Looking for a Racing Wheel.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 21 Sep 2009, 08:55

The DFP was one of the most popular wheels in the sim racing community and Logitech's premium wheel until the G25 came along. The DFP features 900deg rotation, paddle shifters, plenty of wheel-mounted buttons, and a sequential shifter.

Happens to be the one I own and to which I refered as crappy quality control.

Of course software could have something to do with it and the wheel itself isn't that bad, it's the pedals that aren't right.

So far in everything I've tried it with (ps2 burnout & GT4, pc multiple nfs and a sim racer I forgot the name of). The brakes and accelerator pedals either stick on or off.

And this wasn't after even a few months of use.

phantom · Post by **phantom** » 21 Sep 2009, 17:59

Yeah, it sounds like you had a bad experience.

01Boxer · Post by **01Boxer** » 21 Sep 2009, 20:47

I had a DFP for three years before selling it to a friend and getting the G25. I never had a problem with it.

Post by **thales100** » 21 Sep 2009, 20:59

Logitech G25. :P

Post by **suiken_2mieu** » 22 Sep 2009, 02:13

Well just to let you know, I'm not really looking to upgrade my monitors right now (I have 4 19" LCD's) so it's not a full immersion thing. But I do want a wheel with force feedback and a Stick shift. I have about 150 to play with, so I'm looking for around there. Xbox 360 compatibility isn't a need (I can find something cheap for the 360).

phantom · Post by **phantom** » 22 Sep 2009, 03:22

By Stick Shift do you mean sequential (up/down) or H-pattern (6-speed, etc) ?

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 22 Sep 2009, 06:19

Yeah, it sounds like you had a bad experience.

In what environment were your pedals used? Carpet? Pets? I'm wondering if things like carpet, lint, dust, pet hair, spilled fluids could be factors.
Maybe Logitech would have hooked you up, too. Did you contact them?

No pets, no spills, no carpets, nothing, that every other electronics in this room has survived for 3+ years without issues.

Contacting logitech is extremely pointless, they either don't respond or give out general replies which basically look for the first 3 keyword matches and send, often very unrelated, replies.

After the kb, pads, wheel and remote, I've simply put logitech on the blacklist of makers that treat you so you buy the 'new model' instead of getting one that works.

They joined asus, belkin and monster, among others.

phantom · Post by **phantom** » 22 Sep 2009, 11:08

Contacting logitech is extremely pointless, they either don't respond or give out general replies which basically look for the first 3 keyword matches and send, often very unrelated, replies.

Is that what happened to you?

Post by **suiken_2mieu** » 23 Sep 2009, 04:11

By Stick Shift do you mean sequential (up/down) or H-pattern (6-speed, etc) ?

it doesn't matter to me, i just have a budget and this is something that is a must.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 24 Sep 2009, 03:04

Contacting logitech is extremely pointless, they either don't respond or give out general replies which basically look for the first 3 keyword matches and send, often very unrelated, replies.

Is that what happened to you?

Yep, more than once.

phantom · Post by **phantom** » 24 Sep 2009, 04:28

Did you contact them by email/internet? By telephone? When? Dude, if you care to, just describe the details and particulars.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 24 Sep 2009, 08:25

To what end? I've wasted enough space of this thread already. Suffice to say, when a company doesn't support it's products, it gets blacklisted and the hardware put on the stress relief pile.

phantom · Post by **phantom** » 24 Sep 2009, 22:01

Mesh, I'd like to know for future reference, and others could learn from your experience.
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deleted

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 25 Sep 2009, 20:15

The pedals stick on and/or off, the shift stick is nothing but a glorified 2 way pov hat and while it's resistance is of some use once you unlock the 100% strength of the motors, it's totally free-moving otherwise. Overall it'd be nicer if it was a larger wheel too.

I can't compare it to anything else, it's the only wheel I have. I can compare it however to the rest of the logitech gear I made the mistake of buying:

2 wireless keyboards, 1 with mouse:
- mouse with batteries that go poof in no time
- annoyance of swaping batteries for the keyboard, needs a dock.
- unable to dismantle the keyboard to clean it, makes it unusable after a spill even if it still works.

2 wireless gamepads:
- buttons that feel loose after barely using the pad
- analog sticks that are pretty much totally worn out with little use as well
- battery hold that constantly opens without much force, poorly placed so you constantly open and release the batteries while playing

harmony 880 remote:
- pos software to configure it
- most 'we know this device' still have to be manually reprogrammed with the original remote since the ones built-in don't work
- no special buttons specific to most remotes which means you have to use buttons you don't use and use them for some other function, pain in the (censored) to remember what is mapped where
- if you use the display and side buttons you soon learn they're gonna break in half by just glancing at them

That enough?
Logitech quality control and/or their starting design to begin with suck. I'm never buying from them again. Their mice are still sort of ok but they tend to be overpriced, though that's common with most brands.

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 26 Sep 2009, 02:13

I think we've all had enough of this backwards and forwards about Logitech now.

That's a hint to stop, by the way.

FramerateUK · Post by **FramerateUK** » 01 Oct 2009, 10:04

Wow, it looks like steering pedals have come on a long way...

Last time I had a pedal was when I had a Pentium 120mhz, it was a Thrustmaster Formula T2. That was pretty good for the time but very unrealistic!

Those Fanatec ones look great! So what's the chances of games actually having a use for the clutch and the gear shifter? I know you mentioned that games work with them- just pc games? Or 360 games too?

I take my car on tracks so something more realistic would be good (especially for mastering heel and toe driving techniques, which isn't really practical on the road).

Are the likes of NFS: Shift on the PC and Forza 3 on the 360 likely to support all the features?

Basically any games featuring the Nurburgring that support the full features would be awesome :)

Post by **suiken_2mieu** » 04 Oct 2009, 01:04

Wow, it looks like steering pedals have come on a long way...

Last time I had a pedal was when I had a Pentium 120mhz, it was a Thrustmaster Formula T2. That was pretty good for the time but very unrealistic!

Those Fanatec ones look great! So what's the chances of games actually having a use for the clutch and the gear shifter? I know you mentioned that games work with them- just pc games? Or 360 games too?

I take my car on tracks so something more realistic would be good (especially for mastering heel and toe driving techniques, which isn't really practical on the road).

Are the likes of NFS: Shift on the PC and Forza 3 on the 360 likely to support all the features?

Basically any games featuring the Nurburgring that support the full features would be awesome :)

rFactor is compatible with H Shifters and Clutches

Frag Maniac · Post by **Frag Maniac** » 04 Oct 2009, 01:13

Wow, it looks like steering pedals have come on a long way...Those Fanatec ones look great!

Yeah if you mean the all aluminum club racing ones, I agree. They also have non wearing magnetic sensors in the gas and clutch pedal and an ABS sensitive sensor in the brake pedal, not to mention being very adjustable.

I also thought the belt drive on the wheel may very well be smoother feeling as they claim, though I tend to think it would require FF more to not feel loose. So you'd have to like and use their FF, which seems to get raves in reviews for it being strong yet subtle throughout the full 360 degrees with no dead spot. I think the key word there other than no dead spot is subtle. SO many FF motors and sensors turn driving into a constant wrestling match with every feedback.

As for H shifters and clutches, it depends what type of games you play. Most of the more popular SIMs now support it and even some arcade SIM hybrids, but arcade specific and/or older titles often don't. Honestly though, most don't buy a $300 wheel set unless they're hardcore into SIMs, but some spend that much because they don't like how crappy the pedal pots are on the $100 sets.

phantom · Post by **phantom** » 05 Oct 2009, 06:11

Framerate,

Which cars and tracks have you driven?

Also, what year and which racing titles did you drive with the ThrustMaster?

FramerateUK · Post by **FramerateUK** » 05 Oct 2009, 14:07

Framerate,

Which cars and tracks have you driven?

Also, what year and which racing titles did you drive with the ThrustMaster?

I've only really just gotten into it this year (it's the first time I've had my own car worthy of going on a track with).

Well I had the old Thrustmaster T2 back in 1996/97 ish. I used to play Screamer 2, Screamer Rally,Need for Speed 2, Formula 1, Network Q RAC Rally and probably a couple of others.

It was a pretty simple wheel, good for the time, but there was no force feedback, and it was quite plasticy. It stopped working after a few years, but I did get plenty of fun from it.

As far as real life, I've got a Ford Fiesta ST 185 at the moment. 0-60 in about 6.9, 0-100 in 15. It's been tracked up with a big exhaust system and uprated cams (which made a HUGE difference). It's also sitting on some KW adjustable suspension which has really improved it's cornering ability.

I did a trackday at a small airfield (Kemble) which gave me a good idea of the feel of the car, and was great fun (even if I did shred a set of new tires!).

A week after that I spent two days on the Nurburgring along with my dad, who brought his new Subaru WRX STI 330S. We swapped cars for a couple of laps so I got a good idea of the feel for both of them. Even though the Impreza was immensely quick, and had a LOT of grip, my ST was more fun, and gave a lot more feedback. I actually overtook my dad in his Subaru, which says a lot for the little Fiesta!

I'm going to try and get to either Brands Hatch or Snetterton before the end of the year for another trackday, and the next after that will probably be Nurburgring again before Easter. I need new brake pads before any of that though :).

This time next year I'll be looking into getting a Lotus Exige to replace my car. I'd like to get a bit more experience with my car first though, before moving onto something as quick as the Lotus.

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