rec.autos.simulators

- they look much tougher than the originals, so hopefully they will last
longer

- I now prefer the lighter touch (when you have to modulate the accelerator
so frequently and so accurately as you do in GPL, you'll appreciate the
lighter action I think)

Marc.

I never thought I'd be speaking critically of the company from whom
I've purchased so much of my sim gear over the years (from a metal
(not plastic!) Mark I FCS in the company's early days to my WCS II and
my X-Fighter joystick, but lately my last two purchases from 'ol
Thrusty have been last than wonderful experiences.    

Three days ago after getting Grand Prix Legends (I agree with everyone
else, it's wonderful), I decided I needed a wheel, so I bought the
Nascar Pro Racing model, brought it all the way home (I don't live
very close to the store, mind you), and everything was just
dandy...save for the horrible lack of tension in the accelerator
pedal.  The tension was NOTHING like the demo model on display at the
store, having none of the firmness that that one had...it wasn't quite
limp (there was evidently a working spring or two in there), but very
anemic.  I'm not saying I was expecting brake-like tension, but just a
certain firmness when depressed which was present in the store demo
but not in mine.  It was very hard to control acceleration properly
when your foot goes to the floor with precious little in the way of
resistance.  
Thinking there was something amiss here, I returned it and brought
home another, only to find not only the save anemic-springed
accelerator pedal but that the steering wheel was lacking most of the
turning tension of the previous one I'd had the day before!  

I do have a question here to break up the long-winded monologue.  :)  

Is there any way, before I run this one back to the store as well, to
increase the tension on the wheel and the pedals (especially the
latter...why don't the store demo models feel anything like what I've
got?).  Is there an adjuster***somewhere I'm missing?  Has TM
changed spring models with this production line?  

Thanks for any answers on this...

Jason  

Yep, Thrustmaster screwed up.  In their attempt to make springs that
lasted longer for the NASCAR Pro, they came up with these whimpy springs
for the accelerator and they just don't cut it.  The original release
has stronger springs (but they broke too often), so the demo probabily
has the original springs.  Hopefully they are in the process of getting
stronger springs in both longevity and tension.  You could always take
one of the brake springs and move it over to the gas pedal to tighten it
up somewhat.  

The tension on the wheel could have been a badly installed bungee chord.
The ends are held with plastic ties and one can pull it tighter
and add a new tie.  Though there maybe something else wrong with the
wheel on the second unit you picked up.  

Please send Thrustmaster some e-mail letting them know of your
experience.  They won't know what's going on, unless they hear from us.
The retail store ain't gonna bother to fill them in.  Or you can vote
with your dollars and buy a unit from someone else that costs 2-6x's the
going price of the NASCAR Pro.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

After about 2 months, one of the buttons on the wheel stopped working.
I called Thrustmaster, they told me it was a known issue, and that fix was
being retro-fitted into the latest release of the wheels.  Who knows?  They
RMA'd my wheel and corrected the issue.

After about 8 months, the gas pedal springs went.  They promptly mailed me
new springs.  I didn't notice much softness in the new springs, though they
do seem robust.

Just last night, while playing GPL, I broke a brake pedal spring.  The new
ones are in the mail.

I agree, that they are great to deal with, but it seems like it might be
time to save up for a Thompson Super Wheel.  It's just tough to justify
$400+ for a toy, but this gets a bit frustrating when you're ***ed to
NASCAR 2 and GPL.

-Dave

Now back to GPL... (like I'd give it up just due to a few teething
problems with my wheel, sheesh!) ;)  

Jason