Which wheel (Again)

Dear All, After three months of not very regular use my Thrustmaster Force GT has died. I was casually playing Viper Racing and something inside went snap. As a result I am going to take it back but I don't want another one in return (So that it can break in 3 months time!). I would like to know the popular opinion as to the best FF wheel available at the moment. I hear good things about the MS wheel but I am loathe to give money to Microsoft if I can help it (I seem to give them money simply by breathing!), however, if it is far and away the best wheel I will get it. I also gather the Saitek wheel is not too bad, however a friend of mine found bugs in his. I know I'll probably be able to test somewhat in the shop, but probably not with any game I want to test it with. So please let me know about: A) Quality of FF effects. B) Build Quality and Reliability. C) Game Support. D) What it is like with FF turned off (For GPL). I'd like to use TM products as they have done me well in the past, but there are BIG problems with the Force GT and TM's tech support don't seem to help at all. I also can't really consider a non - FF wheel now as Viper Racing feels all wrong now that I've tried it on FF. Any input would be great, Jon.

Well I am sorry to say that the microsoft wheel really is the ONLY option. I have it here and it is very good in everything you want. Paul..

Jon, I replaced my Thursmaster Grand Prix Wheel with the Microsoft FFB Wheel and am very impressed with it. Great quality, easy clamping, and comfortable. The force feedback feel is very good. My understanding is that the games which support force feedback currently dont do a great job although I have read Viper Racing probably has the best feedback for driving sims. I personally dont own this game yet. As far as GPL, I run the MSFFB Wheel with the force on as it provides an excellent weighted feel and return to center. I am with you I would rather not give my entire salary to Microsoft but what can you do. Mike

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>Dear All, > After three months of not very regular use my Thrustmaster Force GT has >died. I was casually playing Viper Racing and something inside went snap. >As a result I am going to take it back but I don't want another one in >return (So that it can break in 3 months time!). I would like to know the >popular opinion as to the best FF wheel available at the moment. I hear >good things about the MS wheel but I am loathe to give money to Microsoft >if I can help it (I seem to give them money simply by breathing!), however, >if it is far and away the best wheel I will get it. I also gather the >Saitek wheel is not too bad, however a friend of mine found bugs in his. I >know I'll probably be able to test somewhat in the shop, but probably not >with any game I want to test it with. So please let me know about: >A) Quality of FF effects. >B) Build Quality and Reliability. >C) Game Support. >D) What it is like with FF turned off (For GPL). >I'd like to use TM products as they have done me well in the past, but

there

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>are BIG problems with the Force GT and TM's tech support don't seem to help >at all. I also can't really consider a non - FF wheel now as Viper Racing >feels all wrong now that I've tried it on FF. >Any input would be great, >Jon.

Opinions expressed herein are my own and may not represent those of my employer.

Just out of interest, what kind of pedal travel is there on the MSFF? I'm looking for a new wheel to replace my TM NASCAR Pro / F1 setup and I am considering the MSFF. I'd prefer a fairly long pedal travel if possible, I just prefer it that way for trailbraking in GPL. -- Cheers! Graeme Nash http://www.karisma1.demon.co.uk ICQ# 11257824 1998 Xoom GP2 League Champion

> >Well I am sorry to say that the microsoft wheel really is the ONLY option. > >I have it here and it is very good in everything you want. > Just out of interest, what kind of pedal travel is there on the MSFF? > I'm looking for a new wheel to replace my TM NASCAR Pro / F1 setup and I > am considering the MSFF. I'd prefer a fairly long pedal travel if > possible, I just prefer it that way for trailbraking in GPL. It has quite a long pedal travel, I would guess about 2.5 times longer than the logitec (just a guess).

Thanks for all your comments, it looks like I'll get the MS wheel. One last question though: What warranty to MS put on the wheel? Jon.

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>Jon, >I replaced my Thursmaster Grand Prix Wheel with the Microsoft FFB Wheel and >am very impressed with it. Great quality, easy clamping, and comfortable. >The force feedback feel is very good. My understanding is that the games >which support force feedback currently dont do a great job although I have >read Viper Racing probably has the best feedback for driving sims. I >personally dont own this game yet. As far as GPL, I run the MSFFB Wheel >with the force on as it provides an excellent weighted feel and return to >center. I am with you I would rather not give my entire salary to >Microsoft but what can you do. >Mike >>Dear All, >> After three months of not very regular use my Thrustmaster Force GT

has >>died. I was casually playing Viper Racing and something inside went snap. >>As a result I am going to take it back but I don't want another one in >>return (So that it can break in 3 months time!). I would like to know the >>popular opinion as to the best FF wheel available at the moment. I hear >>good things about the MS wheel but I am loathe to give money to Microsoft >>if I can help it (I seem to give them money simply by breathing!), however, >>if it is far and away the best wheel I will get it. I also gather the >>Saitek wheel is not too bad, however a friend of mine found bugs in his. I

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>>know I'll probably be able to test somewhat in the shop, but probably not >>with any game I want to test it with. So please let me know about: >>A) Quality of FF effects. >>B) Build Quality and Reliability. >>C) Game Support. >>D) What it is like with FF turned off (For GPL). >>I'd like to use TM products as they have done me well in the past, but >there >>are BIG problems with the Force GT and TM's tech support don't seem to

help

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>>at all. I also can't really consider a non - FF wheel now as Viper Racing >>feels all wrong now that I've tried it on FF. >>Any input would be great, >>Jon. >Opinions expressed herein are my own and may not represent those of my

employer.

wowowo .. hold it there .. consider the Logitech Wingman Formula Force .. it's an awesome wheel and much cheaper than Microsoft's wheel .. yes the pedal is kinda weak but i've replaced them with stronger springs and its perfect now .. plus, the steering wheel simply looks *** in red .. my 20 dollars . oops .. i mean my 2 cents.

I also have a Logitech Fomula Force wheel, I think it's awesome. It's pedels do not have enough travel, but that is not a big issue with most games, of course GPL is hard with the logitech. >> Thanks for all your comments, it looks like I'll get the MS wheel. One last

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>> question though: What warranty to MS put on the wheel? >wowowo .. hold it there .. consider the Logitech Wingman Formula Force >.. it's an awesome wheel and much cheaper than Microsoft's wheel .. yes >the pedal is kinda weak but i've replaced them with stronger springs and >its perfect now .. >plus, the steering wheel simply looks *** in red .. >my 20 dollars . oops .. i mean my 2 cents.

Hmmm, I'm not a big fan of Logitech (Good mice though) but it would seem that it is worth a try, however the pedals are an issue. I always found my throttle control better in Viper with my T2 compared with the Force GT, what are the pedals like on the Logitech compared with the Force GT? Has anybody got any tales about the Saitek wheel? I really don't want another disappointment after the TM FF Wheel. Does the Logitech wheel have a gear stick (I see the MS one hasn't and being the sad case I am I don't like to use paddles on Viper or GPL as is isn't realistic (!?))? Cheers, Jon. >I also have a Logitech Fomula Force wheel, I think it's awesome. It's pedels

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>do not have enough travel, but that is not a big issue with most games, of >course GPL is hard with the logitech. >>> Thanks for all your comments, it looks like I'll get the MS wheel. One >last >>> question though: What warranty to MS put on the wheel? >>wowowo .. hold it there .. consider the Logitech Wingman Formula Force >>.. it's an awesome wheel and much cheaper than Microsoft's wheel .. yes >>the pedal is kinda weak but i've replaced them with stronger springs and >>its perfect now .. >>plus, the steering wheel simply looks *** in red .. >>my 20 dollars . oops .. i mean my 2 cents.

The Logictech has paddle's. They are cool, it's really much faster than using a stick. GPL is awesome with those paddle's. I don't have Viper. I personally like the pedal's on the logitech, you push them down. It is really easy to go from the gas to the break, and back. It really is a good set-up, I would say the best, execpt it doesn't have enough travel, and the springs could be a little tighter. But in my opinion it is the most natual set-up for racing in a chair. >Hmmm, I'm not a big fan of Logitech (Good mice though) but it would seem >that it is worth a try, however the pedals are an issue. I always found my >throttle control better in Viper with my T2 compared with the Force GT, what >are the pedals like on the Logitech compared with the Force GT? Has anybody >got any tales about the Saitek wheel? I really don't want another >disappointment after the TM FF Wheel. Does the Logitech wheel have a gear >stick (I see the MS one hasn't and being the sad case I am I don't like to >use paddles on Viper or GPL as is isn't realistic (!?))? >Cheers,

I prefer to use the stick for realism. I like to use one of the paddles for the clutch. I will test the Logitech wheel in the shop but I really don't like the sound of those pedals. I really would like to know about the Saitek wheel though. Jon.

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>The Logictech has paddle's. They are cool, it's really much faster than >using a stick. >GPL is awesome with those paddle's. I don't have Viper. >I personally like the pedal's on the logitech, you push them down. It is >really easy to go from the gas to the break, and back. It really is a good >set-up, I would say the best, execpt it doesn't have enough travel, and the >springs could be a little tighter. But in my opinion it is the most natual >set-up for racing in a chair. >>Hmmm, I'm not a big fan of Logitech (Good mice though) but it would seem >>that it is worth a try, however the pedals are an issue. I always found

my

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>>throttle control better in Viper with my T2 compared with the Force GT, >what >>are the pedals like on the Logitech compared with the Force GT? Has >anybody >>got any tales about the Saitek wheel? I really don't want another >>disappointment after the TM FF Wheel. Does the Logitech wheel have a gear >>stick (I see the MS one hasn't and being the sad case I am I don't like to >>use paddles on Viper or GPL as is isn't realistic (!?))? >>Cheers,