rec.autos.simulators

by **jame** » Wed, 25 Jul 2001 04:26:57

Thanks for the info over the past week about FF wheels. I searched
groups.google.com and found some interesting articles dating back to Feb
2001 about various wheels.
I visited my local store (PC World) and discovered that the shops are
charging about 20-25% markup on the best online suppliers (PC World
www.pcworld.co.uk even stock the same wheel at 20% cheaper on their online
store than their shops!!). I had a feel of the wheels and checked out their
pedals, solidness and overall look.

My conclusions are as follows:

1) MS Sidewinder FF Wheel - cheap and plastickey. The paddle gear shift was
very badly made too. Feels and looks like a toy, not a sim product.
2) Logitech Wingman FF Wheel - good looking, good wheel grip, seemed to be
put together well
3) Thrustmaster Ferrari FF Wheel - good looking, sturdy, good wheel grip,
excellent paddles and the only wheel of the three to have a gear shift too.

The only other wheel I am considering is the Act Labs wheel, although its
more expensive than the others and I have no way of checking it out before
purchasing.

I am inclined to go for the Thrustmaster having had prior experience of
Thrustmaster products and having been put off by the feel of the Microsoft
wheel.

Compared to my T2 pedals which packed up forcing this purchase all the above
seemed to have very plastickey wheels with little travel.

Any thoughts would be welcome. I plan to make my purchase this week and am
shopping around for best prices.

Ta

James

by **David G Fishe** » Wed, 25 Jul 2001 05:40:17

I just bought the Ferrari FF wheel and I love it. Feels very strong and well
built. High quality all the way around. The pedals don't have as much travel
as a T2's, but probably more than the other wheels you mentioned. I had no
trouble adjusting to them.

David G Fisher

by **kaiowa** » Wed, 25 Jul 2001 06:02:46

Also got the Ferrari FF, great wheel. The thing that swung it for me was the
very smooth action - on a lot of the other wheels you could feel every tooth
on the gears at it turned.

>I just bought the Ferrari FF wheel and I love it. Feels very strong and
well
>built. High quality all the way around. The pedals don't have as much
travel
>as a T2's, but probably more than the other wheels you mentioned. I had no
>trouble adjusting to them.

>David G Fisher

by **Thom j** » Wed, 25 Jul 2001 09:43:24

Ya just gotta love it dont ya?? :o) I've had mine for a long
time now & beat the ***out of it too! It takes a***ing &
just keeps ticking!!

| Also got the Ferrari FF, great wheel. The thing that swung it for me was
the
| very smooth action - on a lot of the other wheels you could feel every
tooth
| on the gears at it turned.

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by **Morris Jone** » Wed, 25 Jul 2001 10:30:57

You owe it to yourself to check out the MagTurbo Force Wheel from AVBTECH,
I went through most all the wheels listed including the Actlabs(and still
have their new pedals w/clutch on order) but this AVB wheel is really
awesome.
Most people have never heard of it, but it a very well built, very smooth a
lot smoother than the actlabs wheel, give great strong feedback, check out
their website, www.avbtech.com

> Ya just gotta love it dont ya?? :o) I've had mine for a long
> time now & beat the ***out of it too! It takes a***ing &
> just keeps ticking!!

> | Also got the Ferrari FF, great wheel. The thing that swung it for me was
> the
> | very smooth action - on a lot of the other wheels you could feel every
> tooth
> | on the gears at it turned.

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> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.racesimcentral.net/).
> Version: 6.0.264 / Virus Database: 136 - Release Date: 7/2/2001

by **Thom j** » Wed, 25 Jul 2001 11:38:02

Morris, I looked at it & it looks to me as if it is almost a direct
knockoff [except for minor changes, didnt see analog paddles]
of the Guillemot aka TM Ferrari wheel.. So what is the diff?

| You owe it to yourself to check out the MagTurbo Force Wheel from
AVBTECH,
| I went through most all the wheels listed including the Actlabs(and still
| have their new pedals w/clutch on order) but this AVB wheel is really
| awesome.
| Most people have never heard of it, but it a very well built, very smooth
a
| lot smoother than the actlabs wheel, give great strong feedback, check out
| their website, www.avbtech.com

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by **Morris Jone** » Wed, 25 Jul 2001 13:03:32

I think it is better built and and has a smoother feel, not as notchy as the
other wheels, and stronger motors. My buddy who still uses the Actlabs was
over this past weekend and said he was going to switch because he could be
more smoother in his driving because the wheel was not as notchy.

> Morris, I looked at it & it looks to me as if it is almost a direct
> knockoff [except for minor changes, didnt see analog paddles]
> of the Guillemot aka TM Ferrari wheel.. So what is the diff?

> | You owe it to yourself to check out the MagTurbo Force Wheel from
> AVBTECH,
> | I went through most all the wheels listed including the Actlabs(and
still
> | have their new pedals w/clutch on order) but this AVB wheel is really
> | awesome.
> | Most people have never heard of it, but it a very well built, very
smooth
> a
> | lot smoother than the actlabs wheel, give great strong feedback, check
out
> | their website, www.avbtech.com

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> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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by **MAD MA** » Wed, 25 Jul 2001 18:08:44

Hi,
I bought my TM Ferrari FF from PC World 2 months ago. I think it is just as
you have described it. Yes, a very good wheel. Great feel to it, excellent
build quality etc. Only one VERY annoying problem, so be prepared! The
throttle spring snapped, and as I said, I have only had the wheel for 2
months! I had to go back to PC World and exchange it for a brand new one. If
this is going to happen every couple of months or so, then I am not certain
I made the right choice after all. Other than that though, I can't really
fault it too much. Pedals are a little light maybe, and these exchanged
one's are even lighter. Different metal tolerance when they are made I
guess? Still, for a budget wheel, (I paid 79.99, but I *think* they are
89.99 now??????), they are not too bad at all. My advice would be to get
one, but be careful with those pedal springs! The FF effects can be made
really strong, if you like it that way. I only really drive GPL, and I keep
the FF very low myself. Good luck in your choice anyway. (Hope it's for GPL
<g>)........................

Mad Max (Andrew) :O)

by **Ed Solhei** » Wed, 25 Jul 2001 19:19:55

Although I've never had a chance to try one yet... I've heard lots of nice
things about the Act-Labs wheels. Check out their forum and talk to other
RS-owners at www.act-labs.com

ed_

by **deco** » Fri, 27 Jul 2001 13:20:20

I race GPL only! I originally bought the TM Ferrari wheel. It seemed
fine. I used a set up at slotweak.com for the FF setup. I did not
care for the pedals from the start. The wheel in GPL seemed notchy
and like I was grinding Walnuts. Then I made the fatal error. I
upgraded the drivers. After 1 week of installing and uninstalling,
posting on the variuos BBS's, and cussing :), I could never get
Windows 98 1st to re-recognize the wheel. I sent it back and bought
the MS FF USB wheel. I consider it to be heads and shoulders above
the TM Ferrari both in feel and friendliness. It is Smooth and
acurate. I do miss the gear shift lever and of course MicroShaft got
more of my bucks!
Best of luck in your choices,
Decon

> Thanks for the info over the past week about FF wheels. I searched
> groups.google.com and found some interesting articles dating back to Feb
> 2001 about various wheels.
> I visited my local store (PC World) and discovered that the shops are
> charging about 20-25% markup on the best online suppliers (PC World
> www.pcworld.co.uk even stock the same wheel at 20% cheaper on their online
> store than their shops!!). I had a feel of the wheels and checked out their
> pedals, solidness and overall look.

> My conclusions are as follows:

> 1) MS Sidewinder FF Wheel - cheap and plastickey. The paddle gear shift was
> very badly made too. Feels and looks like a toy, not a sim product.
> 2) Logitech Wingman FF Wheel - good looking, good wheel grip, seemed to be
> put together well
> 3) Thrustmaster Ferrari FF Wheel - good looking, sturdy, good wheel grip,
> excellent paddles and the only wheel of the three to have a gear shift too.

> The only other wheel I am considering is the Act Labs wheel, although its
> more expensive than the others and I have no way of checking it out before
> purchasing.

> I am inclined to go for the Thrustmaster having had prior experience of
> Thrustmaster products and having been put off by the feel of the Microsoft
> wheel.

> Compared to my T2 pedals which packed up forcing this purchase all the above
> seemed to have very plastickey wheels with little travel.

> Any thoughts would be welcome. I plan to make my purchase this week and am
> shopping around for best prices.

> Ta

> James

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