rec.autos.simulators

by **Kodi** » Wed, 09 Apr 1997 04:00:00

Hello fellow racing sim nuts. I have been eyeing the thrustmaster T2
wheel for a while, but I have trouble justifying to myself the $100+
price tag.

I have the MS Sidewinder joystick, which works PRETTY well on most of
my racing games (would be all of my games, but then there's
Destruction Derby 2... don't let me get started on that piece of..
ahem...). Will using the T2 wheel make much of a difference?

Is it constructed soundly? Or does it feel like a cheap plastic
wheel?

Are gas/brake pedals included? I keep hearing talk of "paddles"; what
are they?

Any opinions are appreciated, as are experiences with any T2
alternatives (other brands/models).

Thanks, --kodiak
---

[space is for spammers... sentients wishing to respond should take out any spaces in my address]

by **William Dahm** » Wed, 09 Apr 1997 04:00:00

> Hello fellow racing sim nuts. I have been eyeing the thrustmaster T2
> wheel for a while, but I have trouble justifying to myself the $100+
> price tag.

By anyones estimation I have gotten WAY more than $100 dollars worth of
use from my T2

Its not even close. Joysticks are very bad compared to a wheel. I
can't put into words how much better a wheel is, it feels like real
driving

feels plenty solid for me, although I understand the TSW is much better

those are the things behind the wheel on a "GP1" a wheel without
pedals. The paddles are uesd for brake/gas. On a real F1 car there are
also paddles behind the wheel but they are used for shifting.

you will have to spend a few more $$$ at a hardware store for some
things to secure the wheels and pedals in place, but once you get things
really solid its worth it

the warrenty is one full year so breakage is not a problem

If you want to go up a step in quality the TSW is supposedly even
better.

by **David Gar** » Thu, 10 Apr 1997 04:00:00

> Hello fellow racing sim nuts. I have been eyeing the thrustmaster T2
> wheel for a while, but I have trouble justifying to myself the $100+
> price tag.

> I have the MS Sidewinder joystick, which works PRETTY well on most of
> my racing games (would be all of my games, but then there's
> Destruction Derby 2... don't let me get started on that piece of..
> ahem...). Will using the T2 wheel make much of a difference?

> Is it constructed soundly? Or does it feel like a cheap plastic
> wheel?

> Are gas/brake pedals included? I keep hearing talk of "paddles"; what
> are they?

> Any opinions are appreciated, as are experiences with any T2
> alternatives (other brands/models).

> Thanks, --kodiak
> ---

> [space is for spammers... sentients wishing to respond should take out any spaces in my address]

The T2 is not a bad "feel" for the money. There are more quality
steering wheels out there, but
it seems you are on a budget. The T2 is not some "magical" device that
will have you breaking records
overnight, but It will "immerse" you a little more into a "SIM". Its
more realistic of course than a joystick.
Most of the response in here has been positive on the Steering wheel and
I think its due to quality vs. price.
Most people have been happy with it, I included.

HTH =8>}

-DG-

by **Frits Luca** » Thu, 10 Apr 1997 04:00:00

Hi,

You can find information on the T2 and many other wheels at my site:
http://www.racesimcentral.net/~flucas/index.html

In the top 10 you can see that the T2 is very popular and you can drive
great laps with it. Quality is not great, but service is very good. About
the $100... It's worth the money!!! (If you're ***ed to GP2 or
something)

Greetz,
Frits

by **Peter Gag** » Thu, 10 Apr 1997 04:00:00

I've had a T2 for around 6 months now and have had no problems with it.

It is not the most expensive wheel and pedals out there, so it is not the
BEST quality, but it is by no means the worst either.

If your on a budget, go for it, it is well constructed, some plastic, but
it "feels" heavy and good quality.
It does come with both accelerator and brake pedals. The springs on the
pedals are infamous because they break easily as do the pots
(potentiometers), although mine have not to date.

Thrustmaster are well known for their customer support service, and if
something does break, an e-mail or telephone call to Thrustmaster will
see some spares winging their way to you by post.

Paddles are levers behind the wheel which either act as accelerator and
brake (ala Thrustmaster GP1) or as gear levers, flick one side to change
up and the other to change down (ala GP500 or F1 Sim, the BEST wheel and
pedal set available IMHO by the way!!!!).

So if you do not want pedals go for a GP1, if you do want pedals, go for
the T2.
I have heard that the paddles on the GP1 make your fingers/hands ache
after a while, so beware, and try before you buy, if you can.

I would stay away from the mad katz or per4ormer wheels, as they are
cheap and ***.

d:~)

#:~> **Peter**

by **Justin Rya** » Thu, 10 Apr 1997 04:00:00

Add to the fact that Thrustmaster seems to support the product very well,
too!!

by **Matt** » Thu, 10 Apr 1997 04:00:00

> > Hello fellow racing sim nuts. I have been eyeing the thrustmaster T2
> > wheel for a while, but I have trouble justifying to myself the $100+
> > price tag.

> By anyones estimation I have gotten WAY more than $100 dollars worth of
> use from my T2

> > I have the MS Sidewinder joystick, which works PRETTY well on most of
> > my racing games (would be all of my games, but then there's
> > Destruction Derby 2... don't let me get started on that piece of..
> > ahem...). Will using the T2 wheel make much of a difference?

> Its not even close. Joysticks are very bad compared to a wheel. I
> can't put into words how much better a wheel is, it feels like real
> driving

> > Is it constructed soundly? Or does it feel like a cheap plastic
> > wheel?

> feels plenty solid for me, although I understand the TSW is much better

> > Are gas/brake pedals included? I keep hearing talk of "paddles"; what
> > are they?

> those are the things behind the wheel on a "GP1" a wheel without
> pedals. The paddles are uesd for brake/gas. On a real F1 car there are
> also paddles behind the wheel but they are used for shifting.

> > Any opinions are appreciated, as are experiences with any T2
> > alternatives (other brands/models).

> you will have to spend a few more $$$ at a hardware store for some
> things to secure the wheels and pedals in place, but once you get things
> really solid its worth it

> the warrenty is one full year so breakage is not a problem

> If you want to go up a step in quality the TSW is supposedly even
> better.

I have found that the steering console moves around a little and does
not fit my desk all that well. I solved this problem by afixing some
thin *** (inner tube cut in half) to some plywood that solves the
whole problem. Someone suggested this to me when I was looking into
buying a T2, to space the pedels out furter from the wall place some
small 2x4 scraps against the wall untill the pedals are far enough from
the wall for your comfort. I found by doing this it did not allow for
full movemt of the pedals without bumping the wood, I then placed a
small 1x2 between the 2x4 and the pedals. This allow enoug clearence.
--

by **Richard A. Ishid** » Fri, 11 Apr 1997 04:00:00

> Hello fellow racing sim nuts. I have been eyeing the thrustmaster T2
> wheel for a while, but I have trouble justifying to myself the $100+
> price tag.

> I have the MS Sidewinder joystick, which works PRETTY well on most of
> my racing games (would be all of my games, but then there's
> Destruction Derby 2... don't let me get started on that piece of..
> ahem...). Will using the T2 wheel make much of a difference?

> Is it constructed soundly? Or does it feel like a cheap plastic
> wheel?

> Are gas/brake pedals included? I keep hearing talk of "paddles"; what
> are they?

> Any opinions are appreciated, as are experiences with any T2
> alternatives (other brands/models).

> Thanks, --kodiak
> ---

> [space is for spammers... sentients wishing to respond should take out any spaces in my address]

IMHO, it doesn't make sense to play a game like GPII, I76, NFS SE or
even MTM without a T2 or reasonable facsimile. A joystick cannot begin
to recreate the simulation of driving - even in an arcade style game.
The pedals aren't the greatest on a T2 but seem pretty sturdy. The
ability to accelerate and brake with analog pedals as opposed to a
digital trigger makes a huge difference in games like GPII and ICR2.
Pedals aren't that crucial in games like NFS SE as I just keep them
floored anyway. I76 has to be played with a T2 or reasonable facsimile
to get the total experience. MTM seems to be better with a T2 as well.
Screamer 2 is probably OK with a joystick but I still prefer a T2 with
this game. I can't say that the T2 is all that but I guarantee that once
you've purchased one, you won't feel the same about any driving games
you play.

Cordially,
Buddha

rec.autos.simulators

is the T2 really all that?

is the T2 really all that?

is the T2 really all that?

is the T2 really all that?

is the T2 really all that?

is the T2 really all that?

is the T2 really all that?

is the T2 really all that?

is the T2 really all that?