(Part 2) Top products from r/simracing

What system you play on is beside the point. Let's see what we can plan out for you.

I'm basing this off of your other comment's projected budget, $500 - $1000.

__

First and foremost, your wheel and pedals. Whether you start with your cockpit/wheelstand or wheel is mostly up to preference, but I'd start with a wheel first, since a wheel clamped to a desk with pedals on a floor is the minimum of simracing, whilst a rig with no wheel is just a glorified gaming seat. Plus, what you get first sets the budget of what comes after it, and I wouldn't prioritize an expensive rig over a good wheel.

Anyway, where you go from here pretty much depends on how much you're looking to spend. If your budget is $500 - $1000 and you're looking to get a whole setup going, I'd keep the wheel+pedal spending to $500 or less. This will leave you with a decent amount of wiggle room for rigs and accessories. All of the suggested wheels are compatible with Xbox One.

_____

Wheels and Pedals

• Thrustmaster TMX
  
  A budget wheel if there ever was one. It's by no means a bad wheel, for $200. It has reasonably strong FFB and similar build to its more expensive counterpart, the TX. Though with a brushed motor and belt-gear hybrid system, it's not as strong nor as smooth as the TX. As someone who's tried its PlayStation counterpart (the T150, basically the same base with a slightly different rim), I'd say it's 75% the quality for 50% the price. If you're on a strict budget and know you'll be on one for a while, it's a pretty good deal.
  
  ^(NOTE: As of writing this, it's currently on sale for $160!)
  
  
• Thrustmaster TMX Pro
  
  If you're planning to drive with an H-gate shifter in the future, then this version of the TMX is a good deal. Instead of the standard 2-pedal Thrustmaster set, it comes with Thrustmater's T3PA Pedals. On top of getting a clutch pedal, it includes a conical brake mod, designed to give more tension to your brake pedal and allow you to better control braking. Plus, in just about any wheel-supported Xbox One game you can map the brake to the clutch and put the conical brake mod behind it, giving your legs more room if you're not using an H-gate shifter. Though if you know you never want to use an H-gate, it might be better value to just get the standard TMX and use a DIY solution for modding the brake.
  
  
• Thrustmaster TX
  
  In case you're wondering, yes, it comes with Ferrari branding as standard. Anyway, this is arguably the best bang-for-your-buck. TX TX's rim is interchangeable, so if you're not a fan of the stock one, you can replace it with another Thrustmaster rim of your choosing. On top of that, its belt-driven FFB system is a bit stronger and considerably smoother than the TMX, not to mention that it's hard mountable (is able to be screwed-in to a rig instead of needing a clamp). While some get the TMX as a starter wheel and upgrade later, this wheel is often people's one-stop for sim racing, since it's just that good.
  
  ^(NOTE: You really picked the best time to get into sim racing, this wheel is only $257 as of writing this! $400 is a decent price for this wheel but the current price is an absolute steal.)
  
  
• Thrustmaster TX Leather Edition
  
  Similarly to the TMX, this is Thrustmaster's step-up version of the wheel; not only does it include a special black version of the T3PA pedals, it also includes a much better rim. While its style is more akin to the TMX, its rim is made from a metal frame, making it feel more solid than the TMX and standard TX plastic rims, and is wrapped in a nice leather instead of rubber. For only $67 more than the standard TX, it's a significant savings over buying the parts separately.
  
  
• Fanatec CSL Elite
  
  This is the premium class of wheels, for the most part. Fanatec's hardware is generally only built from the best of materials and offer some of the best performance, along with being open to Fanatec's wider, more advanced selection of parts and accessories. However, unlike most wheel bases, this is only the wheel base, no rim or pedals included. If you want Fanatec's base CSL offerings for a rim and pedals, the price jumps to about $470, the same price as the TX, but that's only with two pedals. If you want their 3-pedal base instead, the price jumps up to $590, and if you want a GT style rim instead, you're already over $600 with the 2-pedal set, $700 with the 3-pedal set. Fanatec's gear is top-quality, but it comes at a price. Is the bit of extra quality worth the prices that the parts quickly add up to? That's subjective. At the very least, I wouldn't recommend Fanatec Gear if you're on a budget, but maybe consider it for the future.
  
  _____
  
  Rigs and More
  
  There are some Xbox One wheels for you to consider. I hope my explanations made sense, I wanted to make sure to convey the different aspects of each wheel so you could better make a decision.
  
  If you want my personal recommendation though, I'd say the TX, especially since it's on sale. $250 for that base is a great price, it's a near-perfect balance of budget with performance.
  
  Next on the list, a rig. If we're assuming that you're willing to reach towards the upper-end of your budget, then continuing here after you get your wheel is a no-brainer. Having a dedicated place to secure your wheel and mount your pedals makes for a far better experience than sitting at a table, especially if you're playing in front of a TV.
  
  Keep in mind that there are two types of rigs, wheel stands and cockpits. Wheelstands are only meant to mount your wheel and pedals, where you sit is up to you. They're designed to be foldable and easy to carry, making them perfect for playing in front of the living room TV or using in a small apartment. Dedicated cockpits take things to the next level, securing your seat to the wheel and pedals means that you won't have to worry about anything sliding around, and makes things more comfortable overall.
  
  As much as I want to continue though, there are many, many great options to choose from and reddit has a length limit on comments. For more information on building your rig, you can check out the r/Simracing Buyer's Guide in the wiki. It includes everything wheels and rigs to accessories and monitor mounts.
  
  Cheers, and let me know if you have any questions.

How much do you want to spend, and what are your priorities? Value? Performance? Authenticity and physical quality?

For $300-$400, the Thrustmaster TX or T300RS are the best on the market. The T300RS was recently on sale for $300, so you probably could find it soon again for that price. Both have the same base (T300RS is slightly revised), but the T300RS is Playstation branded and compatible, and has a wheel that many regard as superior to the stock TX Ferrari wheel. You can get a very similar replacement wheel for the TX for roughly ~$100. The T300RS is the wheel I'm planning on buying, and believe me, I did a lot of searching.

CS V2 costs $550 plus a wheel which will cost roughly $250-$350, plus shipping costs. You're looking at like $800-$900, two, to three times the cost of the TX/T300RS without taxes or shipping. Not to mention you need an invite.

The Fanatec Base and the Thrustmaster TX T300RS all have brushless servo motors and belt drives, and have that "Hall Effect" tech. T300RS has 1080 degrees of rotation which is more than the CSv2, but that's a minor point.

They are very close to the CSV2 mechanically. CSv2 has a higher quality fit and finish. Personally, I don't mind rubber on a wheel so the TX/T300RS are fine for me, and fit and finish isn't really noticeable while in a race, at least for me anyways, you're focusing on the car, not the wheel, lol. I don't even feel the wheel while in an intense race. The CSv2 may have a slight advantage mechanically, but I've done a lot of searching myself and folks who have owned both say the CSv2 is better, but it isn't twice as good as the TX/T300RS, despite its price, as the CSv2 costs 3x as much as a TX and 2x as much as a T300RS.

> "Clubsport feels better than the TX but it's not twice as good.... given the price difference. The TX is honestly a great base when you replace the standard rim.
> When I moved from G27 to TX the driving feel was dramatically improved. But switching from TX to Clubsport the best way to describe the feeling is its a more refined force feedback.
>
> My personal advice for TX owners... thinking about switching
>
> Step 1: Switch to clubsport V2 pedals
>
> Step 2: Replace standard rim with a real car wheel
>
> Step 3: Triple screens
>
> Step 4: Add Fanatec SQ shifter
>
> Step 5:- Only now "consider" buying clubsport base & rim
>
> As a TX owner you should know you have great wheel base with good force feedback."


> "I keep reading reviews from different people and basically yes the Clubsport equipment is definitely better looking and appears more substantial and built of superior materials (ie metal vs lots of plastic) but only a little better in performance.

> Even Darin Gangi stated more than once that when testing the Thrustmaster T3PA pedals they were getting same lap times as when using clubsport pedals. I guess you have to decide if look and feel is worth 2-3 times the price with little performance improvement."
(link)

TL;DR: For $300-$400 get a Thrustmaster Tx or T300RS. If you have an unlimited budget you can get a CSv2, but don't expect it to be 2 or 3x the wheel the Thrustmasters are...you're paying primarily for exclusivity and fit & finish. The CSv2 has the better build-quality no doubt, and if you want ultimate authenticity you could justify the cost, but at that point you're probably looking for an Accuforce anyways. But in terms of playability it's very close to the Thrustmasters.

it's a matter of price in the end, but here's my ramblings.

The Logitech path sets you back $300 for a complete set.

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Dual-Motor-Feedback-Driving-Responsive/dp/B016JBE8LU/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1539590704&sr=1-4&keywords=logitech%2Bg29&th=1

However, there's no upgrade path from there, and if you decide to eventually upgrade to another wheel, you'll need an adapter for both the pedals and the shifter. Additionally, the FFB is not as good as the T300RS or equivalent systems and the shifter is worse than the TH8A, and is 6+R, not 7+R.

The Thrustmaster equivalent would be a T300RS or TX System (they are apparently equivalent).
Including the Shifter, it sets you back about $550.

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-Racing-Wheel-Leather-Premium-Official/dp/B0151K6FPC/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1539590463&sr=1-1&keywords=thrustmaster%2Btx&th=1

Comparing to the Logitech, the FFB is better. From what I've heard, the pedals are similar in quality.

I've used the G27 shifter and I own the TH8A and the thrustmaster is quite a bit better, and can be put in sequential mode as well. Additionally, it can be used as an analogue handbrake, which is pretty cool for the price. The shifter can also be connected by USB, so that's a component you'd be able to keep should you decide to upgrade in the future.

Also, Thrustmaster makes a variety of bases, some more high-end than what you're looking at, so you'd have an upgrade path without switching manufacturers and having to find a solution for pedals.

As for the TMX Pro, the wheel + the T3pa pedals + the shifter cost around $415. (look at the proposed sets)

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-Force-Feedback-racing-wheel-WINDOWS/dp/B01CI97DNM/ref=sr_1_3?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1539591097&sr=1-3&keywords=thrustmaster+tmx+pro

However, I would not buy the T3pa's separately. If you buy separate pedals, I'd go for the Fanatec CSL Elite Pedals with the Loadcell Brake. They are more expensive, but a lot better and have USB connectivity, should you switch manufacturers in the future.

https://www.fanatec.com/us-en/pedals/csl-elite-pedals-lc-usa.html


I hope I've not confused you too much.

In conclusion:

Logitech
-> Ok Force Feedback, Ok Pedals, Meh Shifter $300 | No Upgrade Path


T300 (VG TX) incl T3pa + TH8A
-> Good Force Feedback, Ok Pedals, Good Shifter $550 | Upgrade Path for Wheel base/Rims


TMX Pro + Fanatec CSL Elite LC + TH8A ->
Ok Force Feedback, Great Pedals, Good Shifter $550 | Upgrade Path unlimited, all separately connected via USB.

All that said, it depends a lot on how serious you want to get. If you already know that you're not going to go full sim-racing, the Logitech is going to be plenty good enough for you.

However, if you want to start sim-racing seriously, and are looking at games such as iRacing, RaceRoom, rFactor, pCars, Assetto Corsa and the like, good pedals make you quicker than good wheels

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor | $179.99 @ SuperBiiz
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard | $53.99 @ SuperBiiz
Memory | Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory | $37.99 @ Newegg
Storage | Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $45.89 @ OutletPC
Video Card | PowerColor Radeon R9 380X 4GB PCS+ Myst. Edition Video Card | $223.98 @ Newegg
Case | Fractal Design FD-CA-CORE-3300-BL ATX Mid Tower Case | $64.99 @ Directron
Power Supply | XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply | $55.99 @ SuperBiiz
Monitor | BenQ XL2720Z 144Hz 27.0" Monitor | $359.99 @ Amazon
Monitor | BenQ XL2720Z 144Hz 27.0" Monitor | $359.99 @ Amazon
Monitor | BenQ XL2720Z 144Hz 27.0" Monitor | $359.99 @ Amazon
Other| T300, T3PA-P, TH8A, Rim| $679.99
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $2432.78
| Mail-in rebates | -$10.00
| Total | $2422.78
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-06 20:58 EDT-0400 |


Some notes:

First off, if this is your first time doing anything sim racing related I'd take it slow and not invest to much in case you don't end up enjoying yourself as much as you think you will. If it's not go nuts.

This PC build should be able to hold up fine with most games, but someone please chime in if there's some better options. The monitors can easily be substituted for something else, I just love my 144hz. At the end of the day this is personal preference and can be adjusted to fit your needs/wants. I would highly recommend keeping the refresh rate above 120 though.
Finally, That wheel bundle is a bit pricey for someone just starting out, but definitely worth it if you know you will be serious about racing.

edit: Link to wheel

Ahh nice. You should be able to get a pretty decent upgrade.

Thrustmaster is probably what you are going to want to be on the lookout for, since they have some nice stuff in the $3-400 range when it goes on sale. The other option would generally be a Logitech G29 or G920, but while being solid, arent really worth more than $200. The Thrustmaster stuff will be better overall.

To that note, check out this link at Amazon. This was the sale I mentioned above, although it is out of stock right now. It was a bundle of Pedals (roughly $100 if bought separately), a Shifter (roughly $130), the wheel base (roughly $200+), and a wheel rim (roughly $150) for ~$475. If you have heard the term insta-buy, this was it. I would check this every day or two to see if it comes back in stock.

Around BF, Thrustmaster will usually have a variety of deals on the T300. There are a variety of wheel rims it might come with, or a variety of pedals. I would highly recommend getting the pedal set with 3 pedals (clutch, brake, and throttle). The 2 pedal set (brake, throttle) is really low quality and just cheap plastic.

Few bundles include the shifter, so dont go out of your way looking for everything I mentioned in the bundle above. For a TM bundle, it will include the pedals, wheel, and rim for ~$3-400 depending on what exactly is included. The bundle above included a different rim than what normally comes with the wheel base, so it's up to you to figure out what you would be most interested in.

To give you an idea, this might be a good bundle that you might be interested in. Might be under $400 for BF. The bundle I listed above comes with a Ferrari branded rim while this is just a generic TM rim made with leather. Still high quality though and still better than the normal rim is usually sold.

This sort of stuff goes on sale at Amazon every so often, so keep an eye out before BF too.

> rossysaurus : "...I've not been able to devote much time to actually getting good... I've been considering looking for a coach or instructor..."

If you've not been able to devote much time to improving, you won't have time to be coached/instructed and to practice what a coach/instructor recommends.

There's a wealth of free & low-priced content available for everyone looking to improve at high-performance driving, such as:

• DrivingFast.net
• TurnFast.com
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• "Performance Driving Illustrated" by Ross Bentley (PDF e-book)
• "Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving" by Ross Bentley (book)
...and much more (...and most of what a "sim racing coach/instructor" would likely say has already been said elsewhere in sources like these listed here).

Also, there's no shortcut or substitute for lots of quality practice... unless you're just naturally gifted with supernatural abilities. ;)

I can't recommend "Ross Bentley's speed secrets" enough as a resource for learning to drive well. It's succinct and a good resource to read and re-read picking up new hints as you go. The author is a ex indycar racer who is pretty well known as one of the best driving coaches around these days (for the west coast US at least).

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Speed-Secrets-Complete-High-Performance/dp/0760340501

Aside from that as mentioned above these are sims more than games and you can't expect to jump in and go. New tracks will take a hour or more to really learn, for each one. You have to enjoy the challenge to enjoy this sport.

I believe it is, but it is not as strong as say the T300. The other negative is you can't replace the wheel with other thrustmaster wheels.

The T300 offers 1080 degrees of rotation and the TX offers 900. If 900 degrees is enough for you, you could try this maybe?

You could upgrade the wheel if you want in the future or if you want a better wheel to start you could go with this.

I'd personally go with the first option since you get the shifter and better pedal set. There are plenty of options to go with though. I see a lot of people suggest fanatec pedals. I have the T3PA pedals and they work great for me. Hope this helps let me know if you have any questions.

Just my two cents as a new boot in Sim Racing, but I think you may be over estimating the necessity of FFB at first. Once you have it, you know how much it adds to the immersion, and that may be coloring your opinion as to how important it is to a new person.

My point is this. I've always liked racing games but never had a proper wheel. I was stuck with those damn controllers. (Yes, I'm on console. I left the PC Master race years ago.) So a month ago I finally said "screw it", and bought this:

Thrustmaster VG Ferrari 458 Spider Racing Wheel

I have had so much fun over the last month that I decided to jump into a little deeper end of the pool and bought this:

Thrustmaster TX Servo Base, Leather Steering Wheel, Gearbox Shifter, & Pedal Bundle

The FFB is so much fun, but I realized I probably appreciate it more because I haven't had it for the last month. On top of that, my wife (casual at best) hates it. She wants to use the non-FFB instead when she wants to race.

So that's my opinion on that. Just my experience and some food for thought. I'm glad to see you're trying to bring new people in like myself. I'm having a blast. I'm even building my own rig now. Yay for working with AutoCAD most days. :)

The top-end Thrustmaster bases are perfectly comparable to the CSL, everyone in this thread seems to be thinking of the TS-PC / T-GT / TS-XW as equivalent to the T300 which just isn't at all true.

Pedal wise it's trickier as Thrustmaster don't offer a loadcell (though plenty of people would argue the T3PA brake mod makes that fairly superfluous, it's a pretty subjective thing and a lot of the time it's post-purchase rationalisation either way) - but you can always use Fanatec's pedals with Thrustmaster's base.

Just for the sake of (much) cheaper rims I'd personally go for a TS-PC instead of the CSL, even if I was using the Fanatec pedals. I'd either go for the TS-PC and add the 599XX or Sparco r383 rim, or the TS-XW by itself (though Thrustmaster are a bit weird with selling that one with the T3PAs) and then get the Fanatec CSL pedals.

That should be within your budget roughly

TS-PC Racer: $450

TM Sparco R383: $200

CSL Elite LC: $200

Or alternatively you could look at the 488 Challenge wheel which just came out which is a 9:10 scale replica (32cm diameter compared to the standard T300's 28cm) on the TS base, which oculd be very nice (but bumps up the price a decent amount - if you wanted a formula rim you'd probably have to get the Ferrari F1 which is a bit plasticky compared to the rest)

Edit: The caveat here is that if you think you might end up moving up to a Clubsport wheelbase there might be a reason to start investing in the Fanatec ecosystem regarding rims etc. but you're well into diminishing returns at this point and there's every chance that Thrustmaster keep on bringing out higher end wheels given their current trends with the 488 Challenge/TS-XW/T-GT etc.

I'm guessing they're either the Samsung CHG90 or the Samsung CRG9.


The Samsung CHG90 is 49", 144Hz (can be adjusted to 120Hz or 60Hz) and boasts a resolution of 3840x1080, while the CRG9 is also 49", locked at 120Hz but has a resolution of 5120x1440.


From what I've seen, the CHG90 retails at $990 USD and the CRG9 is priced at $1500 USD.

I've been looking to use these monitors for a new computer, so this picture piqued my interest as well, haha.

At that pricerange, I believe that that the Fanatec CSL elite would be your best option:
https://www.fanatec.com/us-en/bundle/product;bundle_id;153

Should you get into simracing or perhaps prefer a more familiar feeling wheel, you can purchase other steering wheels like this one that can mate to the CSL elite.

I wouldn't go any lower than the Thrustmaster t300rs if you value somewhat familiar feedback:
https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-Officially-Licensed-Feedback-playstation-4/dp/B00O8B7D02?th=1

If you enjoy Karting, keep an eye open for these in-development sim titles:
Kartcraft
Kart Racing Pro

For F1, Codemasters 2017 title probably won't be out until much later this year but most F1 fans prefer the F1 mod for the original rFactor (warning: dated graphics and lots of setup) and even the F1 models in Automobilista (also based on rFactor engine). I personally don't play either of these racing modes so it's all hearsay so perhaps someone that plays in an F1 league might be more knowledgeable on the subject.

LOL, you say it as if Thrustmaster isn't in the same boat.

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/poll-thrustmaster-t300rs-gte-reliability-poll.329969/page-3

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-Officially-Licensed-Feedback-playstation-4/product-reviews/B00O8B7D02 (note: even the 3+ star reviews often are deducting points for reliability reasons)

This sucks. The G27 was (is?) great with only the wheel encoder wheel ever really being a problem, which has a permanent fix available (albeit requires decent technician skills to fully disassemble the wheel to get to it and then put it all back together properly).

Now, it seems both the G29 and Thrustmaster 300 wheels have atrocious reliability and durability and it's not even narrowed down to just one issue.

I guess I'll have to pray my G27 makes it through to the next generation of wheels where they finally get this shit sorted and make a decent wheel.

I still don't get why everyone complains about the gear drive vs. the belts in the G29, real cars have similar gears in the rack and pinion, nobody's car steers off of a belt. I don't know where people get the idea that gears are somehow a dated mechanism, timing belts were perfectly available when the first FFB wheels were created, they just weren't chosen. In fact, the reason you don't see gears in other wheels is because Logitech has a patent. When other wheels claim their mechanism is superior to gears, they're throwing you a sales pitch because they're not allowed to use gears. IMO, the Logitech FFB feels great, but much is left to the owner to set it up right for each game as developers are notoriously lazy when it comes to optimizing wheel settings.

Looks good, have fun! Might I also suggest these for the chair? It'll help with any sliding during pedal presses.

www.amazon.com/Short-Office-Chair-Stool-Glides/dp/B00OGVBI5U/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1527135620&sr=8-8&keywords=caster+replacement+feet

I've got fanatec pedals and a roller chair on hardwoods.
https://www.amazon.com/Slipstick-CB845-Furniture-Gripper-Chocolate/dp/B000QY7VWA/ref=br_lf_m_dmes9kyd7rkd8s5_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&s=hi

work perfectly, just put two under the back two wheels, works like a charm.

I bought THIS and love it. It says unavailable now, so I'm not sure if it's available elsewhere. I bought it as a temporary solution until I could build something. But after receiving it and using it for a couple months, I have no urge to use anything else. It's awesome.

The first one looks pretty old, like in the earlier days of playseat stands, while it is cheap, is probably not worth it, you'll end up regretting it. It has a flawed design as pointed out by others where the bar connecting the wheel to the stand will only get in the way. Reviews also say that the stand is too light and moves with pedals are pressed and that g27s keep falling off the stand.

The wheel stand pro v2 is, IMO, the better of the two and worth the extra money. I have owned one for nearly a year, still the best purchase I ever made, besides the g27 itself. This model is pre-drilled for a g27 meaning you can bolt it to the stand and it is completely solid. The only thing going anywhere is me going backwards in my office chair (Need to take the wheels off my chair...).

Another option that's pretty close your price range is to get the TS-PC with your G27 pedals with a logitec pedal adaptor. I don't think the Thrustmaster pedals would be much of an upgrade anyway. If you really want to upgrade your G27 pedals, I think your best bet would be some PT1's.

This would cost you 120 more than my first recommendation. Though it would also mean getting the latest and greatest Thrustmaster. Fanatec does offer a better wheel, but this is pretty close to the highest quality wheel you can get outside of a direct drive wheel.

It's pretty simple - for a digital (on/off) all you need is a cheap zero delay usb encoder like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Reyann-Arcade-Encoder-Joystick-Fighting/dp/B00UUROWWK

Get a microswitch and stick it to the side of the handbrake (even double sided tape works), so the bolt slider presses the switch when you pull the lever back. Wire the microswitch to one of the connections on the USB board and there you have it - a plug and play handbrake.

On the mechanical side of it, you just need to replace the master cylinder with a spring.

Analogue gets a bit trickier, but basically you mount a slide potentiometer to the side of the handbrake:

https://www.amazon.com/BOURNS-PTA4543-2015DPB103-POTENTIOMETER-SLIDE-10KOHM/dp/B005TBCVXY?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_4

When you move the lever, it moves the slide in the potentiometer. Wire this to the analogue input of an arduino and use a joystick library to map that input to a joystick axis output:

https://github.com/MHeironimus/ArduinoJoystickLibrary

If you go down the arduino path, you can also wire the microswitch to one of the digital inputs and use that library to program it as a joystick button, and thus have both digital and analogue.

I have this stand from amazon $120 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076LDQRWP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Alternate option #1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GV628H8/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07GV628H8&pd_rd_w=I1C1Q&pf_rd_p=8a8f3917-7900-4ce8-ad90-adf0d53c0985&pd_rd_wg=8dFCD&pf_rd_r=MZMHM7DQ6Q3M431BX11A&pd_rd_r=990b1c78-9dbe-11e9-80a3-a18782f7606f

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Alternate #2 (THIS THING HAS A FREAKING CUP HOLDER!!!) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NQFBHBN/ref=sspa_dk_detail_8?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07NQFBHBN&pd_rd_w=I1C1Q&pf_rd_p=8a8f3917-7900-4ce8-ad90-adf0d53c0985&pd_rd_wg=8dFCD&pf_rd_r=MZMHM7DQ6Q3M431BX11A&pd_rd_r=990b1c78-9dbe-11e9-80a3-a18782f7606f

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The Logitech G-920 with Shifter from amazon for $250 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016LI8SCG/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B00Z0UWV98&pd_rd_w=I1C1Q&pf_rd_p=8a8f3917-7900-4ce8-ad90-adf0d53c0985&pd_rd_wg=8dFCD&pf_rd_r=MZMHM7DQ6Q3M431BX11A&pd_rd_r=990b1c78-9dbe-11e9-80a3-a18782f7606f&th=1

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and a gaming chair i got on sale (black friday) from staples for $40, but the lowest i see on amazon is $69 (I like the fact the arm rests swivel up rather than are just stationary, makes getting in and out easy and when the arm rests are down, gives me that f1 style enclosed feel LMFAO)
https://www.amazon.com/BestMassage-Office-Desk-Gaming-Chair/dp/B01ICHJIM8/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=gaming+chair&qid=1562177964&s=gateway&sr=8-10

Don't know about the swiveling situation but I use these under my expensive ergonomic office chair and they work great: https://www.amazon.com/Slipstick-CB845-Furniture-Gripper-Chocolate/dp/B000QY7VWA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1537815771&sr=8-4&keywords=caster+lock

only 3 hours left!!

EDIT: Best price on amazon for this EVER.
http://camelcamelcamel.com/Thrustmaster-Officially-Licensed-Feedback-playstation-4/product/B00O8B7D02

Hey man you know you can replace your seat casters with glides so your good seat doesn't roll around so easily.

You may need to look around for the perfect fit but these things look like this.

I have a thrusmaster TX which came with the plastic and rubber 458 wheel. I couldnt stand the feeling of the cheap wheel so I bought the alcantara 599x evo rim. Made the wheel 1000x better. I think it was like $150 for the rim but worth every cent. Buying a new rim is really the only way with the thrustmaster wheels.

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-Ferrari-599XX-Alcantara-playstation-4/dp/B014US048A?th=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004AYMCRG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1462833590&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=g27+mount&dpPl=1&dpID=51vww4D-CBL&ref=plSrch

Works great from my couch and is quite solid and adjustable.

Samsung 49-Inch CHG90 144Hz Curved Gaming Monitor (LC49HG90DMNXZA) – Super Ultrawide Screen QLED Computer Monitor, 3840 x 1080p Resolution, 1ms Response, FreeSync 2 with HDR

Got it on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B072C7TNC5?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Wouldn't it be easier to use an encoder like this?

​

I used to solder the circuit boards from keyboards to make arcade sticks, but these are way easier.

https://www.youtube.com/user/TacticalCardboard/playlists?view=1&sort=dd - Empty box's simracing 101 series is about how to drive, some stuff about simracing (fov,ffb), and racing etiquette.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQRmYMlmdqM

• How to find the best trajectory, what is weight transfer and what it does, racing in rain, etc.
  
  http://www.drivingfast.net/ - lots of info about track racing, some info about cars, offroad racing, road driving etc.
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Speed-Secrets-Complete-High-Performance/dp/0760340501
  
• Covers almost everything about track racing.
  If you're going to race casually, then the book would be an overkill. But if you're going to race seriosly then the book is almost a must.

If you like books I would get Ben Collins: How To Drive. There are a lot of techniques that he goes over regarding how to brake, how to corner. All of these will apply to you driving on the street as well as on the track.

Ben Collin's

Alternatively, if you like very black and white instruction then I would suggest Ultimate Speed Secrets. It is not as entertaining as Ben Collins's book but it touches on the same material as well as a little more in depth analysis.

Ultimate Speed Secrets

I use these to keep my chair from rolling: https://www.amazon.com/Slipstick-CB840-Furniture-Gripper-Caramel/dp/B000X8X58S/ref=sr_1_1

And to keep my pedals more secure, I attached a square dowel (.75" x .75") to the front of my pedals and then i used a couple small pieces of wood to build a L on each side of the desk for that dowel to fit into to keep the pedals from moving backwards or lifting up.

You can get a wheelstand. I ended up getting one and it's great.

EDIT: This is the one I got.

Any of the Thrustmaster wheels should work on it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014US048A/ref=s9_dcacsd_dcoop_bw_c_x_1_w

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-Ferrari-F458-Wheel-playstation-3/dp/B00CP4IKHE/ref=sr_1_50?srs=2530623011&ie=UTF8&qid=1521061859&sr=8-50

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-TM-Leather-Wheel-Add-pc/dp/B00TTQKSUS/ref=sr_1_56?srs=2530623011&ie=UTF8&qid=1521061859&sr=8-56

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-Sparco-Rally-Wheel-Add-383/dp/B0764415FS/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1521061911&sr=1-1&keywords=sparco+thrustmaster

If you want cheaper, maybe someone will sell your their 458 rim from the TX regular package or something.

I agree I could get an O and the f1 wheel if I really wanted that might not be a bad idea (but still a bit expensive), still don't know to much about what I want to do yet.

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-Ferrari-Wheel-Add-PC-6304300-x/dp/B005PPOBQE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541390442&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=thrustmaster+f1+rim&dpPl=1&dpID=51F1C0xlyxL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-Ferrari-F458-Wheel-playstation-3-x/dp/B00CP4IKHE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541390399&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=thrustmaster+ferrari+rim&dpPl=1&dpID=51GeLsKQWdL&ref=plSrch

Doesn't have a mount for a seat but you can use any other seat like a computer chair.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Level-Racing-Steering-Wheel-Stand-pc/dp/B012TOREKS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1543260374&sr=8-5&keywords=%2Csim+racing

You can buy the T300 Base for $244 from Amazon plus your choice of wheel like the Ferrari 599XX EVO Wheel Add-On, Alcantara Edition for $165, the TM Leather 28 GT for $150 or the Ferrari GTE F458 for $130 or you could listen to /u/isternes and go Fanatec for a few dollars more.

This $10 purchase improved my set-up greatly. Chair doesn't budge an inch!

I'm building my new aluminum profile rig now and if you are in US and are interested PM me and I can sell you my previous stand at a reasonable price. I bought it in late 2014 on Amazon and I've been using it all the time with my G27. It is this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0084EG3ZA

Yeah you are right i found this bundle (G29 + shifter for 320$) on amazon which is cheap as Thrustmaster shifter is quit expensive.
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Driving-Force-Racing-PlayStation/dp/B016JBE8LU/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1522328990&sr=1-3&keywords=Logitech%2BG29&th=1

Looks like the G29 and G920 are both $200

I picked these up and they work very well. Only need to use 2 and my chair goes nowhere at all.

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https://www.amazon.com/Slipstick-CB840-Furniture-Gripper-Caramel/dp/B000X8X58S/ref=pd_bxgy_60_img_2/135-5530433-3182138?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000X8X58S&pd_rd_r=4528ba1a-682b-11e9-a637-6b060766031a&pd_rd_w=VhqP0&pd_rd_wg=9010w&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=N54Q9KEB0YYEVBKB599S&psc=1&refRID=N54Q9KEB0YYEVBKB599S

Do you know anything about this stand?
https://www.amazon.com/Level-Racing-Steering-Wheel-Stand-pc/dp/B012TOREKS

Also, super noob question, but could I mount to my desk while I wait for a stand?

No. Absolutely not. The standard price for that setup is cheaper new than what they are asking. For instance, right now the g920 with pedals and shifter is $332.91 (give or take a couple bucks) brand new on amazon. Amazon prices fluctuate regularly throughout the day though so it's hard to predict what it be later but in the same ballpark for sure.

I am currently debating between two wheel bundles atm.

Logitech G920 Driving Force Racing Wheel + Logitech G Driving Force Shifter Bundle for $328

Or

Thrustmaster TMX Force Feedback racing wheel for Xbox One and WINDOWS for $189

This will be my first sim racing setup so I am wondering what you would recommend.

Yea embrace modern technology and get yourself a Driving Force GT

Sorry I'm an idiot, I may have forgotten to link the amazon address.

edit: while we are on the topic of T300.. has anyone tried insuring theirs with a warranty through SquareTrade? I am seeing a 3 year plan for "miscellaneous electronics" for $75, including accident protection ($50 without accident protection). Is this feasible to protect, as in, would they honor an insurance on this item?

edit 2: I just spoke with a sales specialist working with SquareTrade, and he informed me that even though they are an independent company, they are partners with Amazon, among other companies such as Target. With that said, he told me that if I wished to have this Amazon product insured by SquareTrade, I would need to speak with Amazon to see if they would offer the warranty plan. Doesn't make much sense to me, I'd imagine they could insure whatever they want, but that's what I was told.

is it the looks or layout or the alcantara? An alternative would be to get the thrustmaster addon wheel, screw it off and put it on the universal hub. Its lighter than the other two as well.

PS: looking at the price of the hub, it might not be very economical. I thought the uni hub was cheaper

PPS: seems the bolt pattern is different anyway, so nevermind xd

Amazon magically has them back also for $399, 27% off: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MQDQA3U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

For about 2 dollars more, you can get Richard Burns Rally from Amazon for about $5-$6.

Amazon is doing it too, tax-free.

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-PlayStation-Driving-Force-Racing-3/dp/B0015HYPOO

Get a used G27 (craigslist, ebay..) if that's your budget. Here's the G29 for $240 from Amazon though

The wheel, pedals, and shifter are $200 on Amazon right now.

https://www.amazon.com/d/PS4-Racing-Wheels-Controllers/Logitech-Dual-Motor-Feedback-Responsive-Playstation/B016JBE8LU

I use a Thrustmaster TMX Pro. $250 shipped by Amazon in the USA.

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-VG-TMX-PRO-Racing-Wheel/dp/B01N9K9N33/

They do! Search wheel stands on Amazon and you'll find small metal stands meant to sit in front of a desk chair that have hard points for the pedals, wheel, and Shifter.

Here's an example:
Next Level Racing 638370134683 Wheel Stand Add on
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B012TOREKS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_POGYBb07NYXXD

Samsung recently made a rediculous 32:9 monitor(two 27" monitors side by side with no bezel). I've been wondering what it'd be like for sim racing.

You'll need the whole game. It's available on Amazon.com, but only the cd version. I don't believe it's ever been released as a downloadable game.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QY7VWA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Is this a good budget wheel? https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-PlayStation-Driving-Force-Racing-3/dp/B0015HYPOO

This one? http://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-Officially-Licensed-Feedback-playstation-4/dp/B00O8B7D02/

Try to get a stationary chair or replace your wheels with this!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OGVBI5U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jTREDbCFBGN1F

Here for 239$ + tax. It's gone now though.

https://www.amazon.com/ThrustMaster-2969099-Thrustmaster-TS-PC-Racer/dp/B01MQDQA3U/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1BOAMWPOPSUX1&keywords=thrustmaster%2Bts-pc&qid=1574694712&sprefix=thrustmaster%2Bts%2Caps%2C1061&sr=8-1&th=1

17% off

https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B01N9K9N33/ref=acr_dp_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar

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tmx pro is garbage?

Thrustmaster VG TMX PRO Racing Wheel - Xbox One, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9K9N33/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8f4Nzb0B0DBHR

https://www.amazon.com/LG-34UC79G-B-34-Inch-21-UltraWide/dp/B01LW5CGIS

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-49-Inch-Curved-Monitor-LC49HG90DMNXZA/dp/B072C7TNC5

Can just get some of these if you don't want to mess up your shoes https://www.amazon.com/Slipstick-CB845-Furniture-Gripper-Chocolate/dp/B000QY7VWA/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=caster+cups&qid=1551293523&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

That's what I used to use with my office chair, before I got a proper rig.

Also an option for us Canadians. is the TS-PC racer. Right now it's $504.99 CAD with free shipping if you have prime. I had it in my watch list for a while and I ordered one yesterday when they went from about $606 CAD to to $527. Of course the day after they go even lower and Amazon won't credit me the difference :/

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01MQDQA3U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Driving Force GT The Thrustmaster F430FFB is the same price basically and not as good of a wheel.

im in a similar boat, what im looking at is a little more than 200 though.

https://smile.amazon.com/Level-Racing-Steering-Wheel-Stand-pc/dp/B012TOREKS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1538880746&sr=8-4&keywords=racing+wheel+stand

then you can add this kit and have stick throttle or stick stick on the sides, not ideal and im still looking.

https://smile.amazon.com/Next-Level-Racing-Flight-Pack-pc/dp/B01CXYJJIE/ref=pd_sim_63_13?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01CXYJJIE&pd_rd_r=0b6a8b72-c9dc-11e8-9abb-7d2cd28fbd32&pd_rd_w=tCtpR&pd_rd_wg=KPRvx&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=149fcd10-1f37-464b-8228-8e84e217115c&pf_rd_r=HY3WJ1NZ06Q5AZA2CHGY&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=HY3WJ1NZ06Q5AZA2CHGY

Three years ago, I bought these to stop my office chair from rolling while braking. I'm still using them without issue.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0015HYPOO/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all

Either is expensive as all get out, or ships from Japan. And there are no near me on craigslist.

From what I've seen/read, the Thrustmaster TS-PC is overpriced by $100 or so at the moment.

For c. $1000 I'd probaby get:

Thrustmaster T300RS

ProtoSimTech PT-1 Pedals

Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter

But you say you don't want a T300 (I've got one, it's amazing) so... I guess the nearest alternative would probably be the Fanatec CSL Elite, but I've got no experience with it, so someone else would have to chime in.

For me, if not going for the T300, I'd probably want to jump up to either the Fanatec CSW V2 or an AccuForce (or more likely an OSW).

As you can imagine this took tons of work to design and build so please feel free to support a young engineering student with a donation at Paypal.me/TheCodyBrown

​

A good number of people asked for details about my shifter when I posted about my Humble Homemade Rig so here are the details!

https://www.reddit.com/r/simracing/comments/ajx88u/humble_homemade_rig_update_due_to_the/

https://www.reddit.com/r/simracing/comments/ahg8oi/my_humble_homemade_rig_t300_gt_with_custom/

​

I am too cheap to afford a TH8A and I don't care much for logitech shifters so I created my own. This uses a similar latching mechanism to other DIY shifters but I wanted to build a gated shifter that was completely self contained. The stiffness of the latching system is adjustable by tightening or changing out the spring!

This shifter uses a cheap USB encoder board (see link below) and 6 rocker switches to inform the game what gear is selected. This requires NO SOFTWARE at all! The PC simply sees it at as a game controller with a number of button inputs. The switches and board are just hot-glued in place, the switches need to be bent slightly to ensure contact with the shifter arm when in gear.

The rest of the shifter is made up of parts that you can find at a local hardware store and 3D printed components. I used PETG as it is crazy tough but any other type of filament can be used.

​

Link to 3D printing and Solidworks files:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HnrtLrVYvnTal1XV2tskPuMyhYl1CyV0/view

​

Link to the USB Encoder:

https://www.amazon.com/Reyann-Arcade-Encoder-Joystick-Fighting/dp/B00UUROWWK/ref=sr_1_3?crid=F92TYCVT2K1Z&keywords=usb+encoder&qid=1549742145&s=gateway&sprefix=usb+enc%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-3

​

Let me know if you have any questions!

Its the Alcantara Edition: I was a little hesitant because i read that it would leave your hands black from the die. I have not experienced this at all, and the wheel shows no signs of wear. I've been very happy with it, so much better than the cheap plastic wheel it game with.

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-F599XX-Wheel-Alcantara-playstation-4/dp/B014US048A/ref=sr_1_1?gclid=Cj0KCQjwzozsBRCNARIsAEM9kBPfpIKQ4d7yPeCQ0oKep1Ia_la9q_euzK2mnrKYItDsCIqLEDYGi-caAp42EALw_wcB&hvadid=322228700118&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9005590&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=10894263770818631868&hvtargid=kwd-360879124490&hydadcr=5736_9183883&keywords=thrustmaster%2B599%2Bwheel&qid=1568911573&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1

I bought a disc copy from Sold Out Software via Amazon. But... it doesn't appear to be terribly well-stocked at the moment.

It's a wheel stand you can buy on amazon (beware of price). I'm actually using it backwards since I'm disabled and my feet wouldn't reach the pedals if they stood on the frame as intended. But the thing is specially made for G27 so it screws in with Allen wrenches. That fucker won't move and folds with the wheel in place. I also modded the wheel a small bit. heres how I modded it sry my shitty voice isn't for everybody. Throat surgery and disabilities and all that.

edit here's the stand on amazon http://www.amazon.com/Steering-Wheel-Stand-Pro-included/dp/B004AYMCRG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410923176&sr=8-2&keywords=Wheel+stand