Owning, driving, and modifying vehicles is a very very real passion of mine that I have spent a lot of money on. But when I see posts of people who looking to do things on a budget, or they're younger, trying to make it as an adult but also fuel their passion... I cannot stress enough how much value a racing sim rig has. Honestly, even if you have the money, it's still an amazing investment to learn things you'd never be able to with your own vehicle.

Is it real life driving? No of course not. Will you get emotional and physical response from building/driving/working on a car? No.

But I do think a majority of people in the car community don't even think about buying a rig while they save for a car they truly want and can afford, while owning a reliable daily driver, instead of blowing their hard earned money on 1/2 of what they want because it's close enough.

With my racing sim rig, I have learned more about professional racing, how to properly left foot brake + trial breaking, understanding the difference between a geometric racing line and an ideal racing line, and conservation of fuel/tires.

I've learned to drift, clutch kick, left foot brake while drifting and what it does to the car, when and how to use an e-brake, and different drifting techniques.

With different games like world rally, asseto Corsa, F1, gt racing, Forza horizon, Carz...I've gotten to experience a multitude of racing disciplines, and what skill sets each use.

With the advancement of video gaming technology, the sounds and visual presentations are intoxicating.

I have truly been and will continue to be an advocate for sim racing. It does go even further than that too, parents with kids getting old enough to drive, you can teach them a lot of things in the safety of your own home. That way when they are in the real world driving, their better equipped.

Again, it will never replace owning a car and physically driving and working on it, but man does it hold a close 2nd when it comes to overall value.

Edit: last piece of value that applies to some people, when it comes winter time and you can't drive your car (for whatever personal choice to keep it clean or truly because it won't make it out of the driveway), the sim rig will always be there! This also goes for the dead heat of the summer, it's doesn't care what season is outside

I’ve been lurking in this sub reddit for awhile, and one thing I always see on the front page of it: “What wheel do I buy?” To answer them, I devoted a bit lot of time to making an all-in-on guide. I know I’m not the first to address this, and I know there are other wheel guides that have been posted before. However, the ones I’ve seen are either outdated or lack the best options. So I figured “hey, why don’t I do something about it?” So, here we go. If someone asks what to buy in the future, give them a link to this post.

This post has been separated into 4 parts due to its size (reddit's character limit). The additional posts are linked at the bottom. This is for more than just wheels; whether you're looking for new pedals or a motion cockpit, you're in the right place.

Archived But Still Alive and Moved Somewhere Else

Since this post is over 6 months old, it has been archived by reddit, and can no longer be commented on nor voted on. However, I can still edit it... which is weird for it being "archived," but this does mean that I can still add to or fix this post at will. I can still keep this post updated, so let me know if there's any new noteworthy products to add. You can either go to the second post, part 2 (linked at the bottom), and leave a comment there, or PM me directly. Thank you all for taking the time to read something that I have poured many hours of research any typing into, and please read all of the listings and consider what needs you're looking to meet before making a purchase.

February 2018 - Yep, still going.

January 2019 - The active Buyer's Guide has long since moved to the Wiki. This post will no longer be updated.

Advanced Update, Part 1

Information about the update can be found here

Unreleased, as of 18 February 2018

[None]

Part One: The Wheels

The heart of sim racing (the games are the brain or something, I guess), this is where you start if you want to delve into the world of virtual motorsports… and is probably the reason you’re even in this post. There’s a wheel for every budget, so whether you’re a budget gamer or your pockets are deep enough for you to stand in, you’ll find something to enjoy.

I've tried to include all widely relevant wheels, at least one on each platform. However, considerably older wheels that are no longer produced and/or have since been replaced by a successor, such as the Thrustmaster T100 or the Logitech G25, are not included.

The ranges are mainly based on retail price range, but as many veteran sim racers will tell you, you might be able to find a used wheel for significantly cheaper on eBay and/or Amazon, and Amazon is probably having a sale on any racing wheel they carry anyway. All the prices are in USD.

The console that each wheel is natively compatible with will be listed, but keep in mind that every wheel is compatible with PC. Thus, the only time PC will be listed is if the wheel is PC-only. Mac compatible wheels will also be listed as such, due to the limited number of options.

Entry Level, $100 - Very basic wheels for people who just want to give a wheel a try without investing too much into it, or want to give their kids early driving lessons. These wheels do not have force feedback, cannot be hard mounted (uses a clamp system or suction cups), and have a very low turning radius. If you already know you’re interested in at least semi-serious sim racing, skip this section.

Hori Racing Wheel Apex

• 11" wheel

• Plastic frame with full rubber wrapping, plastic shifters

• Fourteen buttons and D-Pad

• 270° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Bungie-centering

• Incompatible with pedal and shifter upgrades

• PS3, PS4

Hori Racing Wheel Overdrive

• 11" wheel

• Plastic frame with full rubber wrapping, plastic shifters

• Fourteen buttons and D-pad

• 270° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Bungie-centering

• Incompatible with pedal and shifter upgrades

• Xbox One

Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider

• 11" wheel

• Plastic wheel, plastic shifters

• Nine buttons, 5-way dial, and D-pad

• 240° rotation

• Unknown Resolution

• Bungie-centering

• Compatible with a pedal upgrade, but not a shifter add-on

• Xbox One

Thrustmaster T80

• 11" wheel

• Plastic wheel, plastic shifters

• Eleven buttons and D-pad

• 270° rotation

• Unknown Resolution

• Bungie-centering

• Compatible with pedal upgrade, but not a shifter add-on

• PS3, PS4

Basic/Budget, $200 - $250 - This is where the real fun begins. These wheels may be twice the price of entry-level wheels, but these are far, far better; this is the beginning of the force feedback (FFB) wheels. These bases generally cannot be hard mounted, and do not have interchangeable wheels, but aren’t too far behind their somewhat more expensive siblings in terms of quality.

Forza Motorsport CSR - One of the only Multiplatform wheels, in terms of consoles, the only hard-mountable wheel in the Budget wheels section, and probably the best FFB wheel compatible with the Xbox 360. That being said, it has since been discontinued, so even though its retail value is $250, it's actual price varies wildly, if you can find one.

• 11" wheel

• Plastic frame with alcantera grips, metal shifters

• Eight buttons and 8-way analog stick

• 900° rotation

• 12-bit resolution (4096 steps)

• Brushed motor

• Belt system

• Torque Unknown

• Compatible with pedal upgrade and shifter add-on

• PS3, Xbox 360

Logitech Driving Force GT - Added due to overwhelmingly popular demand, despite its age. It's no longer produced and has to be purchased second-hand, so the price range varies wildly.

• 11" wheel

• Plastic frame with rubber grips, plastic shifter

• Four buttons, 24-position dial, and D-pad

• 900° rotation

• Resolution Unknown

• Brushed motor

• Helical Gear system

• 2.5 Nm torque^†1

• Compatible with pedal upgrade, comes with built-in sequential shifter

• PS2, PS3

Thrustmaster T150 - Comes in two flavors, the standard T150 and the T150 Pro (comes with the T3PA pedals instead of the standard Thrustmaster 2-pedal base).

• 11" wheel

• Plastic frame with rubber grips, metal shifters

• 9 buttons on rim, 3 buttons on base, and D-pad

• 1080° rotation

• 12-bit resolution (4096 steps)

• Brushed motor

• Belt/Gear-Hybrid system

• Torque Unknown

• Compatible with pedal upgrade and shifter add-on

• PS3, PS4

Thrustmaster TMX - Comes in two flavors, the standard TMX and the TMX Pro (comes with the T3PA pedals instead of the standard Thrustmaster 2-pedal base).

• 11" wheel

• Plastic frame with rubber grips, metal shifters

• Ten buttons and D-pad

• 900° rotation

• 12-bit resolution (4096 steps)

• Brushed motor

• Belt/Gear-Hybrid system

• Torque Unknown

• Compatible with pedal upgrade and shifter add-on

• Xbox One

Standard, $400 - $600^†2 - Here's where you go for the serious wheel, some of the best options on the market. This area consists of the most popular wheels, and arguably have the best bang-for-your-buck. These wheels can be hard mounted, and have stronger force feedback than the budget wheels.

Logitech G27 - Generally should be replaced by the G29, but it was too popular to not add to the list. Another wheel that is no longer produced, so its actual price varies wildly (pro-tip, those $900 listings on Amazon are total scams, try to pick this up for $200 or less).

• 11" unremovable wheel

• Metal frame with full leather wrapping, metal wheel shifters, plastic shifter

• Six buttons on rim, eight buttons on shifter,

• 900° rotation

• 16-bit (65,536 steps) wheel resolution, 8-bit (256 steps) pedal resolution

• Brushed motor

• Helical Gear system

• 2.3 Nm of torque^†1

• Compatible with shifter add-on

• PS2, PS3

Logitech G29

• 11" unremovable wheel

• Metal frame with full leather wrapping, metal wheel shifters

• Fourteen buttons, 24-way dial, and D-pad

• 900° rotation

• 16-bit (65,536 steps) wheel resolution, 8-bit (256 steps) pedal resolution

• Brushed motor

• Helical Gear system

• 2.1 Nm of torque^†1

• Compatible with shifter add-on

• PS3, PS4, Mac

Logitech G920

• 11" unremovable wheel

• metal frame with full leather wrapping

• Eight buttons and D-pad

• 900° rotation

• 16-bit (65,536 steps) wheel resolution, 8-bit (256 steps) pedal resolution

• Brushed motor

• Helical Gear system

• 2.2 Nm of torque^†1

• Compatible with shifter add-on

• Xbox One, Mac

Thrustmaster T500 - Has technically been replaced by the T300, but is still very popular. It is not natively PS4 compatible (cannot be used to navigate the PS4 menus), but you can use it in-game on the PS4 (it's even listed in the settings of Gran Turismo Sport).

• 12" default wheel, interchangable (other optional wheels are 11")

• 1080° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Brushed motor

• belt-driven system

• 4.4 Nm torque^†1

• Compatible with pedal change and shifter add-on, although already comes with T3PA Pro pedals

• PS3

Thrustmaster TX - Comes in two versions: TX 458 Italia Edition (the standard version, somewhat ironically), and the TX Leather Edition (features a unique, leather-bounded wheel and T3PA pedal set).

• 11" default wheel, interchangable (optional Alcantera wheel is 12")

• 900° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Brushless motor

• belt-driven system

• Torque Unknown

• Compatible with pedal upgrade and shifter add-on

• Xbox One

Thrustmaster T300 - comes in a variety of kits: T300RS (Standard set), T300 GT Edition (Gran Turismo branded wheel and T3PA-based pedal set), and the Alcantera Edition (comes with Ferrari 599XX EVO replica wheel and T3PA pedal set).

• 11" default wheel, interchangable (optional Alcantera wheel is 12")

• 1080° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Brushless motor

• belt-driven system

• Torque Unknown

• Compatible with pedal upgrade and shifter add-on

• PS3, PS4

Thrustmaster TS-PC Racer - A more powerful, PC-only version of the T300. Unlike the other Thrustmaster wheels, it comes with a GT/F1 style wheel as standard and does not include pedals.

• 11" default wheel, interchangable (optional Alcantera wheel is 12")

• 1080° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Brushless motor

• belt-driven system

• Torque Unknown

• Compatible with shifter add-on, pedals sold separately

• PC

Thrustmaster TS-XW Racer - A second version of the TS-PC. For only $50 more than the original version, it comes with a T3PA pedal set, red accents, and most notably, a Sparco P310 wheel. It likely comes with the pedals because of this wheel’s second biggest feature: Xbox One compatibility.

• 11" default wheel, interchangable (optional Alcantera wheel is 12")

• 1080° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Brushless motor

• belt-driven system

• Torque Unknown

• Compatible with pedal upgrade (although already comes with T3PA pedals) and shifter add-on

• Xbox One

Thrustmaster T-GT - The newest GranTurismo-themed wheel created in part with Sony and Polyphony Digital for the launch of Gran Turismo Sport. It's largely a T300 GT Edition combined with the more advanced aspects of the TS-PC Racer, along with a few extras of its own. The price of this wheel is the highest within this section, retailing at $800^†2.

• 11" default wheel, interchangable (optional Alcantera wheel is 12")

• 1080° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Brushless motor

• belt-driven system

• Torque Unknown

• Compatible with pedal upgrade (although already comes with T3PA-based pedals) and shifter add-on

• PS4

Fanatec CSL Elite

• Wheel sold separately

• 1080° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Brushless motor

• belt-driven system

• 6 Nm torque

• Compatible with shifter add-on and handbrake add-on, pedals sold separately

• Xbox One^†3

Fanatec CSL Elite PS4 - Fenatec once again manages to be the only manufacturer that has produced a wheel with an important detail: cross-platform compatibility. The Forza Motorsport CSR is compatible with all three platforms of the 7th generation, and this wheel is compatible with all three platforms^†3 of the 8th generation.

• 11” default wheel, interchangeable

• 1080° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Brushless motor

• belt-driven system

• 6 Nm torque

• Compatible with shifter add-on and hand break add-on, pedals sold separately

• PS4, Xbox One^†3

Fanatec Clubsport V2.5

• Wheel sold separately

• 900° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Brushless motor

• belt-driven system

• 8 N.m

• Compatible with shifter add-on and hand break add-on, pedals sold separately

• Xbox One^†3

Direct Drive, $1,000+ - These wheels are in a world of their own; direct drives wheels are the most powerful and most accurate on the market, along with the most wallet-flattening. These are PC only, real-car-wheel compatible, hardcore wheel bases. Some Fanatec sets may touch on direct drive prices, they won’t give you direct drive feel. These wheels aren’t for the faint of heart… or the low-funded. If you want more info on direct drive wheels, here’s a more detailed explanation.

SimExperience Accuforce - Has recently had a price drop, down to $1,299, wheel included.

• 12.5” optional wheel, interchangeable

• 900° - 4500° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Brushless motor

• Direct-drive system

• 13 Nm torque

• Parts plug directly into USB, compatible with any upgrade; pedals sold separately

• PC

Leo Bodnar SimSteering2 FFB System - They have three base options, and the price of their "basic" base is $2,000.

• Wheel sold separately

• 1500° rotation

• 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps)

• Brushless motor

• Direct-drive system

• 16, 20.5, or 26 Nm torque (systems 52, 53 or 54, respectively)

• Parts plug directly into USB, compatible with any upgrade; pedals sold separately

• PC

Open Sim Wheel - Open source DD motors. Intended to be for DIY wheels; you're given the motor, but you handle all of the electronics yourself and essentially build it from scratch (experts only). However, these are utilized for pre-built systems by vendors like Sim Racing Bay or Simplicity as well.

• Wheel sold separately

• Varying rotation

• 13.2877-bit resolution (10,000 steps) or 14-bit resolution (16,384 steps), depending on the motor)

• Brushless motor

• Direct-drive system

• 20, 29, or 30 Nm torque

• Parts plug directly into USB, compatible with any upgrade; pedals sold separately

• PC

Ricmotech Mini-Mite

• Wheel sold seperately

• 900° - 6000° rotation

• Resolution Unknown

• Brushless motor

• Direct-drive system

• 13 Nm torque

• Parts plug directly into USB, compatible with any upgrade; pedals sold separately

• PC

Part Two: The Accessories

Did you think I was going to just tell you about the wheels and stop there? Why do you think I put “everything you need to know” in the title? After you’ve ordered your wheel and pedal kit, why not consider a shifter? Or why not just get a wheel base and whatever wheel and pedals you want, instead of being tied to a kit? Why am I asking so many questions?

The Thrustmaster add-ons are universal, meaning that the one add-on will work with every wheel thrustmaster makes. If you upgrade from a T500 to a T300, and had an Alcantera wheel with your T500, you could put it onto your T300 and use the T500's pedals with it as well. The Fanatec add-ons are completely universal between their servo bases.

Depending on the game you're playing, you'll likely be able to mix-and-match parts by plugging them into the USB ports. How much you can do this may vary, so make sure you understand how compatible your hardware pieces are before purchasing them.

Console Compatibility Adapter - Maybe you've got a wheel that was designed for Xbox One that you'd want to use on PS4 (or vice versa), maybe your wheel is PS3 compatible, but not PS4 compatible, or maybe you just don't want to have to deal with the idea of buying a new wheel just to keep up with the new console generation. Either way, you're looking to use a wheel on a console that it's not natively compatible with, right? Well don't worry, this problem has long been solved.

CollectiveMinds Drivehub

• Compatible with all recent Logitech, Thrustmaster, and Fenetec wheel bases (not designed to work with Direct Drive wheels)

• Updatable firmware (macOS and Windows compatible)

• Additional port for using accessories

• Full force feedback support

• PS4, Xbox One

Pedals - Whether you want to upgrade from your lackluster 2-pedal Thrustmaster base set or you need something to go with your Accuforce wheel, here are the options you'll be looking at for pedals.

Fanatec CSL Elite Pedals

• 2 adjustable and movable pedals

• 12-bit resolution (4096 steps)

• High-tension brake

• No hard-mounting

• Connects directly to Fenatec base or through USB with the Clubsport Adapter

• Console compatible

Fanatec CSL Elite Pedals LC

• 3 adjustable and movable pedals

• 12-bit resolution (4096 steps) throttle and clutch, 16-bit resolution (65,536 steps) brake

• Load-cell adjustable-tension (up to 90kg) brake

• No hard-mounting

• Connects directly to Fenatec base or through USB (adapter included)

• Console compatible

Fanatec ClubSport Pedals V3

• 3 adjustable and movable pedals, pedal faces interchangeable

• 12-bit resolution (4096 steps)

• Load-cell, adjustable-tension (up to 90kg), ABS-simulating-vibration brake, wheelspin/oversteer-simulating-vibration throttle

• No hard-mounting

• Connects directly to Fenatec base or through USB with the Clubsport Adapter

• Console compatible

Fanatec ClubSport Pedals V3 Inverted

• 3 adjustable and movable pedals, brake and clutch pedals down-hanging, pedal faces interchangeable

• 12-bit resolution (4096 steps)

• Load-cell, adjustable-tension (up to 90kg), ABS-simulating-vibration brake, wheelspin/oversteer-simulating-vibration throttle

• No hard-mounting

• Connects directly to Fenatec base or through USB with the Clubsport Adapter

• Console compatible

Fast Track Sims Tilton Pedals

• 3 pedals

• Unknown resolution

• Unknown tension

• No mounting available

• Connects directly to USB

• PC

Fast Track Sims Tilton 900 Series Pedals

• 3 pedals

• Unknown resolution

• Unknown tension

• Hard mounting required

• Connects directly to USB

• PC

Heusinkveld Sim Pedals - Comes in two versions, Pro and Ultimate, the difference are the pedal tension limits, basically.

• 1 - 3 adjustable and independent pedals

• 12-bit resolution (4096 steps)

• High-tension brake (up to 55 kg Pro or 136 kg Ultimate) and clutch (up to 14 kg Pro or 45 kg Ultimate)

• Hard mounting optional (with their baseplate, Sim Lab baseplate also available)

• Connects directly to USB

• PC

Ricmotech RealGear GTpro1

• 3 pedals

• Resolution unknown

• Tension unknown

• Hard mounting required

• Connects directly to USB

• PC

Ricmotech RealGear GTpro1 Overhung

• 3 pedals

• Resolution unknown

• Tension unknown

• Hard mounting required

• Connects directly to USB

• PC

Ricmotech RealGear GTpro3 Xtreme

• 3 pedals

• Resolution unknown

• High-tension brake (up to160 kg)

• Hard mounting required

• Connects directly to USB

• PC

Thrustmaster T3PA - A 3-pedal set, quite an upgrade from the two pedal base Thrustmaster includes with most of their standard wheel sets. However, if you get certain Thrustmaster kits, these will come with the wheel, often with unique pedal faces

• 3 pedals, adjustable pedal faces

• 10-bit resolution (1024 steps)

• Moderate tension brake (10kg), optional brake mod (15 - 22 kg with mod)

• Hard-mounting optional

• Connects directly to Thrustmaster base or through USB with the TRJ12 adapter

• Console compatible

Thrustmaster T3PA Pro - Still not satisfied with the T3PAs? Want to be able to invert your pedals GT style? Don't like that the T3PAs are made of plastic? That’s what this set is, an invertible, metal T3PA set, basically.

• 3 adjustable pedals, adjustable pedal faces, invertible

• 10-bit resolution (1024 steps)

• Moderate tension brake (10kg), optional brake mods

• Hard-mounting optional

• Connects directly to Thrustmaster base or through USB with the TRJ12 adapter

• Console compatible

Shifters - As nice as it is that just about every wheel comes with paddle shifters, sometimes they just don't cut it. It's a far more immersive experience to use shifter sometimes, especially for drifters and rally drivers.

ClubSport Shifter SQ V 1.5 - Similar to the TH8A shifter in that it can be used as an H-gate shifter or a sequential shifter, though it cannot be used as a handbrake.

• H-gate (7 + R) and sequential modes

• Hard-mounting optional, clamp mount

• Connects directly to Fenatec base or through USB with the Clubsport Adapter

• Console compatible

DSD Pro Sequential Shifter

• Sequential

• Hard mounting required

• Connects through USB

• PC

Logitech Driving Force shifter

• H-gate (6 + R)

• Clamp mounting only

• Connects directly through Logitech base

• Console compatible

SHH Shifters

• H-gate (7 + R) and sequential modes

• Hard-mounting optional

• Connects directly through USB

• PC

Thrustmaster TH8A

• 7 + R gears, able to be used as handbrake

• H-gate and sequential modes (must be in sequential mode to use as handbrake)

• Hard-mounting optional, clamp mount

• Connects directly to Thrustmaster base or through USB

• Console compatible

Rims - These are the ones specially designed to work with Thrustmaster and/or Fanatec bases, and some are already able to be bundled with wheel bases. No options for Logitech, as their wheels are not interchangable.

Fanatec Wheels - a sizable catalogue of all the customizable wheels Fanatec has to offer, too many to list individually. Click the link to see them.

• Compatible with CSL Elite, CSL Elite PS4, and Clubsport bases

Thrustmaster 599X EVO Alcantara - a replica wheel of the Ferrari 599X EVO, notably wrapped in alcantara.

• 11.8” diameter, flat bottom

• Metal frame with full alcantera wrapping, metal paddle shifters

• Six buttons, D-pad, and 3-way switch

• Compatible with TX, T300, T500, TS-PC/TS-XW, and T-GT bases

Thrusmaster Ferrari F1 - an F1 style wheel, licensed by Ferrari, featuring functional buttons

• 11” width

• Metal frame with with rubber grips, metal paddle shifters

• Eight buttons, two D-pads, and three 3-way switches

• Compatible with TX, T300, T500, TS-PC/TS-XW, and T-GT bases

Thrustmaster Ferrari GTE 458 - replica of the— you know what, just read the name.

• 11” diameter

• Metal frame with full rubber wrapping, metal paddle shifters

• Six buttons, D-pad, and 3-way dial

• Compatible with TX, T300, TS-PC/TS-XW, and T-GT bases

Thustmaster TM Leather 28 - Available in a TX bundle that also includes a T3PA set with unique black pedals.

• 11” diameter

• Metal frame with full leather wrapping, metal paddle shifters

• Six buttons, D-pad, and 3-way switch

• Compatible with TX, T300, T500, TS-PC/TS-XW, and T-GT bases

Handbrakes - Are rallying and drifting your favourite forms of racing? Then you know how much better it feels to have an actual handbrake to pull; having to push that little button on a moving wheel won't cut it.

Aiologs handbrake - A home-made handbrake for PS3, PS4, and PC, made to order as it seems. Despite being a small project, it’s quite sophisticated.

• 45° pull

• 1 - 5 kg of tension

• Vibration enabled

• Hard-mounting and clamp optional

• Connects through USB

• Console compatible

DSD Hydraulic Handbrake

• 45° pull

• Tension unknown

• No vibration

• Hard-mounting required

• Connects through USB

• PC

Fanatec ClubSport handbrake - One of the few professional handbrake axis add-ons on the market. Compatible with Fenatec wheels on console, and everything else on PC.

• 45° pull

• Tension unkown

• No vibration

• Hard-mounting and clamp optional

• Connects directly to Fenatec base or through USB with the Clubsport Adapter (PC only for USB)

• Console compatible

Ricmotech RealGear RallyPro - Comes in two versions, with a 13 inch lever or 25 inch lever

• 45° pull

• Up to 100 lbs tension

• No vibration

• Hard-mounting required

• Connects directly to Ricmotech GTpro pedals, USB versions (13 inch, 25 inch) available

• PC

Sim Racing Buyer's Guide, Part 2

For section 3: Rigs.

Sim Racing Buyer's Guide, Part 3

For sections 4: Games, and 5: Platforms (systems).

Sim Racing Buyer's Guide, Part 4

For section 6: Building, and the FAQ.

Notes †

^{1: Unconfirmed; based on unofficial source.}

^{2: Technically, the range of the Standard wheel sub-section should be $400 - $800 due to the inclusion of the T-GT. However, since the T-GT is the only wheel at such a price, I feel it's better to have it as an exception instead of it re-defining the price range.}

^{3: Fenatec bases require an addon for Xbox One compatibility, either the} CSL Steering Wheel P1 ^{or the} Xbox One Universal Hub^{, otherwise the bases would be PC-only (except for the CSL PS4, which is compatible with PS4 regardless of addons)}

I plan on updating this whenever new wheels or notable extras come out, to keep this post relevant. Please help me with that by sending me links to new hardware.

I have recently decided to take the plunge into the sim racing world after finally saving enough money to buy a rig. I tried looking at the buyers guide, but it seems it hasnt been updated in a while (and the wheel guide is still under construction).

I am looking to play mainly AC, F1 (League Racing) and also (finally) get into iRacing. I am not looking for a full manual setup with a stick + handbrake e.t.c.

I was wondering if people had any specific recommendations for a setup within a budget of $2k USD? I was thinking:

• DD Wheel Base (~15 Nm seems like the sweet spot)

• F1-Style Racing Wheel (something like the MOZA GS GT Wheel, or similar)

• Load Cell Pedals

• Racing seat/Cockpit

Although this is my first step into the field of sim racing, I have done racing IRL before, and hence I am hoping for a setup which is more for intermediate-advanced driving experience. I would like to buy something which doesnt leave me having to upgrade a year or so down the line.

If my budget is too low for the setup I am gunning for, how much more would you say I should save up? Thanks in advance for the help!

Hi, what are the best Sim rigs choices, seat and monitor stand included, within up to 1000usd (-+200)? With seat position interchangeable from formula to GT3 as well as the height adjustable - we are several people in the family that have heights from 140 to 195 and would like to use the rig on daily basis. Id like it to be robust enough too. I am using fanatec wheel, pedals and shifter.

I've seen several brands like next level racing, playset, etc. and trying to choose the most suitable option.

Thank you!

EDIT: after some consideration I decided to go for a GT option. The question is: what GT cockpits are the easiest to adjust for height and also have a reclining seat?

Hey everyone,

I’m planning to upgrade my current Playseat Trophy rig next year to a full sim racing rig with a proper seat. The thing is, I want it to be versatile enough so I can use it not only for sim racing but also for regular gaming sessions (FPS, RPG, etc.).

One problem I keep running into is that most keyboard trays or mounts on rigs are positioned to the side, which makes regular gaming with keyboard and mouse quite uncomfortable.

Has anyone found or built a sim racing rig with a setup that works well for both sim racing and regular gaming? Ideally, I’m looking for a rig where the keyboard and mouse can be positioned comfortably in front, not just on the side.

Any recommendations, DIY tips, or product suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Hi all, have had a cheap amazon rig for a couple of years and it’s about to fall apart. My partner wants to buy me a new cockpit for x-mas. I have the whole Fanatec CSL hardware, so I think it’s time I get a solid cockpit. The budget is my biggest concern. I am happy with a quality rig between 400-700$. Besides budget, construction is a big factor. My current rig is very flimsy and far from solid. I want something that is built well and solid.

I’ve looked at a few options from Next Level and Trak Racer. Anything helps. I am making this post in hopes to find some of y’all with experience picking the right cockpit. Thank you!

This post is a review for All-in-1-Gaming. They sell various sim rigs and will also help you to build custom ones to the specs you want. I've been meaning to write this review for a while because I had such a great experience working with them, specifically Joel Cobrin (not sure if he is the owner or just an employee). And at the pace that sim racing is growing, it seems like there are more options than ever when it comes to rigs, wheels, wheelbases, pedals, etc., so it can be hard to determine the "best" or what the right fit for you may be. Hopefully this review can help others who may be shopping for their own rig.
Last year I was lucky enough to be in a position to upgrade to my "dream rig". I had started out on an xbox controller, then got a used logitech G920 off craigslist, and then a fanatec CLS Elite that I would clamp to my desk with load cell pedals that were in a frame that I could put the wheels of my office chair in to keep them from sliding across the floor. Still a lot of fun, but after about 3 years of going deeper down the rabbit hole, I was ready to go all in on a dedicated rig.

I had done a ton of research and watched many review videos, I probably spent 6+ months planning and preparing for my rig. I had also seen another redditor leave a review for all-in-1-gaming and that is what ultimately convinced me to go with them.

From the get-go, incredible customer service. Joel scheduled an initial call with me and talked about what I was looking to build. Joel had great feedback and was able to create a couple different renderings of potential rig set-ups.

When I received the rig, everything was packaged very well and was labeled clearly. The instructions were perfect, which I was incredibly grateful for because assembling these things is no joke. It took me about 20+ hours to get it all together, but I can only imagine how much longer it would have taken had everything not been so nicely organized. If I had any questions along the way, Joel was only a phone call away.

The quality is very high. I personally love the blue aluminum look and as far as I know, I think they're one of the only companies that offers it. I also opted for the higher end "Vention" brackets. The rig is built like a tank, no flex, extremely sturdy, and sexy.

I also ended up buying a complete custom built gaming machine from them as well and have been extremely happy with what I got.

I had one slight hiccup with the billing, I needed the PC to be a "business expense" so it had to be charged/ billed separately. Joel was amazing in figuring out a quick solution.

To sum everything up, I can't say enough good things about All-in-1-Gaming. For anyone looking for a mid to high end rig, I would highly recommend exploring what they can offer.

Rig:

• Samsung Odyssey G9 + Monitor Stand

• Sigma Integrale DK2+ Motion System

• Custom 80/20 Frame - All-in-1-Gaming

• Heusinkveld Ultimate +

• Fanatec DD2

• Fanatec BMW GT3

• Fanatec BMW Clubsport

• Fanatec Shifter

• Fanatec Handbrake

• Keyboard Tray

PC:

• Intel Core i9-12900K 30M Cache, up to 5.2GHz

• NIVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

• Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 32GB 5600MHz

• Corsair Force MP400 2TB M.2 NVME

• iCUE 5000X RGB Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX

• EVGA Supernova 1300 G+, 80+ Gold 1300W, Fully Modular

• ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA RTX 3090 24GB GDDR6X

• Asus Prime Z690-P DDR5 WiFi

• iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler

TLDR: If you're looking for a high-end custom rig and a company with "white glove" service, check out All-in-1-Gaming.

I don't find myself sim racing very often anymore. I absolutely adore Motorsports but for some reason as soon as I built the rig I wanted, I just don't enjoy it that much anymore and have no idea why. It's as if I see Motorsport and sim racing and two different things. Any ideas of how I could get my motivation back?

Current Setup:

Logitech G923 (just got it) PS5 + Gran Turismo 7 77" LG C2 OLED on height-adjustable standing desk Will be used in my office

Situation:

Just getting into sim racing and want to do this right. My son and I will both be using it, so adjustability is important. The rig will live in my office, so I need something that looks decent but doesn't have to be foldable.

Future Plans:

I'm already thinking this hobby might escalate quickly (isn't that how it always goes?). Want something that can grow with me if I decide to upgrade to direct drive, add better pedals, shifter, etc. down the line.

Budget: Willing to spend $500-1000+ for the right setup. Would rather buy once, cry once if it means getting something that'll last and be upgrade-friendly.

I need a rig and seat.

Thank you!

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I am really interested in racing games but my current controller setup isn't good enough for sim racing games like assetto corsa or iracing. Did any of you guys bought your wheels and pedals and then realized this isn't really that fun? Ps: I am into cars and racing games in general.

Hi, i was planning on getting the fanatec podium F1 racing wheel, this would be my first direct drive wheel. i mostly play iracing, ACC, and dirt rally 2.0. im also planning on getting the new gran turismo game. for this i would need to get a racing rig that can handle a direct drive wheel. my budget would be around $1000 or so. the thing is my computer is in a separate room while my PS5 is in the living room. it is a carpeted floor. so i was wondering if you guys had a recommendation for a rig that wouldn't be too difficult to move around. maybe if it was on wheels or not too heavy. I was looking at the next level GTtrack one or the trak racer TR80 or TR120. i wanted to see if you guys had any thoughts on these rigs or maybe suggestions for any other ones?

Hello, even since I started sim racing I have been using a Logitech G25 wheel mounted to my desk with some boxes keeping the pedals from moving around.

Recently I have been looking to make a decently good rig but everything is so out of my budget for the final result.

I was thinking of getting a cockpit first and slowly replacing my G25 component, but I don't know where to start. Any tips?

There are so many options!

I am US based so certain options like things from SimLab are limited. Even within the choices for US shipped cockpits there are so many options. Ive been looking at the TrakRacer cockpits, RCP and Next level Cockpits as well and even within singular manufactuers theres just so many options its overwhelming.

My current requirements are 15nm Fanatec compatible, Must either come with a seat, or that manufacture needs to sell compatible seats, have a shifter/handbreak mount and work for GT/Regular car style driving. Ive got the space to go with aluminum profile rigs so I dont need to look at any of the less solid options. I also plan on potentially putting motion on the rig at some point so I dont want to have to upgrade. Eventually Ill get triples, but given I want motion, these will be freestanding.

The price difference on say Trakracer between their top of the line one (TR160) and the Bottom (TR80) is only around $200-250 with how I want to kit it out with accessories.

These manufactures really should put guides on their sites on how to choose at least across their lines, what is the difference between F-GT ELITE IRACING EDITION and the F-GT ELITE 160 WHEEL PLATE EDITION? They seem like basically the same rig but one has blue paint and iracing logos? Im not sure.

I’ve had a Logitech G27 for many years. I never upgraded because I just wasn’t ready to dig into sim racing. Now I’m taking it much more seriously.

Most of my rig is comprised of things I already owned - the 3 x 27” monitors, the mini monitor connected to an RPi 4b that displays the dash from SimHub, my Omen 15 laptop.

I just added the Fanatec CSL DD 8nm package. What a world of difference! It truly has made me a better driver. The G27 setup just wasn’t sensitive enough to read the tires and the road. Losing grip was so common with it. Not any more. I’ve logged my times with both setups and the DD has made me faster and has helped me hone my skills.

I’ll be moving my office down to my finished basement which will provide much more room for a cockpit rig. I’ll be grabbing the Next Level Racing F-GT rig and their triple monitor stand. I can’t wait! My current configuration just doesn’t work. The DD is much higher than the G27 so it’s not very natural. That’ll all change soon enough.

I’d be grateful for any tips and tricks with sim racing - from my rig to driving techniques.