Logitech G27 vs. Fanatec CSR ?

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TXBDan

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dannydigital
Hey guys,

I current have a Logitech DFGT and am looking to upgrade. I play Gran Turismo a lot (in a "league") and dabble in GTR2 and RACE from time to time. I'm also considering iRacing at some point.

I'm basically looking to upgrade to get a better and nicer quality feel. I'd like a bigger wheel diameter, hopefully some nicer FFB, and some less mushy pedals.

First, is it possible for either my wheel or my pedals to be used with any other wheels or pedals? If so i might go piece by piece with higher quality devices. Otherwise I'll need a wheel + pedals combo.

I'm looking in the $300 price point so the Logitech G27s come up a lot and i also see the bottom line Fanatec CSR are $299 for the value pack CSR Wheel plus CSR pedals. CSR Wheel + CSRE pedals would put me at $400, but that's getting pricey for me.

I'm not concerned about a shifter at this point.

Any input would be much appreciated, thanks!
 
I have a g27 but you might as well get the fanatec. It has fans so it doesnt heat up which means more playing time. It is overall better now as its a new gen wheel.
 
Of course Fanatec, totally a different league wheel.

Now, I don't see why you need a CSR since you didn't say you need 360 support...
If you don't need 360 support - get GT3 RS, same wheel but with a different rim and 80$ less expensive (so you can go with CSR-E pedals).
FFB is smooth and feels much more natural than G27, Alcantara feels extremly nice and tuning function is amazing for GT5.


About the heating - Fanatec wheels get pretty hot.
 
Energizerrr
Of course , totally a different league wheel.

Now, I don't see why you need a CSR since you didn't say you need 360 support...
If you don't need 360 support - get GT3 RS, same wheel but with a different rim and 80$ less expensive (so you can go with CSR-E pedals).
FFB is smooth and feels much more natural than G27, Alcantara feels extremly nice and tuning function is amazing for GT5.


About the heating - Fanatec wheels get pretty hot.
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CSR that he is on about getting doesn't get hot, I have mine on for hours and it stays cool. Just thought I would mention this so he doesn't see it as a flaw with the product:tup:
 
Thanks for the input. I don't see myself getting an xbox so the Porsche 911 GT3RS wheel is a great option. That with CSR Elite pedals would put me at $330.

Then there's that Thrustmaster T500RS for $385 on Amazon...

slippery slope indeed.

I don't have a "rig" or even a dedicated stand though. I boost up the front half of my coffee table and clamp the wheel to that. I must say the fit is perfect and its very stable. Would this setup limit any higher end choices?
 
I'm not actually sure which wheel combo is better. I think the T500RS is more accurate than the CSR with stronger FFB. Settings can be changed in the wheel for the CSR, allowing you to tune the wheel to what you want with a bit more flexibility, but I heard that the T500RS is the bomb for GT5. The rim on the GT3RS is great to hold and the Alcantara has a nice feel to it. The GT3RS will come with a sequential and H pattern where as the Thrustmaster for this price does not. I don't know how support compares between the two manufacturers.

As for the pedals i believe the majority of people believe the CSR Elites to be better because of the load cell. Since the difference is only 60 for those 2 sets I think it could be based on which features you need more.

Between the G27 and the GT3RS I believe I would take the GT3RS combo. I believe it to be a bit better in almost every way except one. I believe all G27 packages will have a shifter that can be switched from H to sequential. The GT3RS package has a sequential and an H pattern that needs to be swapped on a quite clumsy system if you want to go back and forth. I recommend using paddles and leave the H shifter mounted, but if in fact you do want the sequential then the G27 has a simple knob on the bottom that you can just turn and convert the H in to a sequential.

If you do buy the GT3RS look at the package prices not buying the 2 separately as it will likely come with more items and be cheaper over all.

Edit: The bolded section above is incorrect as bumer pointed out, the second sentence is red rather than deleted as I don't know etiquette on this forum. I confirmed that the G27 is a fixed H shifter.
 
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Unless it has changed in the last few months, or you get them as part of a package deal, The GT3 RS does not come with the external shifters either - just paddles. They work just fine and are easy enough to reach, but for whatever reason GT5 disables use of the clutch when using paddles.
 
Morgoth_666
Unless it has changed in the last few months, or you get them as part of a package deal, The GT3 RS does not come with the external shifters either - just paddles. They work just fine and are easy enough to reach, but for whatever reason GT5 disables use of the clutch when using paddles.
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CSR edition does come with shifters, others don't.

GT5 disables use of clutch, because in real cars you don't have to use clutch when using paddles. So why make it work in game if you never see it in real life.
 
bumer
CSR edition does come with shifters, others don't.

GT5 disables use of clutch, because in real cars you don't have to use clutch when using paddles. So why make it work in game if you never see it in real life.
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Ok, thanks for clarifying that, I was wondering if it was just a new thing I hadn't heard of, but didn't want anybody assuming they'd get them and then not. I hadn't seen the GT3 RS w/ CSR pedals package. I could've saved 50 bucks and got a shifter set too. Oh well, I figured I'd buy the extra ones anyway so no real loss and I got the CSPs to boot.

--------

Back to the clutch issue, I hear that argument all the time and I just can't buy it. Despite the fact that as demonstrated there often is some sort of clutch available, the argument that "it's not like real life" could only possibly apply to driving simulated cars that feature clutchless shifting in the real world... and should thus lock out the clutch for those with H-pattern sticks in those cars as well(don't know if they do that). In fact it should probably lock out the stick itself. I suppose that also includes automatics that didn't have a manual option as well.

For all of the rest of the cars in the universe, it's effectively the same as trying to argue that since no car(ok, maybe a couple of handicapped equipped ones) lets you drive with a couple of joysticks, GT5 should not allow you to play with a DS3. Just because someone couldn't afford/couldn't be bothered to buy a wheel with a proper shifter is no reason why they should not be allowed to use the maximum simulation available on the equipment they do have.

Unless it is simply an issue that people using the clutch and paddles have an undeniable advantage over those using clutch and H-pattern, there is no sense in not having the clutch available as an option. Driving in rFactor and using the clutch with the paddles(my way of knowing it's not the wheel's fault) in no way ruins the feel of driving, and it's not as if any game rig is even close to approximating the real thing either. Perhaps we should ban all racing sims until a proper G-Force chair or 220 degree wraparound is widely available to those of moderate means? And of course the clutch itself feels nothing at all like a real clutch, race or street car. I'm not sure if there are any wheels in which it does, as you would have to simulate the friction point somehow.

Ok, this probably isn't the ideal place for having this discussion, but I've rarely seen that argument countered when it has come up.
 
Morgoth_666
Unless it has changed in the last few months, or you get them as part of a package deal, The GT3 RS does not come with the external shifters either - just paddles. They work just fine and are easy enough to reach, but for whatever reason GT5 disables use of the clutch when using paddles.
Click to expand...

The package that compares in price currently has a shifter set and CSR pedals as far as I remember.


Morgoth_666
Ok, thanks for clarifying that, I was wondering if it was just a new thing I hadn't heard of, but didn't want anybody assuming they'd get them and then not. I hadn't seen the GT3 RS w/ CSR pedals package. I could've saved 50 bucks and got a shifter set too. Oh well, I figured I'd buy the extra ones anyway so no real loss and I got the CSPs to boot.
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Again as far as I remember the CSP set did not come with shifters so I don't think you will have an extra set. There are 2 packages. The CSR and the CSP. The CSR comes with CSR pedals and CSR shift set. The CSP comes with the CSP pedals only.

... and on the clutch issue. It's impossible to discuss and I honestly don't believe there is a right answer, in the current state of affairs.
 
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VWMasteR
The package that compares in price currently has a shifter set and CSR Elite pedals as far as I remember.




Again as far as I remember the CSP set did not come with shifters so I don't think you will have an extra set. There are 2 packages. The CSR and the CSP. The CSR comes with CSR pedals and CSR shift set. The CSP comes with the CSP pedals only.

... and on the clutch issue. It's impossible to discuss and I honestly don't believe there is a right answer, in the current state of affairs.
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Yep I bought mine shortly before the CSR wheels/pedals came out, hadn't realized they made the new combo as the last time I was on the site it wasn't there. Sounds like a pretty good deal, but I'm happy with the Clubsports too. Hopefully I can get the shifters next year.
 
Had G25 for a year, gt3rs (i think same wheel as a CSR) for a month with CSP.

My choice would be definitly G25.

i cant explain, fanatec didnt gave me good delivery of what is going on on the track. Great ffb when turning, but in critical situation didnt gave me information, couldnt countersteer in time.

Hard to explain since english is not my native language.

CSP pedals are great, gas pedal goes very smooth, definitely better than g25 pedals. Brake pedal little to stiff for me but i think i would get used to if i had them for longer time.

I wouldnt recommend the wheel but pedals definitely.

See all the possibilities on the market, i hope you find best solution for you.
 
I have the G27, but I hear from various reviews that the CSR wheel is better. However, it is more expensive and the standard pedals leave much to be desired.

The G27 can be had fairly cheap, here in the UK the price is down to £160-170 and should be ~$250 in the US. For the CSR, the wheel on it's own is $250, but this does not include pedals (As a DFGT owner you will need a new set of pedals) so the G27 absolutely destroys it on price.

The CSR Elite wheel is the one that competes with the T500, but the standard CSR wheel is closer the the GT2 wheel I understand, so it really depends if you're willing to spend that little bit extra. Buying the CSR wheel now, with the intention of buying a higher end set of Fanatec pedals at a later date wouldn't be a bad move. Buying the cheaper G27 set now and then replacing the entire set later (As the G27 pedals aren't as good as the higher end Fanatec ones) would be a false-economy.

The G27 as a wheel is very good quality, and the pedals are a lot better than the DFGT set. rumours of a new Logitech wheel in the making are fueling a price drop. Prior to the G27 release, the G25 was going for ~£130 or around $200. The G27 appears to be going the same way, so maybe it's worth waiting a month or two.

Summary:

Best wheel is the CSR. Standard CSR pedals aren't that much better than G27 set. Package costs more than G27.

CSP or CSR Elite pedals are preferable to CSR set, but push the price up to $400 or higher. G27 pedals similar to standard CSR set, both can be modified with a load cell (Nixim mod and official fanatec mod respectively). So the only difference between the packages are the wheel and the price. The CSR is the better wheel, but at a higher price, so it depends if you are willing to pay the extra.

I recommend the $300 CSR set with the intention of buying the Clubsport pedals in the future. But there are better wheels out there than the CSR, so maybe it's better to buy a cheap set now (G27) and save up for a CSR Elite wheel with CSR elite or CSP pedal set, which is far superior to the standard CSR.
 
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I upgraded to a CSR bundle (CSR +CSR Pedals w/shifters) from a Driving Force Pro and the $300 bundle is a substantial upgrade even with the regular CSR pedals. Granted, I will be ordering a CSP set soon, but I'm very happy with the regular CSR pedals.

I thought about getting a top of the line CSR Elite with CSP or CSR Elite pedals, but i thought, "I'm coming from a Driving Force Pro...anything that works on 360 will be an upgrade." Even though I have the funds for a CSR Elite setup, I will wait for the next best thing in 6 months to a year. The CSR will hold me over. If it breaks, I'll return it and get a CSR Elite. hah.

Anyway, get the CSR bundle. You won't regret it.
 
if budget under $300 get a g27 (incl pedals and shifter) . great wheel, most "moddable", best VFM by a country mile and amazing customer service

if you have more cash then you could go for T500 which was better than the GT2 (the CSR is a GT2 reskinned) or you could go for the Fanatec GT3RS / Clubsport pedal combo which has better pedals than T500, but GT3 wheel isn't as good (since it's a GT2 without Xbox compatibility) . T500 also has a great TH8RS shifter that is PC/PS3 compatble (however it is additional cost and only works with T500 wheel on PS3 AFAIK - no issues working with other wheels on PC)

either way, don't go for the CSR, whose only adavantage is Xbox compatibility, which you don't seem to need. (also there will probably be a new "Xbox 720" at Xmas 2012 and who knows if the CSR will be compatible)

just my 2 cents

PS since you have a DFGT, you should check Logitech website since they offer an "upgrade program" ie you get a nice rebate if you trade in your old wheel. not sure if they have it in your country, but check local website or call them to see if that applies, as you could be eligible for a 50% voucher usually valid for 1 month
 
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The G27 is still a beast. I upgraded from the DFGT and highly recommend it. You could always buy it, try it for a couple of days, neatly repackage and return. (Not that I'd recommend that)
 
I went from a G27 to a CSR wheel and is was an incremental upgrade, not a different league by any means. The belt driven system feels more substantial and more realistic. The wheel is also not as loose with a significant dead center like my Logitech had. The FFB accuracy/detail/strength is where these two are don't differ so much that I'd put them in a different league, but the belt system just feels better.

Overall I would rate them like this:

G27 - 5/10
CSR - 6/10
T500RS - 10/10 - this is what I'd call different league compared to those two

My recommendation is to get a T500RS because the sale price on Amazon cannot be beat right now.
 
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I still love my G27 and it's my prefered choice on PS3.

It's just that I never use the PS3 anymore. Lol.
 
chamade
I went from a G27 to a CSR wheel and is was an incremental upgrade, not a different league by any means. The belt driven system feels more substantial and more realistic. The wheel is also not as loose with a significant dead center like my Logitech had. The FFB accuracy/detail/strength is where these two are rather similar IMO.

Overall I would rate them like this:

G27 - 4/10
CSR - 6/10
T500RS - 10/10 (not that I have never experienced a Frec or ECCI)
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dang. makes me want to sell my CSR and get an Elite. hah
 

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