What was your first wheel?

[skazz]

My first wheel was bought around 2001 or so: A Logitech Formula Force GP (PC).

Here it is in an awesome 2002 overview of wheels: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-racing,470.html

Before that I raced all kinds of earlier games with keyboard or joystick. There weren't really any PC wheels widely available before that, and I didn't own a console until the PS3

 

[Liquid]

I believe my first racing wheel was a MadCatz wheel with some sort of Eddie Irvine endorsement on it. I also remember having a Jordan Grand Prix wheel growing up, too.

 

[12thgear]

Here it is in an awesome 2002 overview of wheels: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-racing,470.html

That's a great guide. I remember drooling over the ACT Labs Force RS. My how times have changed for the better.

 

[Punknoodle]

Logitech Driving Force EX for the PS2 (Gran Turismo 4). Complete with the attachment so you could use it on your lap (I did).

Looking back I have no idea how I found it enjoyable but I did!

Got rid of it and didn't have another wheel for ages until I bought a G25 and built my first rig.

And now I've got a Fanatec CSWv2 on a new and improved DIY rig.

Times change!

 

[ElectricDevil]

My first wheel was bought around 2001 or so: A Logitech Formula Force GP (PC).

Here it is in an awesome 2002 overview of wheels: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-racing,470.html

Before that I raced all kinds of earlier games with keyboard or joystick. There weren't really any PC wheels widely available before that, and I didn't own a console until the PS3

seeing this was a real walk down memory lane i remember seeing those saittek/wingman and microsoft sidewinder wheels for sale in the electronic boutique and comp-usa flyers.I remember being blown away when actlabs came out with the 6 speed shiftter then a clutch pedal set,but didnt alot of games didnt support them? what a year that was

 

[Dopplegagger]

My first wheel was a MadCatz Micro MC2 for the original Xbox. It was garbage. Shortly after getting it, I stumbled across a Fanatec Speedster 3 with Force Shock. It wasn't a full FFB wheel, but damn it was pretty good for the original Xbox. I played so much Forza, Rallysport 2 and Colin MacCrae with that wheel. I since became a fan of Fanatec since then.

 

[K1LLD0z3R]

I first owned a MadCatz, but only used it once or twice. What I did end up using all the time was a Negcon controller.

It looked like this

 

[Gunstar]

Love the neGcon. Great for Ridge Racer and wipEout!

 

[Flying_Kefran]

I first owned a MadCatz, but only used it once or twice. What I did end up using all the time was a Negcon controller.

It looked like this

If it counts as wheels, I have had the similar one that was bundled with Ridge Racer Type 4 in Japan: The JogCon !

 

[Lissa]

Our first driving game ever was GT5. Being old fogeys we couldn't get on with the game pad, so bought a Logitec DFGT, on the theory that we could share the set up. Yeah, that didn't last long....we ended up with two PS3's, two copies of GT5, two 42'' tv's and two DFGT's.

Not long after that, Pete bought himself a G27, while I stuck with the DFGT.

Not long after that, having decided that we'd both like to try other games, we bought two xbox 360's and two Fanatec wheels. Oh, by this time we both also had GT Omega driving rigs, mine downstairs and Petes upstairs.

Now we also both have the T300RS, and I bought Pete the TX racing wheel servo base as an early Christmas present so he could try Forza 6

So to summarise we now have:

2 DFGT's
2 PS3's
1 G27
2 Fanatec Clubsports
2 xbox 360's
2 T300 RS's
1 PS4
1 Xbox One
2 42'' plasma tv's
2 GT Omega driving rigs




Not that we're compulsive about driving games or anything.

 

[K1LLD0z3R]

If it counts as wheels, I have had the similar one that was bundled with Ridge Racer Type 4 in Japan: The JogCon !

That's cool.

I had one of these too.

 

[Shinu]

I guess I will give you my whole story:

Spoiler: Long story

I got http://www.nix.ru/autocatalog/game_controllers_trust/65201_main_large.jpg as a Christmas (2005 I believe )gift.

Because of the pedals being so flat (and myself being quadriplegic) I could not press them, so I used paddle sifters instead (with AT + TC) while I was doing rfactor league racing at the time.
After a year or so, the wheel broke ( it began twitching to the side by itself) so I decided to get DFGT (because I bought GT5p. Surprisingly Trust wheel worked with PS3 with an exception of Start,Select,PS buttons until later when whole USB dongle stuff happened).

DFGT was unavailable in my country so I got myself an g25 (as a late Christmas gift). After I got it (just before putting them in the closet) I decided to try the pedals and noticed that with my right foot (and with the left one in some extent) I can use the pedals (brake was little stiff for me at the time).

I still raced with the paddles but did all the practicing using the pedals (because my legs were geting tired after couple of hotlaps). After some time I noticed that I can go the whole race distance while in my practice.

Tried Karts in real life and disappointed myself because I could not press the brake pedal normally.

Then after perfect (almost) two year service my pedals started spiking. I contacted my shop and they refused to RMA it. But I'm glad Logitech did and sent me a new G27.

GT5 came I started doing less and less of league racing (because of school/university mainly). But decided to teach myself (mainly needed the strength) to left foot brake and I did that using GT5 Karts and forcing myself to use It even in endurance races etc while being slower at the time until I was fully confident.

I was finishing my bachelors degree and was annoyed at some people and burned out (plus there was some schedule problems) so I stopped my league racing (while still playing GT and other PC sims).

Tried to drive a AT car in a parking lot (was confident that I will not be able to press the brakes fully) and found It quite easy.

After some time I noticed that generally my legs are weaker (In terms of pedal usage) and I get tired more easily (while doing Senna events etc) so I decided to spend more time simracing (like I used to). Noticed that once more my pedals started spiking and after all those Logitech lies about the security chip I decided to get a T300. After lots of searching I could not find a shop that would sell/ ship it to my country me a T3A-Pro (because I had a feeling that I could not use those stock pedals). Got annoyed and went the Fanatec way (csw v2 + csp v3).

Short version:

1) http://www.nix.ru/autocatalog/game_controllers_trust/65201_main_large.jpg Trust 380 3500R
2) It broke so I waned to get DFGT but could not so I bought G25
3) After RMA I got a new G27
4) G27 pedals started failing so I waned to get T300 but could not at a reasonable price (with good pedals) so I bought CSW V2 + CSP V3)

 

[V0RT3X]

My first wheel was way back in the xbox days. A MadCatz MC2

Several years later with my 360, I got one that was compatible with a 360.

The quality was poor, and it had no force feedback, so I upgraded to a Fanatec CSR.

It worked with my 360 and ps3 very well, I loved it to bits, but after a while the quality wasn't there, and I was unable to mod it very much. Not to mention I wasn't a fan of the plastic on the wheel.

When I got my ps4, I decided to get something new. So, I got myself a Thrustmaster T300RS. Later to come was a set of T3PA Pro pedals, a TH8A shifter and a Ferrari F1 rim.

 

[Awong124]

Logitech GT Force for Gran Turismo 3 was my first FFB wheel. I owned various wheels (dating back to Colecovision) before that but they never really got the use the Logitech did.

Here's a (p)review if you want to go back in time...

http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/24/gdc-2001-hands-on-with-the-gt-force

The Logitech GT Force was also my first FFB wheel. My first wheel was actually an Interact V3, but that thing was a total piece of junk, so we'll disregard that. I actually didn't even plan to get a wheel, but I saw the GT Force on sale for very cheap so I bought it. I can probably count on both hands how many times I actually used it because I didn't have anywhere to mount it, which was the reason why I didn't plan on getting a wheel in the first place. I still have the wheel packed away in my closet. After that I went to the G27. And now I have the T300.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

I started with this little guy in '03:

Online retail was not what it is now back then, so this was the only real option in my area. Bought it to play F12k2 mods with some of the old GTF crew. It wouldn't work with the PS2, so it was a pretty frivolous purchase for 17-year old me. Got bored of the mod approach within a year, and quietly stored it away in my closet.

The Campus Cup happened in the tail end of 2005, and when I was given a $400 cheque, I bought what made the most sense for practice:

I ran that until around the time of GT6's release. The pedals started misbehaving, and I was playing less and less. Also, I moved. That didn't help.

For the time being, I'm back to wheel-less gaming. We'd need a bigger place for me to invest in a rig (though that is the goal), and I'd want a setup that can cover both consoles.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

I remember playing with a wheel on GT1 Hi-Fi mode but can't remember what it was. Also got first PS2 Christmas 2004 with some rubbish steering wheel bundle. First proper steering wheel with FFB I got was DFGT on my birthday in 2010. Then got a G27 in time for Christmas 2011. Had a T300 GTE this time last year but ended up returning it due to getting faulty quite quickly and then returned back to the G27. Hoping there will be a new direct drive wheel for GT SPORT and FFB pedals.

 

[Casey]

Logitech Driving Force Wireless got it for $35 new.

 

[jayzzie]

Wow great thread, it's interesting seeing some of these old wheels. The Nigel Mansell Freewheel on SNES was my very first wheel. It had no pedals and the wheel had no base. You would just hold like a Wii steering wheel.

But my first decent wheel (well decent at the time) was the Pelican Sting Ray on PS1. I loved how it had a separate handbrake and shifter. Most wheels had no hand brake and the shifters were always attached to the steering wheel on the right hand side. Living in Australia, I liked the fact that I could mount the shifter on my left.

 

[V0RT3X]

Wow great thread, it's interesting seeing some of these old wheels. The Nigel Mansell Freewheel on SNES was my very first wheel. It had no pedals and the wheel had no base. You would just hold like a Wii steering wheel.

But my first decent wheel (well decent at the time) was the Pelican Sting Ray on PS1. I loved how it had a separate handbrake and shifter. Most wheels had no hand brake and the shifters were always attached to the steering wheel on the right hand side. Living in Australia, I liked the fact that I could mount the shifter on my left.

That handbrake is really cool.

 

[jayzzie]

That handbrake is really cool.

Yeah mate, it was great back in the day. It's a pity there aren't more hand brake options these days.

 

[Spacegoat]

Same wheel for me. Bought it off of one of my neighbours second hand back in the day. Pretty sure I've still got it buried away somewhere too.

 

[V0RT3X]

Yeah mate, it was great back in the day. It's a pity there aren't more hand brake options these days.

Agreed. They exist, but the are all super expensive. It's pretty simple, so I am not sure why they have to be so pricey.

 

[pedrocor]

Logitech Driving Force EX for the PS2 (Gran Turismo 4). Complete with the attachment so you could use it on your lap (I did).

Looking back I have no idea how I found it enjoyable but I did!

Sorry to bother but recently bought a Driving Force EX to resuscitate my PS2 and GT4, as I didn't had a steering wheel on the old days, but since I bought a G29 to PS3/PS4, you know, you can't go back to D-Pad...

How do you setup the shift paddles to the upshift and downshift, instead of L2/R2?

Thanks

 

[Rallywagon]

My very first wheel was the Ascii PS1 wheel. This was back in my early teen years, before I had gotten seriously bitten by the racing bug. I did spend a lot of time playing TOC and CMR with that thing though.


A decade later and in the midst of my racing craze, I got the ol' Logitech Momo wheel. I spent a lot of hours using that wheel until it finally gave up. A wire for the brake pot somehow got pinched in the case, and the optic wheel cracked.

At that point, I was racing leagues and needed something better. So I upgraded to the G27. Found it on sale for $100 bucks. That was in 2011. Still rocking it to this day with various mods done to it. I have been contemplating using the base components and building a direct drive unit. Once I get that free time back I seem to have lost somewhere.

Edit, noticing this is a necro post. Surprised this is my first time seeing the thread.

 

[Punknoodle]

Sorry to bother but recently bought a Driving Force EX to resuscitate my PS2 and GT4, as I didn't had a steering wheel on the old days, but since I bought a G29 to PS3/PS4, you know, you can't go back to D-Pad...

How do you setup the shift paddles to the upshift and downshift, instead of L2/R2?

Thanks

Wowsers, that was like 15 years ago man, I have no idea! Should be in the controller settings

 

[Silent Drifter]

This was my first wheel when I had the PS1. Don't recall using much for Gran Turismo, but did use it for Driver. Didn't like using it too much.

 

[user3392345]

My first wheel back in 2003, Saitek R440 ffb wheel, after 2 weeks it was broke

 

[ZiltoidRacer]

My sit on milk truck was my 1st wheel i used.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Microsoft SideWinder

Datel Super Sports 3X

Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider

Thrustmaster TMX

Thrustmaster TX 458 Italia

Thrustmaster TX Ferrari GTE add on.

 

[flooderqb19]

My first wheel was a logitech dfgt. I used that for around 4 years. I had it mounted to a crafts table and used a standard armed chair. The pedals I used on the carpet with the built in carpet spikes.

Then I got a T300RS, and eventually the Ferrari f1 wheel add-on. I used the t300 for about 4 years. I had this mounted to the same table, and used a similar type chair. For the pedal's mount, I made a simple plywood board with a 2x4 that would press against the back of the chair's front legs.

Almost two years ago I got a playseat challenge and CSP v3 pedals.

A year ago I got a next level f1gt rig.


This past April my DD1 and f1 2018 LE rim showed up.