rec.autos.simulators

I'm considering buying a wheel from Thomas Super Wheel (TSW).  Can those
of you who tried a TSW wheel tell me if they think it's worth the price?
Or do you have another wheel to recommend?

Thanks!

--

NP: Discipline - "Unfolded like Staircase"

( Here we go with this discussion again =) )

The pedals are heavy and provide a good stable base. The wheel turns so much
smoother than the TM wheel I had. Within 2 weeks of owning my TM wheel I had
to come up with a bungee cord method for securing the brake and gas pedal
due to the cheap springs breaking. I have had my TSW for 2 months and had no
problems at all.

Now if we can just get a NASCAR sim out there that supports a clutch

--
Scott Pittman
FssPro Administrator

www.fsspro.com

Check out the SRC..............
http://www.mindspring.com/~srcwheel/

Dave Trager - DTrager
1998 NROS Pro Div. Finalist

Team Xtreme
http://members.aol.com/xtremechvy/Xtreme3.html

Definitely worth it, even though I had to pay almost as much in postage
as I did for the wheel!  (I live in the UK)

http://irlinsider.adnetweb.com/sims/

The TSW and TSW2 wheels are superb -- the TSW wheels have a lifetime
warranty on all mechanical parts (pots not included), and while they
may not look as nice as some of the more expensive wheels, they
certainly work just as well.  Spend the extra money for a Momo upgrade
and it ranks right up there with those costing more, I think.

-- John Bodin
   Publisher, The IRL Insider Magazine
   http://irlinsider.adnetweb.com/

The good news is that the thing is mechanically indestructable.  It's
smooth, solid and feels wonderful.  MECHANICAL repairs are a snap and adding
custom springs, steering wheels and such is easy, especially if you're handy
with machine tools.

Electronically, however, it's primitive.  Aside from the original electronic
problems, I've also got a defective mini-plug (the plug from the pedal unit
to the wheel) which keeps losing contact (which, in GPL, causes all kinds of
disconcerting maladies) and requires some frantic manipulation of plug and
wire to regain control.  I've toyed with the idea of sending it back for
repairs, but I don't know if I want to wait another three months.The thing
that irked me the most was the almost total indifference to me, their
customer.  I got no apology, or no offer to pay for the shipping of the
defective unit or even an acknowledgement of the problem -- at least for two
months.  Granted, I'm just some aging machinist from Massachusetts, but I
expected a bit more for $400.

--
Bob Curtin
Worcester Area Strategy & Tactics Exchange
http://www.tiac.net/users/ten10ths/
"If God had intended man to join the Army he would have given us green,
baggy skin"

I opened my TSW up when I had it, and you are correct.....it is very, very primative electronically.  Almost looks like something that was made in 6th grade shop class.  I've since been using my ECCI, and the quality of the electronics is like night and day compared to the TSW.....looks very profressionally done.

    Hi,
    I'm considering buying a wheel from Thomas Super Wheel (TSW).  Can those
    of you who tried a TSW wheel tell me if they think it's worth the price?
    Or do you have another wheel to recommend?

    I bought a TSW three years ago, apparently right in the middle of a power struggle within the company.
    Unaware of this, I ordered the wheel and sent them a big fat check ($360) up front.  Almost three months later, the wheel arrived.  It didn't work.  The pedals would not calibrate.  I immediately contacted them and got no answer.  I sent emails, snail mails and finally got permission to sent the thing back for repairs (at my own expense ($26.00)) two months after I received it!
  It took another two months before they sent me a new unit.  In essence, it took seven months to get a workable TSW.  That's the bad news.
  The good news is that the thing is mechanically indestructable.  It's smooth, solid and feels wonderful.  MECHANICAL repairs are a snap and adding custom springs, steering wheels and such is easy, especially if you're handy with machine tools.

  Electronically, however, it's primitive.  Aside from the original electronic problems, I've also got a defective mini-plug (the plug from the pedal unit to the wheel) which keeps losing contact (which, in GPL, causes all kinds of disconcerting maladies) and requires some frantic manipulation of plug and wire to regain control.  I've toyed with the idea of sending it back for repairs, but I don't know if I want to wait another three months.The thing that irked me the most was the almost total indifference to me, their customer.  I got no apology, or no offer to pay for the shipping of the defective unit or even an acknowledgement of the problem -- at least for two months.  Granted, I'm just some aging machinist from Massachusetts, but I expected a bit more for $400.

  --
  Bob Curtin
  Worcester Area Strategy & Tactics Exchange
  http://www.tiac.net/users/ten10ths/
  "If God had intended man to join the Army he would have given us green, baggy skin"

I guess it's pretty unlucky to have a dodgy connection though - they're
standard plugs and there is no good reason why they should fail, as long
as you're not unplugging and replugging them several times a day.

Most wheels used by *** simracers seem to fail for mechanical
reasons, which is why I would go for a TSW.

Having said that, if you have the money for an ECCI, it may well be even
better!

My wheel was $465.  Is the Base ECCI, at $1029, worth more
than double the price of the TSW?  Not for my money it isn't,
when really all you're paying for is some under-the-cover
wiring sophistication and some aesthetic improvements.  Granted,
I haven't tried an ECCI, but if you to try both blindfolded, I
doubt there would be any substantial difference in operational
feel.  I believe that  the TSW is mechanically the equal of any
other wheel out  there.  These, however, are only my opinions
and are not  meant to slander or debunk any products.  Use at
your own risk, your opinions might vary. :)

-Chris-

---Two wheels are better
---Proud owner of a 1998 ZX-9R

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

Normally, I try to stay out of these discussions about which wheel is better, but when someone posts a message about our service being poor, I have to step in.  This is blatantly un true.  We have the best service in the business, period.  We bend over backwards to make things right.  If you have a problem with your controller, it's your responsibility to contact us, we can't fix it if we don't know about it.  We send out replacement parts at no cost, and if you must send your controller back, we have it for no more than 1 week.  You are way out of line saying we had your controller for 2 months.  I checked our records.  We had it for no more than 2 days.  And we basicly rebuilt it from the ground up to make certain that your problem was fixed.  

This "power struggle" you are refferring to is BS also.  3 or 4 years ago, Trev tried running the company on his own.  He couldn't make a go of it, and in '97 we re-consolidated, and have been running strong ever since.  There was no power struggle.  Just growing pains of a small business.

If you've got a problem with your controller now, then use the proper channels and get in contact with us.  In fact, the mini-plugs we use are so common, that you could run down to Radio Shack and get the problem fixed in about a day, without having to even contact us.  There's no reason for anyone to have a non-working TSW or TSW2.

-David Thomas Jr.
Thomas Enterprises

        I agree that my TSW2 looks homemade.  It also works perfectly
and is totally simple to repair (not likely) or modify.  I am
unconvinced that the better finish of the ECCI translates into better
function.  But the functional finish of the TSW translates directly
into low price.  So the choice to me is what you are willing to pay
for.

        That said, I think both of them appeal to the high end market
and will be obsolete soon if they don't move into FF.  The electronics
will be available off the shelf and the mechanical is well within both
their capabilities.

                bob