Next Level F-GT

[Mr Sausage]

Got down to Melbourne and tried the RS8 Mach 6. I was surprised and happy to report that I could fit in the seat despite my having wide hip bones and a wide rib cage. As a matter of fact, my backside, hips and waist fitted easily enough that were I being fitted for a race seat for real, I might even have shaved a few mm off the width for my backside, hips and waist - and that is despite having a 92 cm waist, a body mass index of 25.9 and the wide hip bones. So unless you are genuinely overweight (well even I am technically by 0.9 BMI), it looks like this seat is a bit more accommodating than the technical specifications appear to convey. For the rib cage, however, I probably would have done the opposite and asked for maybe an extra 5 - 10mm in width just to "even out" the overall fit. But even so, despite my rib cage being a pretty firm fit, it wasn't bad enough to have me worried or in any discomfort at all after sitting in it for 20 minutes and moving my arms and head freely around. In the end, the purpose of a race seat is effectively to immobilise the entire torso and in that regard, the RS8 Mach 6 seat does a very good job of it. As I say, the feel of the seat is so similar to that of a real touring car racer that had I been trying to get a true custom fit for real racing, I would only have made very small changes to the "stock" fitting.

Perhaps the most obvious thing actually wasn't so much the fit as knowing very clearly that I want it inclined backwards to the maximum (which still gives a noticeably upright posture). Anyway, I was certainly impressed enough to buy myself one of these cockpits in lieu of the Next Level solutions. I think they latest from both companies is pretty close though and you would probably choose one or the other depending upon which strengths are the most appealing and which weaknesses you wouldn't want to live with.

 

[F1Aussie]

Got down to Melbourne and tried the RS8 Mach 6. I was surprised and happy to report that I could fit in the seat despite my having wide hip bones and a wide rib cage. As a matter of fact, my backside, hips and waist fitted easily enough that were I being fitted for a race seat for real, I might even have shaved a few mm off the width for my backside, hips and waist - and that is despite having a 92 cm waist, a body mass index of 25.9 and the wide hip bones. So unless you are genuinely overweight (well even I am technically by 0.9 BMI), it looks like this seat is a bit more accommodating than the technical specifications appear to convey. For the rib cage, however, I probably would have done the opposite and asked for maybe an extra 5 - 10mm in width just to "even out" the overall fit. But even so, despite my rib cage being a pretty firm fit, it wasn't bad enough to have me worried or in any discomfort at all after sitting in it for 20 minutes and moving my arms and head freely around. In the end, the purpose of a race seat is effectively to immobilise the entire torso and in that regard, the RS8 Mach 6 seat does a very good job of it. As I say, the feel of the seat is so similar to that of a real touring car racer that had I been trying to get a true custom fit for real racing, I would only have made very small changes to the "stock" fitting.

Perhaps the most obvious thing actually wasn't so much the fit as knowing very clearly that I want it inclined backwards to the maximum (which still gives a noticeably upright posture). Anyway, I was certainly impressed enough to buy myself one of these cockpits in lieu of the Next Level solutions. I think they latest from both companies is pretty close though and you would probably choose one or the other depending upon which strengths are the most appealing and which weaknesses you wouldn't want to live with.

Good info, Matt didn't happen to give you any more info on the upcoming 8020 did he? I have been looking at race seats online there are some nice looking Momo and Sparco ones but I do think really want to spend 1400 on a seat, mounts and slider. Found a good looking velo seat, Aussie made, good comments online and and almost 400 cheaper than the others, still near 1k though and they come in different sizes.

 

[Mr Sausage]

Sorry, no he didn't. Our discussions were unfortunately limited to the RS8, RS6 (at first) and the keyboard / mouse tray accessory.

 

[F1Aussie]

Sorry, no he didn't. Our discussions were unfortunately limited to the RS8, RS6 (at first) and the keyboard / mouse tray accessory.

No worries, glad you found what you were looking for

 

[Mr Sausage]

Thanks mate! I am really looking forward to setting this rig up versus the Ikea desk I have been using for the past 16 years (when I was still playing GT Legends)!! And after literally months of "deep thinking", I've opted for the CS Elite PS4 wheelbase and the Elite P1 XBox steering wheel (the one with the full alcantara cover). These will replace my worn out 911 GT2 wheel. I was mulling over the multitude of combinations for months and had finally dismissed the Clubsport as a bit of overkill. And I dismissed the basic Elite because the PS4 version does have certain tangible engineering improvements (and as you pointed out in another thread, offers more tuning possibilities as regards Drift mode).

But I was prepared to fork out another $100 to get the XBox rim as I personally think it is a nicer rim than the standard rim that comes with the PS4 wheelbase - altancara is nice on the palms when racing). I will, however, be sticking with the modded G25 pedals (hall sensors, bodnar cable and GTeye springs) as I think it is still a very solid pedal set (and I have a brand new unmodded set as a spare).

Can't wait to get racing again. I have been laid off racing for 14 months because of the interstate house move and building the new house (I stayed with a family member but could not set my rig up obviously). It is great to have finally gotten to the stage where I can put the new rig together.

I'm sticking with the old PC and ancient tiny monitor though for another 17 months. Although it is nearly 9 years old, it runs Race 07 fine. But with all this up to date Fanatec running gear and the new cockpit, I look forward to building a new machine in the second half of 2020 and then being able to progress to more modern sims.

 

[F1Aussie]

Thanks mate! I am really looking forward to setting this rig up versus the Ikea desk I have been using for the past 16 years (when I was still playing GT Legends)!! And after literally months of "deep thinking", I've opted for the CS Elite PS4 wheelbase and the Elite P1 XBox steering wheel (the one with the full alcantara cover). These will replace my worn out 911 GT2 wheel. I was mulling over the multitude of combinations for months and had finally dismissed the Clubsport as a bit of overkill. And I dismissed the basic Elite because the PS4 version does have certain tangible engineering improvements (and as you pointed out in another thread, offers more tuning possibilities as regards Drift mode).

But I was prepared to fork out another $100 to get the XBox rim as I personally think it is a nicer rim than the standard rim that comes with the PS4 wheelbase - altancara is nice on the palms when racing). I will, however, be sticking with the modded G25 pedals (hall sensors, bodnar cable and GTeye springs) as I think it is still a very solid pedal set (and I have a brand new unmodded set as a spare).

Can't wait to get racing again. I have been laid off racing for 14 months because of the interstate house move and building the new house (I stayed with a family member but could not set my rig up obviously). It is great to have finally gotten to the stage where I can put the new rig together.

I'm sticking with the old PC and ancient tiny monitor though for another 17 months. Although it is nearly 9 years old, it runs Race 07 fine. But with all this up to date Fanatec running gear and the new cockpit, I look forward to building a new machine in the second half of 2020 and then being able to progress to more modern sims.

Wow, how did you last 14 months without playing? Lol, I get itchy feet after a week or two. I am going to upgrade to trak racers new 8020 when they release it, will be a day one purchase for me. Upgrading from my Gt art rig for something more rigid that won't rattle around as much my my shakers and will handle the fanatec DD I have on order. I have a TM t500 and a modded Ferrari F1 rim but got the fanatec le F1 rim, nothing to use it on until the DD turns up though. Will go the heusinkveld sprint pedals too when they are freely available. My csr elite are holding up fine ATM. Cpu upgrade will be on the cards too, rocking a 6 year old 4770k but it is holding up okay. There is so much to spend money when you are into Sim racing!