Wheel Comparison? Fanatec Logitech

  • Thread starter Thread starter iridegravity
  • 54 comments
  • 5,908 views
I

iridegravity

(Banned)
Messages
298
Has any one ever done a thorough test of wheel's to see if Higher end equipment yields faster lap times? I am talking specifically about pedals with load centers and other Fanatec offerings. Does the G27 yield better lap times than cheaper Logitech stuff etc. Considering the CSR stuff Fanatec is releasing for Xbox that is also PS3 compatible. Would allow me to really evaluate 4ZA as I have never tried with wheel and solve some other issues I have. But I feel like it could be a waste if it really doesn't offer any better control and experience than the average wheel? These are some seriously expensive wheels and pedals. Do they justify their cost?

The above was listed in Q&A before thread closed and I pasted it here. I have to say, given the amount of perceived uncertainty around Fanatec products, I really hesitate to make the plunge into high end hardware with them. Having owned an old DFPro from GT3 or 4 that is still going strong, I hesitate to leave Logitech. But the important part is the lap times. Has any one ever really shaken down these wheels to see who's is best.
 
ISR have the exact test your looking for on you tube somewhere.

5 wheel shoot out.

Although there are newer wheels available since then.
Can't provide a link sorry.

A lot of people put pedals above wheels as the primary upgrade and biggest boost to lap times.
 
Man - no wheel/pedal set will make anyone faster, a fast player will be fast no matter what wheel he uses, I can confirm that.
 
Thats pretty much how i feel to. I bought a DFP when they first came out and its still alive and well, upgraded to a G25 when they came out, a freind of mine has it now and it to is still in perfect condition. My G27 has hundreds of hours on it and it still works the same way it did the day it came out of the box. I have put thousands of hours on all my Logitech wheels with absolutely NO issues at all.
I have been waiting for the next Logitech wheel but it dosnt look like that will be here any time soon, if ever.

When I saw the Fanatec CSR Elite wheel intro, I remember thinking "Ok im getting one of those.' But honestly ive just seen to many people complain about their Fanatec wheels crapping out on this forum and others. It cant just be coinsidence. I have seen one ot two with the Logitech wheels but its not that common, and I would guess Logitech have sold a ton more wheels than Fanatec. I just couldnt give them $500 for a wheel and another $200 for the pedals. The Elite wheel certainly seems to be very well made and I really hope its as good a wheel as many expect it to be. I sat on the fence for many weeks, but when the T500RS came up on sale at Costco, It made my decision very easy. The T500 has been out now for a while and they seem to be holding up pretty well. I wouldnt doubt Ill own a Fanatec product at some point in time. They really seem to be costantly trying to take Sim racing to the next level. But for me Im just not ready to take the plunge.
 
I am sorry, but I have read enough stories here and elsewhere about Logitech and Thrustmaster too. So I don't think Logitech wheels are perfect either. Also the T500 has its issues and probably more will show up in due time. After all the Logitech wheels are already older looking at release dates.
 
Energizerrr
Man - no wheel/pedal set will make anyone faster, a fast player will be fast no matter what wheel he uses, I can confirm that.
Click to expand...

Because Your fast? Is that what your trying to say here? Because otherwise, it just makes no sense. Try to have something useful to say at least.
Think Load center brakes can actually improve your braking skills from what I here, pretty easily.
 
Thanks Spagetti, and Rabbitude, I agree. That test proved nothing for me though other than I Racing is hesitant to piss off any of their suppliers. Wasted test time, but OK. Too many incompatibility issues and lack of understanding of what these are designed to do and work with to dive in to an expensive investment. Think I will stick with Logitech as that's most likely what PD works with. Maybe some load cell brakes some day.
 
In GT5, it depends on the users skills for best lap time it seems. When you use a wheel with GT5, you have to calibrate the wheel pedals at first by pushing all the way down. I think this equals everyones pedal sets. I'm not too sure on other games as I struggle to be closer to the top with the DFGT pedals with no assists and these games you don't need calibrating the pedals.

No one seems to have done a test regarding actual difference between lap times due to higher precision. When I do upgrade, I will post my findings that irrespective of driver skill, if the pedals higher precision makes you faster in some games.
 
iridegravity
Because Your fast? Is that what your trying to say here? Because otherwise, it just makes no sense. Try to have something useful to say at least.
Think Load center brakes can actually improve your braking skills from what I here, pretty easily.
Click to expand...

I'm saying that there are people who use GT Force, DFGT, G27, G25 and are way better than me, wheel selection doesn't make you faster on GT5.
The only thing that can make you faster is a load cell brake (Fanatec's CSR-Elite or CSP) but there are people, as I said, who can match it with DFGT.

All I'm saying is that buying a wheel/pedal set for the sole purpose of getting faster is totally wrong and doesn't work like that. Think of realism, immersion - speed will come by. ;)
 
I tested the Csr and the dfgt back to back...

Over 1 lap dfgt is a little quicker ( less than a 10th)

Over 20 laps I was quicker with the Csr and Csr e padals.. the difference was around 5 seconds due to consistency with the Csr e pedals
 
amf7
I tested the Csr and the dfgt back to back...

Over 1 lap dfgt is a little quicker ( less than a 10th)

Over 20 laps I was quicker with the Csr and Csr e padals.. the difference was around 5 seconds due to consistency with the Csr e pedals
Click to expand...

Which game did you test on?
 
I was around 2 tenths quicker on f1 with no assists on both other than abs on 1 for GT5
 
amf7
I was around 2 tenths quicker on f1 with no assists on both other than abs on 1 for GT5
Click to expand...

So you were quicker with the DFGT pedals in F1. That is interesting to hear, were you using DRS and Kers? That could easily make you gain or lose tenths depending on if you are finding it easier to use on a DFGT.
 
Yeh I was using drs and kers...

I think it was down to wheel weight and size..

Both of the games I used Nurburgring to compare as that is my favourite track and one I am consistent on :)
 
amf7
Yeh I was using drs and kers...

I think it was down to wheel weight and size..

Both of the games I used Nurburgring to compare as that is my favourite track and one I am consistent on :)
Click to expand...

Interesting, when I do get a G27 or maybe a Fanatec, I will compare on GT5, FVA, F1 2010 & 2011, DiRT 3 and any other game I have.

The Fanatec wheels have loads of settings, so maybe you can get it more to your liking.
 
Well I don't still have it.. I got sent it to review then I sent it back due to Mr wanting the CSW more which I will be buying as well as reviewing :).. I will do some indepth back to back wheel testing on video then..
 
amf7
Well I don't still have it.. I got sent it to review then I sent it back due to Mr wanting the CSW more which I will be buying as well as reviewing :).. I will do some indepth back to back wheel testing on video then..
Click to expand...

The CSW looks like currently the perfect sim racing wheel, shame they couldn't get 360 support. The quick release makes it awesome. When you do testing, if you don't mind can you brake at the same points and see if it is easier to stop quicker and also accelerate out at the same points and see if you can apply the throttle quicker to test if it is really any better or worse. Best thing might be to do a hot lap on the time trial mode and try and perfect your time. Then see if you find it easier to gain time on your ghost with a better wheel and pedal set. In GT5 I think it will be more or less identical in performance though. Will look forward to your video.
 
Its going to be down to the individual and many other varibles too.
What game, what track user preference.

Adjusting or using differnt wheel & pedals is something Ive been doing quite a bit lately. Well the best way to compare is to do time trials and save a ghost or use multiplae setups. CSP can give more control in your braking Im sure many will agree to that however it takes practice in being able to use the extra precision.

I have been faster with the CSRE inc pedal combo over the T500 RS on pretty much all my GT5 tests. The difference varies on the track but Laguna Seca was approx 0.4 with around an hour playing.

A wheel that allows smoother, quicker reactions with no deadzone should in theory allow a user to achieve being more accurate. I have more testing to do for comparing times in my own reviews.
 
Also, being able to make adjustments on the fly is what, for ME that is, separates Fanatec from the rest. In longer runs, 25+ laps, its nice to make a deadzone or linearity adjustment to counter the tight feeling due to tire wear, and stay out front!

I can't wait for the CSW!!!!!
 
Mr Latte
A wheel that allows smoother, quicker reactions with no deadzone should in theory allow a user to achieve being more accurate. I have more testing to do for comparing times in my own reviews.
Click to expand...

As far as this deadzone or lack of deadzone, which wheel game combo are you talking about?
 
VWMasteR
As far as this deadzone or lack of deadzone, which wheel game combo are you talking about?
Click to expand...

Mainly at this point most of my comparing was with GT5 using PWTS/T500/CSR Elite. I was waiting on the F1 & FM4 patches so need to look more at them again.

A wheel that feels nicer,smoother perhaps enables some people to achieve more accurate lines.

However I remember I was a tad faster with G25 than my old PWTS both using CSP with some time-trials I done many moons ago on Prologue. I can only put it down to the PWTS being a bit heavier or maybe slower for wheel corrections, for me and my way of driving.

My style of driving isnt maybe the smoothest as I found with people I could be competitive with on 4WD cars or even beat in TT's I would always lose a couple of tengths or more to them in RWD. The G25 I think allowed me to turn in faster/later and correct quicker too than the PWTS but this could just be personal preference that just happened to suit my style. I dont know for certain however time-trial times paint a picture.
 
Energizerrr
I'm saying that there are people who use GT Force, DFGT, G27, G25 and are way better than me, wheel selection doesn't make you faster on GT5.
The only thing that can make you faster is a load cell brake (Fanatec's CSR-Elite or CSP) but there are people, as I said, who can match it with DFGT.

All I'm saying is that buying a wheel/pedal set for the sole purpose of getting faster is totally wrong and doesn't work like that. Think of realism, immersion - speed will come by. ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks Captain Obvious. Glad your here to point that out for us or me or whoever you assume your faster than and trying to talk down to. Im thinking I need a second wheel for my son. I'm interested in the more consistent lap times and precision of a higher end wheels as well as the advantage in braking that load cells or better weighted pedals offer.
Why just assume things for people? People , or at least myself get annoyed by people like you. You have no idea how fast anyone is, except yourself. Prove it on the track, not mouthing off in my thread.
 
Energizerrr
Man - no wheel/pedal set will make anyone faster, a fast player will be fast no matter what wheel he uses, I can confirm that.
Click to expand...
I would disagree with "anyone" as pedals can make a difference to some people but I agree there are fast drivers that can be just as fast with DFGT or Microsoft WRW as with more expensive wheels especially on the console.
For me some games a load cell brake helps me brake faster while others don't. Those that do are on the PC like Iracing.
 
Last edited:
I think there are two issues:
1. Bad habits
2. Smoothness vs. speed

If you buy a DFGT as your first wheel, you will probably end up with bad pedal habits, because there's not much nuance easily available on them. Particularly with GT5's ABS meaning that threshold braking is entirely unnecessary. If you then switch to a more expensive wheel with better pedals you actually have to unlearn some of your pedal mashing habits - which also means realising that you have the bad habits in the first place and that you need to unlearn them :)

Secondary issue is smoothness. In all of the various sims, smoother is faster. And in order to be smooth and use the full width of the track you have to be very accurate. In principle all 900 degrees wheels allow the same level of accuracy, so it really doesn't make much difference. What is different is the ability to correct mistakes, and the feedback from the wheel telling you early enough that you need to correct. This is where a faster spinning wheel or more subtle feedback has an edge.

I own a DFGT, G25 and Fanatec GT2. I've spent plenty of time in GT5 on all three. I'd say that assuming no bad habits and smooth driving over a single lap the difference in laptimes is minimal, because GT5 doesn't punish you for pedal mashing.
In sims which do reward better pedal control, the edge will definitely go to the setup with better pedals. And in cars with twitchy tendencies the edge will go to wheels which turn faster and are easier to catch slides with.

P.S. The DFGT is the slowest turning wheel I own. The GT2 has quite a lot of damping but drift mode helps. The G25 is a very light wheel, and for instance in DiRT 3 if you turn off wheel weight in the controller settings you can spin it all over the place effortlessly. I have no idea where the CSR-E would fall relative to these wheels, I suspect at least as good as the G25 especially with drift mode enabled.
 
Common opinion at first was that G27 was faster than Fanatec in lap times. Now as they have drift mode, the difference is smaller. Fanatec has however always offered more realistic feel.
I have played with G25 and turbo S wheels.
 
I've always been told the opposite is true.

Basically the cheaper wheels are less realistic due to less sophisticated force feedback mechanisms. This equates to being easier to drive than a wheel with strong force feedback features. Now of course if you just turn it down in the options, I would think it would be a draw. I think one of the recent iRacing champions uses a simple DFGT setup (not sure about pedals).

Now pedals on the other hand, yeah, the load cell made me faster when I switched from a G25 to my CSR setup.

I know there is always going to be someone faster than me, so I don't even concern myself with it. My top priorities are immersion and feel, which is why I'll be spending the $750 for the Fanatec Clubsport Wheel (with Formula and GT wheels) as soon as pre-orders start.


OP: As far as what wheel to get for your son.....I think a second-hand (but good condition) G25 would be a great start for him, it's a good balance of price/performance/realism.
 
Last edited:

Latest Posts

Back