What wheel for $400?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mr_lab_rat
  • 49 comments
  • 2,802 views
Also.... Which Thrustmaster Ferrari wheel for $200-300? There are many, some with bungee cord, some with 270 degrees and plastic cogs...
 
mrbasher
Which wheel might that be?

Edit:

mr_lab_rat, based on the criteria you gave, the best 3 options you have if you want to upgrade are -

1. Purchase a T300, you get PS3 and PS4 compatibility.
2. Purchase a used CSW, you get PS3 and possibly PS4 compatibility.
3. Purchase a T500, you get PS3 and maybe PS4 compatibility in some games.

I have used every wheel on the US market today, the CSW V2 isn't included as it's not on the market. I have most all of them AT MY HOUSE and have opened them, modded them, fixed them and tested them quite thoroughly. I used a Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo S exclusively on PS3, Xbox and PC until it broke for good and I started using a backup wheel. (Another PWTS) The difference between that wheel and the GT2 is next to none, spare the rim covering material.

I don't even know why I care all that much except that you've asked the community, which I am a part of and I feel compelled to help when people ask questions like this, as I know. I've been there. I have friends that have been there. Customers that have been there. I've helped uncountable numbers of people get their wheels working again.

What you'd likely be most happy with is a used CSW setup that has been modded by someone, maybe one that includes pedals, etc. It's likely you can get this for cheaper than the T300 or T500. If you want to spend more, go with the T300 and a set of their T3PA pedals or a used set of T500RS pedals.

I would NOT recommend a GT2 unless you wanted to spend as little as humanly possible.

That's my .02 and I'll leave it at that.
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Thank you for your information .. I am not familiar with "CSW" please refer me to their website or link .. money is an issue for sure but not an obstacle .. I so enjoy my digital racing and I am just getting heavily involved so the tools are important .. can you give me some insight as to how you acquired your knowledge of race wheel controllers .. I too would like to read and find out out how to modify controllers or find a technician

I was considering TS500 or Fanatec Club Sport or ECCI 6000 not sure if ECCI 600 works on all platforms .. cost of TS500 is approx $600 both the other two are $1000+ .. I am disabled & retired meaning lots of time and limited income so saving for the right wheel is important
 
skazz
Also.... Which Thrustmaster Ferrari wheel for $200-300? There are many, some with bungee cord, some with 270 degrees and plastic cogs...
Click to expand...

The Trustmaster Ferrari I bought cost just under $200 and I was not impressed with the quality and functions so I returned it .. what I did find is Thrustmaster TS500 and TS300 are interesting and worth testing .. for approx $600 their system claims to be comparable to Fanatec's Club Sport wheel their top of the line at $1000
 
mrbasher
Which wheel might that be?

Edit:

mr_lab_rat, based on the criteria you gave, the best 3 options you have if you want to upgrade are -

1. Purchase a T300, you get PS3 and PS4 compatibility.
2. Purchase a used CSW, you get PS3 and possibly PS4 compatibility.
3. Purchase a T500, you get PS3 and maybe PS4 compatibility in some games.

I have used every wheel on the US market today, the CSW V2 isn't included as it's not on the market. I have most all of them AT MY HOUSE and have opened them, modded them, fixed them and tested them quite thoroughly. I used a Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo S exclusively on PS3, Xbox and PC until it broke for good and I started using a backup wheel. (Another PWTS) The difference between that wheel and the GT2 is next to none, spare the rim covering material.

I don't even know why I care all that much except that you've asked the community, which I am a part of and I feel compelled to help when people ask questions like this, as I know. I've been there. I have friends that have been there. Customers that have been there. I've helped uncountable numbers of people get their wheels working again.

What you'd likely be most happy with is a used CSW setup that has been modded by someone, maybe one that includes pedals, etc. It's likely you can get this for cheaper than the T300 or T500. If you want to spend more, go with the T300 and a set of their T3PA pedals or a used set of T500RS pedals.

I would NOT recommend a GT2 unless you wanted to spend as little as humanly possible.

That's my .02 and I'll leave it at that.
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Are you sure the used CSW setup would be cheaper than a T300RS one? I would have thought that a new T300RS setup might be less than half the price.

Carl Marano
The Trustmaster Ferrari I bought cost just under $200 and I was not impressed with the quality and functions so I returned it .. what I did find is Thrustmaster TS500 and TS300 are interesting and worth testing .. for approx $600 their system claims to be comparable to Fanatec's Club Sport wheel their top of the line at $1000
Click to expand...
Retail of T300RS is $399 so on offer might be nearer $299 which I think represents great value given it likely beat any Fanatec wheel on GT which the OP wants to play on.
 
Carl Marano
The Trustmaster Ferrari I bought cost just under $200 and I was not impressed with the quality and functions so I returned it .. what I did find is Thrustmaster TS500 and TS300 are interesting and worth testing .. for approx $600 their system claims to be comparable to Fanatec's Club Sport wheel their top of the line at $1000
Click to expand...

Hey Carl, I see you are new here, just wanted to say welcome!
There are a couple threads in here that profile all the wheels in price categories, I will see if I can find them...
In the meantime, this list is very incomplete, but highlights some of the more popular ones:

Entry level: $0-$400
Madcats wheels
DFGT
Thrustmaster Ferrari
Logitech G25/27
Fanatec GT2,GT3RS,CSR
Thrustmaster T300RS

Middle of the Road: $400-$900
Fanatec CSR Elite
Thrustmaster T500RS
Fanatec CSW V1, (V2 out soon)

High End: (Thousands of $$$)
ECCI
Bodner
Frex
Accuforce (out soon)
Etc,.. I probably forgot a lot of others, just any direct drive or servo wheels.
 
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Gunstar
He makes adapters for YOUR gear too. What a terrible reply, I'm honestly shocked.
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But there was a smiley. Smiley trumps all doesn't it? Well actually, I think people tack on a smiley when they want to say something that they don't want to be held entirely accountable for.

lemansfanatic
Entry level: $0-$400
Madcats wheels
Click to expand...

Haven't heard much about the new one, but for the old ones you'd need a category where they pay you.
 
lemansfanatic
Hey Carl, I see you are new here, just wanted to say welcome!
There are a couple threads in here that profile all the wheels in price categories, I will see if I can find them...
In the meantime, this list is very incomplete, but highlights some of the more popular ones:

Entry level: $0-$400
Madcats wheels
DFGT
Thrustmaster Ferrari
Logitech G25/27
Fanatec GT2,GT3RS,CSR
Thrustmaster T300RS

Middle of the Road: $400-$900
Fanatec CSR Elite
Thrustmaster T500RS
Fanatec CSW V1, (V2 out soon)

High End: (Thousands of $$$)
ECCI
Bodner
Frex
Accuforce (out soon)
Etc,.. I probably forgot a lot of others, just any direct drive or servo wheels.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the info .. I am new to this site and only racing for a year now .. got to say this is awesome fun .. being retired and disabled I have lot of time and this online racing and games are addictive for me .. now for gaming it appears not so critical to have a middle of road or better but now I have joined iracing well that is another story .. the GT2 is good but the feel of real driving escapes me .. different not to have the G-forces working and yet feel the road respond digitally .. really do not know if I am looking for something that does not exist in the digital racing world
 
Carl Marano
Thank you for the info .. I am new to this site and only racing for a year now .. got to say this is awesome fun .. being retired and disabled I have lot of time and this online racing and games are addictive for me .. now for gaming it appears not so critical to have a middle of road or better but now I have joined iracing well that is another story .. the GT2 is good but the feel of real driving escapes me .. different not to have the G-forces working and yet feel the road respond digitally .. really do not know if I am looking for something that does not exist in the digital racing world
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Carl,

Where are you in Washington? If you don't feel comfortable saying, you can PM me. If you are close, I have a extra T500RS I can let you try out. The difference is substantial. (To that of a GT2)

Sincerely,

Jon
 
LeMansAid
But there was a smiley. Smiley trumps all doesn't it? Well actually, I think people tack on a smiley when they want to say something that they don't want to be held entirely accountable for.



Haven't heard much about the new one, but for the old ones you'd need a category where they pay you.
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Gotta say, LOL on the last part and based on what I've heard... That applies to the new one as well. ;) I reserve my own judgement of course, since I haven't used one. However, my source is well trusted on these things.
 
Fanatec...
My point is that if you have a conflict of interest because you have a commercial interest then you should not make recommendations in a public forum and even claiming that you are not biased. If people buy our wheels then there is no need for his adapters so make up your own opinion if that makes him objective or not.

Mrbasher is doing a great work and his adapters are very helpful for many people. In no way I would deny that he is a brilliant engineer and important part of the community so there is no reason to be "shocked".
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I'm a driving game enthusiast. I won't even CLAIM to be a sim-racer. But I like the fact that a guy like Basher makes accessories to make the products YOU (and your competition) make a little better, suit specific needs needs that might not make sense for you to address, ect... but Thomas, YOU'RE THE CEO of a company and to see you "attack" the motivations of a guy like Basher who voices an opinion on your product, damn right it shocks me. You like it, you don't like it, take it for what you can and get whatever you will out of it.

Thanks for recognizing the service he provides to our community. I have never had an issues with his products that I own, just as I have never had an issue with any of YOUR products that I own.
 
mrbasher
Carl,

Where are you in Washington? If you don't feel comfortable saying, you can PM me. If you are close, I have a extra T500RS I can let you try out. The difference is substantial. (To that of a GT2)

Sincerely,

Jon
Click to expand...

Hi jon I live in Bremerton Kitsap Co.
 
If $400 is your not-to-exceed price, I would recommend a Logitech G27. I've got one for playing GT4 as the fanatec wheels do not seems to work with the PS2. The G27 is a huge improvement over the G25, e.g., you don't have to hold the wheel in a death grip to keep it from oscillating like the G25. The G27 can be had (new) for about $230. You could take the left over money and buy a good wheel stand and a break pedal spring upgrade (e.g., GTEYE) for the G27 pedal unit.
 
LeMansAid
PS2 compatibility is quite a specific want though..... and..... https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/fanatec-gt3-rs-compatibility-question.223112/

Also, if you're worried about oscillation, the Fanatec wheels have linearity, deadzone, and degrees of rotation (sensitivity) adjustments on-wheel that can be tuned to sort that out even more comprehensively.
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I had a GT3 RS V2 and that trick did not work (may have worked with some older models/firmware) - just an FYI. I really liked the GT3 RS V2 but after using the G27 for quite a while now with GT4 I think it my be a better wheel in some respects.

I use Fanatec ClubSport gear with GT5/6 (CSW v1, CSP v2, CSS SQ)
 
I don't mind dropping significantly more money on this but only if it's worth it. G27 doesn't seem like big enough upgrade over DFP.
 
HoneyBadger
I had a GT3 RS V2 and that trick did not work (may have worked with some older models/firmware) - just an FYI. I really liked the GT3 RS V2 but after using the G27 for quite a while now with GT4 I think it my be a better wheel in some respects.

I use Fanatec ClubSport gear with GT5/6 (CSW v1, CSP v2, CSS SQ)
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HI just wanted to ask about your club sport .. i now use a GT2 w/ CSR pedals would like to get another fantec club sport w/e-brake & shift kit FF pedals or comparable price approx $1000 ,, I only find the trustmaster 500 series as a possible for much less ,, so I still think the best all platform is a Fanatec club sport .. any other tried and tested wheel you might suggest?
 
Carl Marano
HI just wanted to ask about your club sport .. i now use a GT2 w/ CSR pedals would like to get another fantec cluib sport w/e-brake & shift kit FF pedals or comparable price approx $1000 ,, I only find the trustmaster 500 series as a possible for much less ,, so I still think the best all platform is a Fanatec club sport .. any other tried and tested wheel you might suggest?
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The following Fanatec products are outstanding in my opinion.
  1. ClubSport Steering Wheel Porsche 918 - $400
  2. ClubSport Shifter SQ - $200
  3. ClubSport Pedals V2 - $250
  4. ClubSport Wheel Base V2 - $500 (pre-order discount)
Currently have items 1, 2, and 3. Item 4 is on pre-order based on the reviews thus far. Here's one:

Fanatec Clubsport Wheelbase V2 Review

$1350 may be way over the top for some sim racing budgets. The Logitech G27 can be had for $205 now and is still a darn good wheel and pedal set, perhaps the best at that price point. It hard mounts perfectly (and easily) on the built-like-a-tank $90 Fanatec CSL Wheel Stand. A total of $300 and your good to go.
 
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