Why are people not jumping up and down about the PWT not working with GT5!!?

[ultimitsu]

When I was looking for a wheel for GT5P, I first bought a DFGT, but then I sold it and bought the porsche 911 turbo, based on the recommendations I seen on the net and with the expectation that i would work on GT5 once it comes out.

And now I found out that it doesnt work because it was designed badly and to fix it I buy something else!

Apart from the fact that I dont think I should have to pay anything to use it as advertised let alone a hefty 30 USD. another issue that I face is that I live in New Zealand and the only shop that used to sell Fanatec product is no longer selling them, so I may not be able to get the dongle even if I was willing to buy it.

the damn thing can not cost more than 3 bucks to make (since R&D cost are already sunken) and so small that it wont cost much to ship world wide, why Fanatec forces everyone to pay big bucks to buy it and ruin its own reputation in the process is really beyond me.

I will recommend anyone who is looking for a wheel NOT to buy a Fanatec product, because there is a good chance that when a new game come out later the current wheels will not work.

a very disappointed Fanatec customer.

 

[Fanatec...]

We give away the dongle for free to all PWT customers so the only one you should complain about is your dealer.

 

[ultimitsu]

thanks for your prompt reply. Luckily my wheel is a few days under the 2 year mark. I have just called the shop I bought it from and they said they will try to get me one. Problem is that their supplier has stopped dealing Fanatec products for over 18 month.

I must say that your site (http://www.911wheel.de/?q=node/4648) does not make this clear. I read before I made this thread and I certainly did not get the idea that you were giving them out for free.

Lets wait and see how this is going to turn out for me.

 

[ultimitsu]

Here is how I think Fanatec should handle this situation.

1, All original PWT get a free dongle upgrade, make it very clear. people need to know this to have confidence in Fanatec, today and in the future.
2, since these dongles can not cost more than a few bucks to make and most people bought it expect it to work for PS3, make it free to all customers not just those that bought it within 2 years.
3, because of its small size, it should only cost a few bucks to ship internationally too. it should be shipped internationally for all customers who can not get one through their dealer.
4, since this dangle is useless to anyone that doesnt have a Fanatec product, there is very little risk in people asking for one without having a PWT wheel. asking for a picture with the product and local newspaper plus the owner should be more than sufficient as proof of ownership.

you may think individually each fix cost a little more but overall it will save you big in PR and the man hours that you have to spend going over forums calming down or justifying it to everyone.

 

[strtgng]

I have just called the shop I bought it from and they said they will try to get me one.

You didn't bother doing this BEFORE posting your complaints for all the world to see? All companies experience hiccups in service and support - you must judge them by their response after making them aware of your concerns in the first place.

 

[greekbull]

thanks for your prompt reply. Luckily my wheel is a few days under the 2 year mark. I have just called the shop I bought it from and they said they will try to get me one. Problem is that their supplier has stopped dealing Fanatec products for over 18 month.

I must say that your site (http://www.911wheel.de/?q=node/4648) does not make this clear. I read before I made this thread and I certainly did not get the idea that you were giving them out for free.

Lets wait and see how this is going to turn out for me.

I think you are handling this the wrong way for one. I think your dealer should have been contacted before any public rant and certainly before you defame a product and proclaim on a message board that you should avoid this manufacturer.

Also, when looking at the 911wheel site it's pretty clear that if you are within two years you are covered for a free dongle, Direct quote from 911wheel:

1. 911 Turbo Wheel (Not "S")

In order to make this wheel work you need to use the new RF dongle for the 911 Turbo S wheel which is available in our weshop for 29,95 USD / Euro. (USA / EU)

All customers get the dongle for free within the extended warranty period of 2 years.

If your wheel is older than 2 years we will offer you a free coupon code of 20 USD / EURO after the purchase of the dongle.

How to get your dongle or discount coupon?

Please place a regular order and leave a note in the comments field with the fanatec invoice number and date of your original PWT purchase and we will send you an email with your coupon code or change the order amount.

Please note that this offer is only valid to Fanatec webshop customers. If you purchased your product at a dealer you need to contact them for help.

 

[ultimitsu]

You didn't bother doing this BEFORE posting your complaints for all the world to see? All companies experience hiccups in service and support - you must judge them by their response after making them aware of your concerns in the first place.

I got GT5 late lastnight, found it didnt work, spent a good 30 minutes doing different things with it, then spent another hour checking everything online and found this. then checked the page where I bought it from

http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Fanatec-Porsche-911-Turbo-Wireless-Steering-Wheel/1563248/

which says it was no longer sold, and I know I bought it about 2 years ago. I think it is fairly reasonable for me to assume at that point of time that I can not get the shop to do much.

 

[ultimitsu]

I think you are handling this the wrong way for one. I think your dealer should have been contacted before any public rant and certainly before you defame a product and proclaim on a message board that you should avoid this manufacturer.

Also, when looking at the 911wheel site it's pretty clear that if you are within two years you are covered for a free dongle, Direct quote from 911wheel:

well. firstly the Fanatec does not make it clear at all that "all customers bought the product within last 2 years are entitled for free fix". it says only customers with "extended 2 year warranty" gets it.

secondly the shop was in fact quite courteous that they would try to get me one even though they have never said it was covered by 2 years warranty and have not dealt with Fanatec for over 18 month. But this could have gone completely the otherway. If they said they are under no obligation to do this then I am stuffed.

 

[greekbull]

well. firstly the Fanatec does not make it clear at all that "all customers bought the product within last 2 years are entitled for free fix". it says only customers with "extended 2 year warranty" gets it.

secondly the shop was in fact quite courteous that they would try to get me one even though they have never said it was covered by 2 years warranty and have not dealt with Fanatec for over 18 month. But this could have gone completely the otherway. If they said they are under no obligation to do this then I am stuffed.

Really worst case scenario though all you would potentially be out is $10 after your $20 coupon right? That's not to bad on a product that's a couple of years old and is three generations back(Turbo, Turbo S, and GT2) to bring it up to speed. Looks like Fanatec is taking good care of it's customers.

 

[ultimitsu]

My retailer just got back to me.

He said they have tried to get the dangles from Fanatec and Fanatec would not give them any, and Fanatec has stopped responding to their emails.

The name of the retailer is MightyApe. www.mightyape.co.nz, the Customer Service rep's name is Ben.

Fanatec, Can you confirm this?

 

[lunarwolf]

because am too busy jumping up and down to get delivery of my GT2 pre-order

anyway the thrustmaster is soon to be here in UK, and looking like i cancel Fanatec order. oh well will miss out on F4 w/ wheel but it's not like the 360 isn't going to be replaced soon (i'll guess 2012) since been out for a few years 2005 now

 

[ultimitsu]

bump, i hope Fanatec will not avoid responding to this.

 

[.Hz]

ultimitsu, Look man, check it, given that there is a decent audience out there who would be willing to buy the your PWT and for a decent amount of change probably as well, I think you should just SELL YOUR FANATEC, an then save up for the Thrustmaster when it comes out in your area where ever you will be able to buy it. It is a much better wheel than the Fanatec in multiple ares some have said BESIDES the much better FFB and level of detail I've heard you get vs the Fanatec.

Just my .02, but that's the route I would take my friend. Sorry about that, but aye, that's life sometimes, doh! haha

 

[-=DV=-]

Sell a wheel that supports everything except gt5 to buy a wheel that ONLY supports gt5?👎 I say spend $30 to get a dongle....do you complain every time you have to put fuel in your car?

Its an old wheel, several generations old. If all you have to do is spend $30 to bring it up to speed and make it as good as the current wheels. Then you are on a pretty good thing.

 

[paulgp]

ultimitsu, I have the same problem as you, I'm in new zealand and brought my PWT from www.mightyape.co.nz and need this new dongle to be able to use it for GT5.

I have also contacted mightyape and got the same reply about them not dealing with their supplier anymore, I'd be interested to know if you ever have any luck with them.

-=DV=-, I'd be happy to spend $30USD to get this dongle, but the problem is, is that Fanatec don't ship to New Zealand, I've tried to contact the Fanatec web store about shipping to NZ but they just ignored me.

 

[.Hz]

Sell a wheel that supports everything except gt5 to buy a wheel that ONLY supports gt5?👎 I say spend $30 to get a dongle....do you complain every time you have to put fuel in your car?

Its an old wheel, several generations old. If all you have to do is spend $30 to bring it up to speed and make it as good as the current wheels. Then you are on a pretty good thing.

Check it, the PC drivers are coming, it works better than ANY OTHER WHEEL OUT THER FOR GT5, built and performs better than any Fanatec, and of course won't have to deal w/ any customer service issues like the OP is having here. 👍

He would only lose Xbox 360 comp., which I for me anyways wouldn't be a big deal breaker.

 

[bevo]

He would only lose Xbox 360 comp., which I for me anyways wouldn't be a big deal breaker.

The wheel he has doesn't work on the 360 anyway.

 

[.Hz]

The wheel he has doesn't work on the 360 anyway.

The Turbo S is one of the few that does work on the 360, haha.

 

[-=DV=-]

Check it, the PC drivers are coming, it works better than ANY OTHER WHEEL OUT THER FOR GT5, built and performs better than any Fanatec, and of course won't have to deal w/ any customer service issues like the OP is having here. 👍

He would only lose Xbox 360 comp., which I for me anyways wouldn't be a big deal breaker.

Oh you have used the thrustmaster?

Re: pc drivers coming, shifter coming ect....this is a company that has worked with PD, and also has a track record for making absolute garbage wheels. I will take their claims with as much salt as I will take PD's...as ISR pointed out there isnt even anywhere to plug a shifter into the thing! and it has no wireless support so how is it supposed to interface with said shifter?

I'd go with a g25/27 or fanatec for now. Atleast until the thrustmaster is working as it was advertised it would be. After all it is a GT labeled product, And we know how much GT5 lives up to its promises........👎

 

[Gunstar]

Shifter will probably be a USB unit with a pass through for the wheel. And by all the first impressions, the T500 is VERY high quality and does EXACTLY what it's supposed to... works with GT5.

BUT... $600 is a lot of $$ to lay out, and I would also get a G27 or a Fanatec GT3RSv2, because you get ALOT of wheel for the buck with either.

 

[-=DV=-]

ultimitsu, I have the same problem as you, I'm in new zealand and brought my PWT from www.mightyape.co.nz and need this new dongle to be able to use it for GT5.

I have also contacted mightyape and got the same reply about them not dealing with their supplier anymore, I'd be interested to know if you ever have any luck with them.

-=DV=-, I'd be happy to spend $30USD to get this dongle, but the problem is, is that Fanatec don't ship to New Zealand, I've tried to contact the Fanatec web store about shipping to NZ but they just ignored me.

Try paganian imports in Australia...also HES...they are both fanatec resellers and im sure they would post such a small item to nz. If not I would be happy to take delivery of it and pass it onto you if need be. The fanatec is a great wheel and is well worth staying with.


Gunstar I think the ISR guys said the ts500 works with GT5...and ONLY GT5...absolutely nothing else on the ps3 at the moment IIRC. That is indeed alot of money for a wheel that only works on one game at the moment.

 

[.Hz]

Oh you have used the thrustmaster?

Re: pc drivers coming, shifter coming ect....this is a company that has worked with PD, and also has a track record for making absolute garbage wheels. I will take their claims with as much salt as I will take PD's...as ISR pointed out there isnt even anywhere to plug a shifter into the thing! and it has no wireless support so how is it supposed to interface with said shifter?

I'd go with a g25/27 or fanatec for now. Atleast until the thrustmaster is working as it was advertised it would be. After all it is a GT labeled product, And we know how much GT5 lives up to its promises........👎

No but obviously neither have you, or you wouldn't even be trying to talk bad about it, it's an *INCREDIBLE* wheel, do you even know what FREX wheels are? About two grand Japanese wheels that the ISR guys have said the T500 compares VERY favorably to, meaning it can compete w/ those wheels, it's a steal for the price, and if it performs like it does w/ GT5 or I bet even 3/4's as well it will school the Fanatec's and Logitechs, as it currently does w/ GT5 vs. those other wheels.


Anything GT = quality product, at least so far, promises? So far it's some of the best in class for a racing sim/game, some areas could def. be worked on, but simple as that as far as I can see.

 

[.Hz]

Gunstar I think the ISR guys said the ts500 works with GT5...and ONLY GT5...absolutely nothing else on the ps3 at the moment IIRC. That is indeed alot of money for a wheel that only works on one game at the moment.

At the moment, but the company has said PC drivers are on their way very soon (within this month or early next), so if they're good drivers the T500 seams to be an absolute steal for it's performance and quality to price ration.

 

[-=DV=-]

No but obviously neither have you, or you wouldn't even be trying to talk bad about it, it's an *INCREDIBLE* wheel, do you even know what FREX wheels are? About two grand Japanese wheels that the ISR guys have said the T500 compares VERY favorably to, meaning it can compete w/ those wheels, it's a steal for the price, and if it performs like it does w/ GT5 or I bet even 3/4's as well it will school the Fanatec's and Logitechs, as it currently does w/ GT5 vs. those other wheels.


Anything GT = quality product, at least so far, promises? So far it's some of the best in class for a racing sim/game, some areas could def. be worked on, but simple as that as far as I can see.

Yes I am familiar with the frex devices. They are incredible wheels. The quality of frex products does not however change the fact that the t500 isnt supported by anything and is unlikely to be supported by anything that has already been released (On consoles atleast. Pc drivers will obviously bring functionality to most existing pc sims).

I am not saying the T500 is a bad product, I am saying thrustmaster has a terrible track record with wheels. PD has a reputation for over promising and under delivering and the T500 is not supported by anything other than GT5 at the moment. After PD's broken promises and poor deliverance, IN MY OPINION, ANYTHING GT branded has lost its integrity until PROVEN otherwise.

I am also saying one must have rocks in their head to shell out that much cash on a wheel that is currently unsupported by prettymuch everything and has no shifter on the PROMISE that it will be supported and have a shifter in the future. ESPECIALLY when later on after these promises are fulfilled the wheel is likely to be cheaper and more readily available.

Got it?

 

[.Hz]

Yes I am familiar with the frex devices. They are incredible wheels. The quality of frex products does not however change the fact that the t500 isnt supported by anything and is unlikely to be supported by anything that has already been released (On consoles atleast. Pc drivers will obviously bring functionality to most existing pc sims).

I am not saying the T500 is a bad product, I am saying thrustmaster has a terrible track record with wheels. PD has a reputation for over promising and under delivering and the T500 is not supported by anything other than GT5 at the moment. After PD's broken promises and poor deliverance, IN MY OPINION, ANYTHING GT branded has lost its integrity until PROVEN otherwise.

I am also saying one must have rocks in their head to shell out that much cash on a wheel that is currently unsupported by prettymuch everything and has no shifter on the PROMISE that it will be supported and have a shifter in the future. ESPECIALLY when later on after these promises are fulfilled the wheel is likely to be cheaper and more readily available.

Got it?

Haha, you sure there aren't any rocks in your head? Haha, But seriously, look, I get your reasoning, but given Thrustmaster's promise to deliver an exceptional wheel, and THEY DID, and given the huge demand for PC drivers, I'd say it's a safe bet that they will come out, and GT5 excels in many areas, but I'm not going to derrail this thread, however I will say anyone must have rocks in their to skip on the T500 if they have the cash for it, as it's the best wheel out there, beats Fanatecs and Logitechs hands down from numerous reports, here and in other forums, and should have PC drivers out soon. Especially sell your Fanatec OP when there's still a demand.

 

[advan031]

How can the t500 beat fanatec when it only works with GT5 at the moment? U make that claim that in the future when they release the pc drivers (maybe). Fanatec wins for me since their wheels are multi platform.

 

[-=DV=-]

Wow, this really is like trying to have a reasonable conversation with a rabid alligator, on the other side of a double brick wall, after the alligator has been smoking crack for the last week and a half. And the alligator has just found out that its mother left its father for you.

At no point did I say to skip on it. It would really help this conversation if you would stop putting words in my mouth and then arguing with that, and only addressing what I mention rather than making up recommendatons, stating that I made said recommendations then taking argument with those.

Look...RIGHT NOW, the T500 is the most expensive it will ever be. The price of controllers,games,tvs,consoles and whatever does not go UP after release, but as they get older, the price goes down. Thrustmaster have promised pc functionality and a shifter. So far both of those promises are both to be delivered and may or MAY NOT end up happening.
Nobody really knows how long this will take to happen I'd warrent a guess that they probably wanted to have the T500 ready for GT5's release. Given that it is only compatible with that, and they would have made the most sales having it ready then. They only had 5-6 years to get it ready for that and were still months late, And didnt have significant parts ready when they DID release it (shifter ect). We may be waiting a while for that pc compatibility and extra peripherals for it.

So at the moment it is incomplete, and the most expensive it ever will be. So why not wait until it IS complete as advertised, AND will also be cheaper then. If you really think that right now is the best time to throw the maximum price into an unfinished product when later on you will be able to pick it up cheaper with more functionality, also giving it time to be proven, well tested and have any faults or weaknesses exposed before shelling out for it. Well Im just going to leave it up to anybody reading this thread to decide who has rocks in their head.

Im guessing you have already ordered your T500? enjoy pulling it off your rig and looking at it on the bench every time you want to drive anything that ISNT GT5 until it is supported by other titles/platforms. And I will enjoy spending nothing more and using my fanatec until the T500 is as advertised and THEN spending less than you did for one

 

[bevo]

The Turbo S is one of the few that does work on the 360, haha.

He's not talking about the turbo s wheel. I have it and it works with GT5. He is talking about another fanatec wheel that you need to be sent the dongle for it to work with GT5. And as far as it not working with GT5, the turbo s wheel(which he is not talking about) was the only fanatec wheel that was said to work on all PS3 games. Fanatec said that if you want to be sure that your wheel will work on all console racing games to get the turbo s wheel. Anyone that bought any other fanatec wheel other then the turbo s wheel was taking a little bit of a risk of it not working with GT5.

And as far as the fanatec vs thrustmaster debate your in. Maybe if you tried both wheels before commenting on them, it would help your argument. The fanatec wheels are great. With the ability for the firmware upgrades, and new products being released for them, I really can't see how you can go wrong with them. Since I got my turbo s wheel, it has been improved dramatically with firmware upgrades, and with the clubsport shifter, and handbrake coming in the future, it will only get better. But being that I haven't tried the thrustmaster wheel, I wouldn't say they are better. With it only working though on GT5 it would be hard for me to pay that price for it. Maybe after seeing if it will work in other upcoming PS3 racing games I might give it a try. But for just GT5, I don't care how good it is I wouldn't buy it yet. I also don't have a PC gaming rig, so for me just being a console racer, I'm not very interested in it.

 

[.Hz]

I never put words in your mouth, must be the that crack your talking about in your mouth instead, hahahahaa.

LOOK...I'm just pointing out that the T500 is the best wheel for GT5, and IS better than the Fanatecs, and given he wants to sim on GT5, a smart option is to get the Thrustmaster. If the Fanatecs worked just as well, I would say stick w/ the Fanatecs, but they don't, it's subjective but the consensus backs that up, given there's still a demand for Fanatecs and they may change later on down the road when the T500 price DOES drop, you're right about that, most likely that is what will end up happening (not always, rarities do occur), so I still say it's the smartest and best option to go w/ at the moment before he may have to spend more money later on down the road if he were to sell his Fanatec for a T500, if the T500 price doesn't drop. I'm guessing your biased against Fanatec and don't like to hear any other options that don't have to do w/ it? It's reality that the T500 is the better wheel, not dogging on Fanatec at all, it's how it is.

I don't recommend Fanatec either based on other reports of bad customer service, or just inconsistencies, there's a whole thread of people waiting for their GT2 CSP package, that would suck if I were one of those people.

I thought the PWT was the Turbo S, I presumed so given that I always saw PWTS being the Turbo S, thought this was same title in it's meaning, doh.

 

[ShylockHolmes]

No but obviously neither have you, or you wouldn't even be trying to talk bad about it, it's an *INCREDIBLE* wheel, do you even know what FREX wheels are? About two grand Japanese wheels that the ISR guys have said the T500 compares VERY favorably to, meaning it can compete w/ those wheels, it's a steal for the price, and if it performs like it does w/ GT5 or I bet even 3/4's as well it will school the Fanatec's and Logitechs, as it currently does w/ GT5 vs. those other wheels.


Anything GT = quality product, at least so far, promises? So far it's some of the best in class for a racing sim/game, some areas could def. be worked on, but simple as that as far as I can see.

I don't think you watched the episode of ISR on the TM T500 because you seem to get their quotes WAY OFF, I watched the video and I never heard one quote from them that you claim they made. LOL