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Which wheel and pedal combo would you recommend??

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Building Q&A / FAQ' started by Archie, Mar 16, 2015.

  1. Archie

    Archie Eternal tinkerer

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    Yes I know this is throwing the proverbial Cat amongst the pigeons as such a debate could rage on for months...
    However, it's clear with the amount of time I use my sim for, that the poor old G27 just won't cut it for much longer. I can already hear the gears starting to make a "ratchet" noise as I make fast S-bend turns.

    So what wheel/combo do you recommend based on ease to source (buy), and usability and what price range would I be looking at??

    Thanks,

    Archie.
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Perhaps it would be easy to state what your budget maximum is and if you want to include DIY options @Archie, as that could shorten the list and debate ;)
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2015
  3. Archie

    Archie Eternal tinkerer

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    I just looked at the Fanatec gear.... <gulp>
    Think I'll run my G27 into the ground....

    Would the Fanatec CSR (the cheapest they have) be comparable with the G27 or better?
    It looks a bit "cheap" with all that Forza branding...

    Plus wheels and pedals are extra... Jeez.. I assume there is no word for "Bundle" in German. :p
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    As we all have our personal preferences you may find it more enlightening to Google side by side comparisons. That said I think my Fanatec Clubsport V1 wheel and V2 pedals were worth every cent, expensive though they may have been when I purchased them.
  5. Archie

    Archie Eternal tinkerer

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    Yeah... I'm wondering if better to plod along with a ratchet-y G27 and save for the Fanatec gear.

    On a side note, The Thrustmaster F1 T500RS get's some good reviews as well.
    Seems the G27 is really entry level when you get "serious"...
    • Agree Agree x 1
  6. kopper

    kopper Member

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    I've already upgraded my G27 pedals to the Fanatec CSR Elites. Even after doing the spring mod I just did not like the brake on the G27. I love the load cell setup on the Elites so far. Now I'm wondering about upgrading the wheel. Hmmm... and maybe the shifter - lol.
  7. Nick Moxley

    Nick Moxley Well-Known Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Fanatec Clubsport FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



    You can always make more $$....why skimp on the hobby you love. :cheers
  8. Archie

    Archie Eternal tinkerer

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    hehehe @Nick Moxley - That's my dream kit, but for the bundle it's like $1300. I already work two jobs and I'd pass out handing that much coin over. I only got the G27 because it was on special at AU$199 (Well before I got into motion Sims - Which took ALL my money :) )

    Has anyone ever owned the Fanatec CSR Wheel and Pedals?
    [​IMG]

    My G27 keeps missing on the steering, so I need to replace it and (sadly) no way I can stretch to the holy grail of the Clubsport kit.
  9. Boomslangnz

    Boomslangnz Active Member SimAxe Beta Tester Gold Contributor

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    Ive got a few wheels. Just got the fanatec clubsport v2 wheel but haven't got to try it out yet as it will be on my motion sim once built however ive also got a Logitech g25 wheel, Fanatec CSR Wheel and Fanatec GT2 Wheel. I would say the CSR is very similar to a Logitech g25/27 wheel with similar power in force feedback however it has the added ability of Xbox 360/PS3 use while g25/27 is only ps3 ontop of pc for both. Logitech has full leather around wheel rim while csw only has leather in a few parts and just a hard plastic for the rest. GT2 is a great wheel aswell and love all 3 wheels to be honest but if you are looking for the best then the clubsport is it out of them from all ive heard. I find fanatec to be great gear and never had issues with any of them. You also get an adapter with a fanatec wheel to use with Logitech g25/27 pedals as they are quality pedals really. I personally love the GT2 but CSR is still a cool wheel man and should be a good pickup.
    • Like Like x 1
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    Last edited: Mar 18, 2015
  10. Nick Moxley

    Nick Moxley Well-Known Member

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    NOT even on the same planet as a G27 as far as power and FFB is concerned. Unless you have a completely outta wack FFB setting's maybe, but with near 3X the wattage to play with, its not Physically Possible for the G27 to come close to the CSW.

    Lol funy, Logitec has a Faux leather wrap on wheel while Fanatec is known for it Alcantara wrap on the wheel's while the new porsche has Leather on the wheel. Also there is Very little Plastic on the Clubsport rims at all, back Cover and button's and part of the Hand grips on the F1 wheel.

    Yes you can Purchase an adaptor for stand alone pedals like logitech, but it sure as heck doesn't come with the wheel.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. Nick Moxley

    Nick Moxley Well-Known Member

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    And for the Love of everything that is holy in Simracing, DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT buy the Cheap Fanatec Shifter's. that are BEYOND Garbage. Ive felt Toys with better feeling shifters.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  12. abs

    abs Active Member Gold Contributor

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    it come to how much you are willing to spend.
    G27 is a very good point to start. Fanatec also at the same price tags. The club sport v2 is a beast but starts to be more expensive. Thrustmasters are very well reputed and have a bunch to choose from .
    you may look at second hands to get started which by the way i have since i am on batch 2 of the accuforce wheel.
    PM me if interested ...
  13. Boomslangnz

    Boomslangnz Active Member SimAxe Beta Tester Gold Contributor

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    Edited cos I'm a moron hahaha

    edited original post of mine as I had CSR and CSW mixed up which caused confusion
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2015
  14. prodigy

    prodigy Burning revs

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    Are you sure you didn't mixed up CSR wheel with CSW? I don't understand when you say "Logitech and CSW is average, but Club sport is very good." Csw IS Clubsport.

    CSR is the weaker one and mostly plastic, I could understand if you are talking about that wheel, but putting CSW in the same basket with G27 - that's crazy.. You should know better than that, especially if you have CSW V2.
  15. Boomslangnz

    Boomslangnz Active Member SimAxe Beta Tester Gold Contributor

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    Ah yeah sorry thought i read it's called a CSW. I apologize for the mistake
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  16. Boomslangnz

    Boomslangnz Active Member SimAxe Beta Tester Gold Contributor

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    What a dork lol it all makes so much more sense now haha. I don't exactly call them CSW and CSR at home.
  17. Archie

    Archie Eternal tinkerer

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    @Boomslangnz - I figured you had made a mistake once you put plastic in the same sentence as CSW :) so it made perfect sense from my point of view.

    To be honest, the whole wheel market is confusing, with so many different options. Two things seem obvious though, you pretty much can't go past high end Fanatec stuff, and secondly, you need mega $$ to actually get it :p

    The Accuforce gear is silly money in my opinion. $2000+ for a wheel?? I can get a whole REAL car for that...

    Thanks everyone. I will stay with my trusty G27 (now I have figured out how to fix it) and hope I see a CSW V2 on "special" somewhere..
    o_O
    • Like Like x 3
  18. Hmaia

    Hmaia Member

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    I had a Forza Motorsport CSR wheel and CSR Elite pedals and the gear-shifter. Started having problems with the wheel after less than a week, then pedals started acting up. After three months stranded, I got replacement wheel and pedals. I didn't even open the boxes. Put on Ebay, and ended losing about $100 in the process, from what I paid originally. I t cost me $100 to learn my lesson: Never again.
  19. Boomslangnz

    Boomslangnz Active Member SimAxe Beta Tester Gold Contributor

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    To be fair tho, you could have that issue with any product and I'm sure plenty of people have to return logitech g27 wheels and even clubsport wheels. Basically why we have warrantys but it sucks to hear you had issues
  20. Hmaia

    Hmaia Member

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    What really sucked was their customer service. Even after sending videos of the problems with the wheel and pedals, they sent RMA for the wheel only. I sent both and it became a big issue, even if I made clear I had problems with wheel and pedals. A total of 20 some emails were sent before I got the replacements.
    I know that any piece of equipment may fail right out of the box, and that G25 and G27 both fail, but their warranty program works. I had a G25 for more than five years before it had problems with the motors. More than five years of hard work. I replaced Fanatec with a G27, modified the brake pedal with Ricmotech load cell, and even as the G27 is not as precise as the CSR, they last, and you can drive and enjoy your driving.
    Don't read me wrong, when the CSR and pedals worked, they were great and very precise. I cut down my time around Le Mans (2004 version) by more than 4 sec.
    The only problem was that they didn't last one week.

    I don't know how the T500 RS is holding, but they seem to have had their share of problems.

    The situation now is either you stick with Logitech or spend more than $1500 on a high end wheel. I don't think that amount of money would be justifiable by the increase pf performance, unless you have money coming out off your ears.
    • Like Like x 1
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