Thrustmaster T500 RS: Is It Worth The Money?

[Maxitsu]

Thrustmaster T500 RS: Is It Worth The Money? I like to know from the people who has played whit the T500rs. I am still thinking about it. this poll can be help in my decision to buy one or not.

 

[Gunstar]

For me, it's a bit steep, but if I had a top level racing rig I could see spending the money. It's all in your level of commitment!

 

[lunarwolf]

very happy with the wheel, but tbh all these wheels are overpriced toys imo maybe i am totally off, but i don't believe that they cost nearly that much to make

 

[thesharkfactor]

maybe i am totally off, but i don't believe that they cost nearly that much to make

..neither does anything that costs the same price. lets try work it out..

asda selling for £380.
£380 - 20% vat- £63.33
pre-vat cost of £316.67.

i dont know what asda will buy them for, but i reckon they are onto at least 40% profit (being generous- usual retailer mark up is 60%)

£316- 40% = £225.71 cost to asda..

if it costs asda £225, then thrustmaster are still making a profit- again of at least 60% (being generous again, these costs will go down the more they sell)

£225 - 60% = £140 cost to thrustmaster..

that £140 will also incluse shipping of let's be very generous and say £20 (they will ship in bulk obviously, but containers are not cheap)..

now at £120 or thereabouts which is still including R+D costs and paying of the GT5 logo franchise with Kaz and Sony.

then there is the importing of components and assembly costs..

which when you whittle it all done, there is probably around £60 in the wheel..

astonishing..? imagine what the lesser priced wheels are worth!

 

[Jason23]

I would say go for it...you would not dissapointed. I was a new G27 user and quickly converted to Thrusmaster T500 Rs and the difference between the 2 is the FFB on the T500 is smoother than the FFB on the G27. Both are good IMO so buy it and experience it for yourself and post back your findings.

 

[Biggles]

all these wheels are overpriced toys imo maybe i am totally off, but i don't believe that they cost nearly that much to make

I don't find them overpriced at all. Look at the absurd prices charged for replacement parts for a real car.

Products that are mass produced in really large quantities (usually manufactured in China) tend to have very low prices. It is astonishing to me that a mass-market bicycle can be sold for less than $150 - I am sure this is a LOT less than a comparable product would have sold for (inflation adjusted) 30 or 40 years ago.

I think sim-racing wheels must be VERY sensitive to pricing, given that a significant part of the potential market is represented by young people with limited disposable income. How they are priced will definitely impact on their sales figures, so I tend to think the pricing is taken into careful consideration by the producers. Logitech has the advantage of an established reputation & distribution channels & the kind of volume that goes along with that. Fanatec has opted for a direct sales approach which cuts out the retail mark-up. Thrustmaster is still paying for the R & D on its new wheel, which would understandably make the product more expensive at this point. Buyers of the T500 RS wheel are "early-adopters" - they may be paying a premium for that privilege.

 

[Maxitsu]

good. most of the members seems to be happy about the wheel.

 

[hampus_dh]

I find it amusing when people just compare the wheels based on looks or price.
Without even reading about the stuff that´s inside, because that´s the reason TM costs what it does and Fanatec what it does etc.

 

[Mars Attacks]

I would not buy this wheel because of the gear changing - paddle system, which is stable and don't follows the wheel's rotation. Moreover, is way to expensive - comparing to my GT3RSV2CS - giving nothing more on top of that...

 

[zacharyPL]

I'm going to buy this wheel. I was previously used the DFP and now fanatec PWTS sports club edition. For which I paid dearly,and in return I have nothing but problems.( Mars Attacks@ I would not buy this wheel because of the gear changing - paddle system, which is stable and don't follows the wheel's rotation) I believe that you will not play games like GT5, dirt3 and others where there are plenty of cars with such a system transmission. Left you a few games such as Formula 1.Please leave evaluate whether it is worth of money, for the holders of the steering wheel.
sorry for my poor English.

 

[Mars Attacks]

I'm going to buy this wheel. I was previously used the DFP and now fanatec PWTS sports club edition. For which I paid dearly,and in return I have nothing but problems.( Mars Attacks@ I would not buy this wheel because of the gear changing - paddle system, which is stable and don't follows the wheel's rotation) I believe that you will not play games like GT5, dirt3 and others where there are plenty of cars with such a system transmission. Left you a few games such as Formula 1.Please leave evaluate whether it is worth of money, for the holders of the steering wheel.
sorry for my poor English.

Have you tried this wheel? I did, and felt really uncomfortable.

I' m not suggesting you any wheel, I just expressed my opinion (based on my experience)

But hey, its your money, I really have no problem about the way you are going to spend them! I Wish you good luck with this one


(BTW: My wheel had just some minor problems - easily resolved - and I'm quite pleased with it)