TM's new NASCAR Pro wheel was in EB tonight; took a look at it. Wanted to
pick it up, but wife asked "What's the difference between that and the T2,
besides the look?"
Well, about the only answer I could give her right off-hand was "The new
clamping system..."
Can anyone help...? Is there a different "feel" that the T2? How about
internally (electronics)? Lock-to-lock? ANYTHING other than looks...to
warrant my getting thhis wheel?
Jim and Lisa
As a onetime owner of a T1, a current owner of a T2, I only thought it
proper that I should own the next generation and hence went out and
purchased the Nascar Pro Wheel. I have set back and read many post and
comments about the Pro wheel but will now give my 2 pennies!!
First of all, I had my T2 sold for $60 (it's well over a year old too!) so
I was only going to be investing about another $70 for my Pro Wheel. I
purchased it the week it came out from Circuit City and was impressed with
1) the new clamp system and 2) the gear shift. I am speaking past tense
because I returned my Pro Wheel after about a week for the following
reasons:
1) Didn't care for the angles of the new pedal system - seemed very tiring
2) The new clamping system, while VERY secure, didn't leave any room for my
legs under my desk. I had it mounted on my keyboard drawer and was
CONSTANTLY bumping my knees into it!! I heard of a few (I didn't try this)
that mounted it on TOP of their desk but then it affected the slide of the
keyboard drawer!!
3) I also have heard (and experienced myself) problems with loose wheel
play. I found that after I re-tightened the hex nut securing the wheel it
removed MOST of the "sloppiness"!!
4) Overall I expected a larger improvement from the T2. The wheel, IMHO,
should have been an inch or so LARGER than the T2, not the same or smaller
(1/4"??)!!
I have always been a Thrustmaster supporter (FCS, ACM card, Phazer Pad as
well as the T1 and T2 mentioned above) but I really didn't even see
investing the $70 that it would have costed me to upgrade after selling my
T2 (BTW, I sold my T1 for $75 when the T2's first came out!!)
I realize TM's need to make a "commercial" wheel but I would like to see
them come out with a more advanced and sturdy design to compliment the
lower end, T2 or Nascar Pro wheels. I think with their reputation they
could make a profit on both ends of the market!!
Sorry for the length of the post, but you asked for it! :-)
JP
John Parker
> Jim and Lisa
I thought the wheel was cheap plastic imitation of the picture on the box.
The steering tension seems so similar to my T2 that I really felt ripped
off. I returned the Pro after owning it for just 45 minutes. No way is it a
suitable upgrade to a T2. Even the Pro supporters said as much.
In short I thought it was cheap plastic, not worthy of the "Pro" name
attached to the product. I thought the pedals were kind of cool though.
But the other guy who replied didn't like them. Go figure :-)
Also, I was *SO* stupid that I could not figure out how to calibrate the
pedals. I guess it is totally my fault for following the instructions. Strangely
I re-attached my T2 and everything worked again.
--
Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes.
> Jim and Lisa
I felt the same way about the T2 back when it first came out. While it
was an obvious improvement, my T1 was working just fine for my needs and
I didn't think it was worth spending another $100 or so dollars to make
the upgrade to the T2. If I didn't have a wheel at the time I would
have gotten the T2. Now with the T2 and Nascar Pro, we're back to the
same situation. Do you rush out and replace the T2? Probably not.
However, if someone is in the market for a new wheel, I'd highly
recommend the Nascar Pro over a T2.
--
Eric T. Busch
Akorn Access, Inc.
http://ebusch.akorn.net
Err... I wouldn't exactly put $300 and reasonable price in the same
sentence. Your average Joe looking for a wheel wants to be able to walk
into BestBuy, CompUSA, Circuit City, or <Insert Name of Your Favorite
Computer Store> and walk out that night with it. These people would
scoff at paying nearly 3 times the amount as well as the wait that is
necessary to get a TSW no matter how much better it may be.
--
Eric T. Busch
Akorn Access, Inc.
http://ebusch.akorn.net
> TM's new NASCAR Pro wheel was in EB tonight; took a look at it. Wanted to
> pick it up, but wife asked "What's the difference between that and the T2,
> besides the look?"
> Well, about the only answer I could give her right off-hand was "The new
> clamping system..."
> Can anyone help...? Is there a different "feel" that the T2? How about
> internally (electronics)? Lock-to-lock? ANYTHING other than looks...to
> warrant my getting thhis wheel?
> Jim and Lisa
% TM's new NASCAR Pro wheel was in EB tonight; took a look at it. Wanted to
% pick it up, but wife asked "What's the difference between that and the T2,
% besides the look?"
% Well, about the only answer I could give her right off-hand was "The new
% clamping system..."
% Can anyone help...? Is there a different "feel" that the T2? How about
% internally (electronics)? Lock-to-lock? ANYTHING other than looks...to
% warrant my getting thhis wheel?
%
New stick-shift with a "definate" travel. No more missed shifts.
New Pots (100k ohm) which should translate to less calibration problems
with some software.
Pedals: New base and pedal design. Once you get the hang of where to
put your feet, the base is much more stable (less prone to tipping).
The pedals can be switched to separate joysticks, translating to better
control of braking, acceleration, de-acceleration and trail-braking.
This latter feature took some time to get the feel down right, but it is
well worth the time.
New improved spring design. I don't forsee spring breakage being an
issue with this design. Also the travel is limited to a more realistic
level. The brake has a different feel and has less travel than the
accelerator along with a more "progressive" tension. Almost like the
real thing.
Great clam-lock clamping device for the wheel unit. The unit is a
little shallower in both depth and heighth. Making it easier to have
the keyboard tucked in front and "fairly" accessable.
For those looking for "big-sized" stock car wheel, you will be
disappointed. The new wheel is smaller (about 1 inch diameter). It is
more in line with CART or F1 size wheel. However, the wheel is
extremely comfortable for long stint racing (padded and contoured).
While the majority of the construction is "plastic", it is not cheap
plastic. This is thick impact injected molded plastic.
--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
It is also a matter of opinion :-)
--
Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes.
How much is the TSW and where is it offered???? Should I wait for a
force feedback wheel???? I have a T1 now ....thanks
I purchased this product today from EB. It is going back at the first
opportunity.
I thought the wheel part was not bad, certainly more accurate
than the Thrustmaster GP1. However, I agree with one of the
other guys that responded to your post. The pedals are
borderline unusable. They are at a weird angle (vertical), which
might be useful if your ***is on the ground, but otherwise
strains your legs and feet very badly. The pressure required
to operate the pedals is also too great. I realized that what
I currently have is pretty perfect. The CH Racing Wheel
and CH pedals. The new CH Racing wheel has been executed
well and the pedals are old, but I have yet to find anything
which comes close to the CH pedals.
