As I promised, here is my review. Forgive my bad english.
Rinoseat GTR Review
Introduction :
The Rinoseat GTR is the second product from Rino Industries. The first Rinoseat, which I owned before, were already a great quality frame, that's why I expected so much from this second try.
A bucket seat, no bar between legs, sturdy, many settings, large compatibility with most of driving wheels and pedals in the market as Logitech, Fanatec and Thrustmasters, but also the SST lightning gear shifter and other, that's what purposes this brand new Rinoseat GTR.
sold from 279 without shipping cost, does this Rinoseat GTR has what is needed to become a good choice next to its competitors as Playseat or Obutto? Let's see...
What is it :
The Rinoseat GTR is a simracing rig consisting of a seat mounted to an aluminum tubing frame. It's available in many versions, depending on which wheel and pedals you will mount on it : Logitech G25/27, Driving Force GT, Fanatec, Thrustmaster T500 RS ...
The price range is pretty large : 279 for the basic G25/27 edition (without shifter stand) to 349 for the G25/27 & Fanatec compatible version (with shifter stand). But many options can be bought separately : keyboard, mouse holder, screen and triple screen support, inverted pedals, pedals angle options, free choice of colours (2 max) ...
All those options are actually not available yet, but it will eventually will be in few weeks.
With a full option Rinoseat (except the screen stand, which we don't know prices yet), you will have to spend 618 without shipping cost.
However, for an average of 300, the Rinoseat GTR is not that much expensive regarding other similar products.
The Rinoseat GTR is announced as a very modular and sturdy frame. Let's check it out.
The order :
Let's begin by the worst thing : the order process and delays.
If you want to order the Rinoseat GTR, you have to contact Renato (the Rinoseat GTR creator) by email. There is no paypal option since Croatia doesn't have it as a payment process. You'll have to pay by Western Union or bank transfert.
The lack of website's quality is balanced by the reactivity and communication of Renato. He will clearly answer you usually within 48h.
Shipping cost is pretty expensive from 55 to 180 depending shipping type you'll choose. For instance, if you live in France your order can be delivered within 3 to 7 days by plane for 65.
Delays are annonced to be 3 weeks, 2 weeks for treatment, and one week for shipping. Well, be aware that I waited almost 3 months, and many of Rinoseat GTR owners waited this time. I want to believe it's because we were the firsts customers, only time will tell. However Renato made this delays issue a top priority. Let's hope he'll find a solution.
The unboxing :
Your Brand new Rinoseat GTR is very carefully packed in a surprisingly small box, with a record low weight of 12Kg. All tubes except those for the seat are covered by a thick plastic film. About my order, everything arrived without any trouble, no worry to be about the packaging.
First we discover the seat cover, then all tubes which will be needed to built the Rinoseat GTR. Many small plastic bags with screws are there and each bag matches with a particular part of the built, which is an excellent idea. There is an allen keys play, so you won't have to buy some, which is also pretty good. However, there is no manual, Renato will send you it to you by email in PDF.
During this unboxing, you will notice the quality of the built, light tubes but very firms, a good paint job, this is some serious work.
The build :
You'll need a couple of hours to build the whole thing, even though it's pretty simple to put it all together. The manual is given in 2 parts, one for the seat, one for the frame. It would have been nice if it had been more detailed, but it should be clear enough to finish the build.
So you have to mount the seat first, pretty simple to do, but you will need a kind of rubber hammer. You have to be carefull to keep your fingers from injuries, but it should be ok. No info on how to put the seat cover though. Then you will mount the frame. It's the longest part, but even more simple to mount. Wholes placement is very accurate, there's no play between the different parts, all screws can be tightened with allen keys. Again, the quality is there and we already can tell the frame will be very sturdy.
To finish the build, you have to put the seat and the frame together, again, no information on how to do so. But it's pretty easy to understand how it works. In fact, the seat is mounted to a sort of sliders system. The frame of the seat is soldered to a cylinder, one left, one right, and there are 2 tubes mounted to the Rinoseat GTR frame which come in it. You will get it better with pics.
Now your Rinoseat GTR is completely mounted, you'll just have to mount you wheels, pedals, shifter to it. I personally have a Fanatec GT3 RS with Clubsport Pedals, and Fanatec Shifter set.
Settings :
There is an impressive number of settings in the Rinoseat GTR within a large range, even with the basic version. However, everything except the seat forward/backward setting will ask you to take tools out. Why? I thing it's to prevent any firmness issue. Renato had to do some compromises and I think he made the right choice.
Here is what you can do :
_depth of pedals
_left right position f pedals
_height of wheel
_depth of wheel
_wheel angle
_depth of seat
_height of shifter
_depth of shifter
What is unexpected is the only setting which doesn't need tools is the less convincing. Indeed the seat sliders are not so easy to use. If you want to go back you can stay on the seat, but if you want to go forward, you'll have to get out and push it, because the seat mounting is a little bit angled. Not a big matter though, but it had to be pointed.
So the Rinoseat GTR is very modular, so you can find the perfect position after some tries. I managed to get my wheels, pedals and shifter exactly where I wanted it to be.
But everything is not perfect, I would have liked an angle pedals setting in basic version (available as option), such as the seat. However the seat being a good replica of a racing bucket seat, it's understandable not to be angle modular.
(here are wholes which allow 3 angle positions for the wheel
(here is where you can set pedals depth)
(and the wheels height)
(and its depth. Don't bother the weak looking of this mounting system, it's perfectly sturdy!)
(sliders system)
(the shifter stand)
Time to play :
Now everything is mounted, set, we can finally seat in it. It's an easy task since there's no bar between legs. At first the seating position is pretty unusual, the bottom is very low, knees high, the back pretty straight, you won't feel as if you were in your "everyday's car". Indeed, the seating position is pretty much more a racing car driving position. But after getting used to it, you will feel very comfortable, and will notice it's pretty immersive.
Your legs will be free, there is space, your knees won't touch anything, you'll be able to show you "hell toe skills" to you friends without any problem.
But the best thing in this Rinoseat GTR is that despite its very low weight, it's amazingly sturdy. Nothing moves, neither the wheel, pedals or shifter. If you go too strong, you will brake your wheel not the Rinoseat. That's excellent.
A little word about esthetics : I find the Rinoseat GTR very good looking. The seat cover is very soft, the paint is very nice (mate looking paint), and the frame pretty discreete. Furthermore, the seat is great looking.
Last but not least big advantage of this Rinoseat GTR, it's not too big. It's one of reasons why I purchased this rig, and I have to say it's very easy to take it and move it where you need.
A little bad point to notice : the tube are in direct contact with the ground, it would have been nice to get some rubber or teflon pads. Aslo, there's no clamp to manage cables.
So this Rinoseat fullfils its purpose in a brillant way, without a doubt.
Conclusion :
Here is the end of this "little" review of the Rinoseat GTR. As I expected, it's an excellent product. Perfection doesn't exist, but we have to admit there are some excellent ideas in the Rinoseat GTR conception : light, small, very sturdy, modular, comfortable, everything you'll need to get the maximum pleasure of your favorites racing simulations. Another thing I didn't mention in this review is the evolutive potential of the Rinsoeat GTR. Thanks to Renato, you will benefit a very good support for your product. So the Rinoseat GTR will be compatible with future products (ex : Fanatec Clubsport Shifter and Handbrake). Another example : to my ask, Renato is making a special holder for my Frex H Shifter.
Unfortunately, there are some bad thing to point out : delays and shipping cost, also the seat sliders which are not se easy to use, and finally pedals angle which is not modular in basic version.
Although, when we balance everything, we have a very good product here. If you are ready to wait, you won't be disapointed.
Good :
_Very sturdy
_light
_modular
_comfortable
_very good looking
_excellent built
_doesn't take too much space
_price
Bad :
_delays
_shipping cost
_seat sliders
_no "feet" as rubber or teflon pads
_no clamp for cables managing
_a manual a little bit minimalist
I will add a video as soon as possible.
