G27 or Fanatec GT3 RS?

[Zoli007]

I have a DFGT that my dog ate the USB cord on and I want to get a new wheel. I've been eyeing the Fanatec for a while for its looks mainly. I dont want just a good looking wheel, I want a good wheel.

I think the 900' steering is excessive on 90% of the cars I drive on GT series and F1 games. I'd like the ability to adjust that as it seems the Fanatec has the possibility to do so.

I've noticed reading throught his forum for quite a while that the G27 is a very popular wheel. Is it better than the DFGT? How does it compare to the Fanatec?

Honest opinions appreciated.

 

[kasey435]

I was in the same boat about 2 weeks ago. But not that my dog ate something. lol. I think either wheel will be awesome. I went with the g27 because of price. came with the h shifter, and works well with the playseat. But sounds like you want the adjustability. So If I were you, I would go with fanatec. Plus you get the clubsports

I have not tried the dfgt, but im sure the g27 is alot better. On ISR, they said the pedals alone make it worth the extra money.

Just do what best suits your needs (function, price, ect.)

Either way, you will have the wheel before GT5 comes out. UUUUggghhhh.

 

[kikie]

I got the G27 for several reasons.

1. G27 I bought was €100 cheaper than the official G27 price .
2. I don't trust the belt entirely. As far as I know, it's more prone to wear and tear than a gear driven device.
3. The support of Logitech is much, much better than the support from Fanatec
4. I like generic wheels better than a licensed wheel.
5. And I had the G25 which is a good wheel.

BTW, you can adjust the 900° with the G27. The only difference is with the Fanatec wheel is that with the G27 you always have to pause the game, go in the game profiler and adjust accordingly. The Fanatec wheel has a big advantage that you can adjust the degrees of rotation 'on the fly' and even when playing on the PS3.

Watch these:





Shoot out starts at 23.35 min.

 

[bibio]

Hi, a few reasons why i got Fanatec GTR3 RS V2 over G27. Searched & read loads about both a few months back(June/July), till i was sick of searching & reading. What put me off G27.

1, any prob with wheel centreing, forget it, even on Logitech Forum, gets completely ignored, even by Logitech staff.

2, read were one peep took is G27 apart, found cracked or melted plastic, a few others found same. But wheel still worked.

3, warranty brilliant for G27, till 2yrs up, then if it breaks, bin it, no parts to buy etc etc. Or look for other ways to repair.

4, could not get it really cheap in UK at time. Looks same now.

Plus prob, various other things, it was a while back.

Yet again G25(only secondhand available at time), & Fanatec etc, not perfect, so was a bit of stick a pin in it. If not on price alone, innovative nature of Fanatec etc, or CSP's might have swayed me also.

All in all, can see you get a good wheel which ever you buy, nothing perfect from what i can see thou.


Cheers BOB

 

[Fanatec...]

Kikie

How much experience did you have with our support? Have you ever bought a product from us?

The belt is made in the UK (by Gates) and they use the same belts in heart lung machines. Even on the first PWT wheels sold 3 years ago we never had any issues with reliability.

I guess your opinion is based on a few assumptions which might not necessarily be true.

The rest is personal taste and budget which is hard to argue about.

 

[Beliall]

I spent a long time deciding which of these to get, I ended up with a solo GT3 RS and standard pedals. (had to save money somewhere) I have to say I couldnt be happier. It doesnt take long to get the wheel adjusted to your own preference, and it hard mounted onto my wheelstand pro with no drilling required. The thing that swayed me was the fact I can upgrade various parts, like adding CSP's later, and a CSS (shifter) If i got a G27 I would eventually have to buy another whole new wheel when it broke.

 

[kikie]

Kikie

How much experience did you have with our support? Have you ever bought a product from us?

I don't have any experience with your support what so ever. I based my opinion on the bad reviews I read on the internet about Fanatec's support and I compared these reviews with a personal experience I had with Logitech when my G25 shifter was broken. Logitech's support is perfect.

The belt is made in the UK (by Gates) and they use the same belts in heart lung machines. Even on the first PWT wheels sold 3 years ago we never had any issues with reliability.

Every belt will start to stretch faster than metallic gears will wear out. It's the case with belts in cars engines, as a propulsion mechanisme on motor bikes and even with the very expensieve belt driven ECCI FFB wheel, the trackstar 7000 (I believe the biggest fans of the ECCI wheel said themself that a belt can give problems. I'm talking about Garin and Shaun).

I'm sure that your belt is of very high quality but you can't change the fact that a belt in general will stretch eventually and starts slipping.
I'm almost sure that the heart lung belt must/will be replaced when there is the slightest problem with it, which means that even these belts wear out.

I'm not bashing Fanatec because I'm 100% sure that your wheels are of a very good build quality but I got the G27 with 2 years waranty for €100 less in an official (physical) store and that's the main reason I bought the G27.

If you had the Carrera wheel with CSP, I'd have gone for that wheel, not the G27.

I guess your opinion is based on a few assumptions which might not necessarily be true.

Probably.

You might be right about that. But still, true or not, I based my decission on these assumptions and on the price ofcourse.

 

[bumer]

Logitech's support is perfect.

My experience is a little bit different. I have been in contact with Fanatec support many times and I have probably always got an answer within 48 hours.
As for Logitech, one of my force feedback motors was broken and after 1,5 months being in contact with them, they finally said no and didn't replace the motor. So I had to sell my wheel for cheap.

 

[Zoli007]

Thanks for the replies guys, Im still debating both. I love the look of the GT3 wheel, but also like what Chilicoke has done with his wheel. I have access to a few lathes and other equipment so I could make something similar, but that is another $$$ on it. Agree on the niceness of the clubsport pedals as well.

Shame there is no GT5 coming out soon though....

 

[santiagodraco]

Every belt will start to stretch faster than metallic gears will wear out. It's the case with belts in cars engines, as a propulsion mechanisme on motor bikes and even with the very expensieve belt driven ECCI FFB wheel, the trackstar 7000 (I believe the biggest fans of the ECCI wheel said themself that a belt can give problems. I'm talking about Garin and Shaun).

I'm sure that your belt is of very high quality but you can't change the fact that a belt in general will stretch eventually and starts slipping.
I'm almost sure that the heart lung belt must/will be replaced when there is the slightest problem with it, which means that even these belts wear out.

I'm not bashing Fanatec because I'm 100% sure that your wheels are of a very good build quality but I got the G27 with 2 years waranty for €100 less in an official (physical) store and that's the main reason I bought the G27.

First, I also bought the G27. But I want to point out that your statements regarding belts are very misleading to those making a purchase decision.

There are many types of bets used for many types of applications and quality, reliability, mtbf and stretching vary widely. We are talking about belts that are meant for medical application use, on machines that are running constantly and are meant to run for extended periods of time without any risk of failure. The amount of use these belts would receive in a wheel setup are far below that which they would receive in their intended use and far below their rated workload.

On top of that I'm sure that the Fanatec wheel has a self tensioning mechanism (if it doesn't then that is a design flaw) to assure that the belt remains at the proper tension during use...just like cars and other devices that rely on belts do.

You are certainly entitled to make your choice in products but you should avoid inaccurate generalizations like this as it would imply a flaw that does not necessarily exist.

Just think about the kind of use a belt on your car, or belts in transmissions... or used as the powertrain on a motorcycle get... and you really think that belts are not capable of living up to the kind of wear it would receive in a gaming wheel?

 

[blacbul67]

First, I also bought the G27. But I want to point out that your statements regarding belts are very misleading to those making a purchase decision.

There are many types of bets used for many types of applications and quality, reliability, mtbf and stretching vary widely. We are talking about belts that are meant for medical application use, on machines that are running constantly and are meant to run for extended periods of time without any risk of failure. The amount of use these belts would receive in a wheel setup are far below that which they would receive in their intended use and far below their rated workload.

On top of that I'm sure that the Fanatec wheel has a self tensioning mechanism (if it doesn't then that is a design flaw) to assure that the belt remains at the proper tension during use...just like cars and other devices that rely on belts do.

You are certainly entitled to make your choice in products but you should avoid inaccurate generalizations like this as it would imply a flaw that does not necessarily exist.

Just think about the kind of use a belt on your car, or belts in transmissions... or used as the powertrain on a motorcycle get... and you really think that belts are not capable of living up to the kind of wear it would receive in a gaming wheel?

A good point brilliantly made, I had been slightly unnerved by Kikke's assertion about the belt's inherent flaw!!

 

[kikie]

I'm not sure about this one but I guess it's a belt problem as well.

 

[Raitziger]

Fanatec support worked fine with me when my wheel broke. I just sent a video and a new wheel was on it's way to me. Afterwards I actually repaired the other wheel by myself and modded it with quieter fans. (so i have now one wheel as backup)

Belt was in 100% condition but it was popped of and jammed inside. I have not heard anyone lately to have problems with belts and i quess fanatec changed all cogs to have guide walls so that belt wont have a possibility to slide off.

 

[kasey435]

Ya I think all manufacturers will have issues, but they both seem to be good on customer support now. I still wish I could have me a gt3 rs with clubsport pedals and shifter. One day.........One day..

 

[HackiRoku]

Belt can be fine for racing driver because your not putting a lot of stress on the FFb and its Belt itself, but when its comes to drifting, wich is really hard on the FFb and gear, i dont think the belt its the right way to go, you definitly end up with a loose belt or literrally come off like in the video we've seen before..... just a matter of time

Nice idea for less sound, but in fact of reliability over time, i dont think its the right choice, depends on what you will do with your wheel.

 

[Raitziger]

Nice idea for less sound, but in fact of reliability over time, i dont think its the right choice, depends on what you will do with your wheel.

How long have you had the wheel for it go loose? I haven't have any problems so far. My G25 developed very loud gear noise from drifting but so far nothing from turbo s.

 

[bibio]

Hi, well going on what you read, at least just with Fanatec Turbo S, there must be 10,000 out there, very rare you even hear the belt as slipped off, odd few thou. Fanatec, have been going a fair while, now as well.
Only read once were someone as damaged a belt & he blamed is Uncle , who had never tried it before.
On a normal car, it rare nowadays to hear of a timing belt breaking, prob not much tolerance for stretch either. Some cars must have 100,000 miles on them, & timing belt as never been changed. They do take some hammer as well.
Belts are certainly not just rubber bands now , lot of technology in them, just like alot of things.

You always hear about the problems on the web, & the grapevine can sure make them a lot larger than they prob are(one prob a Vid or whatever, IMO proves nothing, you can find em for anything, even if quoted/ shown endlessly). Web certainly ain't friendly for the neurotic . Luckily with both Logitech & Fanatec, there seem to be a lot of very happy owners. Reading this Forum, Fanatec forum & lots of others.


Cheers BOB

 

[acorn]

Completely agree here with Bob - the internet is a great place for people to vent their dissatisfaction. It also seems to be human nature to complain than to praise.

Personally I chose the Fanatec GT3 RS because I wasn't happy with the reports of the G27 chattering on FFB intensive surfaces, and since most of my racing will be late at night I needed something quiet.

My wheel arrives in about a week so I'm hoping I'll be heaping some praise on Fanatec!

 

[Fanatec...]

If you mount the wheel with screws to a cockpit and you tighten the screws so heavily that the whole base is deforming than it can indeed be possible that the belt jumps off. This is why we are warning in the manual not to tighten the screws too much.
This is certainly not a reliability issue of the belts in general.

I don't want to talk bad about the competition but if you look around you will find evidence that gear drives can wear off and get loud and coggy.

 

[kikie]

If you mount the wheel with screws to a cockpit and you tighten the screws so heavily that the whole base is deforming than it can indeed be possible that the belt jumps off. This is why we are warning in the manual not to tighten the screws too much.
This is certainly not a reliability issue of the belts in general.

I don't want to talk bad about the competition but if you look around you will find evidence that gear drives can wear off and get loud and coggy.

Off course they wear off. But not as fast as a belt and they can't pop off. I'm not saying that the GT3RS v2 has this problem but a belt can start to slip. Put too much tension on a belt and it starts to wear very rapidly. If you don't put enough tension on a belt and it starts to slip. See what I mean.

Belt driven wheels have a big advantage over gear driven wheels as belt driven wheels are smoother and quieter. And I believe that belt driven wheels deliver the FFB more realisticly than gear driven belts.
Aren't belt driven wheel more expensive to produce than gear driven wheels?

Too bad that the Carrera wheel doesn't have the same option as the GT3RS v2, namely CSP's but it doesn't matter anymore as I already bought a G27.

 

[bibio]

Hi, they changed from metal chain, to a belt, in prob nearly all road cars that are out now. Carbon fibre etc, they put in belts now, they prob never stretch, or minimal, no good for your timing on a road car if they did, even with a auto tensioner on them.
If you look at the vid, its a toothed belt, toothed pinion gear etc, so you will struggle, if at all, to get slip.
Gears, metal to metal, compared to a flexible belt, which wears out or as probs due to wear first ? Only time will tell. Wouldn't like to guess, but touch wood, both will last usable life of the wheel out.


Cheers BOB

 

[ibuycheap]

Off course they wear off. But not as fast as a belt and they can't pop off.

👎

You haven't opened a gt3rs have you.

 

[kikie]

👎

You haven't opened a gt3rs have you.

👎 right back at you!

You didn't watch the youtube film I posted, didn't you now?

and this:

If you mount the wheel with screws to a cockpit and you tighten the screws so heavily that the whole base is deforming than it can indeed be possible that the belt jumps off. This is why we are warning in the manual not to tighten the screws too much.
This is certainly not a reliability issue of the belts in general.

Before you try to insult someone, kind of, read the whole thread before posting a comment like that. A belt can pop off and it seems that you suggest to me that it is impossible.

I want to clear up something. Fanatec wheel are of a very good quality and I like them.

I just wanted to say that gears are stronger than belts, that's all. Unless you make a carbon fibre belt and I don't think that Fanatec uses these materials for making their belts.

Let's not talk about cars but about Harley Davidson, which it totally off topic and not relevant to this thread but I want to mention it anyway. Harley doesn't use belts anymore but chains to drive their motocycles. A chain is stronger than a belt and better to transfer all the torque of a Harley engine to the rear wheel.

Both wheels are good and both wheels have their advantages and disatvantages. I bought the G27 because it was much cheaper than the official Logitech price.

Frex doesn't use belt driven technology for their high endFrex wheel but ECCI does. I believe that BRD doesn't use a belt as well for their high end wheel. So what is best? I don't know. It's my personal opinion that metallic gears are stronger than belts and belts will eventually wear out quicker than gears. Gears can pop off and can slip. Disadvantage of gears is when they wear out, ther will be a huge mechanical dead zone, I think.

 

[CommanderShepar]

God I would love to have the Fanatec wheel. If only shipping to Hawaii were more "reasonable," I would jump on it!

Can't go wrong with either wheel.

Logitech is cheaper for a reason but fully-featured and the Fanatec has awesome feel (so I 've heard) and the pedals are top notch (so I've heard again).

 

[Spiralz]

Thanks for all the input on this thread helped me make my choice, I'm upgrading from g25 to gt3 rs it shipped today so can't wait already have the CSP so I think the build quality should be fine.

With regard to the fanatec support I have had some experience of this already, although not bad definitely not good either.

1. I ordered my csp with the tuning kit and when they arrived it had no tuning kit ??
Mailed them ( fanatec ) to have a rather curt reply "they are not in stock. May ship mid November" , could they not have mentioned this at the point of ordering? Or maybe include a packing slip in the box to show it was on back order.

2. After ordering my wheel I had to change payment option so I mailed support no answer in 48 hrs so managed to call them in Germany. Arranged to pay by paypal and did. The noticed my wheel still wasn't shipped so called again and was told I hadn't paid!!
Told them to check their paypal account "oops we missed that one" so got them to finally agree to ship it... Hoping it works fine cos I don't wanna deal with them again and god only knows when the csp tuning kit will arrive it's gonna be guess work and if I don't hassle them regularly I feel they may "forget"'me ;-)

 

[Rotard12a]

I just wanted to say that gears are stronger than belts, that's all. Unless you make a carbon fibre belt and I don't think that Fanatec uses these materials for making their belts.

Not to be contradictory or contentious, but you mentioned carbon fiber and I remembered a snippet I read from a Fanatec FAQ, so I took the opportunity to find and share it for all :

"Can the belts be stretched?
We use high-end belts made in Europe. The manufacturer is www.gates.com which is a well know supplier for medical and automotive applications. The belts are made with carbon fibre and this material does not stretch at all."

 

[Fanatec...]

Our belt drive survived a gaming life (Our chinese testers were playing 24/7) test of 2000 hours. Even if you play 2 hours per day this will last for 1000 days.

We stopped the test but the wheel was still fully functional.

That should be enough in my opinion...

 

[Beliall]

So if i play GT5 everyday for 5hrs per day, for a year (which i might) In a year I'll need a new belt?

 

[bibio]

Hi, if you play GT5(if it comes out ), for 5 hours a day for a year. I think Fanatec will set you on as a Test Driver

Regards CSP tuning Kit, i ordered several months back & it did say on UK/ Europe website at time, shipped in Oct, touch wood, it won't be too long. CSP's still well usable, so for me no real rush.
I moved brake pedal up a notch on CSP's, but too little leeway(& as to be full on, on potentiometer), so iv'e moved backed down to STD. Its OK, but for me(prob not all peeps) be nice when i can get it set up, at a inbetween set up. Just a tweaking up a bit thou.


Cheers BOB

 

[kikie]

Not to be contradictory or contentious, but you mentioned carbon fiber and I remembered a snippet I read from a Fanatec FAQ, so I took the opportunity to find and share it for all :

"Can the belts be stretched?
We use high-end belts made in Europe. The manufacturer is www.gates.com which is a well know supplier for medical and automotive applications. The belts are made with carbon fibre and this material does not stretch at all."

Really?

In that case I'm taking back everything I've said about the Fanatec belt. It seems that I was vewwy, vewwy wrong.

Thomas, my apologies