Whoa... cut it on the arsey45 comments...
RC45, You say be prepared for this, be prepared for that ect. I PRE-ORDERED a Fanatec Carrera Wheel on the 26th September 2010 and got it on 7th October 2010. Only 11 days of waiting... when it wasn't even out.
I have had only 1 problem with my wheel and that was solved by itself lol.
I'm sorry you've had a bad experience with Fanatec but it doesn't reflect the company as a WHOLE (don't go bring up other people saying this and that as people on the internet seem to report problems far more than they praise).
People have also had problems with G25/G27's aswell.
On topic, get the G27 if yoy want a wheel that will guarentee good customer service, however, if you want a marquee product that you can keep upgrading, get the Carrera.
I hear you and agree.
But to put the record straight I am tempering my opinion of Fanatec on real events and their product.
I ordered 1 product and it was delivered 3 days later - youdon't get much quicker than that. I ordered another and it took a month. I have a 3rd on order and it might not get here until March. The product that was delivered was unpredictable and needed TLC right out the gate. The product was also not cheap.
I have directed accurate and warranted praise, thanks, critique and frustration at Fanatec as was needed.
I just went up to the attic to check, I have been buying Fanatec products alongside Thrustmaster and Logitech since Fanatec used to be a
retail distributed product - we are talking launch XBox 1 days now.
There is a Fanatec Speedster, a Speedster 3, Logitech Momo, a Momo Force and a Momo Force Racing, Microsoft FFB PC wheels (from pre-2000) and the rubbish MS XBxx360 wireless junker, Logitech DFP, the G25, the Thrustmaster F355 Dreamcast, Thrustmaster Force XBox and what looks like some older Thrustmaster NASCAR wheels, can't tell till I haul them out.
The point is that having been buying and mucking about with these things since the mid-90's I am notmaking or taking my commenst about FFB wheels lightly or flippantly.
The last truely plug n play Fanatec product I had was the Speedster 3, and that was with the comfort of a direct instore retailer (Best Buy at the time) I could take the first flaky one back to.
I passed on the Carrera, the 911Turbo and the GT3RS at the time over the past 2 and half years
because of the shipping issues I witnessed people having - when the GT2RS came along I figured by now they must have their issues sorted.
That is the back ground within which their product lives - they made it this way, not the consumer.
Now granted, there are people who have flawless experiences with Fanatec wheels - but remember that long list of wheels I just typed up?? The only single manufactuer that I have bumped my head with over the last 10 years is Fanatec (and Microsoft - they went from market leader in FFB wheels to market dud.).
So back to the OP's question:
Should I get the
Fanatec Carrera because of cheaper price or the
G27 because of reputation?
His question says it all - he is willing to spend a little more to get a better
overall experience out of the lifecycle of the product versus a quick high from the "better" product that carries a rather high chance of being peppered with some other issues unrelated to the wheel itself.
His question is a very valid and fair one - and it only seems fair to give him a proper answer - not one clouded by brand and product loyalty.
