We Check Out the Fanatec Direct Drive Wheel

[Paul Jeffrey]

At the 2017 Sim Racing Expo today I had the chance to check out the new Fanatec Direct Drive wheel... here are my first impressions.

Now before going any further I need to give out some caveats. My time with the wheel was limited and used with the so far unreleased Project CARS 2 software. I had over three and a half laps at Spa in PCARS 2, under race conditions at night. Not an ideal scenario to give a serious and informed opinion, but enough to at least give me an idea of what we can expect to find come release day.

Using the Porsche rim from the Fanatec ClubSport range, the wheel felt like a marked step up from my personal ClubSport V2 I use regularly at home. The initial weight of the wheel on first turn into a corner carried more force, as did the step up in resistance once additional forces were applied to the car under heavy cornering.

The build quality was the usual Fanatec standard, well put together, stylish in finish and I must say a rather neat and "cool" solution in comparison to some of the other Direct Drive products available in the marketplace today.

Having spoken with Endor CEO Thomas Jackermeier at length about the new range (interview video to follow later), he confirmed the Podium series of wheels will be compatible with earlier ClubSport rims as well as receiving a brand new range of rims, pedals and accessories further down the line. Additional confirmation was given that two different DD units will be produced, both containing the same housing but with different torque strengths.

No release date has been confirmed as yet, however early development units are under testing as we speak.

RaceDepartment have requested and have been approved for a long term test unit, of which we will put through its paces once it arrives and give you a full and detailed review in the coming months.



Stay tuned to RaceDepartment for more news and insight from the Sim Racing Expo over the next few days and follow us on social media at on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, Steam and YouTube.

Looking forward to the Fanatec Direct Drive range of products? Can the company challenge the established DD manufacturers? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[WOKOWEN1]

Steering wheels, pedals and shifters are mostly output devices. The real inputs are the car forces translated to your body via your seat.

 

[Mr Latte]

I think you missresd my comment, the software alone is £80 (edit. It was $89 not £80, memory not what it was, so closer to £65) and you don't get anything with it. It wasn't £80 total. Sim commander is £80, the bass shakers are just over £15 each and are the same as some of the more expensive ones exactly just without the heatrsink which you do not need. I got them here...https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zisaline-B...TF8&qid=1506024706&sr=8-5&keywords=transducer, the car amp i use is a 4 channel bassface DB4.2 but some people just use a cheap under £10 mini amp off ebay and say it works well, like this... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200W-12V-...085830?hash=item3f80b1f4c6:g:fNkAAOSwkRhZVfdr but ive never tried it i wanted a car amp with ports built for bass to get a true bass effect. I wired it up with an onld 400w PC PSU i had spare. Out of the box sim commander is set up pretty poorly unless you using an expensive butt kicker, you need to change the HZ of the effects to suit the bass shakers you buy. For example i use 20hz for small bumps, 60hz for large bumps, 55hz for gear change with mine, it felt terrible the way it was default. Engine vibration i set to max 90 hz. The bass shakers handle up to 100hz fine and do not overheat. The only effects i run are road texture, road bumps, engine vibration and gear change, it feels best with just those. Sim commander is vital, you can't just run it using bass alone as it's just not the same, i mean it's better than nothing but not in the same ballpark.

Oh and you also need 2 soundcards, one for the software and one for you regular use.

My dear fellow, you have your frequencies and bumps mixed up.

20Hz & 60Hz (with harmonics each sinewave creates)

LARGE bumps should be represented by frequencies that have MORE bass energy.
Therefore, the LOW Hz. (20Hz)

SMALL bumps should be represented by the Hz that have LESS bass energy. (60Hz)

But, yes, yes I know what you're going to say............
You see cheaper or basic tactile units will struggle to deliver low bass frequencies below 40Hz with sufficient strength. This is why you're feeling more strength with 60Hz than 20Hz.

Try Big @ 40Hz-45Hz and small at 60Hz-70Hz
You need to discover what Hz is the peak output your units can deliver to represent the big from the small. Too close for Big/Sml values (as in only 5-10Hz apart) they will feel similar. As you can see the Hz you input are only "center values" they are not the only Hz generated by the tone. They each have surrounding frequencies and harmonic tones. If too close then they could overlap.

Hope its some help

 

[RichardHessels]

Like I said before. Don't spend your money on something that is trying to bring ffb forces to your hands when in real life it doesnt doesnt reach your hands. The real life road paint you feel in your hands can also be felt on a Logitech G27. The road paint you can't feel on a G27 you simply can't feel it in a real life car. So what's the point spendind money on something that is bringing motion to the wrong part of your body??? Get a good motion dof system or buttkicker because those are the only ones capable of simulating the 99% of real world forces. DD wheels are almost the price of a good motion seat+g27 and they can't give you more than 1% of real world car feedback simply because the real world steering wheels won't give you more than that.

Must say that the OSW Big Mige is delivering a huge amount of more information than my beefed up G25. Let go the idea that you want to mimic real life. You want to go as fast as possible, every extra bit of input is welcome.

 

[Furnace Inferno]

Actually I want to get closer to real life not just go faster but what he says is still nonsense, the cogging alone on the Logitech wheels make them feel nothing like the real thing. Then you have the fact the rim is tiny and if you fight the FFB the horrible feeling like it's going to break as the gears slip and make a ton of noise, just no.

 

[LeonS]

So the year is coming to an end, the Fanatec blog still says Q4 2017. Has anyone heard anything new? I'm starting to save up for a DD wheel, and mostly wondering about the release date. Any clue? Q1? Q2? Q3?

From Thomas' interviews I'd expect pricing to be in the 999-1199€ (incl. VAT) range for the smallest wheel base, so roughly twice that of a V2.5. Or would you guys disagree?

 

[Rudder]

So the year is coming to an end, the Fanatec blog still says Q4 2017. Has anyone heard anything new? I'm starting to save up for a DD wheel, and mostly wondering about the release date. Any clue? Q1? Q2? Q3?

From Thomas' interviews I'd expect pricing to be in the 999-1199€ (incl. VAT) range for the smallest wheel base, so roughly twice that of a V2.5. Or would you guys disagree?

https://feelvr.game/
Force Feedback Direct Drive Racing Wheel with paddle shifters and buttons plate $333


Range for the smallest Fanatec wheel base should be $399-$500.

 

[Furnace Inferno]

Haha, no it won't be anywhere close to that, they've already said it will be more than the V2.5. That FeelVR will also be $900 normally which is closer to Accuforce money but without the software support and unproven as yet, let's wait and see how it turns out. A cheaply made DD wheel could be worse than a belt-driven one remember.

 

[LeonS]

https://feelvr.game/
Force Feedback Direct Drive Racing Wheel with paddle shifters and buttons plate $333


Range for the smallest Fanatec wheel base should be $399-$500.

I'm sceptical about the FeelVR stuff. The low prices, design aimed at 15-year-olds, suggested desk mount (first picture on the site), and some inaccuracies in the specs don't seem all that convincing. I'll be happy to be proven wrong but until then I'm not expecting much.

The Fanatec DD wheel will certainly be priced considerably above the V2.5 as they're keeping the Clubsport stuff in their line-up. The V2.5 wheel base is priced at 550€.

My personal expectation is, as I said, that we'll find the smallest Fanatec DD wheelbase at 999 or higher. Or does anybody know more than we can get from the blog post, RD and simracinggirl interviews?

 

[Turvey]

So the year is coming to an end, the Fanatec blog still says Q4 2017. Has anyone heard anything new? I'm starting to save up for a DD wheel, and mostly wondering about the release date. Any clue? Q1? Q2? Q3?

From Thomas' interviews I'd expect pricing to be in the 999-1199€ (incl. VAT) range for the smallest wheel base, so roughly twice that of a V2.5. Or would you guys disagree?

Same boat as you saving away hopfully get some idea of price and release date soon.

 

[Turvey]

Just thinking,does anyone have the accuforce? When the released the first model it was $2000. Two years later the second model is $1300.and on black Friday it was $999.
Fanatec i believe are releasing 2 versions .will they go the same way after 2 years release another version then by sale time its half the original price.
Id like to think once getting a direct drive it will last a solid 5 years with constant abuse.
So would it be worth waiting for the next sale on accuforce grabbing one of them .seeing what the fanatec does in the next 2 or 3 years and if they go the same way. Within 3 years you have 2 direct drive wheels for the price of 1?
I wish they would come out with morw details so i can stop thinking

 

[CC]

Just thinking,does anyone have the accuforce? When the released the first model it was $2000. Two years later the second model is $1300.and on black Friday it was $999.
Fanatec i believe are releasing 2 versions .will they go the same way after 2 years release another version then by sale time its half the original price.
Id like to think once getting a direct drive it will last a solid 5 years with constant abuse.
So would it be worth waiting for the next sale on accuforce grabbing one of them .seeing what the fanatec does in the next 2 or 3 years and if they go the same way. Within 3 years you have 2 direct drive wheels for the price of 1?
I wish they would come out with morw details so i can stop thinking

I watched an insane review man ill find it , 1st time I watched all of one for years normally loose interest , but perfect for these wheels ill go grab it
here watch all this great insight

 

[Turvey]

I watched an insane review man ill find it , 1st time I watched all of one for years normally loose interest , but perfect for these wheels ill go grab it
here watch all this great insight

Seems the software is daunting for a lot of people. Its good he went through a few games and was honest about it.thanks for that mate.

 

[CC]

Seems the software is daunting for a lot of people. Its good he went through a few games and was honest about it.thanks for that mate.

he has a few more on his channel with other games so 5 games in total he reviewed , he seems really honest , I really enjoyed watching the review and how hes saying that Assetto Corsa is really brought to life with the scanned tracks with the accuforce wheel , where with his old wheel hardly felt anything , also has a 13nm torque motor , not sure what the fanatec one is running ,
I always buy fanatec had quite a few wheels and they feel stunning they really do , but after watching this review its kinda switched my thoughts over ,
to be honest be nice if he bought a fanatec direct drive wheel and compared it to the accuforce now that would be a good watch

 

[Turvey]

he has a few more on his channel with other games so 5 games in total he reviewed , he seems really honest , I really enjoyed watching the review and how hes saying that Assetto Corsa is really brought to life with the scanned tracks with the accuforce wheel , where with his old wheel hardly felt anything , also has a 13nm torque motor , not sure what the fanatec one is running ,
I always buy fanatec had quite a few wheels and they feel stunning they really do , but after watching this review its kinda switched my thoughts over ,
to be honest be nice if he bought a fanatec direct drive wheel and compared it to the accuforce now that would be a good watch

Would love to see it i dare say we will in the not to distant future. Was tweaking around my wheel last night and i decided i can probably last to the black Friday sales this sept. Pedals on the other hand i i dont think i can hold out the accelerator spiking is sending me nuts im bad enough as it is i don't need my pedals hampering my turtle pace.

 

[Phaster89]

Seems the software is daunting for a lot of people. Its good he went through a few games and was honest about it.thanks for that mate.

it's poorly designed and too complicated for what it does, maybe if you run laps like .010 seconds of seconds of each other you'll notice a difference after messing with one those 15 level deep settings

 

[dud]

I am confused. Is this to be placed above the Clubsport? Or between CSL and Clubsport?

 

[Dirk Steffen]

I am confused. Is this to be placed above the Clubsport? Or between CSL and Clubsport?

It will be marketed as a new premium line of sim racing gear ABOVE the current top of the line Clubsport range.

 

[Furnace Inferno]

it's poorly designed and too complicated for what it does, maybe if you run laps like .010 seconds of seconds of each other you'll notice a difference after messing with one those 15 level deep settings

The basic device settings really are no more complicated than any other wheel if you stick to those.

Where it can go crazy is the fine tuning in sim commander and even then it’s no different to learning how to setup all the parameters of a car setup. Except it’s probably quicker because you are just changing the feel to your liking rather than trying to work out if a change is faster through multiple laps.

 

[Turvey]

Some news from fanatec.
Talking about delays...
We are all waiting for this product to be released but we had to fight a lot of small issues. The pre-production is done and we are still making internal tests to verify the design and sort out some obvious issues.
Currently we select the beta testers and will get in contact with them shortly. The beta tests will start in late february and it is still planned to held a community event in our HQ where we will invite interested potential customers and direct drive specialists to help us fine tuning the wheel base.
At the moment we are aiming to start selling the DD wheel bases in summer.
Some good news as well. We managed to crank up the torque on both versions. We also successfully eliminated all torque ripple so you can expect the same smoothness as on your ClubSport Wheel bases which is better or on par with the very best DDs out there.

 

[LeonS]

Some news from fanatec.
Talking about delays...
We are all waiting for this product to be released but we had to fight a lot of small issues. The pre-production is done and we are still making internal tests to verify the design and sort out some obvious issues.
Currently we select the beta testers and will get in contact with them shortly. The beta tests will start in late february and it is still planned to held a community event in our HQ where we will invite interested potential customers and direct drive specialists to help us fine tuning the wheel base.
At the moment we are aiming to start selling the DD wheel bases in summer.
Some good news as well. We managed to crank up the torque on both versions. We also successfully eliminated all torque ripple so you can expect the same smoothness as on your ClubSport Wheel bases which is better or on par with the very best DDs out there.

I wish they had a program to buy a V2.5 now and then trade it in when the DDs are ready. I'd be all over that offer.