Should I wait?

[nes999 0]

I am interested in getting into Sim Racing. It seems like it is most recommended to start with the g27. Would it be better for me to wait a little bit and buy the  Fanatec club sport v2 with peddles and shifter from Fanatec also, or should I just buy a g27 now?

[SteveS 1,391]

Welcome nes999

 

My suggestion is buy G27 or Thrustmaster T300.

You can start having a lot of fun much sooner.

 

Fanatec Clubsport is an excellent piece of equipment, that looks great and feels great, but it does not really make you any faster. That comes with lots of practice and dedication. 

 

I think Thrustmaster T300 or TX is worth the extra money over G27. All 3 are excellent wheels!

Start enjoying sim racing now is my advice.

[essered 7]

My 2 cents as a person who has used both -

 

Both are very great wheels if you don't get a lemon (just like with anything right?).  But you're talking drastically different price points and it depends what sim you'd be driving.

I'd personally break it down into these catagories :  cost, features, immersion

 

Cost:

You're talking two very different price points.  The G27 is a terric wheel for the cost, particularly if you can find it on sale and you could get several for the price of the Fanatec gear.  It doesn't look as fancy but then it doesn't have as many parts to break either.  If you look at some of the fantastically fast drivers on iRacing for example you'll find many of them using G27s over fancier and more costly wheels.  If you get the G27 and then find out sim racing isn't truly your thing you can almost always eBay a G27 quite easily if you don't beat it up.  To me its the gold standard entry wheel.

 

Features:

You're locked into the wheel style if you go G27 but if you're driving ovals or GT cars only then this won't bother you at all. 

The Fanatec offers more immersion and feels more like a racing wheel to me particularly if you drive open wheel and get the F1 rim.  Plus it gives you the chance to add different rims down the road if you want but they aren't cheap.  The rims cost about as much or more than an entire G27 in some cases.  The wheel itself has quite a few more buttons so consider what sim you'll be driving.  You might be able to forego adding a button box later if you get the Fanatec and you really get bit by the bug (although companies like DSD and Layne make some great stuff).  The G27 is perfectly fine for basic to high end driving and has plenty of buttons to cover all the basics tho.  If you want to map a few things to a keyboard you'll have more than enough buttons on the G27 wheel but the Fanatec just gives you more.  If it were me I'd plan what you want to be able to use the wheel buttons for and see if the one you want has enough.  If it doesn't, consider a simple button box addition before you step up to the Fanatec too.  That hybrid will probably be cheaper than the step up even if you factor in a RAM mount.

 

So to me the specific sim you are planning to drive is a big factor here.  You might need those buttons if you're iRacing or on Assetto Corsa but not need them so much if you're driving Need For Speed.

 

Immersion:

The Fanatec gear looks and feels like pretty good racing gear, particularly if you race open wheel and go for their F1 style rim.  But that comes at a price and it won't make you faster.  Its also more complex so odds are higher it might break and when it does its tougher to service (whether we're talking pedals, shifter or wheel).  The pedals are great but they'll sit under your desk or won't really be seen to give you bragging rights but they feel better than a typical spring pedal set I think.  Once you go load cell or hydraulic, its tough to go back although I have plenty of friends driving much faster than me on spring pedals.  Again if you get bitten by the bug hard, the simple feel of the gear will likely become something you crave to be more realistic with time but for a $$ penalty.  You can always add the pedals and shifter later as you step farther into the abyss tho.  You can find Fanatec pedals for about $100.  If you're a modder you could find lots of pedal mods for the G27 that are cheaper tho and range from a few cents to the cost of the Fanatec pedals - meaning if you're a DIYer this might make the G27 more attractive and even more fun.

 

LOTS of fast guys use the G27.  Its a great wheel for the racer who isn't just entering sim racing but is entering sim racing with the knowledge that they're pretty serious about it and then some.  Its slightly less feature rich but its also much easier to justify the cost to the wife

[Davidr1979 66]

I recommend the Logitech DFGT. I have both this and a G27. Great wheel and it's very cheap, I picked one up for $100 AU.

[nes999 0]

I really appreciate the help. I think ill go with the g27. I can always upgrade later with little loss.

[mikedem 124]

Order yourself a Nixim or GTeye spring for the brake pedal of your G27 if you get it - the difference is night and day when it comes to braking and very inexpensive at around $30. You will void the pedal warranty installing it though so be aware.