F1 2010 Steering wheel for F1 2010 and other racing games

[F1 2011 Rocks!]

A few questions for you guys with a lot of experience in steering wheels:

Firstly, is the clamp easily loosened, so the wheel can be moved aside when doing things like typing? It would be a real chore to have to remove the damn thing every time you need to type something and the arrangement of my desk means if the wheel is in place, it's going to get in the way all the time - so an arrangement where it can be easily loosened and slid to one side is essential.

Secondly, could I get a wheel for £50 that has decent pedals (not spongy, but not too hard to press down either) that grip the carpet properly, has decent force feedback/rumble and has a gear stick as well as a couple of paddles? If not, how much would I have to pay? I don't see the point in spending £30 or so on something that breaks in two minutes, and have to spend an additional £50 - £100 on a decent one.

Thirdly, are PS3/Xbox 360 wheels compatible with the PC? If the wheel's wireless, does it have a charging dock?

Finally, can you get replacement parts for them if say the gearstick goes wrong? Especially if you end up spending more than £100, you don't want to have to buy a new one every few years - after all, it's just a video game peripheral - and a very specialised one at that.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ChrisD2010]

I definitely won't be going for any second hand ones - you have no idea how much they've been used. Nope, it's gotta be new.

One thing you might want to consider is a refurbished model -- I got my G25 two years ago for £70 simply because of that, and you don't get the downsides associated with "used" models (since it is looked over thoroughly and anything wrong fixed/replaced before they sell it on). It actually gave me some peace of mind that it had been given the once over by a human rather than a machine.

 

[F1 2011 Rocks!]

One thing you might want to consider is a refurbished model -- I got my G25 two years ago for £70 simply because of that, and you don't get the downsides associated with "used" models (since it is looked over thoroughly and anything wrong fixed/replaced before they sell it on). It actually gave me some peace of mind that it had been given the once over by a human rather than a machine.

Interesting - where would I get a refurbished model from and what's the warranty usually?

@Driving Force GT users - are the pedals really as bad as some people are making out?

 

[Matthias Devisch]

I got my DFGT about a month ago. Very satisfied with it, solid steering wheel and easy to mount. The pedals are indeed plastic one, but i think if you use it in a propre way, they will last for a long time. I'm sure the G27 is worth the price, but in the end you have to decide yourself wetherto spend 100€ or 250€.

Ps DFGT is available in Belgium for 85€, so you can brake 3 pedal sets before you pay as much as a G27.

 

[F1 2011 Rocks!]

Thanks for that, Matthias. Since you have the wheel, you'll be able to answer this: it would be a great help if the angle of the wheel could be changed - in other words if it could be swivelled up or down - that way, I could simply slide my keyboard underneath the desk when not using it, so I would not have to keep unclamping the wheel.

 

[Matthias Devisch]

No, you can not do that.

 

[F1 2011 Rocks!]

Shame - that would've made things a whole lot easier. Oh well, I'm sure I can find a way round it.

Edit: PC World stock it for £79.99 - almost £30 cheaper! Result.

 

[ChrisD2010]

Interesting - where would I get a refurbished model from and what's the warranty usually?

Think there was a year on this one, no idea on what the situation is "generally" though. I actually got mine from eBay, wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't a company selling it though, personal "refurbished" models are usually just used models with aesthetic touchup.

 

[F1 2011 Rocks!]

Brilliant. I had an issue with my card, so I was unable to order the wheel from play.com, now it appears to have disappeared. Same at Amazon as well. All branches of Argos are out of stock and GAME are out of stock as well. Sounds like there's a chance it's not going to be very easy to find from now on, although unless there's a successor at a similar price, surely they wouldn't discontinue it entirely? Maybe it'll become available again in the New Year. PC World didn't stock it - when I tried to buy, it said the item was unavailable.

Are there any other PC compatible wheels out there of a similar price and quality (brand new and from a proper retail company, so no Ebay please)? And if anyone living in London has suggestions of retailers that might have it, please post them here.

Many thanks.

Ah - now I'm seeing messages like this:

Currently unavailable.
We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.

Sounds to me as if it's about to be discontinued. Damn it! I don't want to have to spend more than double this item's cost to get a decent wheel!

Is there any chance the next model up (G25?) could experience a bit of a price drop to 'fill the gap' left by the Driving Force GT - as a midrange steering wheel?

Edit: Has anyone got this one:

Thrustmaster Ferrari F430 USB Force Feedback Racing Wheel

If anything, the pedals look better to me than the Driving Force GT's.

Ah - that's the one the Amazon reviewer said got really hot at one point. Maybe that was a one-off - it seems to be getting rave reviews everywhere - people are saying it's better than the more expensive G25 for example.

OK - done a bit more research now, it looks like this one is probably better overall than the GT - the pedals are a lot better according to reviews, there's more space between them and they look bigger as well. No gearstick, but I think it might get tiresome to keep shifting a stick all the time - flappy paddles will do nicely and unlike the GT, this one actually has paddles instead of switches - metal as well, so they won't break easily. Yep, I'm definitely leaning towards this one now - it's only £79.99 at play.com. How is the compatibility with F1 2010 though - have to find that out. :wink:

 

[Andy_J]

I have one of these and they are still one of the best despite what some snobby g25/27 users say::
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOMO-Force-Fe...876?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item45f7691e8c

 

[ml66]

my friend has a ferrari wheel and he likes it alot.only downside being u have only upto 280 degrees wheel rotation as apposed to 900 with g25 or 27.should be ideal for f1 tho.

 

[Chris Marshall]

I have one of these and they are still one of the best despite what some snobby g25/27 users say::
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOMO-Force-Fe...876?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item45f7691e8c

Lol Snobby !!!

not really m8, just like buying good quality things, i not the kind of person that thinking saving 50 dollors and going for the cheap option. i have had a G27 for a while now and i have used the others, nothing comes close, the set up, the feel and its easy to mount and nothing can touch it.

do your self a favour and get the G27 m8, you will regret a cheasp plastic effort that has to sit on you lap, the g27 metal gear shifters is as close as you can get to the real thing.

anyway im of to drink some snobby wine in my snobby house with my snobby wife

 

[psebas]

Hi, I have a F430 and im quite happy with it ( recently bought , been playing F1 on PC and Ps3 , and also Gt5 on Ps3 ), works great, seems solid, the FFB is better on pc , but thats ok , only a few games work on the ps3 ( f1, gt5, colin OK / Nfs Shift NOT OK ).

I had to choose between this and a G27 , and i opt for this one (I know that the g27 is better , but this one his a Ferrari ) , i really didnt need the clutch and the stick and the 900º rotation so... and this one was a third of the price.

 

[Laxatron]

Do youself a favour and see if you can get a G25 or a G27, it´s the best you can buy for racing games. There is probably some store that still has it, I know hard to get. But if you can buy for around 130 to 150 Euros it´s the best you can get. Not saying other wheels are bad but what I´ve seen in the stores and the G25 I have, there is nothing better in that price range.
Hell look for a used one that wasn´t used much, it will still be the better solution. And I´ll happily let anybody else calling me a snob for using a G25 lol...

just my 2 cents...

 

[Chris Marshall]

Hi, I have a F430 and im quite happy with it ( recently bought , been playing F1 on PC and Ps3 , and also Gt5 on Ps3 ), works great, seems solid, the FFB is better on pc , but thats ok , only a few games work on the ps3 ( f1, gt5, colin OK / Nfs Shift NOT OK ).

I had to choose between this and a G27 , and i opt for this one (I know that the g27 is better , but this one his a Ferrari ) , i really didnt need the clutch and the stick and the 900º rotation so... and this one was a third of the price.

you know you can change the rotation in the settings, see Brams set up for g25.

is there a shop that you can test drive some, im sure if they understood you are wanting to buy one they would let you try, or just keep returning them if they dont.......Oh and i dont care much for ferrari, i suppose it a matter of personal preference, for example i like vegemite and cheese sandwiches and i recon im only 1 of around 100 people who do.

 

[Chris Marshall]

Do youself a favour and see if you can get a G25 or a G27, it´s the best you can buy for racing games. There is probably some store that still has it, I know hard to get. But if you can buy for around 130 to 150 Euros it´s the best you can get. Not saying other wheels are bad but what I´ve seen in the stores and the G25 I have, there is nothing better in that price range.
Hell look for a used one that wasn´t used much, it will still be the better solution. And I´ll happily let anybody else calling me a snob for using a G25 lol...

just my 2 cents...

I must be a snob too, we could start the logitech snob club the 'LSC'

g510 keyboard
g9x mouse
g35 headphones
c910 hd webcam ( really essential for skyping mother !!!!! )
logitech security cam system
harmony 1000 remote ( i know there is a new one )

Anyway, back to the topic

Just choose one in your budget, and make sure your happy, i love mine and im sure people love theres. its down to you realy

 

[tororosso]

my advice in general not for OP

1st use a controller.. race for 2 months straight..

if you happened to see yourself still playing that same racing game without stopping then i think its safe to say that you have now been permanently infected by Simracing bug.

NOW... its now safer to say buying a wheel is your next logical step.


why go thru this trouble before buying? Because are numerous poorly built products out there made by companies trying to turn a profit on this peripheral which in turn compromises the build quality of the wheel. and there's really 1 option but its going to cost premium price unfortunately. So to avoid buyer's remorse ask yourself this important question...

Is sim racing is for me?

in addition midrage wheels', trouble free lifespan span is less than a year on moderate to insane simracing use. in the end you'll probably buy another wheel. if price is an issue its a double whammy, forcing you to invest again for a new wheel compared buying the premium version to start with.

Wheels are supposed to be abused within limits of course... so a solid quality product is a must!
again companies know there's a market of buyers out there that is looking for a low-mid priced wheel and they're trying their best to turn a profit on these items resulting in poorly build/faulty parts. Comprising build quality for sake of profit is unacceptable these types of products where its primary uses is to to be abused.




ps 2month play time was a joke btw

 

[Chris Marshall]

my advice in general not for OP

1st use a controller.. race for 2 months straight..

if you happened to see yourself still playing that same racing game without stopping then i think its safe to say that you have now been permanently infected by Simracing bug.



NOW... its now safer to say buying a wheel is your next logical step.


why go thru this trouble before buying? Because are numerous poorly built products out there made by companies trying to turn a profit on this peripheral which in turn compromises the build quality of the wheel. and there's really 1 option but its going to cost premium price unfortunately. So to avoid buyer's remorse ask yourself this important question...

Is sim racing is for me?

in addition midrage wheels', trouble free lifespan span is less than a year on moderate to insane simracing use. in the end you'll probably buy another wheel. if price is an issue its a double whammy, forcing you to invest again for a new wheel compared buying the premium version to start with.

Wheels are supposed to be abused within limits of course... so a solid quality product is a must!
again companies know there's a market of buyers out there that is looking for a low-mid priced wheel and they're trying their best to turn a profit on these items resulting in poorly build/faulty parts. Comprising build quality for sake of profit is unacceptable these types of products where its primary uses is to to be abused.




ps 2month play time was a joke btw

agreed, i played on a controler first and then went out a spent the $$$ on the g27, so glad i did. i often buy games and never play em, i still have in its pastic unopened startrek online, conan.

wise words tororosso

 

[F1 2011 Rocks!]

my friend has a ferrari wheel and he likes it alot.only downside being u have only upto 280 degrees wheel rotation as apposed to 900 with g25 or 27.should be ideal for f1 tho.

I've never used a racing wheel controller before - so maybe I won't care about 280 v 900 degrees given I've never experienced 900 degrees (or 280 degrees) before.

 

[F1 2011 Rocks!]

Do youself a favour and see if you can get a G25 or a G27, it´s the best you can buy for racing games. There is probably some store that still has it, I know hard to get. But if you can buy for around 130 to 150 Euros it´s the best you can get. Not saying other wheels are bad but what I´ve seen in the stores and the G25 I have, there is nothing better in that price range.
Hell look for a used one that wasn´t used much, it will still be the better solution. And I´ll happily let anybody else calling me a snob for using a G25 lol...

just my 2 cents...

I appreciate your reply, but I just don't do spending £200+ on a game controller (that's more or less the price I've been seeing around - for new ones, that is - I don't do Ebay or other second hand when it comes to hardware).

 

[Andy_J]

Like I stated earlier in the thread, you wont go wrong with a secondhand or nearly new Logitech Momo off ebay. If you are not a "real" hardcore simmer, one of these is just fine. Spending hard earned cash on overly expensive racing wheels is not everybodies cup of tea and certainly during a recession. My Momo works just fine and never misses a beat. It works great, looks great (way smarter than a G25/27) and can be had for around 40-70 quid on ebay if you look regularly.

I have been racing PC sims both online and off since the early 80's with real racing on line since the mid 90's from Nascar leagues to ARCA to I-racing and R-Factor. I have never seen the need to pay anymore or the need to get a better wheel.