Thrustmaster T500RS Racing Wheel
by Thrustmaster VG
List Price:
Our Price: $556.15
You Save: $42.85 (7%)
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Category: Video Games
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Product Summary
Brand: Thrustmaster VGRelease Date: 2011-01-01
Platform: PlayStation 3
Model: 4169056
Publisher: Thrustmaster VG
Product features:
- High precision wheel with 1080 degree rotation and super-powerful smooth force feedback effects
- Precision, Force Feedback & realistic angle of rotation
- Realistic pedal set
- New HEART (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) on the wheel
- Ultra precise wheel with 16 bit resolution 65536 values on the steering
Video Game Reviews of Thrustmaster T500RS Racing Wheel
Customer Review: The best wheel on the market
Summary: 5 Stars
When the Thrustmaster T500rs came out, I laughed a little bit. Thrustmaster has not made a good wheel in quite some time and at the price of 600 dollars, its double the cost of a G27. Not only is it double the cost, the wheel wheel housing is intensely large and the pedals are quite cumbersome. That being said, the wheel is superb in most every way.
I recently had a chance to use the T500rs for a while and was taken aback by how good it is. The force feedback is quite robust and precise. It gives a lot more feeling of realism only dreamed by the other wheels on the market. The wheel feels weighty, like a real car wheel, but lightens up the faster you drive and turn. This dynamic response is greatly appreciated when driving simulation racing games. Road inputs are much easier to feel with this wheel improving the users ability to respond and drive dynamically.
The buttons on the wheel are a mix between the G27 and the driving force GT. The versatility of the buttons on the driving force GT carry over to the T500rs but the buttons are small and hard to identify during races and quick turns. The buttons are unfortunately placed quite far from the rim and because of the diameter of the wheel, this makes it very hard to use during races unless you are on a straight or not in a race. The buttons do include a PS button which is very helpful on the PS3 as you don't have to keep a controller around to navigate menus.
The pedals on the T500rs are quite good. Though I think they are too large and are cumbersome in many instances, their performance is another story. The brake is firm and requires a bit of force to apply pressure. The clutch and gas pedal don't have the resistance that the brake does but they still take force to press down which is really nice. All in all the pedals are great during game play and give a relatively realistic depiction of real car pedals. Much like the G27 pedals, they don't have progressive feel that real car pedals provide. The brake pedal has a resistance mod that you can install that increases braking resistance and has the ability to create a progressive feel by adding a pieces of rubber that comes in contact part way through the brake travel. Its not perfect but it does enhance braking.
One of the most unfortunate things about this wheel, is that it does not include a shifter. Thrustmaster says they are developing one and it will be out soon, but it sounds like its not included with the set. This is unfortunate for being a 600 wheel, any of the wheels close or below this price point includes one (Fanatec and Logitech wheels). That being said, when racing competitively, I don't use a shifter, just shifter paddles so its not a huge loss.
The paddles on the T500rs are massive. Each one takes up about 20-25% of the wheels circumference. They are made of chromed metal and are quite hefty. They give a great tactile feedback when shifting. The big downside is that they are fixed to the wheel base, so they do not rotate with the wheel. This makes it hard or impossible to shift when turning certain cars. If you are in a 90 degree turn, you will not be able to shift unless you take your hand off of the wheel.
Another nice feature is that the firmware for the wheel is upgradeable. This helps with comparability with new games and systems later on down the road. Other than that, its a plug and play experience on the PS3 and all you have to do is install the driver to make it work on the PC.
If you are a serious sim racer, this wheel is the best wheel on the market. If you are more of a casual gamer this wheel is unnecessary. If you have the cash to drop and you take sim racing seriously, order this now.
Pros:
Realism
Force feedback precision
Button functionality
Pedal feel
Paddle Shifter feel
Clutch pedal
Ease of use on PC/PS3
Upgradable firmware
Cons:
Bulky
Pricey
No shifter
Fixed paddle shifters
Description of Thrustmaster T500RS Racing Wheel
The Thrustmaster T500RS is an Authentic wheel size with 100% metal, adjustable pedal set. It is 12" in diameter with brushed metal central spokes, Fully detachable (allows for future upgrades). It has Authentic sequential gearshift levers: crafted of brushed metal, attached to the base (so they don't move with the wheel) 6.9" in height (for instant access along 1080°. The New H.E.A.R.T HallEffect AccuRate Technology on the wheel allows for an Ultra-precise wheel, with 16-bit resolution (65536 values on the steering). Precision that won't decrease over time (contactless magnetic sensor) Built with an industrial motor (Torque 150mNm, 3000rpm, 65W, 52mm/2") The Super-powerful, quick responding Force Feedback mechanism is a Rigid motorized stopper, no matter what angle of rotation you select. The Angle of rotation is adjustable up to 1080° (3 full turns). The Realistic Pedal Set has Unique design with your choice of 2 positions: Floor-mounted position (F1-style) and Suspended position (GT-style). 100% metal, for optimal stability, weight (more than 15.4lbs) and resistance. 3 100% adjustable pedals (adjust the spacing between the pedals as well as the height) Brake pedal with reinforced and adjustable resistance (includes a removable ?Realistic Brake" mod) and includes Includes metal footrest with non-slip grating textureControllers Games
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