Sim Racing Recommendations?

[Alfa.Male]

Hi all,

I'm toying with the idea of a simple set-up so I can go sim racing and after some ideas please. I used to race years ago so this would be a way of reliving my youth!

Looking at console rather than PC and would prefer Xbox (only as my son has one) but doesn't have to be.

Happy to get wheel/pedals but not whole sim rig.

Prob looking secondhand.

Ideas please for a basic set-up and software please?

TIA

[RichTT]

Find a G920 Logitech wheel and pedals on ebay and a Wheel stand or cheap collapsible chair (F-GT Lite). There's usually loads available.

Not so familiar with all the console games but the F1 games and Assetto Corsa Competizione would be decent games for more sim focused titles. Forza or Gran Turismo I think are the more console focused games. But less sim-like.

[SturdyHSV]

Assetto Corsa Competizione and a second hand Logitech wheel / pedals would be your best bet for a starter console experience I'd say. ACC is about as 'sim' as you'll get on a console (it's a very very good sim on PC too by all accounts).

If you're after something a little more 'fun' and much more varied, Forza Motorsport is your best bet on XBox, or Forza Horizon if you'd prefer more of an open map, although be prepared to endure a lot of thoroughly annoying 'cutscenes' and general drivel in that case

You can clamp the Logitech wheels to a desk and put the pedals on the floor for the complete low budget solution.

[Alfa.Male]

Thanks both, that's a great recommendation. After looking at S/H prices I'm reassured to see just how affordable the prices are. Logitech wheel, pedals and gearlever it is, plus XBox One and ACC.

Thanks, will let you know progress!

[RichTT]

If you were a bit closer I would have sorted you out with a playseat + Thrustmaster wheel / pedals / shifter as I've just upgraded my whole kit.

[24lemons]

It’s easy to get carried away with sim racing and the never ending desire to upgrade. My setup is modest by most standards, PS5, Thrustmaster T300 wheel and pedals on a home made rig which I built in lockdown. I’ve recently bought a loadcell mod for the T3PA pedals which I’m still getting used to.

As much as I’d like to have the gear and talent of the guys on YouTube, in reality i barely have enough time to have a couple of hours on GT7 once or twice a week.

Stupidly though, I’ve preordered a PSVR2 in the hope I’ll be able to use it with the PS5 racing titles.

[Alfa.Male]

RichTT said:

If you were a bit closer I would have sorted you out with a playseat + Thrustmaster wheel / pedals / shifter as I've just upgraded my whole kit.

Ha-ha yes, we're not exactly neighbours! What sort of £ are we talking? Assuming it's postable?

[mattstr675]

If you can leave it setup you are better of going for a rig of some kind.

I'm running a playseat evolution, which isn't high end at all and can be picked up quite cheap. Not highly thought of in the sim racing world but does me fine for some casual racing. If you need it to be collapsible, I have had experience with the playseat challenge and rate it highly.

As for wheels, budget options are logitech g29/ g923 depending on console. Thrustmaster have tmx for xbox or t150 or ps4/ps5- although personally I'd go for the t300. The logitech is probably the more common choice as the thrustmaster does have reliability issues (I'm on my third)

As for games, I'm running on ps5 and currently playing F1 2022, Assetto Corsa Competizione, assetto corsa, gt sport and I'm looking to get Gran Turismo 7 when I see it at decent price.

Edited by mattstr675 on Wednesday 28th December 23:53

Edited by mattstr675 on Thursday 29th December 00:01

[Chamon_Lee]

I’ve recently done this to see if it’s something I’ll do more in the future.

Logitech g923
Assetto Corsa comp
Xbox one x

All I can say is it’s blooming good fun. Perfectly fine for a beginner set up. If I’m still doing it 6 months in then I’ll upgrade

[Jon_Bmw]

24lemons said:

I’ve recently bought a loadcell mod for the T3PA pedals which I’m still getting used to.

Have you got any information on this? A guide and where to buy parts. I want to do this upgrade to my t3pa pedals that I use on PC.

The brake pedal currently flutters as the sensor is dirty. I stripped it the other day and tried cleaning with compressed air with no success, so I might as well upgrade it!

[24lemons]

Jon_Bmw said:

24lemons said:

I’ve recently bought a loadcell mod for the T3PA pedals which I’m still getting used to.

Have you got any information on this? A guide and where to buy parts. I want to do this upgrade to my t3pa pedals that I use on PC.

The brake pedal currently flutters as the sensor is dirty. I stripped it the other day and tried cleaning with compressed air with no success, so I might as well upgrade it!

www.loadcellmod.com

This is the mod I bought. It’s plug and play, just attaches to the conical brake mod bracket. There is next to no travel though except flex of the rubber bumper. With a bit of practice It is easier to vary braking pressure. It’s about £90 so not massively pricey.

[Jon_Bmw]

Thanks for that.
I don't use a thrust master wheel and have a separate usb wheel. I currently connect the t3pa pedals with one of thrustmasters incredibly expensive usb convertors, so I'm not sure this would work.

Ideally I need the load cell to be independent of the pedals and have it's own usb input into the PC and keep using the t3pa OE clutch and throttle channels.

Unless I'm missing something and the cable from the t3pa goes into the load cell and then the load cell into the wheel (or usb adapter in my case).

[24lemons]

Jon_Bmw said:

Thanks for that.
I don't use a thrust master wheel and have a separate usb wheel. I currently connect the t3pa pedals with one of thrustmasters incredibly expensive usb convertors, so I'm not sure this would work.

Ideally I need the load cell to be independent of the pedals and have it's own usb input into the PC and keep using the t3pa OE clutch and throttle channels.

Unless I'm missing something and the cable from the t3pa goes into the load cell and then the load cell into the wheel (or usb adapter in my case).

You plug the pedals into the load cell and the load cell into the wheel base. Sounds like it should work

[Jon_Bmw]

I did the upgrade, well actually I did it DIY following a YouTube video as my t3pas are quite old so not covered under warranty or anything.

I haven't actually used it yet, other than check that it works in windows. I need something to stop my Wheely chair moving.

I think the parts I needed were below;
20kg Load cell £7
Load cell amplifier £16.50
Cable £3
Rubber bumper (I'm hoping to print something at work)

For the rubber bumper I want to replace this with a piston thing that has something compressible in it so it gives the feel of some pedal travel. I'll update when I have something in place.

YouTube video was here incase anyone wants to follow a similar path.

https://youtu.be/KIldeuIU-jM

[ten200]

GT Omega have this device that's designed to secure an office chair to their wheel stands. Would that be any use?

https://www.gtomega.co.uk/products/wheel-stand-cha...

[Jon_Bmw]

Yes that's the sort of thing I'm thinking of making. I have some U channel in the garage that I can make something.

I'm even more budget than that as my wheel is bolted to a computer desk but I'll just bolt it to that instead.