is the T2 really all that?

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]

> 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.

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> 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-

Hi, You can find information on the T2 and many other wheels at my site: [link lost in import: /~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

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**

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

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> > 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. --

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> 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