A GOOD SIM WHEEL??

I know, I know....I'm probably not a true race simmer because, well...I have a confession to make I STILL USE A KEYBOARD!!!!! I'm fed up of getting cramp hands after playing NASCAR 2 for three hours. Boo. hoo!! And after playing the GPL demo, I know now I need a wheel!!! :-) Which would you recommend? Thanks!! Ed

I use a Thrustmaster Formula T2. Works well, although I do not think it would be reliable if I was to play for as long as you do. Unfortunatelly, I do not have time to play GP2 and Nascar 2 very often because of work and studies. Thrustmaster has a new wheel on the market. Don't know anything about it. Have fun.

EDavid4108 wrote How much money you want to invest for a wheel ?? I think it would have been MORE helpful if you had did this. Oh well... From 0 to 150$... There's the ACTLabsRS wheel that seems somehow good. You could also find out a Thrustmaster T2 or a NascarPro, who are very good "plastic" wheels. From 150$ and over, there's the TSW, TSW2 and ECCI. The price are in order 300$+, 200$ and 1000$ I could give you more information if you also tell me how much money you want to invest ;-) - Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard> Good race at the Brickyard! - Official Mentally retarded guy of r.a.s. - Excuse me for my English (I'm French speaking) - Sponsored by http://www.awpss.com/ on the NROS - "People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."--

I personally recommend the Thomas Enterprises TSW2. I own a TSW2 and a Thrustmaster NASCAR Pro wheel, and they're both good driving wheels, but I definitely prefer the TSW2 to the NASCAR Pro wheel. For a look at how the Thrustmaster NASCAR Pro wheel and the Thomas Enterprises TSW2 compare, check out the following link: http://irlinsider.adnetweb.com/tsw2rev.htm The Thrustmaster products have always been good in terms of reliability, and they are a good choice if you're on a budget. The TSW2 wheel is as solid as a tank (quite literally), but it costs more than the Thrustmaster wheels. The TSW2 does offer a lifetime warranty on all mechanical assemblies (which does not include the potentiometers, which are electrical assemblies), so reliability is basically not a concern if you decide to invest in a TSW2. FWIW, I own a NASCAR Pro wheel and a TSW2 -- and the TSW2 is by far my favorite. The NASCAR Pro wheel is nice, but the TSW2 is just that much nicer. At $120, the NASCAR Pro wheel isn't all that cheap, but you might find it on sale occasionally. The TSW2 is currently priced at $200, I believe, but the extra cost buys you a wheel with more solid build quality AND a lifetime warranty. I don't have any experience with some of the other wheels on the market (i.e., the CH driving set, the new ACT labs wheels, etc.), but my impression is that they just don't seem as durable and well-built as either the Thrustmaster or Thomas Enterprises products. Keep in mind that this is just my impression, though -- others may have more experience with these products. Hope this helps a bit. -- John Bodin Publisher, The IRL Insider Magazine On-Line http://irlinsider.adnetweb.com/

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>I know, I know....I'm probably not a true race simmer because, well...I have a >confession to make >I STILL USE A KEYBOARD!!!!! >I'm fed up of getting cramp hands after playing NASCAR 2 for three hours. Boo. >hoo!! And after playing the GPL demo, I know now I need a wheel!!! :-) >Which would you recommend? Thanks!! >Ed

Hi, Last week I bought a ThrustMaster "Formula 1" wheel. I can safely say it's the best I've had! It's very strong and robust, the pedals feel nice, and you have the option of using a gear lever or buttons. There are probably better wheels out there, but as this one cost me 100, the value for money is great! Most wheels cheaper than this will fall apart after a month or less.... Cheers! -- Graeme Nash You know what to do with "don't_spam_me"... http://www.karisma1.demon.co.uk/ ICQ# 11257824 "I'm ***ic and colour blind. That's why I'm an F1 driver?" - Gerhard Berger

Hi .. I read your posting in r.a.s and you seem to know a lot about good steering wheels. If I were to get a good ff steering wheel which one should I go for? I hear that the ff wheels today are more of an ff-arcade-wheel than a true ff-simulation-wheel. Let me know. fuji-menard.vcf < 1K Download

You really can't beat Thrustmaster for an entry level wheel, especially for guys that may not be as serious about racing, and don't know if they'll stick with it for a long length of time. I had the T2 for over 2 years, and it served me well. I'm sure the Nascar Pro will do the same, you just have to do a little maintenance to it every so often. I also have the TSW2 now, and it is an awesome wheel, I would highly recommend it to guys that are very serious about their racing, and plan to be for quite some time. It's a fantastic second wheel. However, if your a beginner, have the money, and think your going to stick with racing for some time, the TSW line of wheels would be hard to beat. -- Don Burnette Palmetto Racing Dburn on Ten AOLL Iroc Series Administrator http://pages.southtech.net/palmetto/aoll.htm >I personally recommend the Thomas Enterprises TSW2. I own a TSW2 and >a Thrustmaster NASCAR Pro wheel, and they're both good driving wheels, >but I definitely prefer the TSW2 to the NASCAR Pro wheel. >For a look at how the Thrustmaster NASCAR Pro wheel and the Thomas >Enterprises TSW2 compare, check out the following link: snip

WOW!! $200.00 on a wheel???!!! I think I'll stick with a keyboard :) My price range would be around $80.00 or so. A friend of mine is going to sell me his, so i'm goiung to try it out. Thanks for the info!! Ed

Hello, and thanks for the information! A friend of mine is going to let me try out/buy his Thrustmaster. Not sure which model though. And depending on how work/studies/certification go, I just might stick with the keyboard after all :) Ed

Hello Helps out A LOT!!! THANKS!! Ed

Thanks for the info. A friend of mine is going to let me try out his F1 wheel. Ed

I was once in the same boat, execpt I didn't have hand cramps, I had NROS skill cramps. :) Anyways, I use the NASCAR Pro Wheel (I know, all you ECCI guys go ahead and laugh it up! :) J/K) Anyways, that's a good wheel if you don't wanna spend a lot of money. Mid range would be the Thomas Enterprises TSW2 wheel which you have to order off the net. Those seem to be pretty good with lifetime warranty (I think), I never heard any complaints with those. In fact, I'm moving up to it next year. On the far end, would be the ECCI wheels. Those are awesome, but expensive! (Talkin' about the $1000+ price range). Once again, that's something you have to order off the web. I don't know the websites right now (I have em bookmarked), but I'm sure someone else will tell them to you. Hey, good luck. Seeya -- Travis Kallner mknight98 on TEN ROAR Thunder Online Championship http://members.tripod.com/~modernknight98/roar.html GO MATT KENSETH #17 & WARD "OLDER BUT FASTER" BURTON #22

Ok, I changed my mind, gonna go ahead and open ol' Internet Explorer. Thomas Enterprises is at http://soli.inav.net/~thomas/ and ECCI is at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/extreme/ . The Thrustmaster NASCAR Pro you can pick up at Sam's Club for about $90. Can't find it there, then try Circuit City or Best Buy. -- Travis Kallner mknight98 on TEN ROAR Thunder Online Championship http://members.tripod.com/~modernknight98/roar.html GO MATT KENSETH #17 & WARD "OLDER BUT FASTER" BURTON #22

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> WOW!! $200.00 on a wheel???!!! > I think I'll stick with a keyboard :) > My price range would be around $80.00 or so. A friend of mine is going to sell > me his, so i'm goiung to try it out. Thanks for the info!! > Ed

Does the TSW wheel have paddle type gear shift or a stick? Craig.

The TSW has a stick, but you can order the more expensive version and get paddle shifters, or add them yourself later on down the road. -- Don Burnette Palmetto Racing Dburn on Ten AOLL Iroc Series Administrator http://pages.southtech.net/palmetto/aoll.htm shift or a stick? >Craig.

E> I know, I know....I'm probably not a true race simmer because, well...I E> have a confession to make E> E> I STILL USE A KEYBOARD!!!!! Sorry, but ROTFL =8--))) E> E> I'm fed up of getting cramp hands after playing NASCAR 2 for three E> hours. Boo. hoo!! And after playing the GPL demo, I know now I need a E> wheel!!! :-) E> E> Which would you recommend? Thanks!! Well, after having a Thrustmaster T2 for years, I now bought a Thrustmaster F1 (in the states it should be Nascar Pro). Best wheel concerning price/ performance-relation...IMHO. Also, man mailt sich... .\\atze [ FmMW2109 - FmMB2139 ] *home* : http://www.home4u.de/buesing/

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> I know, I know....I'm probably not a true race simmer because, > well...I have a > confession to make > I STILL USE A KEYBOARD!!!!! > I'm fed up of getting cramp hands after playing NASCAR 2 for three > hours. Boo. > hoo!! And after playing the GPL demo, I know now I need a wheel!!! > :-) > Which would you recommend? Thanks!! > Ed

Shame on you for not having a wheel/pedals, double shame for wanting to buy one! Be a real hero (and save money) by building one, it worked for me...... http://www.oz.net/~wottenad/ http://www.oz.net/~wottenad/photogal.htm#hawnt :-) Dave Hawnt UK

I have a +ACI-Thrustmaster Formula 1+ACI- too. Just great. Works fine with DOS as well as with +ACI-Win 95 suited+ACI- programs: NFS, NFS II, NFS II SE, RAC Rally. Easy to install, and to set up. No force feed back, but the pull back spring is strong enough to make you exercise your arm muscles when trying to be in the Top tens in RAC Rally +ACEAIQ- Bought in France for 950 FF. ( +AKM- 95+-- ). Excellent value for money. Have fun. Graeme Nash a +AOk-crit dans le message +ADw-8hI7ZKAG5v+-1EwJF+AEA-karisma1.demon.co.uk+AD4-... +AD4-Hi, +AD4- +AD4APg-I know, I know....I'm probably not a true race simmer because, well...I have a +AD4APg-confession to make +AD4APg- +AD4APg-I STILL USE A KEYBOARD+ACEAIQAhACEAIQ- +AD4APg- +AD4APg-I'm fed up of getting cramp hands after playing NASCAR 2 for three hours. Boo. +AD4APg-hoo+ACEAIQ- And after playing the GPL demo, I know now I need a wheel+ACEAIQAh- :-) +AD4APg- +AD4APg-Which would you recommend? Thanks+ACEAIQ- +AD4- +AD4-Last week I bought a ThrustMaster +ACI-Formula 1+ACI- wheel. I can safely say +AD4-it's the best I've had+ACE- It's very strong and robust, the pedals feel +AD4-nice, and you have the option of using a gear lever or buttons. There +AD4-are probably better wheels out there, but as this one cost me +AKM-100, the +AD4-value for money is great+ACE- Most wheels cheaper than this will fall apart +AD4-after a month or less.... +AD4- +AD4-Cheers+ACE- +AD4- +AD4--- +AD4-Graeme Nash +AD4- +AD4-You know what to do with +ACI-don't+AF8-spam+AF8-me+ACI-... +AD4-[link lost in import] +AD4-ICQ+ACM- 11257824 +AD4- +AD4AIg-I'm ***ic and colour blind. That's why I'm an F1 driver?+ACI- - Gerhard Berger

I've used and broke quite a few trustmaster wheels. I bought a ECCI-CDS a couple years ago and it works great. $500+ now for the wheel and pedal but it will last a lifetime. all alumium/medal construction. It's great.

>I've used and broke quite a few trustmaster wheels. I bought a ECCI-CDS a >couple years ago and it works great. $500+ now for the wheel and pedal but >it will last a lifetime. all alumium/medal construction. It's great. I've had my ECCI CDS2 for about 9 months. I'm happy. Larry