rec.autos.simulators

Need your opinion on computer steering wheels.

I had the Wingman Formula Force, but I broke the paddle so am looking for a
new wheel.  Although Logitech came out with the Momo wheel, I haven't acted
on it because it doesn't have the rally style gear shifter like the
Thrustmaster/Guillemot Ferrari wheel.

I am just wondering how the Ferrari wheel compares to the Momo wheel, and
since none of the stores has, I am wondering if it's worth the price?

Thank you,

Charles

Build quality on the wheel is really nice, clamping is really nice too! blah
blah blah... the pedals suck. If it wasn't for me using vecro, then they'd
be sliding around way too much on hardwood.

The force feedback is done really well for the most part. My biggest
complaint is that if you turn the wheel fast, the force feedback seems to
disengage completely, and the wheel moves absolutely free until you slow
down the movement. What the hell is that??

The shifter is a -great- addition. I use it in Rally Trophy a lot, and boy
does it make the game more challenging! However, in Colin McRae 2, I use the
F1-Style shifters on the wheel. These things seem really flimsy, which has
been lots of people's complaints. But, if you just use them to shift (and
not to take your anger out on), then they'll perfectly do the job.

The wheel has a long travel (significantly longer than the Logitech I had),
which is really nice. I picked mine up for $150CDN (under $100 US) with a
free $20 thrustmaster gamepad! I got it at Staples (www.staples.ca).

I'm happy with it so far, but I just cannot understand why when I turn the
wheel fast, the force feedback seems to go away.. Either way, I think I'm
gonna open it up and look..

I hope that helps..  For what it's worth.. the momo seems way too expensive
for me (that's why I didn't buy it), and I'm guessing a lot of that money is
for the name momo, and the actual wheel. I don't know how much better the
force feedback can be, but the pedals definately look more stable. But, if
you are a poor university student like me, the thrustmaster and a few $'s
worth of velcro is a decent deal..

--
Mike Beauchamp
http://mikebeauchamp.com

Marc.

www.cix.co.uk/~peterpc/home.html

Go to the game hardware section:

8-)

*Peter* -  http://www.cix.co.uk/~peterpc/home.html

As for the pedals, I do not think they are poor at all.  In fact, I think
they are the most comfortable pedals available in a consumer-class wheel.

The MSFFW is practically bullet-proof.  It just plain works, and it works
for years without trouble.

However, the SideWinder software is seriously out of date and aging more as
the years go by.  The SideWinder software IS the weakest link :(

And, finally, what MS has done to the GamePort version owners of their
hardware is really sad.

I also have a Momo wheel.  The wheel itself is first-class.  However, the
pedals are so small and funky that I can use it.  My lap times suffered
horribly.

I did what I've done so many times over the last couple of years.  Went back
to the MSFFW.  I always seem to end up with that back on my desk :)

-Larry

Well, Larry (Who is the first Larry???). I can only agree with you about
M$FFW. It works and works. I got the gameport model when it was released,
and it worked just fine until last summer where I went over to WinXP, and
therefore had to buy a new Wheel. I first got a Logitech, but after 2 days I
went back to M$, this time the new USB model, and I have not regred that. My
first Wheel (the gameport) is now working at my brother in law, as he is
running WinME, he can still make use of the gameport model.

But SHAME ON YOU MICRO$OFT FOR NOT SUPPORTING YOUR OWN HARDWARE!! That was a
dirty trick. Don't you get any ideas about stopping for activating winXP in
1? years time, just to make people buy a new OS again (and again and again)
--

Mvh
Sven

I figure that _eventually_ I might need a part and that's why I keep the
Gameport version.

It's been two years of hard use on the USB version.  It is showing _no_
signs of wear or fatigue, so I may never need them :)

The digital (optical)  pots might not have the resolution of the analog
one's, but I've never heard of one failing.

-Larry