Another Fanatec wheel arrives!

[Kryz11]

I remeber SRT did review on the most expensive wheel on the market you can get.. FREX was it? They say its one of the smoothest and best.. but just too expensive..
They mention LAP times, smoothness improved their TRACK TIMES, But they say most of the times it may only improve by tenths of seconds and not SECONDS like people think.

But it also depends on people on to improve lap times.. Same with cars.. you feel more comfortable in one car over the other.. But yeah tenths of seconds might be improvement.

 

[Chronos]

Actually, I'm more interested in the FFB feel of the wheel - I debated just getting the RS wheel & using my G25 pedals. But we'll see soon, I guess...

Didn't you want the Turbo S Wheel so you could play both 360 and PS3 games Biggles?

I'm thinking about a Fanatec but the price for a Turbo S wheel, dongle, gear shifter will be £260, and that's without the pedals. I can use my G25 pedals but a complete new G25 is £150 here so £260 without pedals seems too steep.

I want to buy an Xbox 360 and have some fun with PGR4, Forza 2 and Forza 3 should be an excellent 3rd offering by turn10. Plus I can buy off-line multiplatform games which run and look better mostly.

If only Logitech would work with Microsoft.

 

[jeppo]

Let me start by saying, I wish I had the same problems you guys are having. I live in SIngapore, so ordering on the website is a no go, the wheels are only available through shops here. But the only one they offer is the turbo, not even the turbo S. There is only one brand new one available here and they want Sing$799 (US$541). The distributor has offered to sell me one of two others he has but

"They are both open box sets as they were demoed and tested by staff for 1 day. The wireless dongle may have gotten switched so I would have to make sure you got the right one and the only way to do that is to sell it and install the software. It may take a dongle exchange with me but you are welcome to buy it direct if you like for $650." (from the email of the local distributor here)

Don't know whether I could trust them to not have damaged the wheels if they can't even be bothered to return the right dongle to the right box?

And, as I live in an apartment (as do 95% of the population here) I don't have the space for a cockpit so thought I would get the rennsport wheelstand, but the distributor in his infinite wisdom has decided there's no market for them here, so won't be bringing any in. I'm sure that the fact he sells $2,000+ cockpits has nothing to do with his decision

Oh well, I have found a place in Australia where I can get the same wheel for about $500, so at least I can save about $300 on the wheel, plus they have the wheelstand available.

 

[oqvist]

Well my expectations as a previous G25 and 911 turbo owner... As for wheel I expect exactly the same for the GT 3 RS as for the 911 turbo in term of force feedback. Which for me feels a lot more real than the G25.

It´s a different school 911 aiming for a more real feel and the G25 trying to make an easy to use wheel with little or no resistance. You don´t have to fight the wheel like you have to do in real racing at times since there is a lot less resistance. I find this affect my driving style a lot. I find myself being more smoother with the 911 since I am forced to whereas I am more aggressive with the G25 since I can afford it. I do like strong force feedback though you can of course tune it down but it removes some of the immersion. 911 definiatly have the edge there you can run stronger force feedback while still getting a lot of road and brake feel. Time overall is pretty much the same. 911 turbo probably being more economic on the tires and the G25 on your arms . On my cockpit it´s not a problem Since I am in a much stronger position and with shoulder support but when running at the desktop and without the table clamp so I could adjust the angle I got pretty tired sooner then I got with the G25.

If anything I would say the G25 have the edge over the 911s with the stock pedals since the G25 pedals have higher precision and is smoother definiatly and I expect them to simply last longer. The throttle spring is as tiny as it can possibly be for example and the pot placement doesn´t feel as secure as on the G25. You can also nixim brake mod them and then you get a way better brake then the stock 911 pedals. And you can add the leo bodnar usb device to get even more precision out of them.

From what I have seen I still expect the clubsport pedals to beat the G25 pedals nixim modded or not though hardly my CST pedals.

As for vibration motors being in the wheel or not. It´s the same as force feedback. Since most don´t have full motion cockpits they put it so you can feel it in the wheel instead. Though I admit the vibrations apart from what I get with the real FFB seldom gives me anything but I have my LFE to shake my cockpit instead. Man do that do a lot for the experience . I have even managed to tone down the force feedback some and compensate on the actual grip effects and such.

the rFactor plug ins made them a bit more useful though to remind you when you are near the rev limiter. If I go by sound I always over rev since I like it when it´s loud

 

[Kryz11]

Yeah exactly about the vibration motors. I for one Do not have motion cockpits, so I like how vibration will be simulated to my wheel, that way i get bit more feedback.
Does the Vibration Motors run with GT5P when going over any bumps or braking hard or what not? Or just how much gas you press?




And by the way guys, I received response via e-mail from FANATEC, they thank for order, payment and my patience. The shipment is on the way to America and will get there (here) around Mid may. And once they do customer clearance to make sure, they will send it out to everyone.. as well send email about the dispatch.

Thanks Fanatec!!! It's good to know.

 

[The Outlaw]

Yeah exactly about the vibration motors. I for one Do not have motion cockpits, so I like how vibration will be simulated to my wheel, that way i get bit more feedback.
Does the Vibration Motors run with GT5P when going over any bumps or braking hard or what not? Or just how much gas you press?




And by the way guys, I received response via e-mail from FANATEC, they thank for order, payment and my patience. The shipment is on the way to America and will get there (here) around Mid may. And once they do customer clearance to make sure, they will send it out to everyone.. as well send email about the dispatch.

Thanks Fanatec!!! It's good to know.

I still haven't recieved an email from them, so I just sent one to Fanatec's webshop. Hopefully I hear back from them with some good news! 👍

 

[Kryz11]

I still haven't recieved an email from them, so I just sent one to Fanatec's webshop. Hopefully I hear back from them with some good news! 👍

Yeah, thats what I did, I went on Friday night and sent them viw the webshop contact us button. Got the message today. Well good luck.

 

[bevo]

I just got an email saying that I have been confirmed to be a 911 turbo s wheel tester. It said they still have a few known bugs to work out, before they send out any wheels.
The reply to my email actually came quicker than in the past.
They didn't give me any info on how long it will take before they start testing. Hopefully soon.

 

[Biggles]

Didn't you want the Turbo S Wheel so you could play both 360 and PS3 games Biggles?

No, I don't own a 360 & don't expect to anytime soon. I would be more interested in using the RS wheel for PC sims.

I'm expecting to be a least 2 seconds faster a lap than anyone without a Fanatec wheel - anything less & I'll be asking for my money back...

 

[oqvist]

Cancel your preorder then no way that is going to happen... It´s the thing behind the wheel that does it afterall

 

[Mr Latte]

Id be happy with 2-4 tenths tbh or being able to keep better consistency

Isnt much during a race perhaps but in time trials, man that will be worth quite a few positions on the leaderboards.

 

[Kinetic]

What's the basic G25 price / comparison wheel at Fanatec, the current selection is a tad mindboggling

 

[Mr Latte]

What's the basic G25 price / comparison wheel at Fanatec, the current selection is a tad mindboggling

Look on their site for the comparison chart, that will help mate.

Its not mind boggling at all, the main difference is you buy the wheel you want and the pedals you want, also you buy the shifters seperate if you need or want them.

The only tricky one is the "Turbo S" as you need wireless dongle for PS3/PC usage but it workd with X360 outta the box.

 

[oqvist]

I think you can trust me saying that the wheel itself will not make you any faster. I doubt the pedals compared to nixim modded G25 pedals will be "faster" either.

Buy them for the feel otherwise I think I will see you posting here about you being disappointed it doesn´t make you faster. The G25 is precise as well you don´t really gain any precision. For me it´s just a it´s more real and immersive upgrade

 

[Kryz11]

Exacly, it wont make you faster, but will make you feel better. 2 seconds is a lot.. but hey it MAY happen.. but with 100 LAP practice session

 

[Mr Latte]

Im willing to go against you guys on this one.
Yes it may be seen as soaking up the hype and taking into account that the pedals in particular will indeed allow more precision.

If this is true then a quality player should be able to use the better feeling pedals more accurately. Just as the wheel is meant to feel better then it should give better confidence in racing too should it not?

My feelings are that i expect to be able to brake better, by this i mean not overbraking into a corner as much. With the new improved digital sensor in the CS throttle it is then hoped to possibly apply better the correct amount of throttle (avoiding wheel spin) and possibly filtering in the power earlier.

Seriously if i dont go a bit better with this wheel/pedal combo i will be a bit ticked off.

 

[Gabkicks]

yeah I'd expect that too w/ the pressure sensitive brakes. I'd like to try the pedals myself, but I dont have 200 bucks to blow ATM.

 

[calaby01]

Personally I cannot justify the costs of fanatec's stuff although it all looks good. While I don't think everyone is going to see a huge difference in lap times I would think they will see improvement in their ability to turn consistently quick times.

 

[Biggles]

Umm... I was joking about being faster with a Fanatec wheel, guys!

The way to justify money spent on a wheel:

G25: I paid $225 CDN in June of 2007. Since then, I've put in at least 250 hours each with GT4, Enthusia, F1CE, GT5P & FC.

So probably around 1500 hours in total. That works out to about 15 cents/hour. And the wheel is still going strong (although I have had sporadic issues with it). Not a bad investment IMO. In fact, I really can't understand anyone who spends hundreds of hours playing racing sims, & doesn't take the trouble to buy a good wheel.

 

[Kryz11]

Yeah, especially whats the point of playing SIMS without a decent wheel? IF you have a PAD go play some Grid or Need for Speed haha

 

[calaby01]

I wasn't meaning any offense to those that do spend big money on their hobbies, I was just saying for me personally I can't justify it. I've got four kids ,one granddaughter got to make sure they all have their fair share of toys also. But I do have fair set up with a DFGT and a cockpit made with 2 inch pvc and a APC car seat on sliders. But my whole setup has less than 300 in it even with buying the seat brand new.

And Biggles when you break it down by hours used many of us could seemingly justify some killer setups, three hundred just happened to be enough to make me happy. But then again my wife has called me cheap and easy before so maybe I am speaking out of turn here.

 

[Mr Latte]

Some people spend much much more on graphics cards which they in many cases are upgrading again within 12-18 months. I can justify the price by the usage i will have from them as well over a period of time and from several upcoming games.

What i dont understand with Fanatec is that with the GT3RS and CS pedals you get a nice price reduction on the pedals. Yet if you buy the Turbos S in CS deal you pay full whack price of the individual items.

 

[asia minor]

that is because the GT3RS wheel do not have the fancy wireless system PLUS its not guranteed to 100% work with PS3 games.

people that bought it (me included) is betting on the fact that it WILL work with GT5, but it might not.

 

[oqvist]

GT5 has been promised more or less but that´s about it.

Latte if G25 pedals would be lacking precision then yes but it´s 8-bit and can be done to 10-bit if I am not misstaken with the leo bodnar mod. The CSP pedals may be even smoother not impossible of course but I dare to say the G25s pots has so much precision it´s a moot point to go to 12-bit like my CST pedals use. They are horribly smooth yes but nothing I can really make use of with my wooden legs. It takes superhuman control over your legs to really make use of it. That said you can customize them a lot more to get just the right setup you want so surely it can make a difference. But more that then the extra precision... Though in theory the CSP pots should last way longer for throttle and clutch anyway.

As for pressure sensitive you can fake the feel with rubber as well. And it´s not truly pressure sensitive since the brakes aren´t attached to moving disks and such so you can´t for example feel if the brakes are fading that way. It still relies on springs and rubber in combination.

It´s more different designs and which way is optimum to create the best brake feel.
The benefit with pressure sensitive systems is that they are a bit easier to fine tune and adjust generally. As for the nixim brake mod you have one setup and you need to cut down on the rubber or such to alter it. Or like with my Frex setups run with different rubbers and such and adjust preload. On the CST you have rubber, adjusting preload on rubber and spring and then you can of course short calibrate it if you don´t want to use the max force for braking.

As for 3rd party pedals many say they get a lot faster with frex or ecci or CST pedals or whatever... I can understand that if they are going from DFP, momo racing type of pedals but from say from nixim modded G25 pedals it may simply be due to it being more fun and immersive and they drive more. I noticed an improvement with my Frex pedals for those reason and I was on some worn momo force red pedals before. But the CST pedals really didn´t make me any faster but then I was on a decline already. Really no excuses whatsoever for not being faster with them they are exactly how I want them

 

[Mr Latte]

Thanks for the detailed report on pedals.
We wont know how good the CSP are untill they are well tested in the community.

What is good about the CSP is their adjustability it seems in angle, position and pressure.
So comfort or possibility of finding a more suitable personal preference should be much higher than possible with retail G25 pedals.
I personally expect the feel from the pedals to be more realistic on the CSP and more responsive under the foot.

Listed by Fanatec:
Degressive Clutch Resistance
ABS Vibration on Brake Pedal *
Contactless High Precision Sensors For Gas & Clutch
Adjustable Load Cell Pressure Sensor For Brake
Adjustable Spring Strength On Pedals

Im not for comparing modded G25 to non modded CSP as thats also unfair just like its kinda unfair to judge CST or very expensive Pro pedals to the CSP, even though they may offer a pretty decent Pro performance for much less.

Thomas did state in one of his emails to customers regarding the delays that they improved the design and components during testing.

"For example we increased the resolution of the pedal axis to 1024 values"
That can only be a good thing too.

 

[oqvist]

I think it´s fair since the G25 with nixim mod 10$ and leo bodnar fix maybe 20$ is well within the same price range and you may own one already .

As you say time will tell I have one on my way to me already so I do believe it´s good and the pots will hopefully last longer too so less maintenance. Hopefully good enough that I can sell the CST pedals even though that is a different price range and I don´t expect them to fully match them.

I do share many of your observations but I just don´t think they will have that much more precision that you can actually use and make you go faster versus modded G25 pedals .

 

[Mr Latte]

Problem with the mod is it invalids your warrenty, thats something many wont want to do so is my reason of comparing each product as its available.
Part of me yes wants them to be great, yes wants me to assume i will be faster with them so its a positive attitude im trying to conjure to warrant the purchase.
I still think though they could become the best price/performance pedals on the market and even if they dont make people in general really any faster well they certainly wont make them slower.

Exciting time for me also as within approx 1 week i will have arriving the wheel,pedals, Buttkicker BKA300 and a spanking new Cobra "Sebring Pro" all going into the cockpit project im doing.

Cant wait to start testing it all out and enjoying the games...

 

[Kryz11]

2 more days for US delivery to their US shop. Then another 1-2 weeks for delivery! WOOHOO I can't wait.

 

[kikie]

that is because the GT3RS wheel do not have the fancy wireless system PLUS its not guranteed to 100% work with PS3 games.

In that case, I think I won't buy the GT3RS wheel after all.

 

[nyeboy]

Can the shifter on this wheel be moved to the left hand side?

Edit: I found out the answer to my question, you can.