Time to upgrade the Obutto R3volution gaming platform by putting a new steering wheel on my Thrustmaster T500RS. I went with a Sparco street wheel because it has tons of padding and feel great in my hands. I used the T500AD adapter from DSD Technology Systems Corporation to adapt the 70mm bolt pattern of the wheel to the native hub based T500RS design. I obtained the wheel for $200 from 425 Motorsports in Bellevue, WA and I couldn’t be happier with the end results!
•IGN 8/10 After playing Gran Turismo 5 with the Thrustmaster T500 RS, I never wanted to go back to a PlayStation DualShock controller. But the cost of the system makes it impossible to recommend to all but the most hardcore Gran Turismo 5 fanatics. If you are currently playing GT5 with a standard PlayStation 3 DualShock controller while rolling around on a pile of gold doubloons, then do yourself a favor and pick up a T500. But be warned — you’ll need something sturdy to clamp it to. As much fun as it might sound to hold something called a Thrustmaster in your lap, it’s not going to work with this one. Overall, the Thrustmaster T500 RS is a great piece of hardware that does the GT5 name proud. It brings the track alive, but at a terrible price.
•Engadget 6/10 At $599 it’s awfully hard to recommend this wheel and pedal combination. The wheel itself has a magnificent feel that’s beginning to knock on the door of much more expensive offerings like a Frex or ECCI, and the number of inputs makes managing button-happy cars easier. But, those buttons are hard to find while driving and the rubber coating feels unfortunately low-rent. The massive size of the thing makes it best suited for semi-permanent installations and the limited PS3 compatibility is, for the moment at least, a disappointment. Meanwhile the pedals are overkill yet underwhelming. They’re heavy and won’t go anywhere but all that weight feels excessive, unnecessary, and adorned with rubber feet that kept falling off. Not exactly what you’d expect for $599. Ultimately either the Logitech G27 or the Fanatec line of wheels offer nearly as good performance at a much more palatable cost — and with designs less likely to give you a hernia when hauling about the house.
•VirtualR.net So, is the T500 RS as innovative as the long feature list and the rather hefty price tag of 499€/$599 suggests? In one word: Yes! Don’t get fooled by the Gran Turismo badge, this wheel is most likely the most advanced product ever offered in this price range. The wheel’s precision is unmatched and the very strong & silent force feedback even edges out Fanatec’s Turbo S wheel.I´ve reviewed quite a lot of wheels and I´ve never instantly clicked with a new product as I did with the T500 RS. Usually, it takes me a bit of time to get up to speed with a new wheel but the T500 RS gave me instant confidence thanks to the great force feedback and the overall amazing feel provided when driving. Sadly, the pedal unit falls a bit off in terms of features, a load-cell brake would have been a fitting feature to make the pedals match the wheel and make it easier for more professional racers to consider switching to the T500 RS. Thrustmaster has put together a wheel that can compete even with professional wheels from niche-manufacturers that often sell for more than three times the price. And while some competitors might offer some features the T500 RS does not have (more expensive materials, a built-in display) the wheel is certainly the new benchmark in terms of precision, raw force feedback power and overall feel that will satisfy even the most demanding sim racers.
•Simulation World 94/100 This is an amazing product that really has targeted a market and a price point and hit a home run right away. They were a little hard to get hold of for a while but are now beginning to spring up in retail stores in the US and Europe. If in doubt, check Frys.com and amazon.com to see if they are in stock. If you have the cash and are looking to upgrade from a Logitech but can’t stomach the price of a ECCI, then this is the wheel for you. Just be prepared for a bit of an adjustment and a learning curve for the fixed paddles. This show is an independent production of Jerry Berg (aka Barnacules). Opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer, friends, or any companies mentioned in the show. Email business inquiries to [email protected] Help the channel by donating BitCoin to 1MfVZVMjfUUq8srg1d4RbgXR5e7JLw7R6P
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