Thrustmaster vs. Fanatec

[MrDavid5465]

Basically, I'm wondering which components offer the best experience. I know that the ClubSport pedals are supposed to be better than the T500's Is the ClubSport wheel base and BMW rim worth the extra dollars compared to the T500? (Reliability aside) Which shifter is better TH8 or ClubSport
If I choose to build a hybrid setup (ex. T500, TH8 and ClubSport pedals) would I be able to use it with Gran Turismo?

 

[Coxis]

If your discussion is supposed to leave reliability aside like you said, then assuming they're both equally reliable Fanatec will obviously come ahead... Thrustmaster's T500 and TH8RS are fantastic products, but at the end of the day they're (high end) consumer, mainstream products. Fanatec gear is more niche and not mainstream at all. There are three reasons people will choose Thrustmaster over Fanatec, one is the slightly reduced price tag, better reliability (not perfect, but still better) and better customer service.

So to sum it up, reliability aside, Fanatec. Reliability not aside, Thrustmaster. My opinion.

Hybrid setups won't work with your PS3.

 

[bumer]

Is the ClubSport wheel base and BMW rim worth the extra dollars compared to the T500? (Reliability aside)

Only you can answer it. It is like asking if Aventador is worth the 4-5 times higher price than GT-R. It is for some and not for the other. Pedals make bigger difference when simracing than the wheel (if comparing similar wheels).
For me, I don't regret a bit buying CSW. I like its smoothness and quietness. I like mainly aluminium build, as it feels solid. Even bigger reason for buying it was larger diameter rim and the feel of alcantara leather and of course changing settings on the go and being able to save different settings. If those won't matter to you, there's no reason to pay more.

Which shifter is better TH8 or ClubSport

Only handful of betatesters have used Clubsport shifter. So there's not many people to ask it from. It should start shipping in few days. Coming weeks should give a better picture. There will still be people who like one more than the other, so there will never be a definitive answer. As with wheels, it depends what you are after.

 

[Raitziger]

I own just fanatec turbo S. (g25 previously) I would get t500RS and basher brake mod. I just bought Fanatec to play forza, but those games have been a let down for me. Also my fanatec wheel was replaced under warranty.

 

[Mahnegold]

Question has been asked a thousand times, a lot of discussions can be found in this forum. Another thread about that is just boring IMHO.

 

[MrDavid5465]

I wish there was a place where I could try out each wheel before I buy so that I could decide which one I prefer. Unfortunately, no such place exists in my area.

 

[lemansfanatic]

Question has been asked a thousand times, a lot of discussions can be found in this forum. Another thread about that is just boring IMHO.

Leave that to the mods mate. OP is new, maybe you could cut him slack in the interests of not alienating new members

 

[gtpiero205]

I wish there was a place where I could try out each wheel before I buy so that I could decide which one I prefer. Unfortunately, no such place exists in my area.

U can Buy the ts500 F1 in amazon.
You have 30 days to return it with no restocking fees and return shipping paid from amazon.
For the fanatec the only place to buy and try is ebay.fanatec web site terms charge you restocking fees and shipping fees are too expensive.
I just order a used like new ts500 f1 edition for $500 from amazon warehouse.
i will let u know my impressions.
if you don't care about the motor reliability and money (around 900 dollars for the set ) i would go with fanatec.
If you care about motor reliability and money go with ts500 .
I go with the thrusmaster ts500 first about the motor reliability, better customer support, second the f1 wheel from ferrari original license looks much better and more real then the one from fanatec, ferrari original logo on the wheel and i saved 400 dollars compared to fanatec. With the ts500 you can also change wheel like fanatec.
Performance of the wheels are the same, just a little more faster the ts500 someone said.
I personally dont know if its true but after reading a lot of posts this are my thoughts.
The only think that maybe make the difference are the pedals from fanatec club sport v2 but with Basher Mod someone said that the ts500 pedals performance are better or the same as the club pedals.
For me fanatec have to revise a lot of think like motor reliability,high shipping fees, warranty, bad customer support and price.I read horror stories about Fanatec customer support that people had to pay shipping fees after receiving a dead wheel.it your choice at the end

 

[JohnBodin]

More third-party mods available for the T500, like the Basherboards brake mod, load cell mods and custom wheel centers from me, etc.

http://www.basherboards.com/T500RS-BMK

http://www.bodin-solutions.com/

 

[Mahnegold]

Leave that to the mods mate. OP is new, maybe you could cut him slack in the interests of not alienating new members

I just stated my opinion, which is what forums are made for.

 

[bumer]

For me fanatec have to revise a lot of think like motor reliability,high shipping fees, warranty, bad customer support and price.

What do you mean under price? You can't make Fanatec package to cost the same as Thrustmaster, because metal costs more than plastic, also some other materials cost a lot more. Maybe Fanatec also produces less wheels than Thrustmaster and that also makes production more expensive. Only Thomas knows. I don't think that Fanatec is like Apple whose profit is probably over half of the cost of a product.

the f1 wheel from ferrari original license looks much better and more real then the one from fanatec

Thrustmaster one is formula 1 rim, so it must look like one, while Fanatec is generic formula style wheel, so you can't say that it doesn't look real as it is not meant to look like F1 wheel. Fanatec is said to make licenced Formula 1 rim, but only Fanatec know how far are they with it and what licence they have.

 

[MrDavid5465]

I'm thinking maybe the setup I should look at should be T500 F1 integral with one of the other 2 rim's available (possibly even a cheap real one) with the clubsport pedals for pc and the t500 pedals for ps3

 

[JohnBodin]

I'm thinking maybe the setup I should look at should be T500 F1 integral with one of the other 2 rim's available (possibly even a cheap real one) with the clubsport pedals for pc and the t500 pedals for ps3

Much less hassle and perhaps a bit less expensive to go with a load cell mod for the T500 pedals so you could use them with the PC . . . and then you'd have load cell-equipped pedals for the PS3 as well.

 

[bumer]

Much less hassle and perhaps a bit less expensive to go with a load cell mod for the T500 pedals so you could use them with the PC . . . and then you'd have load cell-equipped pedals for the PS3 as well.

👍
I would also just add load cell. Although quite expensive, still cheaper than new pedals. Its just that once you are used to load cell braking, you don't want to go back. If you are using load cell on computer and then go to PS3 and use potentiometer, it just feels weird again and may ruin your experience.

 

[Mahnegold]

I'm thinking maybe the setup I should look at should be T500 F1 integral with one of the other 2 rim's available (possibly even a cheap real one) with the clubsport pedals for pc and the t500 pedals for ps3

I can also highly recommend the brake mod from basherboards.com! It is very affordable and a good start. You can later upgrade to a loadcell, but this mod is already very good. I use it regularly and it offers a very good feel. No need to have 2 sets of pedals for different platforms.

 

[MrDavid5465]

Good point guys, i didn't realize there was pedal mods for the t500

 

[Gunstar]

I don't really understand the hate on the T500 pedals, unless you hate big pedals that have lots of options for tuning and configuration. With the Basher mod out there and a couple load cell options you could do a lot worse.

 

[gtpiero205]

Thrustmaster one is formula 1 rim, so it must look like one, while Fanatec is generic formula style wheel, so you can't say that it doesn't look real as it is not meant to look like F1 wheel. Fanatec is said to make licenced Formula 1 rim, but only Fanatec know how far are they with it and what licence they have.

Dude....
you mention something i never said.
i said that the f1 wheel from thursmaster looks more real then the fanatec.
i never say that the fanatec doenst look real.
Also having the same exact copy of f1 ferrari wheel its amazing with the drs and all other botton.
So thrusmarters wins for me with the f1 wheel no questions

 

[gtpiero205]

I don't really understand the hate on the T500 pedals, unless you hate big pedals that have lots of options for tuning and configuration. With the Basher mod out there and a couple load cell options you could do a lot worse.

Me too.
i just get the ts 500 f1 and i feel that the pedals are really good.
no complains

 

[bumer]

Dude....
you mention something i never said.

If you say one is more real, this means that the other isn't very real in F1 sense. It is kind of like saying that M3 looks racier than regular 3 series. One is meant to be like that while other isn't, but no worries here.
Wheel choice depends on whatever someone likes. Many people didn't like Fanatec Porsche lineup, because they didnt like the idea of using Porsche wheel while driving Ferrari or some other car. So this time Fanatec did just formula style rim that isn't anything particular, something that suits a lot of different formula and gt cars. I'm not like one of those people and it seems you aren't too.

Also having the same exact copy of f1 ferrari wheel its amazing with the drs and all other botton.

If you are so fond of it, you'll probably add Sli-F1 by Leo Bodnar or similar to it in the future, so it looks even better and feels even more real. There are few guys in this forum who have done so, but you have probably already seen them.
Too bad that Thrustmaster didn't make all the buttons work.

 

[gtpiero205]

If you say one is more real, this means that the other isn't very real in F1 sense. It is kind of like saying that M3 looks racier than regular 3 series. One is meant to be like that while other isn't, but no worries here.
Wheel choice depends on whatever someone likes. Many people didn't like Fanatec Porsche lineup, because they didnt like the idea of using Porsche wheel while driving Ferrari or some other car. So this time Fanatec did just formula style rim that isn't anything particular, something that suits a lot of different formula and gt cars. I'm not like one of those people and it seems you aren't too.


If you are so fond of it, you'll probably add Sli-F1 by Leo Bodnar or similar to it in the future, so it looks even better and feels even more real. There are few guys in this forum who have done so, but you have probably already seen them.
Too bad that Thrustmaster didn't make all the buttons work.

i speak about f1 wheel and how its look close to real one without speaking about all the botton.
What i said and meant is the f1 wheel from thrusmaters look more real then the fanatec wheel
that is true.
i dont care if with ferrari wheel i drive mclaren or red bull.
if you play with f1 2012 you can see that the only big difference will be the logo with the f1 from thrustmaster without speaking about the function of all the botton and led lights.
The fanatec f1 wheel doesnt looks like the original f1 wheel so close
this is for sure and this is what i meant.

 

[bumer]

@gtpiero205

I'm also speaking about wheel not the logo. Porsche wheels also looked like respective Porsche model wheels, they didn't just have Porsche logo on them.

I just don't like your idea of referring to Fanatec wheel as a F1 wheel and saying it doesn't really look like F1 wheel which it clearly isn't meant to look like. It is just a generic Formula style rim. It doesn't have a license and it cannot look like anything particular. Every formula and gt series wheel look different. Even every F1 wheel looks different.

 

[gtpiero205]

@gtpiero205

I'm also speaking about wheel not the logo. Porsche wheels also looked like respective Porsche model wheels, they didn't just have Porsche logo on them.

I just don't like your idea of referring to Fanatec wheel as a F1 wheel and saying it doesn't really look like F1 wheel which it clearly isn't meant to look like. It is just a generic Formula style rim. It doesn't have a license and it cannot look like anything particular. Every formula and gt series wheel look different. Even every F1 wheel looks different.

But this is the true if u like it or not.
it doesnt looks like the real one
sorry.
also i didnt say that doesnt look like f1 wheel i said its doesnt look like the original f1 wheel
this is the second time you mention something i never said

 

[bumer]

But this is the true if u like it or not.
sorry.

Yeah you are right. It is as true as Mercedes looks more like Mercedes than Audi does.

 

[gtpiero205]

Yeah you are right. It is as true as Mercedes looks more like Mercedes than Audi does.

the f1 wheel for trustmaster look more real then the fanatec f1.
that's it. i didnt see why you get so mad, this is the true just accept that.
ferrari looks much better then a mercedes. Thats for sure

 

[Gunstar]

Too bad that Thrustmaster didn't make all the buttons work.

All the REAL buttons, switches and knobs on the F1 rim work, just the fake DIALS don't.

It would be NICE if they were real of course, although myself I'd rather have had SLI.