Which reasonably priced but still GOOD steering wheel for PC

[TameRacingDriver]

This is probably going to sound mad, and I should maybe hand in my PH membership on the way out but I actually think having had a weekend playing on this, I find it just as much if not more fun than actually going out for a little blast around the block in the car.

Its actually got me seriously questioning myself as I was prepared to pay up to £10K for an every day but enjoyable car, but I'm now starting to think I might just go for a cheap little runabout such as an MR2 and save my cash. Seriously. I don't really do track days (can't afford) and I hardly ever go out for the fun of it. I can use this whenever I like, drive whatever car I like and on any road or track I like.

Basically, its not the same, but it is utterly involving, fun and I am totally addicted to it. Thanks for the recommendations!

[TameRacingDriver]

Bikes are not my thing, even as much as I admire the performance on offer for the cash. Could be tempted just to get a little cheap MR2 or MX5 though.

[Altrezia]

It's more fun than road driving. But road driving is totally pants compared to track driving.

[TameRacingDriver]

Altrezia said:

It's more fun than road driving. But road driving is totally pants compared to track driving.

I can imagine. I wish I could afford to and had the time to do track driving regularly.

[Altrezia]

TameRacingDriver said:

I can imagine. I wish I could afford to and had the time to do track driving regularly.

So do I! ha ha.

It won't be long before your sim-rig is almost as good anyway, now you have the bug

[james_gt3rs]

Altrezia said:

It's more fun than road driving. But road driving is totally pants compared to track driving.

[Mattygooner]

It's a slippery slope, I have just priced up the package I want from fanatec, the bad side of 1500!

I was tempted by oculus, but the HTC/Valve VR st looks like it might be the better bet, apparently launched on the 8th December.

[Bullett]

Some limited info out there on the 8th release date. Most saying that it will be extremely limited and not a full CV release which is disappointing.

I don't care if it's OR or Valve providing my VR fix. It's the one that support my chosen games that will get my money.

Support is pretty shoddy and fiddly in the main(I know it's a development kit). I would hope that better user experiences would be available by now but it only seems like iracing is giving a good experience end to end.

[Davidos]

TameRacingDriver said:

I'm curious about the Oculus Rift but dunno if its for me really. Can't imagine the sound being as good as what I have now for starters, and it seems a bit unnatural, though I admit I haven't tried it. Will probably still go for a big monitor. I can imagine it being fun, but having that strapped to my head... unsure!

I am addicted to this wheel now. Fantastic fun. Can't wait to try some different games with it - Project Cars is good but I can imagine other games are just as good fun too.

Edited by TameRacingDriver on Sunday 22 November 21:58

I am enjoying my recent download of Game Stock Car Extreme

http://store.steampowered.com/app/273840

Its a very good package and I have had some good races with it (AI)

If you really want to get addicted, then you need to try I-racing

- we should be getting the laser scanned Nordschleife in the next build (Dec-15)...

[TameRacingDriver]

I'll check out those games at some point, cheers!

The next piece of the jigsaw has arrived, my GT Omega Racing stand for my steering wheel, shifter and pedals. So hopefully I'll get that set up tonight.

Then I've got my eyes peeled for this Thursday/Friday deals for a nice Ultrawide monitor.

This has turned from being a bit of light hearted fun into being a full blown addiction!

I'm even thinking I may sell up my CTR, buy a cheap MR2 as a run around and use the leftover money to pay for all of this because I can see this being used a LOT more. I never thought that I would resort to doing something like that, but at the end of the day, I think I agree it IS more fun than road driving and its darn sight more sustainable; £50 of petrol is easily demolished on a half decent hoon, not to mention the risk of being on the wrong side of the law, and that pays for a couple of games!

Even the other half loves using it! In her words "I get a hell of a buzz out of it".

[born2bslow]

TameRacingDriver said:

This is probably going to sound mad, and I should maybe hand in my PH membership on the way out but I actually think having had a weekend playing on this, I find it just as much if not more fun than actually going out for a little blast around the block in the car.

Its actually got me seriously questioning myself as I was prepared to pay up to £10K for an every day but enjoyable car, but I'm now starting to think I might just go for a cheap little runabout such as an MR2 and save my cash. Seriously. I don't really do track days (can't afford) and I hardly ever go out for the fun of it. I can use this whenever I like, drive whatever car I like and on any road or track I like.

Basically, its not the same, but it is utterly involving, fun and I am totally addicted to it. Thanks for the recommendations!

There is a downside, the other half has unlimited pit to car radio access even with a man cave...and when your dog jumps on your lap mid race that can be distracting. These things don't happen in real racing, but I've been telling a mate how much fun this is for years but can't convince him. There is also the fact that bent metal costs more than hitting reset, a single track day car vs virtually unlimited selection of game race cars.

Welcome to the dark side

[TameRacingDriver]

born2bslow said:

Welcome to the dark side

Cheers. Got the GT Omega stand today. No instructions whatsoever on setting it up except online and then they are vague and close to useless. Took a lot of experimentation to get it set up and the way I want it (two and a half hours in fact).

Eventually got there, and definitely an improvement. Couldn't find a way of bolting the pedals down, but everything else was OK.

Feels better than a desk, but its a good job the missus is understanding having that in the room! I don't really know what I was expecting but its a canny size to say the least!

I had a quick game to test it out - and tried using the shifter instead of the paddles but to my surprise, you have to go through all of the gears one-by-one; when I tried to block change down, it only went down one gear. If that can't be resolved then it pretty much makes the gear knob a pointless gimmick.

[Monty Python]

Don't know if any of these are of any interest:

https://www.humblebundle.com/?utm_source=Humble+Bu...

[TameRacingDriver]

I'll definitely check out the sequential mod, that looks much better and more like what the DFGT was like.

Thanks for that link I'll check those out

[Rebuilda]

Just been reading this and wondering if the G25 shifter top housing and sequential mechanism will fit onto the G27 shifter chassis, all the rest of the bits seem to be the same mouldings ... time to get the screwdrivers out I think.

[Rick101]

Whats wrong with the old laggy band mod?



Done me fine for the last few years. Just decided to order one of the SHH 3D printed shifters. Long wait though, late Feb!

Heard the Heusinkveld Engineering shifter is finally going to be released soon, annoyingly just after I ordered the SHH. Oh well, I'm sure I can sell it on if I decide to change.

http://www.shiftershh.es/en.html

Edited by Rick101 on Wednesday 25th November 15:55

Edited by Rick101 on Wednesday 25th November 15:55

[TameRacingDriver]

^^ I'm sure that works well but it looks awful!

I read somewhere you can use the G25 shifter into the G27 wheel with some kind of adapter or wiring mod. I think I would much prefer a sequential shifter to the gated one for games in all honesty. I reckon I'll have to do something as the current system is rubbish - flappy paddles aside.

[Rebuilda]

I now have one of each strewn all over my desk in bits.
The housing (bottom) is identical and all the mechanical locking system fits straight into the 27 shifter.
There is a small micro switch at the top of the mechanism which is wired to a socket on the board which does not exist on the G27.
There is also a warning light opposite the power light which is missing.
There is a wad of hot glue on the stick switch which is to stop the old broken wire fault that the G25 used to suffer from, not quite as complex as the repair I used but it'll do.
(the G25 shifter I took apart has no 3rd gear due to a broken wire which I will fix before I re-assemble it)
The shift also has a different 'stick' assembly but that won't affect the mechanism hopefully as its not too much of a difference.
I'll post photo's if anyone is interested.
I'll solder up the missing components on the board as I have a dead board to steal them from and let you know if it works later.

ETA - Soldered up the missing bits but hit a snag on re-assembly. The collar that drops into the shifter well is different on the two models with the 25 being about 5mm deeper, this means it is now fouling the shift in 1,2,5,6 and reverse. It is good enough that a test of the sequential shift is on the cards in about an hour.

Another edit -
After messing with this for a while I can report safely that its a possibility. With the sequential system installed and engaged however it registers as being in second gear, pushed forward it registers first but goes back to second and stays there even when pulled back. It can be held in a neutral position so there would need to be some fine adjustment done to the sensors in the gearstick mechanism. The G25 outer casing goes back on with no problems other than the bit at the bottom of the stick well that needs reducing. Warning light works fine and if the sequential mechanism is disengaged it functions normally as a six speed. I'll have a fettle with the plastics tomorrow to see if I can get it set up right.
It needs a polished ally gate on the housing to help with locating gears, a billet gear knob and some of the other mods on you tube like the velcro cushions to stop it impacting on the housing and if you keep the leather gaiter, an O ring round the stick to keep it down.
Time to look at handbrakes next...

Edited by Rebuilda on Wednesday 25th November 21:13

[TameRacingDriver]

I've ended up doing the laccy band mod as well I've not tried it yet but it looks like it'll work! It doesn't feel quite as good as the one of DFGT did but it will do (maybe I just need different bands, mine are too small so had to tie 2 together which gives slightly less positive action).

[Altrezia]

Someone on RSC makes a proper mod IIRC - it's been a long time since I had a G27 though so I've forgotten.

This thread is making me want to go upstairs and play! If only I had some spare time.