Thrustmaster T818 Direct Drive Wheelbase Revealed

Useless thoughts about the wheelbase features:
They promised "industry leading innovative technologies". Let's investigate.
I love the charming metallic colors of the metal sheets.
Also, they added a new simulator to a fire in your car, which is the light, so innovative, right?
They seem to have deleted their T-GT2 Trueforce equivalent. Maybe it's a gimmick to begin with?
It's good not to innovate, because "new" is prone to failures and reliability issues.
Sarcasm away, probably the no-filter means something? (more direct drive, real time no delay...). I don't know, you guys tell me.



Useless thoughts about design:
A bigger base to the wheelbase would be slightly more stable than the honey-comb-shape, this is simple geometry and you can't beat it.
No complaints, I'm just thinking out loud. We have no-shill reviewers who are anal about zero wobble/ flex and they'll test this.
The cockpit mount is "allowing precise and in-depth adjustment to ensure an optimal piloting position" according to TM website, but I still don't see in the 1 pic they posted telescopic possibility in that mount or at the very least multiple holes/ threads for multiple possibilities.


Useless thoughts about reliability and longevity:
Made in France means good quality-control and a spoiling-grade of customer service no matter if plastic or aluminum. In the EU there are laws that protect you and grant you 1 - 3 years of no-headache. (Fanatec offers a 5 years warranty for a small extra sum of money. Personally I've had a very good experience with Fanatec customer service btw).

I'm curious about reviews and the quick release (that could be very terrible or decent, no idea).
I've a T-GT2, TLC-M pedals and TM Open Wheel rim: to people already in the TM ecosystem it is a no brainer to get the T818 for 650 euro.
Especially considering I could even sell the T-GT2 servo base and recover some money as well.

Also, Europe here, no problems with Thrustmaster.
Fanatec and their 350 euro DD base which also needs an overpriced boost kit bought apart (or a compatible cheaper one to get on eBay)? Suuuure.
A total unicorn as it has been sold out since forever.

Also EU warranty laws guarantee 2 years on any kind of electronics device.

Useless thoughts about value:
1- The opinions of pricing a product according to a random number (here torque), aren't realistic.
The example I have always given is GPU's. I don't know who made the notion that "if a newer gen is double-the-speed it should be double-the-price" popular. According to this logic, if a tier 8 GPU costs 999$ today, this GPU will cost a million $ after 10 generations (supposed that they double its speed every year. So I hope no one repeats that nonsense about pricing. There are more factors to pricing than only the 10 nm factor...
2- Current TM users know better than us. There's a guy who said that selling a T-300 wheelbase has no meaning without its wheel. I agree. Prolly someone with a worn out belt or burned motor will buy your base. But I think you've better keep your older wheelbase as a reserve because it won't be worth much anyway.
A related example (but not very close) about the ecosystem and the value topic is: VR: where many people upgraded their HTC Vive, Valve Index and Pimax only because they have had the base stations, while I thought that there's no point, because you're rendering the older devices useless when they split them apart and the result is an HMD that won't work anymore because no one will buy it without its tracking. I thought back then that they alienated the possible new buyers by making it complicated and expensive...

Personally I choose the value based on what I need. An example is that I've never purchased a 1000$ fancy sim racing wheel rim and never will because I have normal wheels with enough buttons. I've even purchased a drifting circular wheel for 29€ once. Same with mods, DLC, liveries, game settings and car setups, I mostly never pay for these.

Speaking about compatibility, I've noticed something (useless):
In their website, they promised "future compatibility with all wheel rims in the TM racing ecosystem", which might cause them future legal shenanigans.
Why? Because who knows what will happen in the future? New products pop up. Imagine if they make different wireless wheels in the future for newer wheelbases and someone stupid says they promised him compatibility with "all future" rims.
Or otherwise, do they want to make the same mistake they did before when they designed all plastic rims without "the future" in mind? They wrote on their websites that they're already looking to update their ecosystem and the way they connect to the base. I don't think this base works as a hub for current TM lineup peripherals. So, if the ecosystem connectivity is actually changing today, why promise future compatibility with all Thrustmaster wheels without specifying anything special?

Too little, way too late.
What a joke of a company, how much market share lost to Fanatec and others?
I got a lot of use out of my T500 but will likely never purchase Thrustmaster again.

So, they showed both a TM Open Wheel and an SF1000 in the live reveal used on a T818 and you are pretty certain existing wheels won't be compatible?
Also, an RJ is present there and TM best pedals on the market are the TLC-M... make 2+2.

I'm really astounded how you get crazy ideas when you have been shown the exact opposite, live and on video LOL

T_rac3 said:

On the presentation they said: "we don't apply any filter on the FFB sent directly from the games"
And from the chat:
"818 can deliver a constant 10Nm torque. The whole construction of T818 has been optimized to limit extra weight and takes all benefits from the power of the motor. For this reason, The T818 torque will feel even more powerful underhand"
Will see on the first reviews

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It shows that Thrustmaster knows what they are talking about because everybody talk about the peak Nm when it's the constant number that is important.
I have a Mige solution with a 10Nm peak motor but only 3.5 Nm constant force and that's the constant number which matters.


10Nm constant is huuuuuuuuuuuuuge the T818 could be as strong as the Fanatec DD2 or the Simucube Pro and for sure it will be stronger than the Moza R16 or the SIMAGIC Alpha.

Having no filters is again a good thing that's how i set up all my DD.(and i have 3 DD)

We need a confirmation but it looks like a good surprise.

(it's sold out ...damned)

Blerpa said:

Fanatec and their 350 euro DD base which also needs an overpriced boost kit

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480€ for an 8nm DD wheelbase is very good value.
who cares how the costs are split between wheelbase and powerunit?
it's by some margin the most budgetfriendly entrylevel DD on the market currently. and people still complain?

I'd just like to point out that I modified my Thrustmaster F1 Wheel to use with SimExperience Accuforce. At 16Nm peak, It only took 3 months before all the screw connectors on the F1 Wheel were shattered by the Direct Drive Forces. With their 8Nm(?) they might have last a bit longer.

RayTruant said:

I find DD is quite overhyped.

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What did you upgrade from? Just interested as my T300 is fine but I'm just itching to change it now I've got some cash.

David Faraday said:

Well that's not strictly true. There's no need to have an adapter for each wheel. It takes less than 30 seconds to unscrew from one wheel and put it on another.

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True, but then it isn't really any quicker than the old mechanism. But each to their own.

RayTruant said:

I find DD is quite overhyped.

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I switched from the great Fanatec CSW 2.5 beltdrive to a CSL DD 8Nm. The CSL DD is more compact, has more detailed FFB, feels smoother, has faster response, is way quieter (no fans at all), has no belt that wears in time (zero maintenance) and has multiple mounting possibilities. If you don’t care for any of those enhancements then you are right.

Mekonrider said:

Think I'm going to for that Moza stock to hit instead.

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Yep. I waited a long time - with less and less confidence - for Thrustmasters announcement. Was underwhelmed. So I ordered my Moza Bundle (plus clutch pedal) today. should be here in 10-15 days. Will be a nice upgrade from my old T150

TachyonGod said:

I'd just like to point out that I modified my Thrustmaster F1 Wheel to use with SimExperience Accuforce. At 16Nm peak, It only took 3 months before all the screw connectors on the F1 Wheel were shattered by the Direct Drive Forces. With their 8Nm(?) they might have last a bit longer.

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Does the adapter cause the wheel to limit torque, like the Fanatec Podium bases and using the QR1 Lite?

RayTruant said:

I find DD is quite overhyped.

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I will not exactement say it like that.
But i had for sure the same pleasure in simracing driving grand prix legends with my trusty g25 many years ago as i have now running my csl dd on modern simulations.

Of course the new generation sim and csl are more realistic, but there is something i personally miss thinking of the old good days when GPL, gtr2, nascar 2003 etc dominated the field.
I remember my first online races with 56k modem on vroc. What a pleasure to discover that it was possible to play online !

azaralamouri said:

Speaking about compatibility, I've noticed something (useless):
In their website, they promised "future compatibility with all wheel rims in the TM racing ecosystem", which might cause them future legal shenanigans.
Why? Because who knows what will happen in the future? New products pop up. Imagine if they make different wireless wheels in the future for newer wheelbases and someone stupid says they promised him compatibility with "all future" rims.
Or otherwise, do they want to make the same mistake they did before when they designed all plastic rims without "the future" in mind? They wrote on their websites that they're already looking to update their ecosystem and the way they connect to the base. I don't think this base works as a hub for current TM lineup peripherals. So, if the ecosystem connectivity is actually changing today, why promise future compatibility with all Thrustmaster wheels without specifying anything special?

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A way around that statement, is to not name something incompatible under the T Series.

I got a csl dd and i don´t regret it even a second.

Thanks to fanatec for having opened the Pandora box.

Without the csl dd, there will not be possible to have all of these incredible new choices of wheels.

It is good for simracing in general. Just let´s enjoy it !!

David Faraday said:

Why would anyone swap a simucube for a TM?

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I'm thinking about it. I've got a few TM wheel rims that are going unused, and I'm not that impressed with the Simucube 2 Pro that I bought earlier this year.

The only advantage is a disadvantage: cross compatibility with previous equipment. That being said, previous equipment are toy-like gear as a friend already said above, so it is highly overpriced for what it offers.

Moza is an option, bur rims are also overpriced (and ugly) and standard pedals are crap.

Fanatec is in a good position if only they do their job properly, which seems they can't. Blaming component and transport markets is lame as any other competitor has plenty of stock and do things well. They are incompetent, that is unfortunately true. I had to buy an overpriced CSL DD second hand with a 8Nm OEM power supply, and won't move from there because it is still the better option in the mid-level pack.

It is good to see more players in the market of DD.
I do believe it is a bit too expensive given the competition in that sector.
With that out of the way....I'm not sure why guys get so hung up on the Nm figures so much.
I have the MOZA R9 with a 'paltry' 9Nm and it delivers more torque than I have ever felt in my normal daily driven car.
Most modern racecars now have electric power steering...so not a lot of 'muscling' required.
What to me is important, is fidelity.
Can I feel the road surface as it changes from concrete to asphalt?
Can I feel a difference in surface adhesion as the rain slicks up the old rubber on track surfaces?
Can I feel break-away as the tires start to scrub?
I get every one of those without ripping my arms out.
I suspect if TM did a good job on build quality and software, this wheel will be fine.

Terry Rock said:

I have the MOZA R9 with a 'paltry' 9Nm and it delivers more torque than I have ever felt in my normal daily driven car.

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I watched WTCR this weekend and Matt Neal was commenting on how you can drive them with your fingertips now, they have so much power steering. I'd imagine nearly every modern racing car class is the same and you can dial in your personal wheel settings.