I've been playing demo for a while now and whilst I think I can do better than many first time players my lap times are nowhere near the really fast guys. I'm currently using a mouse and keyboard and can get times around 1.28 tops in the XRT and 1.38 in the XFG with downloaded setups, but I can't seem to get any better.

I've been trying to order this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/o ... NV9EM/026-1140145-9990833
for weeks from Amazon, but have had no luck (none in stock). Should I just give up on it? I really don't want to spend much on a wheel, but if it'd improve my lap times then that'd be great. I'm not sure if the steering would improve with a wheel, but I suspect throttle/brake control would be much better, since using a keyboard results in either full throttle or full braking..

I think nearly everyone here would agree a decent wheel really enhances the feel and immersivity of the game.

+1

I don't like the look of that wheel, but I don't know anyone who's got one so I'm not really worth listening to.

For that money I'd probably look at one of these. Pretty much all of us are using Logitech wheels, although very few of us are using that particular one. I've got the older version of it and it's a decent wheel for the money IMO.

Will a steering wheel decrease your times?

To start will no, ultimately it will though, not only that it will make the sim much more enjoyable and immersive.

that wheel isn't that great, a Momo or DFP would be MUCH better (but cost about £50), or a M$ sidewinder ffb wheel would be better AND cheaper.

Check the wheel link in my sig

Well, it makes the game more fun, that's for sure.
But sadly, even after playing with my wheel for 3 Months now, I still get better laptimes with my Playstation-Gamepad

They sure aren't cheap :/ Hm, well I've put in a bid for 11.50 on an MS Sidewinder on ebay, £10 postage takes it to £21.50 and it's got a gameport connector so it'll need to be screwed onto the soundcard, but that's life..

No they're not cheap but you need to consider what you're buying there mate.

If you win the wheel and pay out £21 given the fact its second hand it probably wont last much longer, perhaps it will.

Now say if it breaks in say 2 months? You'll go and buy another wheel perhaps even a brand new wheel @ £50/160 and if you buy it online you'll have to cough up another £10 for delivery.

Now consider you can pickup a DFP(Driving Force Pro) for around £50 maybe cheaper with a £10 for delivery. Is it really worth buying a second hand wheel? In my opinion it isn't and id consider going out any buying a new wheel just for peace of mind.

...them M$ wheels last FOREVER, i've had one for oooh, as long as i can remember (easly about 6 years!) sold it and it was still working great

It's more sensible to get an S2 licence first.

Wheels are a niceity, it is possible to live without a wheel and use a pad or something. As much as I would like to drive LFS all the time with my DFP 1) I'm even slower with it and 2) there is barely enough room where my desk is.

Quote from Jakg :

...them M$ wheels last FOREVER, i've had one for oooh, as long as i can remember (easly about 6 years!) sold it and it was still working great

Anything will last a life time if treated correctly, but can you trust the seller?

My wheel made me faster :| but probably becuse the game pad i used was crap - fun - BUT CRAP ...i guess it all depends.

try to get your hand on a ms sidewinder force feedback wheel if possible. they may be cheaper then a momo or dfp but is a real long life product!

don't get a cheaper one and safe your money until you can afford a momo, a dfp or a ms SWff.

a wheel made me faster in som cases, but an advantage i saw from a wheel is the ability to preserve your tires alot longer, and make you endure hours of racing.

Shame my DFP packed up in less than 4 weeks...

Well I went with the Sidewinder, apparantly it hadn't had much use, I don't mind if it has to be honest. I did check around for prices on other wheels but they really were all pretty expensive, or being sold by people with pretty poor feedback. Could have bought a Momo for about £55-60, but it'd have been refurb and possibly the wrong pedal version..

S2 liscence coming soon.

On an entirely different topic, in the Options -> Player menu what does "Brake help" actually do. Are we talking ABS, that controls your braking to prevent wheel lock up/makes braking more effective, or are we talking something that puts the brakes on for you when you approach a corner a little too fast or start to skid (sort of like ESP)? Or Neither?

Is it likely to improve or harm lap times?

Quote from pantherd90 :

Well I went with the Sidewinder, apparantly it hadn't had much use, I don't mind if it has to be honest. I did check around for prices on other wheels but they really were all pretty expensive, or being sold by people with pretty poor feedback. Could have bought a Momo for about £55-60, but it'd have been refurb and possibly the wrong pedal version..

!!!! rip-off, i know where to get a new DFP for £60...

Hmm. I don't like the idea of buying used wheels without being able to try them first. I and several others I know bought "refurbished" wheels on eBay that were DOA (*cough* "Just Deals" *cough*).

BOught a MS FF Wheel 4 months ago for £10 its ages old - but fantastic condition still and really made me enjoy racing games again (10 brake since playing Microprose F1GP GP2 GP3 GPL etc etc..

Have got to the limit where i can tell i need better equipment and i have just got a DFP off Dabs for £60 yesterday and it arrived this morning

Quote from pantherd90 :

On an entirely different topic, in the Options -> Player menu what does "Brake help" actually do. Are we talking ABS, that controls your braking to prevent wheel lock up/makes braking more effective, or are we talking something that puts the brakes on for you when you approach a corner a little too fast or start to skid (sort of like ESP)? Or Neither?

Is it likely to improve or harm lap times?

Brake Help is not a lot like ABS. ABS controls wheels individually, whilst Brake Help is more of a help "at the brake pedal", iirc. Simply put it will release the brakes a bit if you lock wheels.
Won't make you faster. If you struggle with locked wheels, then just reduce the brake force a bit in the setup.

GL with the MSwheel. I've had an MSFF (red one) for aaaages, and minus a few squeaks (solved with a bit of TLC) it has been flawless.

Well the wheel has showed up and I've bought an S2 liscence. First impressions are good, I'm not seeing an improvement in times but I am finding that I can brake and accelerate slightly better thanks to the pedals and the force feedback effects are great, if a little terrifying.. I'll need to learn how to control skids with the wheel though, with the mouse I could normally correct a bit of oversteer/drifting fairly easily, with the wheel the force feedback whips me away from the skid (as opposed to turning into the skid and then correcting the line) which makes it worse and causes spectacular crashes.. which then cause things to fall off my desk.

Aside from the force feedback skid problem the only issues I'm having are learning the tracks, finding a decent seating position so that the pedals are used properly and some wobble from the wheel at high speeds. Oh and my girly arms are aching..

turn the ff down a bit 50 - 60% should do ya

also to stop the pedals sliding back untill they are out of reach, try some heavy books or even a brick! thats what I use

how you played without a wheel i'll never know :eclipseeh

When I had the demo, I always played with the keyboard. My times weren't fantastic, but I could keep up with the pack.
When I got S2 I got a wheel at the same time. My BL GP laptimes actually increased and since I had seen so many laps of that track I didn't really care

But what the wheel does is give you a great feeling for the drive. With FF you get a good impression of what the car's doing and it's more immersive (even if I do play with mine on my lap). And I think it's way more fun with a wheel too

Quote from pantherd90 :

with the wheel the force feedback whips me away from the skid (as opposed to turning into the skid and then correcting the line)

This is wrong behaviour...