Virtual Racing Accessories

Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo $349.95

It's easy to discern that Fanatec's Porsche 911 Turbo wheel is the most expensive in this article by simply opening the box. Just opening the cardboard flaps, the wheel's leathery aroma begins to fill the air and by the time it's been fully unboxed, you might as well be inside a tannery. Designed to be a near-exact copy of the item found in Zuffenhausen's force-fed sports car, the Fanatec wheel is the same diameter and thickness. One huge difference is that the Fanatec wheel -- despite earning Porsche's blessing and full licensing -- is made in China, not Germany, although it is designed in the latter. Either way, first impressions are favorable, right down to the metal Porsche crest in the wheel's center. Oh, and two Porsche key-like items are included inside the packaging as well. While nearly identical, one is a wireless USB connector (none of the other wheels here have a wireless option) and the other is a 1GB memory stick. Cool.

Like the G25, three methods of shifting are available: paddles (more like buttons behind the horizontal spokes), a sequential lever, or an H-pattern lever and clutch pedal. Unlike the G25, the sequential and H-pattern shifters are two separate units, each able to slide on to the side of the wheel's base. Each is constructed primarily of plastic and rubber, lacking the leather wrapping of Logitech's premium offering, and the H-pattern unit - while notably direct and precise - is much tighter than that on the G25, seeming to "click" into each gate with an almost switch-like actuation. While we had little trouble getting our gears, the G25 shifter felt a little less artificial in its movement. Meanwhile, the pedals are chrome-plated plastic, not metal. Worth noting, however, is the metal plate that screws on to the bottom of the plastic pedal base. This, in combination with the non-slip rubber pad that Fanatec includes, keeps the pedal assembly from slipping around much better than either Logitech unit.

In actual use, the Porsche 911 Turbo wheel feels like a strong competitor to Logitech's G25. Easily the most realistic to the touch, the wheel's feedback is also the strongest, able to nearly wrestle its way out of the user's hands at its highest setting. The feedback level is adjustable, as is the number of degrees lock-to-lock, allowing for faster steering in formula-type racers and slower steering for street machines. Multiple settings are able to be stored and recalled for various cars or games. And not only does the unit offer feedback, but it also rumbles, using separate motors and contributing strongly to the realism.

The pedals offer good resistance, though the clutch return may be a bit strong for some, with too much of a spring-loaded feel. Fanatec's wheel also offers a bolt-on mounting option in addition to its plastic clamps and includes a template for drilling the appropriate mounting holes - a good thing, as the clamps were unable to adjust tight enough to hold the steering unit firmly to the thin metal steering platform of the Playseats Evolution. We needed to bolt the Fanatec wheel on to keep the feedback from ripping the wheel off the platform altogether.

Who would we recommend the Fanatec Porsche 911 wheel to? The cost-is-no-object Porsche enthusiast. With the best steering feel here, the strongest feedback, and the added rumble and wireless capability, it just edges out the Logitech G25 for ultimate wheel. Still, the pedals can't quite touch the G25 for feel and nor can the shifter. We also wish the quality of some components were better -- epecially the cheap-looking plastic pedals. This one is probably most likely to impress your gaming buddies as well.