, another thing - wheel will make you a bit faster but don't expect that, by buying a wheel that you'll become amazingly fast, since it doesn't work like that. You'll become a bit faster (for example I'm 0.5 faster with wheel than with pad on Eiger Nordwand) but don't expect miracles.
I was fast on pad before, I wasn't anything special but my skill on pad was enough for golding the Vettel Challenge.
 
You won't be quicker at first. I've had a G27 for about 2 months and I'm just getting to the pace I ran with DS3. However, like Fobia said, I'm a lot more consistent now.
 
When you buy a wheel, the grin on your face is worth three times the price.
 
I don't know that I'm any faster, but I am much cleaner.
 
Yes I'm faster when I don't make a mistake and I'm making fewer and fewer mistakes.
 
I would like to answer, but I can't finish a lap with the pad :lol:

I'd say don't get the wheel for the sake of lap times, get it for pure driving pleasure.
 
if you get a wheel, you'll actually get better with the pad too.
 
Not easy to say - I think diffenrent tracks and different cars, plus if i'd never bought a wheel i'd probably be faster with a stick by now anyway. Last week I was trying to get the gtr trophy @ the ring, which i'd done on another account with a stick and couldn't quite hit it, so maybe I'm actually slower, but I do thinkk it's more fun with a wheel.
 
Do you? I've always used a wheel and hardly ever a pad so that didn't happen to me.
 
Maybe a bit, maybe none. A wheel makes the game better but doesnt always make you faster.
Tuning and experience make you faster.
 
Depends on how good you are with the pad to start with. I started GT5 with a wheel so I have no comparison for myself but I can't see using the game any other way. I know I've raced against guys that were as fast as me with a DS3, and there are some advantages to a pad that are tough to replicate with a wheel, like near instantaneous counter steer when the back end kicks out.

I do think in the long run the wheel provides much more enjoyment so long as you have a good comfortable seating position and a sturdy mount, and more consistent lap times in the end.
 
DS3 stick max = max steering input at the limit of grip. Theoretically you could push the stick to the max, keep it there and draw a racing line through a turn based on varying speed alone.
 
I switched to a g27 in the new year and I don't know about faster but it's a lot more enjoyable. I can hold constant radius turns easier, and lapping the eiger short course in the caterham is a blast. Cape ring was a borefest with a ds3 I found but with a wheel I can appreciate its turns. I'm less bothered by what I'm driving now but more how I drive it. I just wish GT5 had more strategic variables for endurance racing etc.
 
People makes me laugh. "Wheel didnt make me faster" yeah rite...
Every above average driver will be faster with a wheel in less than a month of practice.
Dont fall for the "wheel doesn't necessarily make you faster"

Look at time trial or gt academy times, Theres usually 1 or 2 time out of 500 that is registered with a DS3, the rest is just on wheels, while the ratio of gt5 (Time trial) DS3 user vs Wheel is probably 5 maybe 10 wheels for every 100 ds3. Its not the most scientific test but you have probably realise by now that its not a ratio of 1 for 1. So yes a wheels will make you faster, more consistency is faster, especially when you cut 5 sec every 2 "consistent" laps.
 
Drevenger
People makes me laugh. "Wheel didnt make me faster" yeah rite...
Every above average driver will be faster with a wheel in less than a month of practice.
Dont fall for the "wheel doesn't necessarily make you faster"

Look at time trial or gt academy times, Theres usually 1 or 2 time out of 500 that is registered with a DS3, the rest is just on wheels, while the ratio of gt5 (Time trial) DS3 user vs Wheel is probably 5 maybe 10 wheels for every 100 ds3. Its not the most scientific test but you have probably realise by now that its not a ratio of 1 for 1. So yes a wheels will make you faster, more consistency is faster, especially when you cut 5 sec every 2 "consistent" laps.
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Nope...not necessarily. I've known some guys that just can't get used to the finer inputs a wheel demands in order to be consistent and I say again, I am fast and I've been beaten by DS3 users in the past. Some guys just prefer and are faster with a DS3. If you put in the seat time, I think most people will overall be better with the wheel but it's definitely not true in every case.

As far as the TT's go, it may also be true that all the guys that are at the top, the one's that play the most and tune the most, the one's that are most serious about the game, all have wheels. Weren't several of the top ten finishers in the X1 on a DS3?
 
I'm curious, i've never seen a ds3 gold the Vettel challenge. I'm pretty sure its a very rare features just to Silver them using a ds3. But its kinda pointless since its not even a car.

About the seriousness of the people using wheel, I have to disagree. You cant assume DS3 user are less serious about racing or tuning their cars. They are richer yes. All more serious certainly no. Its basically just an assumption.

Ill stick to my point. If you are an above average driver at gt5, you will be faster using a wheel, with practice of course. Dont forget also that pre 2.04 online lobby times was faulty for wheel users compared to DS3 when racing on lobby with 12+ drivers. That might explained some ds3 users beating wheel users.
 
Drevenger
People makes me laugh. "Wheel didnt make me faster" yeah rite...
Every above average driver will be faster with a wheel in less than a month of practice.
Dont fall for the "wheel doesn't necessarily make you faster"

Look at time trial or gt academy times, Theres usually 1 or 2 time out of 500 that is registered with a DS3, the rest is just on wheels, while the ratio of gt5 (Time trial) DS3 user vs Wheel is probably 5 maybe 10 wheels for every 100 ds3. Its not the most scientific test but you have probably realise by now that its not a ratio of 1 for 1. So yes a wheels will make you faster, more consistency is faster, especially when you cut 5 sec every 2 "consistent" laps.
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Like the other guy said, if your serious enough to get on those leaderboards you are probably serious enough to have bought a wheel.
I got a wheel and I am faster than I was but you get faster with experience anyway so its not conclusive at all. I still cant beat my friends record around Nurburgring 24hr which he set with a DS3, matbe I need a more expensive wheel :sly:
 
i love my g27 and its made me play the game more and thus i am faster.

but its annoying trying to find the right setup thats comfortable and functional. i ended up building a cockpit, i had to, the wheel was unusable otherwise IMO.

so you might want to consider the cost of a stand etc as well. worth it if you really like the game! (and why else would you be on here? :) )

my only regret: my g27 doesnt work with xbox, so no forza :(
 
gordie44
my only regret: my g27 doesnt work with xbox, so no forza :(
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Aww, it doesn't?

Well my G27 does, with the converter. :sly:
But I never use it, because I find Forza to be easy and fun enough with the controller (drift mainly).
But I haven't played it in like 2 months now, due to GT5. :D
 
McSoap-90
Aww, it doesn't?

Well my G27 does, with the converter. :sly:
But I never use it, because I find Forza to be easy and fun enough with the controller (drift mainly).
But I haven't played it in like 2 months now, due to GT5. :D
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pretty much everything ive read about that converter convinced me not to buy it, no FFB, huge delay. i thought that the consensus was it would be better to out the $80 towards a fanatec w/ pedal converter.

whats your opinion? (even though you mainly Ds3 it)

:) :)
 
I was having a difficult time with the latest seasonal using the DS3 (or HKS). I could complete the 400PP and 500PP with it, but not the 650PP event. So I hooked up the wheel and won gold on the first attempt with the car that I used last with the HKS.

I have poor control with my thumbs and the controller seems to go from 0 to 100 with nothing in between so I have to blip the throttle instead of being smooth around corners and exiting corners.

But there are some that have not used the wheel long enough to become proficient with it that are still faster with the DS3. I have used a wheel for more than 15 years, so picking up a DS3 was not easy to adjust to. I only use it when I'm being lazy ;)
 
I have a G27 wheel, but I need to find a way to anchor the dang thing down because all I have are lightweight tables in my living room. I've golded almost everything now except for the Vettel challenge, but I think that will be a real pain without the wheel. I think I should learn to use the wheel before I get permanent nerve damage in my thumbs.
 
gordie44
whats your opinion? (even though you mainly Ds3 it)
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Force Feedback works fine, but yes, there is a small delay compared to the PS3 and GT5.

It worked better for the FM3 then FM4.
 
With some wheels you can also use "clutch cheat",so its granted you're faster with them.Good advise?
 
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