Racing Wheel (Better/more realistic or both)

[Straightsix9904]

I'm thinking about investing in a Logitech Driving Force GT racing wheel. How do they really change the feel of the game. I had an old cheap one a long time ago but I wanted to know if a good one with a great driving sim was a totally different experience.

How and What does the little red wheel change the setup of the car (as claimed)

Basically, what is your take

 

[darkblade986]

It absolutely is. The feedback from the wheel gives a great feel to how your car is performing at the moment and helps immensely with slide recovery, as you can feel the way your car wants to turn and work with or against it.

Also, it's much better from a performance standpoint. By having separate gas and break pedals, you can do more technical tricks with them - specifically, using the break without lifting off the throttle to maintain RPMs. The wider range of motion in both the wheels and the pedals, and the use of full limbs to control them rather than individual fingers, means you have a much finer level of control than a controller.

Any steering wheel will definitely improve the experience and performance, and the Driving Force GT is no exception. If you can get your hands on one, I wholly recommend it.

EDIT: Didn't notice the second question. The red dial is your Quick Tune menu. This gives you access to change the following details at a whim within a race: Traction Control (0-10), 4-Wheel-Drive Torque Differential (when equipped, 10/90-50/50), ASM (Off-On), ABS (0-10), Front Brake Power (0-10), Rear Brake Power (0-10). Each of these is otherwise adjustable through the Driving Options Menu (Traction Control, ASM, ABS) or the Settings Menu (4WDtq, Brakes).

 

[Peter3759]

You should definitely get the DFGT, the force feedback gives you a much greater feel of the car and what direction it wants to go in a corner.

 

[StarEye]

There's absolutely no way to describe the incredible difference between playing Gran Turismo 5 with a controller and with a decent wheel (like the DFGT). You will never want to play GT with a controller again, and you'll actually want all your racing games to feel good with a wheel from now on. I know that's the case with me at least.

 

[Nephitis]

Okay! I do not specifically have a Logitech Driving Force GT racing wheel, but I do have 3 different racing wheels, one being the Logitech G25 that I use for Gran Turismo 5. Now, GT5 does not fully support Logitech G25 but if we talk about quality here, then a rigid and sturdy racing wheel will definitely add to your driving experience. Good force feedback is crucial to the driving experience. You don't want a wheel to squeak or flex during aggressive maneuvers.

 

[bob1888]

Imo you should buy the LOGITECH G25 or G27.they are a little expensive but really worth the money.iv got the G25 and the DFGT and i think the G25 is the better wheel

 

[aQuarius26]

There's absolutely no way to describe the incredible difference between playing Gran Turismo 5 with a controller and with a decent wheel (like the DFGT). You will never want to play GT with a controller again, and you'll actually want all your racing games to feel good with a wheel from now on. I know that's the case with me at least.

+1 👍

I had already finished Prologue with a controller, just as I had with every other release of GT before, and when I got my G27 earlier this year, I went back to play GT2, GT3 A-spec, GT4 & Prologue all over again because they might as well have been brand new games.

I just cant believe I had so much fun with a controller in the past, when now there will never be another way to play a console racing game.

 

[Akmuq]

Gt2 with a g27 sounds ......diferent.

 

[lsd265]

one thing you will find when you get a wheel is you kind of need to learn to drive again in the game lol, I'm using the driving force GT, it's pretty awesome.. I felt like the wheel lacked a bit of that rumble you get when you hit the brakes, once you hit the dirt tracks though wow the wheel is vibrating and feels like you are driving on a real dirt road.. with the wheel, some cars im quicker with and with really slippery cars I still find it easier with the controller.. more practice needed I guess.. like 12 years with the controller.. 2 days on the wheel.. takes a bit of time to beat your controller self.. I actually find it a fun challenge to set a fast lap with controller.. then try beat it with the wheel.. getting there lol.. on tsukuba with the hks time attack evo I'm quicker with the wheel.. that car you can just throw around and it sticks .. 54 seconds with controller.. 52 seconds with wheel getting there.. lol

 

[Straightsix9904]

Imo you should buy the LOGITECH G25 or G27.they are a little expensive but really worth the money.iv got the G25 and the DFGT and i think the G25 is the better wheel

I just can't justify spending TRIPLE on a racing wheel at this point. Plus, I know, that the g27 has the gated 6 speed. What happens you drive a 7 speed like some mercs or 4 speeds

Btw. How are you guys mounting yours. I don't have a space big enough for the racing seat combo deal. I was thinking about buying a small/Surat desk and rolling up my desk chair.

 

[Peter3759]

There's absolutely no way to describe the incredible difference between playing Gran Turismo 5 with a controller and with a decent wheel (like the DFGT). You will never want to play GT with a controller again, and you'll actually want all your racing games to feel good with a wheel from now on. I know that's the case with me at least.

You aren't the only one. I tell my friends that GT5 is no fun without a wheel.

Btw. How are you guys mounting yours. I don't have a space big enough for the racing seat combo deal. I was thinking about buying a small/Surat desk and rolling up my desk chair.

Like this:
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/peter3759/Photo0321.jpg

 

[Miths]

Playing racing games - at least those that can be classified as sims or "semi-sims" - with a decent or great force feedback wheel and pedals, just takes the experience to an entirely different level.
Don't hesitate for a second to buy a wheel. The G25/27 is certainly in a different league than the cheaper Logitech wheels in terms of build quality and feel (the pedals more than anything else), but I had a Driving Force Pro (the precursor to the DFGT) until four years ago when the G25 was released, and the DFP was a perfectly fine wheel, only the cheap feeling plastic pedals let it down a bit.

Mounting wheel and pedals can be a bit tricky depending on your furniture. I don't have any furniture I can use for the task in my current apartment (it's all curved glass and steel in the living room), so I bought a Wheelstand Pro - http://www.wheelstandpro.com/ - a couple of years ago.
It ain't the prettiest thing to have standing around in the living room - and it's just too cumbersome to pack away unless I don't plan on using it for several days or more - but it's that or go back to using a gamepad. Easy choice .

 

[crazedmodder]

I have been using a controller since GT1. I played so many racing games over the years with a controller:
GT1 to GT5P
NFS2 to NFS Underground 2
Midnights Club 3 to LA
Test Drive 5, 6 and Unlimited
so I had a lot of experience with the pad.

My first wheel (Logitech DFGT) I hated at the start and put it away. Then a few months later I took it back out, after a bit of time I became as quick with it as I was with a controller. It's been about a year and a half now and I have just bought a Turbo S ... I will NEVER go back to a controller, there's no joy for me anymore when using one.

I'm already looking forward to the day I buy a Frex wheel or ECCI if they support my console of choice by the time I have enough money ... PS4 maybe ? I will have one!

 

[Arc]

I have been using a controller since GT1. I played so many racing games over the years with a controller:
GT1 to GT5P
NFS2 to NFS Underground 2
Midnights Club 3 to LA
Test Drive 5, 6 and Unlimited
so I had a lot of experience with the pad.

My first wheel (Logitech DFGT) I hated at the start and put it away. Then a few months later I took it back out, after a bit of time I became as quick with it as I was with a controller. It's been about a year and a half now and I have just bought a Turbo S ... I will NEVER go back to a controller, there's no joy for me anymore when using one.

I'm already looking forward to the day I buy a Frex wheel or ECCI if they support my console of choice by the time I have enough money ... PS4 maybe ? I will have one!

If you can afford a Frex or ECCI, you might as well try iRacing. Best simulator imho.

 

[Goshin2568]

DEFINETLY better with a wheel. Takes a few days/weeks depending on how much you use it to get used to it though. After that the game become 100x more fun. Anyway, I agree, getting a G25/G27 is way worth the extra money. You can find them for $200-$250 so if at all possible that's the way to go.

 

[crazedmodder]

If you can afford a Frex or ECCI, you might as well try iRacing. Best simulator imho.

Yeah I had iRacing but no funds to renew it right now. If I get more money I will definitely be back on it but there will always be a place in my heart for GT because I like having a huge selection of vehicles. Even if there is no more GT in the future I still like having the compatibility.

That being said, I suggest once you guys get used to your wheels you sample some other games because they can feel so different it's amazing.

iRacing offers so much feel for the weight shifting of vehicles and locking the brakes.
Supercar Challenge felt really good and had strong FFB but has a horrible deadzone.
Grid is really fun with a wheel but I don't really remember how the FFB felt.
Test Drive: Unlimited I just tried out again a few months ago and it felt better than I though it would with a wheel, not amazing but definitely fun.
Midnight Club: LA, a bit confusing with a wheel at first but also so much fun.

AKA a wheel makes any racing game loads more fun!

 

[Vesartis]

I recently made the transition to the the Logitech DFGT this summer. It really is a game changer. The important thing to remember is that the force feedback is there to tell you how the car is moving and it is ok to resist it. When I first started using the wheel I let the feedback move my hands and didn't fight it enough. You have to get comfortable with the information that the wheel provides you. There is much more prescision and finesse when using the wheel. I even got pretty decent at drifting on prolouge.

As for mounting the wheel, I had a big problem since my TV is wall mounted and in the living room. I needed something easy to put away and inexpensive. Something like this may work if you are lookng for something cheap, easy to store, and don't want to build something yourself. It's a little wobbly but works if you keep a good grip on the wheel. I just trun it with the lower support bar closer to me, push the pedals against the right inside, and straddle my legs around the left side. Works pretty good for like $12.

 

[deviln3]

There's absolutely no way to describe the incredible difference between playing Gran Turismo 5 with a controller and with a decent wheel (like the DFGT). You will never want to play GT with a controller again, and you'll actually want all your racing games to feel good with a wheel from now on. I know that's the case with me at least.

I got DFGT with GT5 and this is exactly how I felt... I can't play with a controller anymore, the wheel is just too good. Its like a whole new game, took a couple of races to get used to everything though..

I felt the wheel made me faster, I was able to get all silvers + some golds in the first 2 license tests. I know with a controller it would have taken longer and I might not have even got some of the silvers. Especially the slalom challenge with those cones in the second license.

 

[wills2084]

I just got my DFGT about two months ago in order for GT5... I must say; there is no other way to play Gran Turismo except with a wheel!!! Once you go wheel you will never go back!

 

[Phantom3D]

I use the G25 and a racing seat from playseats.com, I also have the gear-holder. Think this is the best setup so far, but playseats are expensive. On the other hand your wheel, gear and pedals are super tight, you can play really brutal, and that is priceless :-D

I would consider waiting for the new Thrustmaster 500.. might be worth it!

 

[the-mont]

I have been playing for about a week with dualshock pad and I have gold in licence b,a,ic,ib,ia working on ia-10 now.. I also have a dfgt and I only use it for a-spec races.. Evrytime I try doing a licence with the wheel I do VERY badly and go right back to the pad..
How come I do much better with a pad than with a wheel??

 

[VVV Imbue]

The DFGT is such good value for money and the real time tuning is a very nice touch indeed. Once the peddles are modded al-a-spondge style, even they are ok.

I have to say, it takes the driving exspirience to the next level, without spending hundereds of pounds.

 

[Mopatop]

I would consider waiting for the new Thrustmaster 500.. might be worth it!

I'm trying to justify buying that at the moment! I recently got a G27 though so it would represent a huge outlay on equipment. Maybe if I can flip my G27 it would be worth it. Really thought I'd just settle for full G27 support.

Gutted this wheel wasn't available three weeks ago.

 

[Destinkeys]

There's a REASON they don't use gamepads in real cars! You would be taking your life into your hands every time you drove anywhere...

The steering wheel and pedals system has endured for nearly a century for a damn good reason. Exactly the RIGHT kind of motion for each function. Steering is VERY precise (and critical for making it to your next birthday) with a wheel, and VERY imprecise with a thumb operated joystick. 900º of rotation squeezed into less than an inch of thumb action. You can't steer well with that! Only thing it's good for is making abrupt L>R>L lock to lock motion for ultra tight chicanes, but it's just not realistic that way.

Get the DFGT. It's a third the price of a G27, and you'll drive just as fast (or REALLY close to it). Then you've got $200 left over to go towards a Play Seat or really solid support for the wheel....💡

 

[GT5Canuck]

I bought my DFGT for a steal ($45), and this opened up both wheel driving and manual gear shifting. Lord, wonderful! I wouldn't have paid $180 (going price) for it, probably wouldn't have paid $100. I have a family to feed. But I'm glad I got it.

 

[Pedal-Force]

You really just can't beat a wheel. I've got a G27 with reverse mounted pedals on an Obutto oZone cockpit.

It was pricey, but my word, it's amazing. I even got my parents (late 50s) to play, and they had a blast. They're still pretty terrible, so I'll get them better when they're here for Christmas maybe.

First time I drove a car (in GT5) with a wheel, I couldn't stop grinning. I also love having the G27 because my real world car doesn't have a manual and I miss driving a stick.

It really kept me from buying another car. I was gonna buy something sporty with a stick shift, like an S2000 or VW Golf GTI or something, but the racing cockpit and G27 were much cheaper, and probably more fun. Plus I won't lose my license.

 

[Lynx-Can]

I can't believe I waited this long to get a wheel. (DFGT) I wasn't to bad with my pad. I've Managed to get up to 50 golds and 2 silvers in the license tests and I was in Division 2 in the WRS.

I'm now going to start using my GTP account over Xmas with the wheel. So far I've managed mainly silver and bronze but I don't care. The game feels so much smoother and realistic. I've also found the NASCAR specials so much easier. I actualy like NASCAR now.