Best Driving Wheels ?

[Mamoose]

What are the best driving wheel controllers? I have never owned one but like racing games,is force feedback worth the x-tra $ ? Also input on racing games would be appreciated.....Thanks!

<< &quot;We all 'gonna die!&quot; Sonny Landham &quot;Predator&quot; >>

:Q

 

[hifimaster]

Force feedback is well worth the extra money.I have the MS racing wheel and it adds impact to any racing game.I used to have a non-force feedback racing wheel and the return to center wasnt realisc.

 

[Mamoose]

Thanks HiFi,I have used Microsoft's Sidewinder Joystick for long time and been satisfied with that so I will consider their racing Wheel.

 

[AMB]

I woudl go for the Guillemot Ferrari one, It is a very good wheel in my opinion.

 

[Mamoose]

AMB thanks for recommendation,haven't heard about this one so where can I see specs on it?

 

[Innoka]

That Guillemot wheel is robust and realistic. It feels good. It even is $10 cheaper than the MS one.

 

[Wingznut]

Another vote for the MS Sidewinder FF wheel. And yes, FF is definitely worth the extra cash.

 

[Toolman]

Thomas Enterprises have the best wheels! This is not a throw away/disposable wheel like most of the rest of them.
http://www.thomas-superwheel.com/

 

[Wingznut]

Yeah, if you have between $250 and $1000 to spend.

 

[Chad]

Wow, I'm surprised there aren't more votes for what's widely considered the very best (conventionaly priced) steering wheels. The ACT-LABS Force RS wheel coupled with the 7 notch shifter.

Also, the best racing games, in order are...

Nascar Racing 4 (just released). - Papyrus
Grand Prix Legends (and old classic). - Papyrus
Viper Racing - Papyrus
Need for Speed 5 - Electronic Arts

All of which take advantage of the foremention shifter and wheel.

P.S. Anand's voted this the best wheel out there in a big shootout a while back.

Check it out.

 

[Wingznut]

Chad, what are you smoking?

I've yet to play the new NASCAR game, but NFS5 beats down the rest of your list.

 

[Chad]

Whoops, I meant NFS 5, not 4. My bad (fixed now).

PEZ, you have to realise, the liking of software games is going to be VERY subjectional... so of course, apply the IMHO in everything.

But still, (IMHO) even NFS 5 isn't nearly as good as the others I listed. But I'm a sim racer, and NFS 5 is a skosh on the arcadey side, so this is probably where we differ. To each his own of course.

BTW... Nascar Racing 4 is truely amazing! But if your not a sim racer, you probably won't enjoy it nearly as much as myself. Although, it's not even close to the difficulty level of GPL.

 

[Chimo]

You may take a look at ActLabs wheels.
www.act-labs.com/race1.htm
I didn't have one or tried one, but all reviews I read rated that system very good.

 

[Wingznut]

I know it's very subjectionable... I was just giving you a hard time.

But even though I agree that it's subjectionable, you're still wrong! (Again, just kidding.)

 

[Mamoose]

Thanks all,I am impressed with the reviews that the Act Labs RS has posted on their sites from reliable sources.This must be an European Co.as the shipping was a lot.Where can I find best price on this setup in good 'ol Amerika? Toolman the Thomas Enterprises units must be very good but out of my reach price wise

<< &quot;If it Ain't Broke....Tweak it&quot; >>

 

[Chad]

Just found this out. Act-Labs is coming out with a revamped system mid-March. It apparently will come with new pedals that include a clutch and are supposedly VERY high quality, with the Act-Labs president stating that their pedals are better than the high dollar TSW pedals, and will retail for about $69 as a seperate item. Or of course you could get the wheel/pedal combo, or wheel/pedal/shifter combo.

Also, speaking of the shifter, the shifter is going to change to be a USB seperate (also sold seperately) shifter working with many other wheels on the market independantly.

WOW! Kick it Act-Labs.... KICK IT!

P.S. The new high quality pedals with clutch will also be available for purchase separately, although I dunno for how much.

 

[Midnight Rambler]

<< I've yet to play the new NASCAR game, but NFS5 beats down the rest of your list. >>

Every NFS title, including NFSPU, is an arcade game compared to GPL. GPL is still the one sim that comes very close to approximating the true driving experience of the actual type of race car that the sim is patterned after. And Nascar 4, even though it borrows the GPL &quot;engine&quot;, doesn't quite compete in terms of realism. GPL will rule forever!

As for wheels, I'd second the Thomas', although for something more reasonable (ie. affordable), then it's definitely the Acts Lab. The Guillemot Ferrari (the same wheel is now also being sold under the Thrustmaster name, which was bought out by Guillemot) is OK as long as you get a newer unit which has the improved shifter paddles. The original revision's paddles were as delicate as butterfly wings. Finally, the Microsoft wheel is definitely something to avoid, unless they're giving them away. It's a CPU hog too.

 

[admav]

the act labs is by far your best bet, i own one myself and it's provide me with many hours of pleasure (in the fun gaming sense...not the other sense ). The force feedback is well worth the cash but the stock standard act labs wheel has great centering ability. Your onto a winner with the act labs

 

[Blain]

I've got an Act Labs RS (non-FF). I love it! I've also heard that the FF version is great too. They are built very sturdy. The only thing I've had to do is buy one of those offset screwdrivers to tighten up the backside of my wheel. And that's only because I've had &quot;non-racing&quot; people playing with it. You know, they slam the wheel from one side to the other constantly.

 

[hifimaster]

<< You know, they slam the wheel from one side to the other constantly. >>



This wont happen with force feedback because the &quot;return to center&quot; force is so strong.

 

[alrocky]

I was looking for a driving wheel to improve the driving experience and a Logitech Wingman (non FF) for $40 suited my budget. By these posts it seems a FF version is worth the extra mulla. Logitech has a FF Wingman for $100-$20 rebate =$80 (or ibuyer.com $75-$20=$55). The Guilly and MS runs ~$100. But the Act-Labs RS is well received here @ $140. Now Act-Labs is coming with a better driving setup?... I don't think I can afford to that drive much better. Hell, I may not drive that much better anyway.

Anyone with any thoughts on the Logitech wheels? Best prices and vendors for the Act-Labs wheel, or is it a available at their site only? What other driving games would you all recommend?