- 9
- United States
- GLUTIUS__MAXIMUS
Fanatec Clubsport Shifter SQ review
- Thread starter HoiHman
- 468 comments
- 102,105 views
- 1,305
- N Ireland
- MarkyParky79
That sort of movement would really grind my gears 
Seriously though there shouldn't be any movement like that in my opinion.
I've been thinking about getting the CSS in January and honestly that would put me off, and I know it would get more annoying as time went on.
Seriously though there shouldn't be any movement like that in my opinion.
I've been thinking about getting the CSS in January and honestly that would put me off, and I know it would get more annoying as time went on.
- 449
- Toronto
- SignsOfChaos
- SignsOfChaos
The movement is caused by the fact it's a two piece shaft to allow for the reverse and 7th gear lockout mechanism.
Do what you want purchase wise but speaking from my own personal experience it's not noticeable at all when running through the gears. The only time I ever notice it is when I purposely rotate the knob
- 1,000
- Northern VA
I'll echo these sentiments. The CSS SQ is a brilliant shifter and a huge upgrade over anything I've used (G25, Fanatec CSR Shifter, TH8RS). I don't notice the rotational slop at all when racing. That lockout function is a really big deal to me too. I've lost races due mis-shifts with the TH8RS because you can't ride the gates (compounded by GT's horrendous clutch modeling). The CSS SQ is also the first sim shifter I've ever used that feels like something out of a real car. With the adjustable tension I can make it feel like a lighter cable-actuated shifter (think RSX) or something more mechanical and direct (think S2000).
- 449
- Toronto
- SignsOfChaos
- SignsOfChaos
I remember reading a lot of squawking about the 7th gear lock out........it's a brilliant little piece of engineering IMO. Accidental shifts into 7th on the TH8 were a real issue for me as the TH8 has pretty light side to side tension so I found it very easy to lean on the stick too hard and slam 7th instead of 5th. I also find hitting 3rd is quite a bit better with the CSS as well.
As I said before.....the TH8 is a good shifter and I enjoyed mine but it's not even close build quality wise to the CSS.
As I said before.....the TH8 is a good shifter and I enjoyed mine but it's not even close build quality wise to the CSS.
- 1,358
- Redmond, WA
- mrbasherman
I previously decided I was not going to make one of these, despite being asked many times... Fanatec decided to make their own, I offered, they declined. Now people are waiting until at least the end of January for a USB adapter for their CSS. Many people without Fanatec wheels now have a Clubsport Shifter sitting lifeless as they wait and for who really knows how long.
Well, I'm fed up with such things as others should be. 3 hours of my time is all this took... This will be going on sale very VERY soon, it works with the original shifters as well as the new Clubsport ones:
(This isn't a prototype or sitting on a breadboard.. It's ready to go)
Well, I'm fed up with such things as others should be. 3 hours of my time is all this took... This will be going on sale very VERY soon, it works with the original shifters as well as the new Clubsport ones:
(This isn't a prototype or sitting on a breadboard.. It's ready to go)
- 21
- Ohio
I previously decided I was not going to make one of these, despite being asked many times... Fanatec decided to make their own, I offered, they declined. Now people are waiting until at least the end of January for a USB adapter for their CSS. Many people without Fanatec wheels now have a Clubsport Shifter sitting lifeless as they wait and for who really knows how long.
Well, I'm fed up with such things as others should be. 3 hours of my time is all this took... This will be going on sale very VERY soon, it works with the original shifters as well as the new Clubsport ones:
YOU SIR, MADE MY NIGHT!!!!!
- 1,358
- Redmond, WA
- mrbasherman
These will be for sale on my site either tonight or tomorrow. Tested and ready to go:
The FS1 - USB Shifter Adapter
I did try to find a new enclosure that was better suited but was unsuccessful, without making my own. Using the same enclosure type when doing small volumes is the most cost effective solution. So, it's not pretty, but it gets the job done.
On that note... Have any of you actually thought about how you were going to plug Fanatec's USB adapter in? Think about it... The cable attached to the adapter is approximately 6 inches long and the cables that come with the shifter itself are 3 feet? So your PC needs to be within 3 Feet of where you mount the shifter... Either that or you get a longer cable, or a USB extension cable.
- 21
- Ohio
These will be for sale on my site either tonight or tomorrow. Tested and ready to go:
The FS1 - USB Shifter Adapter
View attachment 93773
I did try to find a new enclosure that was better suited but was unsuccessful, without making my own. Using the same enclosure type when doing small volumes is the most cost effective solution. So, it's not pretty, but it gets the job done.
On that note... Have any of you actually thought about how you were going to plug Fanatec's USB adapter in? Think about it... The cable attached to the adapter is approximately 6 inches long and the cables that come with the shifter itself are 3 feet? So your PC needs to be within 3 Feet of where you mount the shifter... Either that or you get a longer cable, or a USB extension cable.
It was my understanding that the ps2 cable was pretty short BUT the rj45 (or whatever it is?) is pretty long (like 6ft?) EDIT: It must not be that long since you mentioned the issue and include a 6ft usb cable with yours
I don't have mine in hand, am hoping it's the next shipment. With that said, you apparently are in the know so I am assuming (again I really do not know) that we get the little black miracle box, and a long usb cable and are good to go??
EDIT: HAHA!! Never mind, just went to your site and see that you INCLUDE the needed usb cable
FANTASTIC!!
- 1,358
- Redmond, WA
- mrbasherman
Of course. It appears some folks got longer ones, some shorter. So to cut down on issues, I just include it. Though I may change things to allow people to opt out. This will save money for the buyer, mostly on international orders due to shipping cost. Costs have really gone up for international shipping over the last year.
It appears some folks got longer ones, some shorter. So to cut down on issues, I just include it. Though I may change things to allow people to opt out. This will save money for the buyer, mostly on international orders due to shipping cost. Costs have really gone up for international shipping over the last year.
- 404
- Aubrey, Texas
I have been spending time with my CSS SQ and will report some more observations. I have only been playing GT6 so I will only make observations on using the shifter in GT6.
1) In regard to the shifter itself. It is a lovely piece of equipment, very well made and it feels like a shifter for a real car. Having said that it is a heavy object and stresses the limits of my Playseat. I have the shifter mount add-on for my Playseat and while it is a solidly built the mount to the Playseat itself is via adjustable guides fixed in place with large set screws to make positioning adjustable. This is not robust enough to hold the shifter solidly in place and it wiggled around during shifting enough that it was distracting. I drilled holes in the mount and screwed the shifter mount solidly in place. This stopped the looseness but the shifter still flexes when it use. No longer a distraction but it indicates the need for a very solidly built shifter platform to hold the CSS in place if it is to totally simulate a real car.
2) As has been report at length here and other forum locations GT6 has a poorly implemented shifting model which makes it very easy to end up in neutral when trying to shift. I am very familiar with performance shifters including the one on my Porsche 911 Turbo and I have never had so many blown shifts. It is frustrating to say the least. I wish that PD would do some work on the shifting model employed within the GT series.
3) Regardless of the problems I have been using the shifter, so far only in H pattern mode. The combination of the CSP v2 clutch and the CSS shifter feel wonderful, very much like operating a manual transmission in a real car. Unfortunately I produce much slower lap times than I can produce with a paddle shifter. Part of this I believe is inherent in paddle shifters. I don't think it is an accident that F1 cars use paddle shifters. I don't think one can every be as fast using an H shifter particularly in very high speed cars where things happen very fast and having two hands on the wheel is vital.
4) I therefore have approached the shifter with the idea of become expert enough to utilize the H shifter in appropriate cars. I undertook to master it on the Miata Roadster and selected Bathhurst to time trials as it would help me learn this new track as well as limit the amount of shifts I would have to make. I time trialed for a few laps with the shifter until I had a decent clean run. I then ran the car using paddles. I was 4.5 seconds faster. I went to work with the H shifter and time trialed until I finally beat the paddle shifter time. I added a little power to the Miata to place more stress on shifting. I time trialed with the paddles and put up another faster time. I am now time trialing with the H shifter to match that time. I am currently 1.5s slower. I am still frustrated by the problems of blown shifts in GT6 but I am slowly developing a feel for it.
I like the CSS and will continue to work with it. I don't believe it will ever become the tool of choice for actually competing in a simulation. Paddle shifters simply are superior so unless the competition is forced to using H shifters you will be doomed to losing. I do like driving with a clutch and an H shifter and will use it on appropriate cars.
I don't think it will ever be a truly satisfying experience in GT6 until PD actually fixes there clutch/shifter module.
1) In regard to the shifter itself. It is a lovely piece of equipment, very well made and it feels like a shifter for a real car. Having said that it is a heavy object and stresses the limits of my Playseat. I have the shifter mount add-on for my Playseat and while it is a solidly built the mount to the Playseat itself is via adjustable guides fixed in place with large set screws to make positioning adjustable. This is not robust enough to hold the shifter solidly in place and it wiggled around during shifting enough that it was distracting. I drilled holes in the mount and screwed the shifter mount solidly in place. This stopped the looseness but the shifter still flexes when it use. No longer a distraction but it indicates the need for a very solidly built shifter platform to hold the CSS in place if it is to totally simulate a real car.
2) As has been report at length here and other forum locations GT6 has a poorly implemented shifting model which makes it very easy to end up in neutral when trying to shift. I am very familiar with performance shifters including the one on my Porsche 911 Turbo and I have never had so many blown shifts. It is frustrating to say the least. I wish that PD would do some work on the shifting model employed within the GT series.
3) Regardless of the problems I have been using the shifter, so far only in H pattern mode. The combination of the CSP v2 clutch and the CSS shifter feel wonderful, very much like operating a manual transmission in a real car. Unfortunately I produce much slower lap times than I can produce with a paddle shifter. Part of this I believe is inherent in paddle shifters. I don't think it is an accident that F1 cars use paddle shifters. I don't think one can every be as fast using an H shifter particularly in very high speed cars where things happen very fast and having two hands on the wheel is vital.
4) I therefore have approached the shifter with the idea of become expert enough to utilize the H shifter in appropriate cars. I undertook to master it on the Miata Roadster and selected Bathhurst to time trials as it would help me learn this new track as well as limit the amount of shifts I would have to make. I time trialed for a few laps with the shifter until I had a decent clean run. I then ran the car using paddles. I was 4.5 seconds faster. I went to work with the H shifter and time trialed until I finally beat the paddle shifter time. I added a little power to the Miata to place more stress on shifting. I time trialed with the paddles and put up another faster time. I am now time trialing with the H shifter to match that time. I am currently 1.5s slower. I am still frustrated by the problems of blown shifts in GT6 but I am slowly developing a feel for it.
I like the CSS and will continue to work with it. I don't believe it will ever become the tool of choice for actually competing in a simulation. Paddle shifters simply are superior so unless the competition is forced to using H shifters you will be doomed to losing. I do like driving with a clutch and an H shifter and will use it on appropriate cars.
I don't think it will ever be a truly satisfying experience in GT6 until PD actually fixes there clutch/shifter module.
swiftwilly
Premium
- 1,506
- swiftwilly
Cheers Reed. That was helpful.
- 1,305
- N Ireland
- MarkyParky79
I agree about the shifter model in the GT series. I've not used the CSS yet, hopefully soon though.
I do use the TH8RS and was able to adjust the throw of the shifter in the properties menu, this really helps with the miss shift problem. Perhaps Fanatec could add that feature to the CSS at some point.
I do use the TH8RS and was able to adjust the throw of the shifter in the properties menu, this really helps with the miss shift problem. Perhaps Fanatec could add that feature to the CSS at some point.
- 1,358
- Redmond, WA
- mrbasherman
This is not possible on the Clubsport Shifter. The shifter contains switches which route power through some resistors to output static analog values. Due to this, the gear is either on or off. (digital) The only analog portion of the shifter is the side to side movement of the stick. You MIGHT be able to change this a little by manipulating the levers on the switches such that they contact sooner. You could just bend them. (this is not me recommending that)
A couple notes on what I saw inside the shifter:
- I didn't see anything that was CNC machined. All of the parts were cast.
- The mechanism which provides the *click* into the gears is a ball detent like that used in the TH8RS. When you adjust the tension on the shifter, you are increasing pressure on the ball which just like the TH8RS, will wear down the detents quicker. Something to think about. In contrast, the detents for the ball are on a removable piece of metal, presumably it could be replaced.
- I saw no mechanism which could be used to adjust the side to side tension. This again uses a method similar to that of the TH8RS by using two torsion springs. These could likely be swapped out for heavier ones.
- The bottom of stick which goes into the gates has what looks to be a HDPE sleeve around it that is replaceable. Though, quite loose...
Anyhow, just some observations from someone that had it apart.
This is not possible on the Clubsport Shifter. The shifter contains switches which route power through some resistors to output static analog values. Due to this, the gear is either on or off. (digital) The only analog portion of the shifter is the side to side movement of the stick. You MIGHT be able to change this a little by manipulating the levers on the switches such that they contact sooner. You could just bend them. (this is not me recommending that)
A couple notes on what I saw inside the shifter:
- I didn't see anything that was CNC machined. All of the parts were cast.
- The mechanism which provides the *click* into the gears is a ball detent like that used in the TH8RS. When you adjust the tension on the shifter, you are increasing pressure on the ball which just like the TH8RS, will wear down the detents quicker. Something to think about. In contrast, the detents for the ball are on a removable piece of metal, presumably it could be replaced.
- I saw no mechanism which could be used to adjust the side to side tension. This again uses a method similar to that of the TH8RS by using two torsion springs. These could likely be swapped out for heavier ones.
- The bottom of stick which goes into the gates has what looks to be a HDPE sleeve around it that is replaceable. Though, quite loose...
Anyhow, just some observations from someone that had it apart.
Very good details on the shifter, thanks Mr Basher. I was wondering what the internals were like on the CS. Sounds like they're using the same ball detent design as the TH8RS, which is a shame really because if the TH8 is anything to go by, the ClubSport will suffer the same worn down issue that plagued the TH8 over time.
I would hope it would hold up for much much longer then the TH8RS... Do this will mean like the TH8RS you can just monumentarily make it stiffer it will get back to level one within 30 minutes of use or so? Do we have a CSS owner here that really put it down the paces. Would it be difficult procedure to replace it if possible?
JogoAsobi
Premium
- 2,578
I also adjusted my TH8RS gate's neutral zones via its windows utility (carries over to PS3).
Since doing so I have used a TH8RS in GT6 (did in GT5 too) whenever real car has an H-shifter.
No alien times, but absolutely no problems beating the Seasonal Gold TT times by a few seconds.
No steering or other driving aids/0 ABS.
Correction: Missed mrbasher's post stating that its not possible.
Would like to see more GT6 manual clutch/H-pattern shifter users.
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- 1,305
- N Ireland
- MarkyParky79
I also adjusted my TH8RS gate's neutral zones via its windows utility (carries over to PS3).
Since doing so I have used a TH8RS in GT6 (did in GT5 too) whenever real car has an H-shifter.
No alien times, but absolutely no problems beating the Seasonal Gold TT times by a few seconds.
No steering or other driving aids/0 ABS.
I think a similar feature might help CSS users in GT5/GT6.
Would like to see more GT6 manual clutch/H-pattern shifter users.
Have you noticed any cars that you couldn't use your H pattern in? Some cars let me some don't, usually ones with paddles irl won't let you use the shifter but not always.
I think it must be a bug, as I noticed it in GT5 sometimes too
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affecting different cars, not aware of it in GT5.
