DIY vs. Pre-Built Cockpit: Which Is Better for Sim Racing?

[SimLover]

Hey GTPlanet,

I’ve been racing in Gran Turismo and a few other sims for a while now, and I’m thinking about upgrading my setup. I’m currently using a basic desk and chair with a decent rig (Ryzen 7 5800X, RTX 3070, 32GB RAM), but it’s time to take things up a notch with a proper cockpit.

I’m trying to decide between building a DIY cockpit or going for a pre-built option. I want something solid that’ll last, but I’m also open to saving time and going pre-built if it’s worth it. Has anyone here gone through the same decision? What would you recommend for a better sim-racing experience?

Appreciate any thoughts!

 

[i386]

Get a first cheap sim rig (used or new) and see if you really like it (and have the space, I'm short on this ).
If you really like it get the best 80/20 aluminum rig you can afford and have place for, don't do intermediately updates as this will get expensive very fast.

A few more tips:

 

[24Lemons]

The DIY option hinges on how good you are at DIY. I attempted to build one during lockdown along the lines of the Ricmotech wooden cockpits.

I probably spent about £150 in materials. The end result was far from perfect. The geometry was wrong, the finish was rough and it wasn’t very adjustable.

I made do but I kept an eye on eBay and a couple of months ago I saw a Simetik K2 rig. I put in a bid for £50 and won it! The difference is night and day in terms of quality and adjustability

There’s no reason why a DIY can’t be a good rig but maybe be honest about your abilities if you are building it yourself.

 

[SimLover]

You make a solid point about being honest with your DIY skills. I had been considering building something myself, but hearing about issues like wrong geometry and lack of adjustability really makes me think twice. I had looked at a few wooden cockpit plans too, but now I’m starting to see why the pre-built options might save me a lot of frustration in the long run.

That deal you got on the Simetik K2 is amazing—I’ve been keeping an eye on similar rigs. I hadn’t checked out the Simetik specifically, but I’ve been weighing the idea of grabbing something pre-built to avoid DIY challenges. I’ve also seen some suggestions for DOF Reality rigs—do you think something like that could be a good option, or should I stick to simpler setups for now?