What's the best "Casual" Wheel?

I'm not really that big into racing sims but enjoy them time to time, meaning I never have the desire to actually get in the garage and tweak my car. My favorites are Sportscar GT & GPL. I currently use a handheld wheel throttle combo made by Interact I believe. I've seen the TM Nascar Pro USB on Computer Geeks for around $20. Or should I perhaps get a Logitech force feedback? Does FFB make that big of a difference? I run WinXP Roderick

On Fri, 22 Feb 2002 11:55:30 GMT, "Roderick Pommier" <[email hidden]> wrote: >I've seen the TM Nascar Pro USB on Computer Geeks for around $20. Or should >I perhaps get a Logitech force feedback? Does FFB make that big of a >difference? Take a look here: http://firingsquad.gamers.com/hardware/2001wheelroundup/ Andre

I love my Logitech ForceFeedback wheel. I had a Thrustmaster T2 non FF wheel for years and liked it also. I am not any faster with the Forcefeedback wheel, but the experience of driving is greatly enhanced and well worth the money. Also, you can use this wheel with a Playstation 2, which is awesome for playing Gran Tourismo 3. "Roderick Pommier" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Skqd8.4538$[email hidden]... > > I'm not really that big into racing sims but enjoy them time to time,meaning > I never have the desire to actually get in the garage and tweak my car. > > My favorites are Sportscar GT & GPL. I currently use a handheld wheelthrottle > combo made by Interact I believe. > > I've seen the TM Nascar Pro USB on Computer Geeks for around $20. Orshould

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> I perhaps get a Logitech force feedback? Does FFB make that big of a > difference? > > I run WinXP > > Roderick > >

Roderick Pommier <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Skqd8.4538$[email hidden]... > > I'm not really that big into racing sims but enjoy them time to time,meaning > I never have the desire to actually get in the garage and tweak my car. > > My favorites are Sportscar GT & GPL. I currently use a handheld wheelthrottle > combo made by Interact I believe. > > I've seen the TM Nascar Pro USB on Computer Geeks for around $20. Orshould > I perhaps get a Logitech force feedback? Does FFB make that big of a > difference? > > I run WinXP > > Roderick Yes, FF makes a huge difference, it makes most sims undrivable, LOL. In other words, FF is a personal preference. I have used a FF wheel in the past for about 9 months (with N3-first part of N4) and moved back to a non FF wheel. To me FF effects, as of yet, feel to phoney and make the sims less accurate to me. There will be people on the other side of the fence, probably more staunchly, but I do ok with my non FF wheel. I've won my share of pickup races, league races and a league championship last fall without FF. So I simply contend it is up to the driver and FF is NOT the best thing for everyone as a lot of folks will tell ya. I say try both if you can and decide for yourself. I'd recommend a wheel (non FF of course :) ) but your subject was casual wheels. As much as I paid for mine, I don't think the wife would let me call it 'casual', hehe. Good Luck...and definetly ditch the V3 if thats the Interact wheel you have..

"Olly Greenfield" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:wLtd8.8347$[email hidden]... > I love my Logitech ForceFeedback wheel. I had a Thrustmaster T2 non FFwheel > for years and liked it also. I am not any faster with the Forcefeedback > wheel, but the experience of driving is greatly[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ Completely agree with that ' cause had--have--the same wheels but can't get the logitech to have any FF with GPL send me your settings Buzz remove the rope to reply

"Roderick Pommier" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<Skqd8.4538$[email hidden]>... > I'm not really that big into racing sims but enjoy them time to time, meaning > I never have the desire to actually get in the garage and tweak my car. The best quality for a low price is far and away the Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro. You should be able to get one for $40-60, they're built like a tank, and have the best pedals I've used, period. I've been using mine daily for over a year now and the potentiometers are still spot-on accurate. Of the sub-$100 wheels, it's the only one I've found that is accurate enough to be drivable with 100% linearity in GPL (I've owned an Interact V3, Saitek R100, and Logitech Wingman, which were all pure and utter crap). Also, you get the benefits of 8 programmable buttons and split-axis pedals. Microsoft could charge $150 for it and it will still be completely worth the money, imho. > My favorites are Sportscar GT & GPL. I currently use a handheld wheel throttle > combo made by Interact I believe. Is that the RC-car style control? I wish they had made a Dreamcast controller like that for F355 and CART Flag-to-Flag... Jason

Let it be known that on 22 Feb 2002 16:21:13 -0800, [email hidden] (jason moyer) wrote:

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>"Roderick Pommier" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<Skqd8.4538$[email hidden]>... >> I'm not really that big into racing sims but enjoy them time to time, meaning >> I never have the desire to actually get in the garage and tweak my car. > >The best quality for a low price is far and away the Microsoft >Sidewinder Precision Pro. You should be able to get one for $40-60, >they're built like a tank, and have the best pedals I've used, period.

I'll agree with the recommendation. I don't play sims all that much, so I don't really need the FF or other high quality features. It's just a simple wheel that's sturdy and accurate. When I was deciding to get it, I was worried aobut two things: the "notch" in the center rest position, and the small shifting paddles (or rather buttons). I ended up getting used to the notch rather quickly. The shifting buttons ended up being in just the right position for my fingers. It feels much better on my desk at home than it did on the display where I bought it. >in GPL (I've owned an Interact V3, Saitek R100, and Logitech Wingman, >which were all pure and utter crap). Also, you get the benefits of 8 The first wheel I got was a R100. It didn't even take a year for it to get loose and inaccurate. In retrospect, it did prove to me that a wheel is a much needed device for racing and was a good first step. Nowadays, with the Sidewinder's price so low I'd recommend it as a first step instead. {Christopher J. Sypal -- [email hidden]} [ The Domestic Anime CD Guide ] [ http://www.radiks.net/csypal/cds/ ]

On 22 Feb 2002 23:07:04 -0600, Christopher J. Sypal <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>> >>The best quality for a low price is far and away the Microsoft >>Sidewinder Precision Pro. You should be able to get one for $40-60, >>they're built like a tank, and have the best pedals I've used, period. > >I'll agree with the recommendation. I don't play sims all that much, so I >don't really need the FF or other high quality features. It's just a simple >wheel that's sturdy and accurate. When I was deciding to get it, I was worried >aobut two things: the "notch" in the center rest position, and the small >shifting paddles (or rather buttons). I ended up getting used to the notch >rather quickly. The shifting buttons ended up being in just the right position >for my fingers. It feels much better on my desk at home than it did on the >display where I bought it.

The clamping system on the MS wheels are the best I've seen. I can pull it in an out in like a 5 secs. Takes very little room too. Mine is over a year old and still works. The pedals have broken though but I got AL pedals to replace them.

*laughs* i double clicked this thread only to see if DaveHenrie had a funny comment based on the subject. oh well. Regards all, istoff

"istoff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> *laughs* > > i double clicked this thread only to see if DaveHenrie had a funny > comment based on the subject. > > oh well. > > Regards all, > istoff

I try to avoid recomending paticular hardware as so much of that is subjective. What I like may be junk to others. I will recomend LEVELS of hardware, i.e. how fast a cpu or vid card but rarely do I get into saying... "Gee this here Mario Andretti joystick thingy I got works just fine for me..." Thanks for caring tho... :) dave henrie

The earlier, all red Wingman Formula Force is a fabulous wheel, and yes, force feedback in Grand Prix Legends is AWESOME! Glen Priest Roderick Pommier wrote:

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> I'm not really that big into racing sims but enjoy them time to time, meaning > I never have the desire to actually get in the garage and tweak my car. > > My favorites are Sportscar GT & GPL. I currently use a handheld wheel throttle > combo made by Interact I believe. > > I've seen the TM Nascar Pro USB on Computer Geeks for around $20. Or should > I perhaps get a Logitech force feedback? Does FFB make that big of a > difference? > > I run WinXP > > Roderick

I am old, and I drove power steering equipped cars in the early '50's, and they had ZIP road feel, constant and too light turning resistance and poor accuracy; in short, just what you get in today's non force-feedback sim wheels1 It is beyond me how someone would drive "Grand Prix Legends" with a non-force feedback,and then try it WITH force feedback and feel the non FF was better and felt more "real". I'm well aware that one can spend from $1200 skyward for a non-FF wheel, and while it might be well constructed and tight, if it has no road-feel, what is the point? Glen Priest SimRacer wrote:

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> Roderick Pommier <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:Skqd8.4538$[email hidden]... > > > > I'm not really that big into racing sims but enjoy them time to time, > meaning > > I never have the desire to actually get in the garage and tweak my car. > > > > My favorites are Sportscar GT & GPL. I currently use a handheld wheel > throttle > > combo made by Interact I believe. > > > > I've seen the TM Nascar Pro USB on Computer Geeks for around $20. Or > should > > I perhaps get a Logitech force feedback? Does FFB make that big of a > > difference? > > > > I run WinXP > > > > Roderick > > Yes, FF makes a huge difference, it makes most sims undrivable, LOL. In > other words, FF is a personal preference. I have used a FF wheel in the past > for about 9 months (with N3-first part of N4) and moved back to a non FF > wheel. To me FF effects, as of yet, feel to phoney and make the sims less > accurate to me. > > There will be people on the other side of the fence, probably more > staunchly, but I do ok with my non FF wheel. I've won my share of pickup > races, league races and a league championship last fall without FF. So I > simply contend it is up to the driver and FF is NOT the best thing for > everyone as a lot of folks will tell ya. I say try both if you can and > decide for yourself. > > I'd recommend a wheel (non FF of course :) ) but your subject was casual > wheels. As much as I paid for mine, I don't think the wife would let me call > it 'casual', hehe. > > Good Luck...and definetly ditch the V3 if thats the Interact wheel you > have..