rec.autos.simulators

> Not sure how happy you were with your TM wheel
> but Comp usa have the nascar pro digital 2 on sale this week for $39 after
> instant and mail in rebates. kinda hard to beat that price

> > At long last, my trusty Thrustmaster Grand Prix has given out.  It no
> longer
> > turns right.  There's an obvious joke in there for any Nascar bashers,
but
> > I'll let it lie.

> > Anyway it's time to buy a new wheel and I was hoping for some
suggestions,
> > given the following criteria:

> > - I am a moderate to semi-serious simmer.  I have played all 4 Papy
Nascar
> > games, though by version 4 it was becoming clear that the realism of the
> > physics model was getting too much for my skill level.  I have also
played
> > all of the NFS games, which I enjoyed despite the arcade nature of their
> > physics model.  I guess this my long-winded way of saying "I don't need
a
> > $150.00 wheel".

> > - I have a gift certificate left from Christmas for Best Buy, so I'd
like
> to
> > go there.  That pretty much means the choices in my price range are the
> > LogiTech WingMan Formula Force, MS Sidewinder Precision and Saitek Force
> > Feedback F440.  Comments on any?  If none of those are worthwhile, I'd
go
> > somewhere else if there were a better alternative.

> > - I don't care either way about Force Feedback or pedals.  I was just
fine
> > with the analog paddles on the back of my TM for gas/brake.

> > - I'm going to get an XBox soon.  It would be nice if the USB wheel that
I
> > got would work on both my pc and my XBox.

> > Thanks in advance for any assistance you could offer.

> At long last, my trusty Thrustmaster Grand Prix has given out.  It no longer
> turns right.  There's an obvious joke in there for any Nascar bashers, but
> I'll let it lie.

> Anyway it's time to buy a new wheel and I was hoping for some suggestions,
> given the following criteria:

> - I am a moderate to semi-serious simmer.  I have played all 4 Papy Nascar
> games, though by version 4 it was becoming clear that the realism of the
> physics model was getting too much for my skill level.  I have also played
> all of the NFS games, which I enjoyed despite the arcade nature of their
> physics model.  I guess this my long-winded way of saying "I don't need a
> $150.00 wheel".

> - I have a gift certificate left from Christmas for Best Buy, so I'd like to
> go there.  That pretty much means the choices in my price range are the
> LogiTech WingMan Formula Force, MS Sidewinder Precision and Saitek Force
> Feedback F440.  Comments on any?  If none of those are worthwhile, I'd go
> somewhere else if there were a better alternative.

> - I don't care either way about Force Feedback or pedals.  I was just fine
> with the analog paddles on the back of my TM for gas/brake.

> - I'm going to get an XBox soon.  It would be nice if the USB wheel that I
> got would work on both my pc and my XBox.

> Thanks in advance for any assistance you could offer.

> I too had a Thrustmaster GP. The pots wear out quickly, but like you I got
some
> good service out of it. I used it with IC2 and GPL. I finally got a
Wingman FF
> for Christmas from Best Buy. (My son was working there.) The bottom line
for me
> is: am I as fast as I was with the old, worn TGP? Well, not yet; but I'm
getting
> there. The biggest change has been going from the hand throttle/brake to
using
> the feet, as God intended. The hand controls were very smooth and easily
> modulated; my feet tend to act like on/off switches.

> Force Feedback is interesting. I'm not sure I like it yet. The wheel on
the WFF
> is a lot easier to modulate accurately than my old worn TGP, obviously;
but so
> much of GPL is throttle and brake, that I'm still learning how use them!

> There's lots of good setup advice out there for both the Logitech and the
MS.
> I've seen some who are happy with one; some prefer the other. You'll
probably
> have to try them to decide, so check the return policy carefully. Also the
wheel
> may take a while (weeks?) to "break in" or loosen up. So you can't be too
quick
> to decide.

> Hope this helps.

> Jim

> > At long last, my trusty Thrustmaster Grand Prix has given out.  It no
longer
> > turns right.  There's an obvious joke in there for any Nascar bashers,
but
> > I'll let it lie.

> > Anyway it's time to buy a new wheel and I was hoping for some
suggestions,
> > given the following criteria:

> > - I am a moderate to semi-serious simmer.  I have played all 4 Papy
Nascar
> > games, though by version 4 it was becoming clear that the realism of the
> > physics model was getting too much for my skill level.  I have also
played
> > all of the NFS games, which I enjoyed despite the arcade nature of their
> > physics model.  I guess this my long-winded way of saying "I don't need
a
> > $150.00 wheel".

> > - I have a gift certificate left from Christmas for Best Buy, so I'd
like to
> > go there.  That pretty much means the choices in my price range are the
> > LogiTech WingMan Formula Force, MS Sidewinder Precision and Saitek Force
> > Feedback F440.  Comments on any?  If none of those are worthwhile, I'd
go
> > somewhere else if there were a better alternative.

> > - I don't care either way about Force Feedback or pedals.  I was just
fine
> > with the analog paddles on the back of my TM for gas/brake.

> > - I'm going to get an XBox soon.  It would be nice if the USB wheel that
I
> > got would work on both my pc and my XBox.

> > Thanks in advance for any assistance you could offer.

> Yes, stay away from the MS wheel.  I've tried one and took it back.  The
> Logitech FF is better but not by much.
> I'm looking for a new wheel too.  My LWF is wearing out.  It's time for a
> new one but I don't know what to get.  Can't even think about spending
$200+
> on a wheel.  What is that Nascar Pro Digital 2 like?  Anyone have any
> experience with that?  I race mostly N4.  TIA.

> > Anythingexcept the Microsoft sdewinder FF. My old TM pro died and I made
> the
> > mistake of buying this piece of crap.

> Well I've tried numerous Thrustmaster wheels, a few Logitechs and the MSFF
> and MSPW wheels.
> After 2 years of heavy use my MS wheels are still going strong while  the
> TMs broke within a couple of months and the Logis were sent straight back
> with various problems (the FF was very sticky and notchy).

> I am however tempted by the new Logi Momo wheel, if only they would sort
> those pedals.

> I'd never touch another TM wheel, noting but bad experiences for me.

> --

> Ian P
> <email invalid due to spam>

> > Yes, stay away from the MS wheel.  I've tried one and took it back.  The
> > Logitech FF is better but not by much.
> > I'm looking for a new wheel too.  My LWF is wearing out.  It's time for
a
> > new one but I don't know what to get.  Can't even think about spending
> $200+
> > on a wheel.  What is that Nascar Pro Digital 2 like?  Anyone have any
> > experience with that?  I race mostly N4.  TIA.

> > > Anythingexcept the Microsoft sdewinder FF. My old TM pro died and I
made
> > the
> > > mistake of buying this piece of crap.

> Well I've tried numerous Thrustmaster wheels, a few Logitechs and the MSFF
> and MSPW wheels.
> After 2 years of heavy use my MS wheels are still going strong while  the
> TMs broke within a couple of months and the Logis were sent straight back
> with various problems (the FF was very sticky and notchy).

> I am however tempted by the new Logi Momo wheel, if only they would sort
> those pedals.

> I'd never touch another TM wheel, noting but bad experiences for me.

> --

> Ian P
> <email invalid due to spam>

> > Yes, stay away from the MS wheel.  I've tried one and took it back.  The
> > Logitech FF is better but not by much.
> > I'm looking for a new wheel too.  My LWF is wearing out.  It's time for
a
> > new one but I don't know what to get.  Can't even think about spending
> $200+
> > on a wheel.  What is that Nascar Pro Digital 2 like?  Anyone have any
> > experience with that?  I race mostly N4.  TIA.

> > > Anythingexcept the Microsoft sdewinder FF. My old TM pro died and I
made
> > the
> > > mistake of buying this piece of crap.