Aiologs SQ Shifter Review


This is our review of the well-built and cost effective Aiologs Sim Sequential Shifter.

In our pursuit of immersion in the world of sim racing, a sequential shifter can be a comparatively simple and inexpensive step forward. Many open wheel and GT race cars have utilized sequential stick shifters, including the GT1 class that is well loved in the world of sim racing.

Aiologs’ sequential stick offering, features an all-metal design, USB plug and play compatibility for your PC, and mounting options for both aluminium extrusion rigs and tables ; the table clamp also allows for fitment to many other rig styles. The travel of the stick offers non-linear resistance, and shifter offers a satisfying mechanical clunk when the (virtual) gear is engaged.

The Sim Sequential Shifter is compact compared to some competitors’ products, with the base occupying a footprint of just 64mm wide and 115mm deep. This base can be mounted to your extrusion rig from just about any angle. For those playing at a desk or on a rig that offers a shifter mounting plate, the included table clamp can accommodate table thicknesses up to 30mm officially, though as you’ll see in my video review below, that number is likely underselling what the clamp could actually accept.

The shifter arm is close in length to what you might be used to from your H-pattern shifter, and measures 121mm from the top of the base to the tip of the shift knob. This gives the shifter an overall height of 175mm. Peak resistance from the shifter arm comes is close to the centre position, at which point the shifter offers about 3kg of resistance. Nearer to the full extent of the shifter travel, the resistance is about 2kg. This makes the throw feel satisfying without wearing your arm out.

The price for the Aiologs Sequential Shifter is $180 USD. Included in this price is the base, a 1.5m USB cable, shifter arm, shifter knob, table clamp, mounting plate, Allen keys, and the instruction manual. An extended arm is offered when you check out for an extra ~$10 USD.

My full review is in the video above, but here is a high-level breakdown of what I liked and didn’t like about the Aiologs Sim Sequential Shifter.

Pro's
  • Solid all-metal design
  • Satisfying level travel and engaging clunk
  • Fantastic build quality
  • Multiple mounting options
Con's
  • Short shifter throw (highly recommend spending the additional $10 USD)
  • Shifter knob slowly unscrews under use
  • Long and awkward USB connection
  • Like
Reactions: Skinny McLean
About author
Damian Reed
PC geek, gamer, content creator, and passionate sim racer.
I live life a 1/4 mile at a time, it takes me ages to get anywhere!

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Pros: Great price, very well made.
Cons: Shipping took just under three months to USA. However, the time frame was as promised by the seller. It is just a long process through customs and long shipping backlogs.
This is a very well made kit that deserves kudos for price and value.

Comments

Majority of the small manufacturers make cheaper gear for better prices with better functionality. Fanatec just has a wide range of offerings and might be able to ship easier to more people.
"Majority of the small manufacturers" :) :) :)
Name one SINGLE competitor that can match Fanatec !
ONE !
 
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"Majority of the small manufacturers" :) :) :)
Name one SINGLE competitor that can match Fanatec !
I dunno, maybe all of the lower-end priced products mentioned earlier for shifters. Heusinkveld pedals are also generally much better cost/perf and service. DD wheel wise any of the other offerings will be better quality and cost/perf for the mid and high end stuff.

Fanatec has the advantage of being able to relatively mass produce wheelbases and wheel rims, so atm they're probably the best at supplying mid-range belt wheels. Although some of their parts are very cruddy and break, but it's the same for everyone else at this price.
 
Premium
"Majority of the small manufacturers" :) :) :)
Name one SINGLE competitor that can match Fanatec !
ONE !
Match them in which aspect?
I know in NZ it costs more to get a DD2 than a SC2 pro wheelbase. Looking at european price, the DD2 is also more expensive than the sc2 pro.

They seem to match them there? I have a feeling I am about to hear other conditions around this question though.
 
"Majority of the small manufacturers" :) :) :)
Name one SINGLE competitor that can match Fanatec !
ONE !

I should know better than feeding the troll-like behaviour, but since you insist on being obnoxious I'll bite, but I won't respond to future posts: Heusinkveld.

I have own MANY Fanatec Products...and most of them have failed within the first two years (and, except for the McLaren rim, everything was at least at the Clubsport range)...BUT the pedals seem okay enough (the load cell did need replacing a little after 2 years, so there's that), so I'll compare similarly priced options:

Fanatec V3 Inverted Pedals: approximately $650 Shipped to USA

vs

Heusinkveld Sprints: approximately $730 Shipped to USA

I owned these Fanatec pedals for 3 years now (still have them actually) and I now own the Meca Cup 1 pedals (for a little over 1 year now) which are constantly compared to the Heusinkveld Sprints in terms of feel and build quality. The Meca Cup 1 beats it (Fanatec) without question: the throttle has more throw (which can be shortened if you want) and feels a little smoother, with heavier springs than Fanatec offers. The clutch for both are similar: not bad but not exceptional either, but they get the job done. The brakes...there is no comparison, the Meca's are much smoother, more progressive in resistance and everything is more adjustable than the Fanatec, plus I much prefer to push a 200kg load cell to only 1/4 to 1/3 of its potential vs. pushing a 90kg load cell close to the limit extensively...should be much more durable.

So considering the Sprints are, by most reviews, on the same level as the Meca Cup 1 in overall quality and performance...also consider that the Heusinkveld Sprints have more advanced software for the pedals (compared to both Meca and Fanatec) AND has, again by most of the community's opinion, some of the best customer service in sim racing hardware.

Considering all of that, for just 70 USD more, Heusinkveld pedals wipe the floor with Fanatec's best pedals...so stop acting like they're untouchable. They just have a bigger market presence due to advertising and being in the industry a little longer.
 
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Oh I forgot the best part: Fanatec marked up the price of half of their products when the Podium series came out! The V3 Inverted came out in 2017 and used to be $500 USD from then to at least early 2019. Then in mid 2019, with NOTHING changed on it, it's worth $600? Come on now. Check the wayback machine internet archive if you don't believe me (or remember).
 
Premium
For the time being, Fanatec is in an odd place in the market. They offer a low priced direct drive wheel base. There are alternatives to getting their wheel base, but at this time Fanatec is the biggest entity making an affordable direct drive wheel. Competition is coming from other manufacturers, that is certain. And the CSL DD loses its luster if one were to consider paying a little more money for another well known and relatively low priced direct drive wheel.

Then Moza happened...

Oh well.
 
You need to use something as a substitute when you're waiting for the spare parts from Fanatec to arrive.
 
Now your'e confusing Fanatec with Logitech and Thrustmaster again :)
Fanatec is definitively NOT cheap !
Compared to actual sim hardware, it is pretty cheap and entry level. Although I think it's best to stick to consumer hardware because the majority of users aren't exactly planning on shelling out a few thousand dollars for a shifter.
 
actual sim hardware
Compared to actual sim hardware, it is pretty cheap and entry level. Although I think it's best to stick to consumer hardware because the majority of users aren't exactly planning on shelling out a few thousand dollars for a shifter.

"actual sim hardware" :) :) :)


Podium Wheel Base DD1
€1,199.95

Podium Wheel Base DD2
€1,499.95

Podium Racing Wheel F1®
€1,799.95

Could you please send me a couple of thousand Euros since these prices are peanuts for you ;)
 
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I should know better than feeding the troll-like behaviour, but since you insist on being obnoxious I'll bite, but I won't respond to future posts: Heusinkveld.

I have own MANY Fanatec Products...and most of them have failed within the first two years (and, except for the McLaren rim, everything was at least at the Clubsport range)...BUT the pedals seem okay enough (the load cell did need replacing a little after 2 years, so there's that), so I'll compare similarly priced options:

Fanatec V3 Inverted Pedals: approximately $650 Shipped to USA

vs

Heusinkveld Sprints: approximately $730 Shipped to USA

I owned these Fanatec pedals for 3 years now (still have them actually) and I now own the Meca Cup 1 pedals (for a little over 1 year now) which are constantly compared to the Heusinkveld Sprints in terms of feel and build quality. The Meca Cup 1 beats it (Fanatec) without question: the throttle has more throw (which can be shortened if you want) and feels a little smoother, with heavier springs than Fanatec offers. The clutch for both are similar: not bad but not exceptional either, but they get the job done. The brakes...there is no comparison, the Meca's are much smoother, more progressive in resistance and everything is more adjustable than the Fanatec, plus I much prefer to push a 200kg load cell to only 1/4 to 1/3 of its potential vs. pushing a 90kg load cell close to the limit extensively...should be much more durable.

So considering the Sprints are, by most reviews, on the same level as the Meca Cup 1 in overall quality and performance...also consider that the Heusinkveld Sprints have more advanced software for the pedals (compared to both Meca and Fanatec) AND has, again by most of the community's opinion, some of the best customer service in sim racing hardware.

Considering all of that, for just 70 USD more, Heusinkveld pedals wipe the floor with Fanatec's best pedals...so stop acting like they're untouchable. They just have a bigger market presence due to advertising and being in the industry a little longer.
Choice-supportive bias or post-purchase rationalization is the tendency to retroactively ascribe positive attributes to an option one has selected and/or to demote the forgone options. It is part of cognitive science, and is a distinct cognitive bias that occurs once a decision is made.

For example, if a person chooses option A instead of option B, they are likely to ignore or downplay the faults of option A while amplifying or ascribing new negative faults to option B. Conversely, they are also likely to notice and amplify the advantages of option A and not notice or de-emphasize those of option B.

People just need to be happy with THEIR purchase, and understand there are different purchase options, just as there are different levels of expendable income. I like this forum to hear different views and experiences to help with my purchases.

Just my two cents.
 
Premium
Fanatec makes some good gear but their handbrake is terrible. I have one. The play in it was bad from day 1. It broke the mechanism's ball joint which I repaired sorta. It now feels even worse. I contacted customer service for a warranty claim and that email exchange back and forth died as well. No resolution.

I still have it. It sucks. I am shopping for a new handbrake and found this thread while debating which replacement to get.

With all that said I did just recently purchase the Podium Porsche wheelset from Fanatec along with a DD1 to replace my CSW 2.5. I also have a set of V3 pedals that I loved using for over a year with thousands of laps on iRacing peaking at 3.4k irating. They are good pedals. I just received some Heusinkveld Ultimate+ pedals to upgrade them but not because they are bad. I just wanted to make the next step up.

I have the Advanced Paddle Module on two of my wheels and it is probably their best product. Amazing bit of kit. Can't recommend enough.

Fanatec overall meets a demand. I like the cheap wheels. I like their smooth integration into all gaming titles. I bought Heusinkveld pedals for some of the same reasons. They are universally integrated into all sim rigs and software and they work. Not the cheapest but not the most expensive either.

But Fanatec's handbrake sucks.
 
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