Is the Fanatec V2 base worth the money?

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Miffy Wiffy

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The G27 is so dated now and I tried it round my friends and it just feels so depressing like I'm using a toy; at that point I'd rather just not play at all if that was my only option. I've had two Thrustmaster TX wheels go faulty on me within the first month and I just got a refund from amazon. Unless the T500 is just that damn good, I'm not willing to buy from Thrustmaster again, but from what I've heard it uses a dated motor that gives less feel and will suffer from wear?

The Fanatec V2 base comes out in May according to their site, I'm guessing that is when it stops being invite only and available to everyone? I just keep hearing about how that wheel is amazing, sadly though it is really expensive, so it'll be a big investment if I get one. Just wondering if it is worth every penny?

There just doesn't seem to be any other good options out there. I'm thinking of just taking a break because I'm bored of using a controller and waiting for that base to come out?


Thanx.
 
I have a T500 and love it, it's never given me an issue. What happened with your TX's?? If my T500 died tomorrow, I would probably get a TX or a T300RS.

I've never used a CSWv2 but the reviews are really good. It IS just a PC wheel right now, so if you got the TX for Forza or console use in general it won't work... although Fanatec is hinting about console specific rims. The base and a rim can also cost you right around $1000, and that is a pretty serious investment IMO. Fanatec also has a bit of a reputation for unreliability, although as this IS an evolution of an existing product I'd hope it would be pretty well sorted out.

Personally I think if I was going to go as far as the what CSWv2 and the rims cost I might just go the whole way and get Accuforce. Again, it's PC only, but it's said to be another level entirely.
 
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My first wheel just had a really loud fan from day one and I thought maybe it was normal because it was my first ever wheel, but it just stopped working. My replacement had a really loud belt that didn't feel smooth and then while playing it just stopped giving any FFB. I wrote off Thrustmaster at that point but the T500 has been around for years and so I wondered about that. However it has been out for years and judging from reviews it isn't as good as the TX/T300.

I just look around and there aren't any good options that I can buy without serious investment. £780 is what the Fanatec would put me back for the lot (without the shifter) and the Thrustmaster is about half the price. When you talk Accuforce (I googled it), we're talking about a hell of a lot more money.


There is just something annoying about buying the T300 and having to buy the T3PA pedals whenever they're in stock or buying a Fanatec pedal set. Why can't you just get the package right in the first place or sell things separately like Fanatec do?
 
Do you play on console or just PC? There aren't many "cheap but good" options if you're not into the G27. I actually REALLY liked my G27 but I kinda lucked into a deal on a T500 and the rest is history.

T300 does come with a much less terrible rim than the TX, and the pedals aren't THAT bad. Think of them as freebie starter pedals. Presonally I really like the stock rim except it's a little smaller than the T500's... beats the crap out of the TX rim tho!

T500 has an industrial strength brushed motor and I really like the heavy, invert-able pedals (especially with the cheap, reversible Basher mod) and the slightly bigger than average stock rim. Some people hate the static paddles, but a rim swap can fix that. It was definitely the best "mass market" wheel you could get upon release, and for powerful FFB I don't know what can beat it even today, although you can get faster and smoother FFB thanks to the newer brushless wheels (TX, T300, CSWv2.) The fan is pretty loud on it, but not so bad I have needed to swap it yet.
 
I had a T500 and loved it for 4 yrs and gave me minimal problems. After 4yrs the base started making horrible flexing noises. I went through all the steerings and they were all good. I had to replace the base as it was clearly at the end of its life and the choice was go for the same or jump ship to something up the scale.

I decided to go for the CSWV2, Uni-hub, GT and the Formula steering. I don't want to run the T500 down but from personal experience so far, if you have the money and want to experience quality and accurate FFB, go for the CSWV2, you will not regret it. There might be some waiting involve, cause everyone wants one, but in the end the smile on your face will say it all.
The same might be true if you go the Accu way but I cannot comment there.
 
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I think I'm just gonna go for the Fanatec wheel, a long wait until May but at least I'll have some more spare cash then any ways.
 
Gunstar
Good call dude, can't wait to hear what you think of it.
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I just got £300 worth of overpaid tax back and the wait for the Fanatec was so long even on invite only orders. I just decided to buy a T500 until the V2 becomes widely available, I can't really lose much money on it any ways.

If it is faulty though, that is it I give up with Thrustmaster, I couldn't find any load cell mods in stock but I'm just gonna hope the basherboard mod does the trick.

Why is wheel gear so hard to get? Is the market so small that they don't make much of them?
 
I really like the T500 and the Basher mod, so hopefully you will too. I use a custom rim, and to me that's the biggest advantage of TM, although Fanatec does have an answer for that now too.

As for wheel stuff, niche market is part of it, some of the companies, like Fanatec, are small, plus no HUGE titles right now to drive sales doesn't help.
 
Logitech is about 100x larger (in revenue terms) than Thrustmaster or Fanatec, which are both vast compared to the tiny niche companies like Bodnar, SimXperience, Ecci, etc...

Logitech has stopped developing new wheels, so we are clearly seeing Thrustmaster struggle to pick up the slack of console wheel purchases now that Logitech has left the building. It's really annoying right now as a sim racer wanting to purchase quality gear, but on the other hand these modern brushless belt drive wheels (TX, T300, CSWv2) are miles ahead of the Logitech kit in terms of capabilties, so we can't really complain about that, just about QC and distribution challenges.
 
skazz
Logitech is about 100x larger (in revenue terms) than Thrustmaster or Fanatec, which are both vast compared to the tiny niche companies like Bodnar, SimXperience, Ecci, etc...

Logitech has stopped developing new wheels, so we are clearly seeing Thrustmaster struggle to pick up the slack of console wheel purchases now that Logitech has left the building. It's really annoying right now as a sim racer wanting to purchase quality gear, but on the other hand these modern brushless belt drive wheels (TX, T300, CSWv2) are miles ahead of the Logitech kit in terms of capabilties, so we can't really complain about that, just about QC and distribution challenges.
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Also though back in 07/08 when the the G25 first came out and then the G27, they had no competition. If they made a G29, it would obviously be belt driven, though for me personally Brushless vs Brushed for a wheel... the jury is still out.
 
It does baffle me that Logitech walked away from the wheel market. I know they weren't getting the sales they wanted from "console" accessories, but there is NO way the G27 wasn't lucrative for them. I just don't think they feel like they could go much further and hit that sub $300 price they seem to still own to this day.
 
oqvist
I don´t see how the jury could be out on brushless vs brushed. Brushed just have no pros :)
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Only pro is from a manufacturing standpoint, its easier to design the electronics for a brushed motor. Brushless requires more precise control and more complicated electronics to run them from what I recall reading. From a consumer standpoint, you're right without a doubt.
 
Gunstar
It does baffle me that Logitech walked away from the wheel market. I know they weren't getting the sales they wanted from "console" accessories, but there is NO way the G27 wasn't lucrative for them. I just don't think they feel like they could go much further and hit that sub $300 price they seem to still own to this day.
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My guess is that they don't feel like there's enough profit to start R&D on another wheel when the wheel market is already saturated with competitors. Logitech has been popular for so long due to keeping cost low and selling an entry level wheel. There's nowhere to go from there without going up in cost to build a better wheel which in turn might not sell that well since they would likely lose their pricing advantage that they currently have with the G27.
 
Blkout
My guess is that they don't feel like there's enough profit to start R&D on another wheel when the wheel market is already saturated with competitors. Logitech has been popular for so long due to keeping cost low and selling an entry level wheel. There's nowhere to go from there without going up in cost to build a better wheel which in turn might not sell that well since they would likely lose their pricing advantage that they currently have with the G27.
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Yeah, that's kind of what I was saying. Maybe they don't think they can push the G27 any further and stay under $300. It IS a pity tho that they didn't come up with a DFGT successor, something that would work with new gen consoles and PC.
 
So I got the wheel but it is sitting slightly off center to the left with no power, that has me worried. Cannot power it up however because even though I bought from a UK store, I got an EU plug with no adapter, so I have an adapter coming tomorrow.

If I cannot fix the off center thing though... I'm done with Thrustmaster.


You can see here..

http://s9.postimg.org/f9vxt2a0v/IMG_0066.jpg
 
Miffy Wiffy
So I got the wheel but it is sitting slightly off center to the left with no power, that has me worried. Cannot power it up however because even though I bought from a UK store, I got an EU plug with no adapter, so I have an adapter coming tomorrow.

If I cannot fix the off center thing though... I'm done with Thrustmaster.


You can see here..

http://s9.postimg.org/f9vxt2a0v/IMG_0066.jpg
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Is it so difficult to visit the Thrustmaster support site and download their instruction for how to correct the wheel center position (one-off action)?
http://ts.thrustmaster.com/eng/index.php?pg=view_files&gid=1&fid=2&pid=316&cid=6

Fanatec wheels have almost identical procedure for adjusting center position, and just as much chance that you'll need to do it once for a new wheel.
 
skazz
Is it so difficult to visit the Thrustmaster support site and download their instruction for how to correct the wheel center position (one-off action)?
http://ts.thrustmaster.com/eng/index.php?pg=view_files&gid=1&fid=2&pid=316&cid=6

Fanatec wheels have almost identical procedure for adjusting center position, and just as much chance that you'll need to do it once for a new wheel.
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I hope so, I'll see tomorrow when the adapter comes.

I have to say though just moving it around, it feels as smooth as the TX, I couldn't tell the difference apart from the noise of the brushes, though you wont hear that over the fans.

The pedals feel nice, the brake is terrible but hopefully the basherboard mod wont be long, haven't had an email from him saying dispatched.. dunno If I'll get one?

+ I wish iRacing had an alarm built in, third time today I've forgot about a race start and lost rating lol.
 
I plugged it in, it worked for 10 mins and then it made a strange noise and now I have smoke coming out of it. I was so excited as well, I got into iRacing and it felt great, I just wanted to get it to center as it was 0.3% out. Opened up the driver and just heard this squealing noise and saw smoke...

http://s23.postimg.org/cygk11irv/IMG_0069.jpg

3/3 Thrustmaster products that have died now.... I cannot believe it!
 
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oqvist
hmm what kind of adapter did you get?
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Na it's not the adapter, we get them all the time in products to convert between EU and UK products. The power supply says 110 - 240v any ways, so it would have blown that if there was any thing up, that will regulate the power to the wheel. The adapter is just a passive thing that allows it to fit a UK plug, not like if I put a US product into a UK plug.

Just a faulty product.
 
Gunstar
Some people just can't win.
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What makes me worried though is what if I was busy doing something else and left it on? I plugged it back in to see if it would happen again and it smoked and smoked and got worse. Can it catch on fire?
 
Dunno. I've left my wheel "on" for weeks, never saw any issue. I have it on a switch now tho.
 
Miffy Wiffy
What makes me worried though is what if I was busy doing something else and left it on? I plugged it back in to see if it would happen again and it smoked and smoked and got worse. Can it catch on fire?
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If it's smoking, why would you leave it plugged in at all? Unplug the wheel, put it in the box and return it for a refund.

As for my brake mod, unless you ordered sometime today,it has already shipped. Sorry to hear it sounds like you won't have a use for it.

Best of luck with the V2. I hope your decision proves to be wise.
 
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