Thank you for reviewing the CSL DD, Laurence. We’d like to highlight that we currently offer the CSL DD (5Nm) and (8Nm) at a reduced price. The CSL DD is now 199.95€ when paired with any Steering Wheel and any Pedals. The "CSL DD (8 Nm)" also has 50€ off the Boost Kit, so that is now 299.90€ when paired with any Steering Wheel and any Pedals. Greetings, your Fanatec Team
Yeah me neither. Read a lot about bad support, but it took them 3 hours to reply, and 1 day for the return label for the RMA. Even the delivery took 1 day
@@LaurenceDusoswa Fanatec is just like every other company. Sometimes they mess up... Just like everyone else... But people love to trash popular brands when they find out about the cases that went bad
It's great to see how far simracing has come since i got my first wheel. I got a fanatec csr in 2012 and loved it for 12 years until it finally broke. I then got the csl dd bundle and it was crazy how much the quality is compared to my csr. Also simracing is much more affordable now which is great to see. Great channel mate 👍
When I first got into sim racing I always wanted to own a Fanatec wheel setup but couldn't afford them. It's sad that now that I can afford one, they don't offer wheel bases with the price to performance to match my needs. I do hope they can figure the market out and make something that makes a big splash in the market. The CSL DD was just that when it came out but the competition has caught up and they need to do something to put their name back on top. Great review as usual LD.👍🏿
@@oppos727 I would recommend moza or fanatec depending on your budget. I've been using a logitech g920 since 2020 and after researching direct drive and load cell pedals for the last few years I prefer moza for their wheel bases and wheels. However, Fanatec’s Clubsport Elite Pedals V2 are great for the price and performance. It's 200 bucks cheaper then moza’s best pedal set, but in my opinion is better in performance. I chose the Moza GS GT wheel for $470 ( I got it for $400 on black Friday) and felt like it was better compared to Fanatec’s slightly smaller and older Clubsport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5. The Formula V2.5 is $350 and if you want dual clutch paddles (Note they come stock on the GS GT wheel) it will cost an extra $180, bringing the total to $530 before taxes. Meanwhile, fanatec’s higher-end wheelbases (8nm-15) are way overpriced in comparison to Moza’s offerings. Moza’s 9nm wheelbase costs $440, compared to Fanatec’s 8nm wheelbase which costs $600. Then, Moza’s 12nm wheelbase costs $590 compared to Fantec’s own 12nm costs $700. The only reason I’d consider going with Fanatec is their larger ecosystem, brand recognition, and their experience in the industry. However, in the few short years Moza has been in the sin racing community, they have proved themselves a serious contender to an industry leader like Fanatec.
To be honest I'm holding off on upgrading to the 8nm. I was surprised at just how stout 5 nm felt to me in ACC, but I'm a newbie so it'll take me a while to get a more refined feeling for it.
Yeah people love chasing the numbers. But honestly if you are feeling what you need to feel, the rest is diminishing returns. Your comment will help some people to make up their minds. Thanks!
@@顏鴻達-i7y yeah it "works". But even with 5nm my whole desk is shaking when i make a steering correction. Maybe I would get the 8nm to have better steering lock and just dial the ffb effects down a bit.
@@L3nny666 You need a nice heavy table then... I use mine on my work desk that is heavy af and loaded with lost of stuff... so no matter what that poor FFB tries to do to move it, this this ain't moving a bit... to make you understand, if I want to lift the legs of the desk from the ground I need to pull HARD and that's just to lift it a few inches... My screen isn't even wobbling at all when I race ... so yeah, 8Nm FFB works fine with table clamp IF you have a good, thick and heavy table... and definitely not something from IKEA... those things are light and flimsy af...
This is the best review of the CSL-DD and these two steering wheels. The only thing I'll say about getting the metal QR1 over the plastic QR1L is, the metal quick release does not degrade over time. In the year I had both wheels and the plastic QR1L, I had to stop using the McLaren wheel in fear of the QR1L breaking and taking my wheelbase and steering wheel with it. I ordered a metal QR1 and was lucky enough to win the Fanatec QR tolerance Lottery. The QR1 I go has absolutely no slop at all. Its rock solid. Eventually my confidence with the WRC's QR1L faded, and I began feeling excess slipping and hearing noise from the QR. I got another metal QR1 but wasn't so lucky with the lottery. The QR has a hair of play, and does make chattering sound when the FFB is intense, but it is still 1000% more sturdy than the plastic QR1 it replaces. Other than this, your review is pretty much my sentiment on the products, Fanatec, and what I think the company needs to do. Hell of a review, sir!
Interesting! I used mainly the plastic QRs and the guy who owns them (Milex in my community) had been using them for the past 1.5 years. Absolutely 0 issues for me. So I guess the take away from it is that there may be differences in batches? I dunno
I have been a G29 setup racer for years, got bored of it on and off. Never got really excited for sim racing as flight sims are my main passion. The wife gave the nod when the ready to race bundle came out and here in the UK I grabbed the BMW wheel, 8nm upgrade csl dd and the wife added a McLaren GT3 wheel in the cart for me. At 58 I’ve found what it seems is a main second passion. For newbies the csl dd is a fantastic entry into the world of damn good sim racing. My tuppence worth. Thx for the vid mate. Edit* ohhh and new sub 😊
Thanks for the sub and the great comment! If you're not in my discord, you should join. We have people of all ages and our average age is mid to late 30s.
I try to be honest and there are others who are also honest. Sometimes also we can think that people aren't being honest when their views or experience is not the same as ours. I appreciate the kind words and that you took the time to comment
I own CSW 2.5 since for ever and I tried this DD in the SimShow at Nurburgring for the first time. It did not convince me to fork out money for it. I am super happy with 2.5 and would only upgrade if it dies or my older son is in to simracing soon. Nice review
Great review Laurence, thank you very much. I'm pretty much sold on getting the CSL and i was looking exactly at those two wheels, one for GT (ACC and so on) and one for more general purpose.
Excellent review once again Lawrence think you hit the nail on the head with the Build quality and Fanatec having catch up with different DD strenghts. For these reasons that why im swaying towards the Asetek La Prima bundle. Hurry up and get that reviewed please ! Keep uo the top work 👍
@@kevinmurray1764I just bought a CSL Dd 8Nm and I'm gonna tell you this. Asetek's La Prima is great but not worth twice the price. It's something like 2-5% better experience for 100% more money. In my humble opinion, Fanatec has literally crushed the market with the recent pricing of CSL DD. 8Nm for 500€? Sorry but nobody can beat that...
Csl dd owner here. Have the wrc wheel with plastic qr. After about 3 weeks of use the wrc wheel has connection issues that are caused by the plastic qr slipping on the shaft. Edit: also the qr collar sticks and takes an exorbitant amount of force to undo after use.
It's good to see competition against Fanatec in the wheelbase market. I was set on Fanatec for a long time, but the dealbreaker for me is locking their FFB behind their own wheels or (expensive) wheel hub. There's also extensive complaints against their QR, and wait times on support, which doesn't help. For the asking price, I would rather look elsewhere even if that means saving for longer and jumping up a price tier for a higher quality of product.
Dude, I just bought a Csl DD 8Nm coming from a T300 and this thing is amazing... I've learned more about my car's setup on ACC driving the CSL for 3 hours than in a year with the T300. For the price this is complete robbery... Say what you want about Fanatec but CSL DD is smooth and quiet as hell and with 8Nm it is absolutely perfect in terms of strength at 100% torque. Sorry but I'm not gonna give twice the money to Asetec for a 2% better product, thank you very much...
7:00 not sure this was a feature issue at the time of footage capture Lawrence, but profile saving happens over on the "Game Profile" tab in Fanalab (on the right end of the submenus) and thanks to more recent versions including profile auto-loading based on car and sim, it's a very good spot to get acquainted with!
I did have a play with that yeah :D My issue was that I sometimes drift and sometimes grip in AC. And my settings for AC grip are usually the same as iRacing and ACC.
Hahaha love how the advantage of the push pull shifter on the McLaren V2 is the fact you can have a drink on the straight. Like a shifter would stop you😝
@@interestingvideos4046 very good. I‘m addicted! Really no negative experience. Except for that I’m doing nothing but racing now. The table clamp is not that nice. I really like the pedals. As I don‘t have a rig, load cell pedals would be way too hard anyways. And the brake has some rubber thingy so the brake feel is still progressive and not linear. The mclaren rim is great especially for racing, but you can only turn it 180 degree in each direction, more feels very wrong. So for cruising I will definitely get a round rim, maybe the p1 v2. The 5nm are plenty enough, only when it comes to steering lock, I’d wish there was more of a clear end. I upgraded from a controller so the step up is out of this world. I once rented a thrustmuster t300 for a month, but that thing was very disappointing, can’t even compare.
@L3nny666 I appreciate your lengthy response. I like hearing about all the little details. You should consider doing a youtube review. I only have brief forza horizon xbox controller driving experience and dont know how to drive in real life . I was thinking of getting the WRC wheel for formula 1 or dirt rally with the csl dd and the pedals so I can practice till I can learn to drive in real life . But wasn't certain about the pedals being good enough so thanks.
@@interestingvideos4046 well, i think formula 1 is very far away from real driving. if you want to practice for real life (I assume street car cruising through the city) play beamng drive, not formula 1. And if you are driving on track a wheel won't help you with track knowledge. In general I find the pedals top be much closer to a normal street car than for example the pedals that came with the thrustmaster.
I have it already and i am happy with it. Use the most times 5-6 nm and only in strong open wheeler the full 8 nm. AC ingame FFB at 50% and the most cars at 100% +-25%. I use the base with the Clubsport RS Wheel and the Formula 2.5, depends on car. The combi with the V3 Padals is awesome and overall enough with my Next Level Racing Wheelstand 2.0. Still use the Office chair hanging in. All stable. Use the 37.5" screen with an arm to switch easy between desktop and racing mode. :)
I have the same two wheels plus 3 others. My favorite wheel is definitely the clubsport RS with leather. I hardly ever change it out, wish I had the advanced paddle shifters for it. Great wheel for everything!
I was on the fence about this exact bundle and wheel with v2 pedals vs Moza r9 and S-RP pedals. I think me being in the US will influence my decision for Fanatec as well. That being said I do think Fanatec is ramping up and new products are on the way. All these deals to get rid of stock and hopefully put the money into and R&D and new products. They are now the official partner of GT7 as well so they will be coming out with more GT spec rims. All in all I feel like we will see their next gen sometime next year spring. With a heavy emphasis on entry and mid level.
I'm intrigued at the quality Moza is getting called out for (good quality) but I don't like their wheels, and the pedals I want are the Fanatec Elite pedals. Just getting into the sim setup for Forza Motorsport on PC.
@@LaurenceDusoswa... Annnnnd you were wrong lol. 🤷 The ClubSport DD (12nm) & DD+ (15nm) are FANTASTIC!!! They definitely aren't CSL DD revolutionary, but they are still GREAT products with the best motors Fanatec has ever made by a mile; making them riiiiiight up there with basically anything that's not from Simucube.
I just bought this exact same set-up with the CSL Pedals on black friday deal shipped for less than $750. Now it is the 5nm version but I will upgrade the power supply at a later date.
@@LaurenceDusoswa i like it very much its great for my use . i really like the ks wheel that wheel is just so good . the main reasons i went for the moza ecosysteem is support and price . and of simagic the price of the round wheels were to expensive for my use .. and i didn't like the openwheels of simagic .. the only wheel that i liked whas the GTC Wheel. the average price of the simagic wheels for me are 600 eu
I just ordered the CSL DD 8nm with McLaren GT3 wheel and CSL elite V2 pedals. They have such a no-brainer deal right now. I own a t300 with Clubsport v3's and I'm seriously thinking of selling those V3's and going for the V2's in my rig. Can't wait!
Even though I am not looking for the new wheelbase but I watched that video with pleasure. CLS DD has had a lot of the praise when it was launched and it is really good to see long term review how this product compares to the competition. Out of curiosity - is the garbage collector included in the video at 11:00 an intentional pun? 😅
Agreed I'm still on an old CSR Elite (2013) and do not want to upgrade until Fanatec launch a reasonably priced 12nm DD base, round leather wheel wheel and QR2.
I've just added the QR2 to my 8Nm DD Pro wheelbase and CSL WRC rim and it really has taken things up another notch. I think the QR1 lite itself as well as the sloppy interface with the base-side QR1 was dampening some details. The whole setup feels more alive with QR2.
06:55 You dont actually NEED two softwares, you only NEED the driver. FanaLab is optional if you want to save profiles for a game (or even for a specific car) with specific FFB settings or LED settings which can even be loaded fully automatic by FanaLab when you load a game or a specific car. Those profiles btw can be named however you like in the game profile tab where you save the profiles. Btw: You used a COMPLETELY outdated FanaLab version. 1.66 is basically ancient old. You should at least have used 1.69.7 for thiis video, or even better 1.99.03.
This review has been going on for many many months, so some footage is super old. I did upgrade it and believe I was on the latest when the review period ended. I can check on my pc. As for needing two pieces of software, I probably wasn’t clear. I only used fanalab really but I’m not sure if you can uninstall the Fanatec control center without losing your device drivers. I didn’t try but that’s what I assumed.
@@LaurenceDusoswa no, thats what I said, you only NEED the driver (aka Fanatec Control Panel). That one includes ther USB device drivers for WIndows. Without a driver installed, nothing works. FanaLab is the optional tool but imo this software one of the biggest selling points for Fanatec, so imo the Lab is also essential. :D
I'm good. I had one for about a year. It had the dreaded input shaft problem, where the USB port to the shaft would disconnect, and cut the power to the steering wheel, and FFB for a split second. Lost so many races because of that silly hardware design. Besides the fact that the torque collar on the input shaft doesn't keep it torqued down well either. I gave Fanatec a solid chance, and bought several replacements, before moving to Moza.
@LaurenceDusoswa Yeah, man. I really tried and I trouble shot everything. Bought two seperate Formula wheels, in case it was a wheel issue vs the base, got a aftermarket column stiffer and new clamp on the input shaft. Tapped the column in to make sure it was snug, the list goes on. But I could 100% repro the issue for people and it made things not fun. It's a shame, because the pricing and the form factor made so much sense, but I had such an issue with Fanatec quality, doing the sole thing the wheel base was designed for, I had to switch brands.
@cameron5764 I got an R9 with an FSR Formula wheel. It's been a great experience with no serious issues. Super minor software update bugs but that's so minor. Never going back to Fanatac.
I picked up the CSL with the formula 2.5 wheel , the Elite 2 pedals and the 8nm booster …. All of that with shipping etc for 588 bucks. Black Friday and some sneaky stuff. 🕺🕺🕺
@@LaurenceDusoswa Actually only an R5. I'm not blessed with any space for a rig unfortunately so I have to make do with my work desk, so a really small wheelbase made sense. I found my CSL DD would flex and the table clamp was really awkard as I have to remove it every day to work. The quick release is just so much better also for the price with the Moza. When I got my R5, I found the force feedback - although not perfect - much smoother than my CSL DD with which you can kind of 'feel' the steps, it's hard to explain. Anyway I'm now going to sell my R5 for an R9 just because the V2 seems to have come down in price now and is still small enough to be practical. I have an arm injury so previously thought even that much torque might be too much, but of course it's all about the detail and I'm a little older and wiser now :)
What size and type were the screws that you used with the t-nuts under the wheel base? I just bought the GT DD Pro second hand and came without the t-nuts and screws. My rig from Simlab has a similar wheel base plate like yours (probably the same) so I would love to know to order the right size and type. Thanks.
@@LaurenceDusoswa Thanks, I just found out they're 40 series m6 x 8mm t-nuts or m8 x 8mm t-nuts for a tighter fit. Only missing the length of the bolts.
I'm currently thinking of buying the McLaren wheel but right now I mainly play on playstation 5 but i plan on starting on pc more as well just wondering a little if you have any knowledge on how the buttons and switches work on ps5?
@LaurenceDusoswa I'm currently looking to buy the 8nm DD with the McLaren wheel. I was on the edge considering the formula v2.5, but this video sold me on the Mclaren for shur, might upgrade later but for the dollar for value I can wait
You should've covered fanatecs weakpoint, the very bad customer support and horrendous shipping time and issues. I got all my stuff that I ordered 1 month late and that is pretty fast by fanatec standards. And a lot of people get ignored by customer support and if they reply it's like 2 weeks late.
ha you were lucky to get yours. I ordered my setup almost 2 months ago and still nothing. Had to file a dispute with paypal to get my money back. The only reason I considered them was PS support. Avoid Fanantec at all costs. Worst experience ever!
You can use any mix of USB devices on PC. no hardware can stop you but some arcade games want everything to be connected via the wheelbase to it depends. Any proper sim title will not limit you in any way. wreckfest, beamng, dirt rally 2.0, iRacing, rFactor2, ACC, AC, AMS, AMS2 all work with mixed hardware for sure
Upgrading from a Logitech G923. Currently trying to decide between this, Moza R9 or a simagic alpha mini. I know the simagic will cost more but I’m worried about the quality of the others. Is it worth the extra money in your opinion?
I need advice please guys should i go for the Fanatec CSL DD 5nm without loadcell pedals, Thrustmaster T300 ferrari 599x evo edition, or Thrustmaster T248? Thanks I will read all responses. I have never owned a wheel and im super into racing games. My budget is about £400/$500/€460
@@LaurenceDusoswa Okay thanks. All the reviews say the 5nm one leaves a lot to be desired but I can always just buy the 8nm upgrade later on as well eh
It’s good this product exists, but I believe Moza or simagic is the way to go for build quality and QR. For xbox or PS4/5, sure..but if you’re on PC I’d go another route.
🤦... Absolute utter nonsense... 😑 Moza's pedals are dogshit, the ecosystem is super small, and you can get a CSL DD 8nm w/ QR2 setup for HUNDREDS less than an R5 one if you get a 3rd party 8nm boost kit PSU off Amazon w/ Prime for $60 or off AliExpress for ≈$40-$45 shipped from China! And the CSL DD at 8nm absolutely ROCKSTOMPS the R5!!! The Moza R9 otoh is slightly more powerful (+≈10%) but has slightly less feedback fidelity/resolution than the 8nm CSL DD IMO. Plus it also still has a tiny ecosystem and ofc it's also even MORE expensive than the already more expensive vs Fanatec R5 bundles! 🤷 The Moza R12 is a great piece of kit but IMO it's I'd probably go with Simagic at that point if you're ok with a small ecosystem. 🤷
Thanks for this great review. Is the "CSL Steering Wheel P1 V2" steering wheel the same as the WRC wheel but without the Alcantara and with a different color scheme?
With the new promo, I can get everything I need to make the jump to direct drive and upgraded pedals for around $1000. I want this to be my forever rig. I’ve been sim racing for about a year and a half on a G923 - will I be wanting more in another year and a half?
I can’t answer that question. There is better hardware out there. But I’m sim racing as with every other hobby, there’s a point of diminishing returns on your investment. Only spend money that you have. Ultimately if you upgrade to this setup from your g923, you’ll be blown away. And you’ll only get the itch for something ‘better’ when you have the spare money lying around.
@@LaurenceDusoswathanks for the response. I have been thinking about this a lot, so I am content whatever way I go. I am definitely just looking for a fun, immersive experience. I am not esport driver!
@@NeverEvenRacedDude, if you have the money just buy A CSL DD 8Nm. I just bought one coming from a T300 and I'm awestruck. This thing is a dream. FFB is strong and incredibly smooth, even smoother than DD1 and DD2 without the massively more torque that nobody uses (nobody uses DD2 over 40-45% torque). CSL DD for it's price is a dream come true.
Hii ! Great video...Just need a suggestion...I wanna buy my first wheelbase,Should i go for the G29 or G923 which are both around 250 Euros or the CSL DD bundle 5Nm for 400 Euros...Is it worth the difference?
This is a great choice if you have the ability to fix it yourself or have a good friend that can carry out plastic and electrical repairs. Otherwise stay away from FANATEC. I will go out of my way to warn others about the number of premature failures I and many others have experienced with the McLaren wheel and CSL pedals.
Nice review but i'd like to have your opinion on something. I'm currently on the market to get a dd as i already have an awesome rim. So i'm comparing the fanatec csl dd 8nm and the simagic alpha mini. How do you think these two would compare as i don't care about ecosystem or any of their wheel addon ? And in my country the price difference is only 110euros between the csl dd 8nm + podium hub and the alpha mini + qr adapter. I feel like it's a no brainer to go the simagic way but i want to have someone's opinion.
For me, Simagic is in a different league to the Fanatec gear. The new Fanatec ClubSport DD might be worth a look though. But you cannot go wrong with the Alpha mini.
To be honest, if you're on a budget and you want a round rim, there is also the P1 v2 and the BMW rim. Those are of the same quality and functionality...
My problem with Fanatec happens to be one of availability. Given the company's reputation for shipping, buying from a distributor is pretty much the way to go. Guess what, there is only one distributor in Canada and that distributor, Simulation1, has a habit of specifically selling Fanatec products for way more than they are actually worth. The premium CSL DD Pro bundles sells for 1750 CAD. This looks fine until you take in consideration that a Simagic Alpha Mini GT1D Bundle, plus their P1000 Pedals, retails for roughly 1944 CAD. So for an additional 200, you more than getting your money's worth.
@LaurenceDusoswa I own a small Mobile Sim Racing business, I do birthday parties, store fronts and business events. I look for ease of setup and use, I love your page
100 bucks for their quick release is an absolute con, it's a terrible QR which unfortunately is a must buy as their plastic one is even worse and not fit for purpose
I found the plastic one as 'good' as the QR-1 for these wheels. I would strongly advise against spending the extra money and just enjoy it for what it is.
@@LaurenceDusoswa i had the plastic one on my mclaren rim when i had fanatec gear, i had to use pieces of paper as a shim because it would slip and knock otherwise, pure garbage, moza are putting fanatec to shame
Love your videos! Which pedals do you recommend for max 600 euros I considered the HE sprint but 65 kg probably will not be enough for me. I need only 2 pedals
@@LaurenceDusoswa fanatec don’t ship to Israel, simforge is too weak(60 kg) and forte dan Suzuka said that they are actually potentiometer. Which is better venym or the meca evo? If the meca I’ll probably try to buy the hydraulic
ive been struggling trying to choose between this and the r9. fanatec is cheaper for me coming in at around $800 ($770 + $25 shipping) with the csl bmw wheel (the all black one is sold out), csl 8nm, and the csl elite v2 pedals while moza is around $1000 ($860 + $120 shipping) with the r9, srp pedals, and the es wheel with the wheel mods. Is it worth the extra $200 to go moza or should i go the fanatec route?
Based on your budget, Fanatec is the better option. the pedals are also superior to the moza pedals. (namely the brake). Ultimately though, you'll be happy with both. But if you want superior build quality, MOZA is the way to go.
I paid 100 euro and I do feel crap ever time I have to look for my hex key to switch wheels the QR lite is better but I got disconnect problems on my gt3 wheel so I paid the 100 euros I wish the screw was a thumb screw fanatec did send me a new QR lite free of charge and I've had no problem with the one on my p1 wheel
V3 bad pedals, beautiful but useless. The Load Cell pedal is so outdated. That yes, the $135 CSL LOAD CELL outperforms the V3. In V3 constant wedge feeling. It doesn't really matter if there's lube in there or not. CSL ELITE V2 needs to add a replacement spring to the gas pedal. And V3 will completely lose both CSL PEDAL and ELITE V2 WIN
Yes, lots appear second hand. Same thing happens with phones, game consoles, cameras, etc. The volume of CSL DD units that have been sold is incredibly large.
I have the 5nm and I am not impressed at all. I’m looking at tiers sellers for a boost kit and might take the plunge to see what’s what, but so far, not impressed at all.
It’s hard to know without diving into settings or knowing what your experience and expectations are. But 5Nm is definitely very entry level. 8Nm is 60% more powerful
QR lite is absolute garbage, had two incl replacement from fanatec when I complained, 100% you’d be able to tell the difference between qr1 & lite in blind test, and you mainly appreciate qr1 because it’s less shit then the lite. I can appreciate fanatec being of average quality compare to pretty much any other sim company but the new QR (whenever that magically appears) must be better and should not cost what it does, current price for what amounts to a aluminium sleeve is ridiculous.
Honestly, I can’t. And I’m putting my reputation on the line saying that. There’s every chance I got lucky with a good shaft in the base but I wouldn’t put my house on it that I could tell them apart in a blind test. I specifically tested that exact thing a lot over the last few months. I did many races with both. I agree that it’s expensive for what it is and that’s why I recommend to stay with the plastic QR
I’ve got no idea how people can think 8nm is enough to never upgrade again. I’ve got 23nm and while I don’t feel like I need more I definitely wouldn’t consider any wheelbase under 20nm. 8 is enough to be competitive but not even close to enough for realism.
Thank you for reviewing the CSL DD, Laurence. We’d like to highlight that we currently offer the CSL DD (5Nm) and (8Nm) at a reduced price. The CSL DD is now 199.95€ when paired with any Steering Wheel and any Pedals. The "CSL DD (8 Nm)" also has 50€ off the Boost Kit, so that is now 299.90€ when paired with any Steering Wheel and any Pedals. Greetings, your Fanatec Team
I picked up the 5nm, McLaren wheel, LC pedals, ment to arrive today
Will we get a fanatec csl dd 2 in the next year or so? as this wheel is a few years old now it would be really cool to see a new one
I don’t think it’s a question that many people have asked though I was just wondering
I was gonna but you're website was so clunky I spent $1600 with Simagic instead.
Sorry
@@StickyGeko got yours yet? Had mine for 2 weeks and love it !!!
Great honest review, thank you!
I've had no issues at all with my 2 year old 8nm CSL DD and the support with other items has been great.
Nice! Yeah there are loads of great stories but people are almost shamed out of telling people that they like the Fanatec products.
Yeah me neither. Read a lot about bad support, but it took them 3 hours to reply, and 1 day for the return label for the RMA. Even the delivery took 1 day
@@LaurenceDusoswa Fanatec is just like every other company. Sometimes they mess up... Just like everyone else... But people love to trash popular brands when they find out about the cases that went bad
Please don’t us the N word
It's great to see how far simracing has come since i got my first wheel. I got a fanatec csr in 2012 and loved it for 12 years until it finally broke. I then got the csl dd bundle and it was crazy how much the quality is compared to my csr. Also simracing is much more affordable now which is great to see. Great channel mate 👍
Thanks so much for the support. You’re right! It’s a great time to sim race
When I first got into sim racing I always wanted to own a Fanatec wheel setup but couldn't afford them. It's sad that now that I can afford one, they don't offer wheel bases with the price to performance to match my needs. I do hope they can figure the market out and make something that makes a big splash in the market. The CSL DD was just that when it came out but the competition has caught up and they need to do something to put their name back on top. Great review as usual LD.👍🏿
Thanks so much. Great comment too. Good food for thought. I hope they come out with something exciting soon
What other options should I be looking at as a complete beginner who's seeing a ton of recommendation to go with it? Something from Moza?
@@oppos727 I would recommend moza or fanatec depending on your budget. I've been using a logitech g920 since 2020 and after researching direct drive and load cell pedals for the last few years I prefer moza for their wheel bases and wheels. However, Fanatec’s Clubsport Elite Pedals V2 are great for the price and performance. It's 200 bucks cheaper then moza’s best pedal set, but in my opinion is better in performance.
I chose the Moza GS GT wheel for $470 ( I got it for $400 on black Friday) and felt like it was better compared to Fanatec’s slightly smaller and older Clubsport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5. The Formula V2.5 is $350 and if you want dual clutch paddles (Note they come stock on the GS GT wheel) it will cost an extra $180, bringing the total to $530 before taxes.
Meanwhile, fanatec’s higher-end wheelbases (8nm-15) are way overpriced in comparison to Moza’s offerings. Moza’s 9nm wheelbase costs $440, compared to Fanatec’s 8nm wheelbase which costs $600. Then, Moza’s 12nm wheelbase costs $590 compared to Fantec’s own 12nm costs $700.
The only reason I’d consider going with Fanatec is their larger ecosystem, brand recognition, and their experience in the industry. However, in the few short years Moza has been in the sin racing community, they have proved themselves a serious contender to an industry leader like Fanatec.
so what did you buy instead? logitech driving force?
Thanks for the review man !
You helped me decide on If I want to buy it
Awesome ❤️
To be honest I'm holding off on upgrading to the 8nm. I was surprised at just how stout 5 nm felt to me in ACC, but I'm a newbie so it'll take me a while to get a more refined feeling for it.
Yeah people love chasing the numbers. But honestly if you are feeling what you need to feel, the rest is diminishing returns. Your comment will help some people to make up their minds. Thanks!
yeah, as i don't have a rig and use the table clamp instead, the 5nm is the better option for me as well at the moment
@@L3nny666 I use 8nm with table clamp, totally work fine (wood table)
@@顏鴻達-i7y yeah it "works". But even with 5nm my whole desk is shaking when i make a steering correction. Maybe I would get the 8nm to have better steering lock and just dial the ffb effects down a bit.
@@L3nny666 You need a nice heavy table then... I use mine on my work desk that is heavy af and loaded with lost of stuff... so no matter what that poor FFB tries to do to move it, this this ain't moving a bit... to make you understand, if I want to lift the legs of the desk from the ground I need to pull HARD and that's just to lift it a few inches...
My screen isn't even wobbling at all when I race ... so yeah, 8Nm FFB works fine with table clamp IF you have a good, thick and heavy table... and definitely not something from IKEA... those things are light and flimsy af...
This is the best review of the CSL-DD and these two steering wheels. The only thing I'll say about getting the metal QR1 over the plastic QR1L is, the metal quick release does not degrade over time. In the year I had both wheels and the plastic QR1L, I had to stop using the McLaren wheel in fear of the QR1L breaking and taking my wheelbase and steering wheel with it. I ordered a metal QR1 and was lucky enough to win the Fanatec QR tolerance Lottery. The QR1 I go has absolutely no slop at all. Its rock solid.
Eventually my confidence with the WRC's QR1L faded, and I began feeling excess slipping and hearing noise from the QR. I got another metal QR1 but wasn't so lucky with the lottery. The QR has a hair of play, and does make chattering sound when the FFB is intense, but it is still 1000% more sturdy than the plastic QR1 it replaces.
Other than this, your review is pretty much my sentiment on the products, Fanatec, and what I think the company needs to do.
Hell of a review, sir!
Interesting! I used mainly the plastic QRs and the guy who owns them (Milex in my community) had been using them for the past 1.5 years. Absolutely 0 issues for me. So I guess the take away from it is that there may be differences in batches? I dunno
Excellent comment by the way ❤️
I have been a G29 setup racer for years, got bored of it on and off. Never got really excited for sim racing as flight sims are my main passion. The wife gave the nod when the ready to race bundle came out and here in the UK I grabbed the BMW wheel, 8nm upgrade csl dd and the wife added a McLaren GT3 wheel in the cart for me. At 58 I’ve found what it seems is a main second passion. For newbies the csl dd is a fantastic entry into the world of damn good sim racing. My tuppence worth. Thx for the vid mate. Edit* ohhh and new sub 😊
Thanks for the sub and the great comment! If you're not in my discord, you should join. We have people of all ages and our average age is mid to late 30s.
@@LaurenceDusoswa Just this second joined 👍
The most honest sim racing reviewer out there IMO. Thank you Laurence!
I try to be honest and there are others who are also honest. Sometimes also we can think that people aren't being honest when their views or experience is not the same as ours. I appreciate the kind words and that you took the time to comment
I own CSW 2.5 since for ever and I tried this DD in the SimShow at Nurburgring for the first time. It did not convince me to fork out money for it. I am super happy with 2.5 and would only upgrade if it dies or my older son is in to simracing soon.
Nice review
Yep I said similar in this review. There’s no need to upgrade from a v2.5
Same here i will run it till the belts fall lol
Great review Laurence, thank you very much. I'm pretty much sold on getting the CSL and i was looking exactly at those two wheels, one for GT (ACC and so on) and one for more general purpose.
You can’t go wrong. It’s a great price point and I thoroughly enjoyed this combo.
Excellent review once again Lawrence think you hit the nail on the head with the Build quality and Fanatec having catch up with different DD strenghts. For these reasons that why im swaying towards the Asetek La Prima bundle. Hurry up and get that reviewed please ! Keep uo the top work 👍
Hahaha I hope to have a video on that next week some time :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa Top Man ! Looking forward to it 😁
@@kevinmurray1764I just bought a CSL Dd 8Nm and I'm gonna tell you this. Asetek's La Prima is great but not worth twice the price. It's something like 2-5% better experience for 100% more money.
In my humble opinion, Fanatec has literally crushed the market with the recent pricing of CSL DD. 8Nm for 500€? Sorry but nobody can beat that...
Csl dd owner here. Have the wrc wheel with plastic qr. After about 3 weeks of use the wrc wheel has connection issues that are caused by the plastic qr slipping on the shaft.
Edit: also the qr collar sticks and takes an exorbitant amount of force to undo after use.
That's the exact bundle I want to order. Are you eligible for a refund ? What would you do differently if u were in my position
ah that's a pity :( it seems their quality is all over the place
@@LaurenceDusoswaThankfully things have changed DRAMATICALLY on that front ever since they got bought by Corsair! 🤷
It's good to see competition against Fanatec in the wheelbase market. I was set on Fanatec for a long time, but the dealbreaker for me is locking their FFB behind their own wheels or (expensive) wheel hub. There's also extensive complaints against their QR, and wait times on support, which doesn't help. For the asking price, I would rather look elsewhere even if that means saving for longer and jumping up a price tier for a higher quality of product.
thanks for the comment. It will help others to make up their minds too
Dude, I just bought a Csl DD 8Nm coming from a T300 and this thing is amazing... I've learned more about my car's setup on ACC driving the CSL for 3 hours than in a year with the T300.
For the price this is complete robbery... Say what you want about Fanatec but CSL DD is smooth and quiet as hell and with 8Nm it is absolutely perfect in terms of strength at 100% torque.
Sorry but I'm not gonna give twice the money to Asetec for a 2% better product, thank you very much...
7:00 not sure this was a feature issue at the time of footage capture Lawrence, but profile saving happens over on the "Game Profile" tab in Fanalab (on the right end of the submenus) and thanks to more recent versions including profile auto-loading based on car and sim, it's a very good spot to get acquainted with!
I did have a play with that yeah :D My issue was that I sometimes drift and sometimes grip in AC. And my settings for AC grip are usually the same as iRacing and ACC.
I have this with the boost kit. Best wheel base I’ve ever had. I do recommend the QR1 as well. Use the WRC wheel and an SHH shifter
Nice
Hahaha love how the advantage of the push pull shifter on the McLaren V2 is the fact you can have a drink on the straight. Like a shifter would stop you😝
😂😂😂
Trust the review process bruh 😂😂😂
just got the ready to race bundle with wheel base (5nm), mclaren wheel and pedals for 479€...what a steal compared to last year's prices!!!
How has your experience been? How are the pedals
@@interestingvideos4046 very good. I‘m addicted! Really no negative experience. Except for that I’m doing nothing but racing now.
The table clamp is not that nice. I really like the pedals. As I don‘t have a rig, load cell pedals would be way too hard anyways. And the brake has some rubber thingy so the brake feel is still progressive and not linear. The mclaren rim is great especially for racing, but you can only turn it 180 degree in each direction, more feels very wrong. So for cruising I will definitely get a round rim, maybe the p1 v2.
The 5nm are plenty enough, only when it comes to steering lock, I’d wish there was more of a clear end.
I upgraded from a controller so the step up is out of this world. I once rented a thrustmuster t300 for a month, but that thing was very disappointing, can’t even compare.
@L3nny666 I appreciate your lengthy response. I like hearing about all the little details. You should consider doing a youtube review. I only have brief forza horizon xbox controller driving experience and dont know how to drive in real life . I was thinking of getting the WRC wheel for formula 1 or dirt rally with the csl dd and the pedals so I can practice till I can learn to drive in real life . But wasn't certain about the pedals being good enough so thanks.
@@interestingvideos4046 well, i think formula 1 is very far away from real driving. if you want to practice for real life (I assume street car cruising through the city) play beamng drive, not formula 1.
And if you are driving on track a wheel won't help you with track knowledge.
In general I find the pedals top be much closer to a normal street car than for example the pedals that came with the thrustmaster.
AWESOME
had mine since release. just upgraded to the QR2, it's still an amazing base
Yep I really like it
I have it already and i am happy with it. Use the most times 5-6 nm and only in strong open wheeler the full 8 nm. AC ingame FFB at 50% and the most cars at 100% +-25%. I use the base with the Clubsport RS Wheel and the Formula 2.5, depends on car. The combi with the V3 Padals is awesome and overall enough with my Next Level Racing Wheelstand 2.0. Still use the Office chair hanging in. All stable. Use the 37.5" screen with an arm to switch easy between desktop and racing mode. :)
Awesome great comment! Thanks!
I have the same two wheels plus 3 others. My favorite wheel is definitely the clubsport RS with leather. I hardly ever change it out, wish I had the advanced paddle shifters for it. Great wheel for everything!
I was on the fence about this exact bundle and wheel with v2 pedals vs Moza r9 and S-RP pedals. I think me being in the US will influence my decision for Fanatec as well. That being said I do think Fanatec is ramping up and new products are on the way. All these deals to get rid of stock and hopefully put the money into and R&D and new products. They are now the official partner of GT7 as well so they will be coming out with more GT spec rims. All in all I feel like we will see their next gen sometime next year spring. With a heavy emphasis on entry and mid level.
I can’t see Fanatec coming out with anything revolutionary any time soon. I hope I’m wrong.
I'm intrigued at the quality Moza is getting called out for (good quality) but I don't like their wheels, and the pedals I want are the Fanatec Elite pedals. Just getting into the sim setup for Forza Motorsport on PC.
@@LaurenceDusoswa... Annnnnd you were wrong lol. 🤷 The ClubSport DD (12nm) & DD+ (15nm) are FANTASTIC!!! They definitely aren't CSL DD revolutionary, but they are still GREAT products with the best motors Fanatec has ever made by a mile; making them riiiiiight up there with basically anything that's not from Simucube.
I just bought this exact same set-up with the CSL Pedals on black friday deal shipped for less than $750. Now it is the 5nm version but I will upgrade the power supply at a later date.
Awesome! Yeah the option to upgrade is great. Congrats!
After seeing this, i am very happy i whent for the moza r12 with the ks and cs wheel
NICE! are you enjoying it?
@@LaurenceDusoswa i like it very much its great for my use . i really like the ks wheel that wheel is just so good . the main reasons i went for the moza ecosysteem is support and price . and of simagic the price of the round wheels were to expensive for my use .. and i didn't like the openwheels of simagic .. the only wheel that i liked whas the GTC Wheel. the average price of the simagic wheels for me are 600 eu
I just ordered the CSL DD 8nm with McLaren GT3 wheel and CSL elite V2 pedals. They have such a no-brainer deal right now. I own a t300 with Clubsport v3's and I'm seriously thinking of selling those V3's and going for the V2's in my rig. Can't wait!
I ordered almost the very same as you did. I´m coming from a T500. How ist your experience with the new CSL DD 8nm so far?
How is it?
Even though I am not looking for the new wheelbase but I watched that video with pleasure. CLS DD has had a lot of the praise when it was launched and it is really good to see long term review how this product compares to the competition. Out of curiosity - is the garbage collector included in the video at 11:00 an intentional pun? 😅
hahaha you're not the first to say it :D But I loved the CSL DD so no bad words about it from me
Just spent $2,800 on a Fanatec setup and Trak Racer TR160 with the seat! Can't wait! 💪
Nice! Did you get a chance to use my (or other content creators’) affiliate links? No worries if not :)
@LaurenceDusoswa I did not! I saw this video after. I'd have used the link for sure. 😫
@@ericmoney9734 absolutely no issue :) glad my video(s) helped. Enjoy your epic setup
Agreed I'm still on an old CSR Elite (2013) and do not want to upgrade until Fanatec launch a reasonably priced 12nm DD base, round leather wheel wheel and QR2.
upgrade when the time is right ;)
I've just added the QR2 to my 8Nm DD Pro wheelbase and CSL WRC rim and it really has taken things up another notch. I think the QR1 lite itself as well as the sloppy interface with the base-side QR1 was dampening some details. The whole setup feels more alive with QR2.
That's great to hear!
For me the qr1 was a huge improvement over the light. FYI there’s an electrical tape mod you can do to help with play on qr lite.
Yeah I heard about it but didn’t feel that I needed it
Unrelated, but what game & track is that at 6:45 (when you were drifting with the WRC rim?)
that's assetto corsa and that was proving ground :D
06:55 You dont actually NEED two softwares, you only NEED the driver. FanaLab is optional if you want to save profiles for a game (or even for a specific car) with specific FFB settings or LED settings which can even be loaded fully automatic by FanaLab when you load a game or a specific car. Those profiles btw can be named however you like in the game profile tab where you save the profiles.
Btw: You used a COMPLETELY outdated FanaLab version. 1.66 is basically ancient old. You should at least have used 1.69.7 for thiis video, or even better 1.99.03.
This review has been going on for many many months, so some footage is super old. I did upgrade it and believe I was on the latest when the review period ended. I can check on my pc.
As for needing two pieces of software, I probably wasn’t clear. I only used fanalab really but I’m not sure if you can uninstall the Fanatec control center without losing your device drivers. I didn’t try but that’s what I assumed.
@@LaurenceDusoswa no, thats what I said, you only NEED the driver (aka Fanatec Control Panel). That one includes ther USB device drivers for WIndows. Without a driver installed, nothing works. FanaLab is the optional tool but imo this software one of the biggest selling points for Fanatec, so imo the Lab is also essential. :D
Nice one Laurence!
Cheers! Thanks for the comment!
Great review as usual!
Thanks so much for the kind words ❤️
Outro music is bangin.
hahah thanks
Great Review!
Thanks bro!
I'm good. I had one for about a year. It had the dreaded input shaft problem, where the USB port to the shaft would disconnect, and cut the power to the steering wheel, and FFB for a split second.
Lost so many races because of that silly hardware design. Besides the fact that the torque collar on the input shaft doesn't keep it torqued down well either. I gave Fanatec a solid chance, and bought several replacements, before moving to Moza.
That’s a massive pity :( it’s crazy that it happened to you several times too.
@LaurenceDusoswa Yeah, man. I really tried and I trouble shot everything.
Bought two seperate Formula wheels, in case it was a wheel issue vs the base, got a aftermarket column stiffer and new clamp on the input shaft.
Tapped the column in to make sure it was snug, the list goes on.
But I could 100% repro the issue for people and it made things not fun.
It's a shame, because the pricing and the form factor made so much sense, but I had such an issue with Fanatec quality, doing the sole thing the wheel base was designed for, I had to switch brands.
@@ApexwithDavin this is a year later but what moza did u go with and how was it?
@cameron5764 I got an R9 with an FSR Formula wheel. It's been a great experience with no serious issues. Super minor software update bugs but that's so minor.
Never going back to Fanatac.
QR2 COMPLETELY fixes this problem. And Fanatec's customer service has gotten SIGNIFICANTLY better since they got bought by Corsair. 🤷
I picked up the CSL with the formula 2.5 wheel , the Elite 2 pedals and the 8nm booster …. All of that with shipping etc for 588 bucks. Black Friday and some sneaky stuff. 🕺🕺🕺
Oh and I got the qr1’s for free as well
YESSSSS
Long Story Short - The Wheel is amazing.
I really enjoyed my time with it
Sold mine and went to Moza. No regrets whatsoever.
oh nice, what did you get?
@@LaurenceDusoswa Actually only an R5. I'm not blessed with any space for a rig unfortunately so I have to make do with my work desk, so a really small wheelbase made sense. I found my CSL DD would flex and the table clamp was really awkard as I have to remove it every day to work. The quick release is just so much better also for the price with the Moza. When I got my R5, I found the force feedback - although not perfect - much smoother than my CSL DD with which you can kind of 'feel' the steps, it's hard to explain. Anyway I'm now going to sell my R5 for an R9 just because the V2 seems to have come down in price now and is still small enough to be practical. I have an arm injury so previously thought even that much torque might be too much, but of course it's all about the detail and I'm a little older and wiser now :)
Was looking at the CSL Bundle and the Moza R5; got the R5. First setup.
What size and type were the screws that you used with the t-nuts under the wheel base? I just bought the GT DD Pro second hand and came without the t-nuts and screws. My rig from Simlab has a similar wheel base plate like yours (probably the same) so I would love to know to order the right size and type. Thanks.
The t nuts are the hard part to get. The bolts are standard bolts. I dont know if the t nuts that Fanatec uses are a standard size.
@@LaurenceDusoswa Thanks, I just found out they're 40 series m6 x 8mm t-nuts or m8 x 8mm t-nuts for a tighter fit. Only missing the length of the bolts.
I'm currently thinking of buying the McLaren wheel but right now I mainly play on playstation 5 but i plan on starting on pc more as well just wondering a little if you have any knowledge on how the buttons and switches work on ps5?
I know very little about consoles these days unfortunately
How timely is it that this video has been up for 3 months now and Fanatec just announced a new mid range DD base and the qr2 release
Definitely worth looking at that as an option. I don’t have one for review however
@LaurenceDusoswa I'm currently looking to buy the 8nm DD with the McLaren wheel. I was on the edge considering the formula v2.5, but this video sold me on the Mclaren for shur, might upgrade later but for the dollar for value I can wait
10:58 that guy knows exactly what to do with fanatec stuff
hahahaha I knew someone would pick up on this :p
Any plans to review the SimMagic P1000s with haptics? Very interested in the purchase, but difficult to get a good review atm, thanks.
Yes! They are in the post
Bonsoir,super vidéo 😊
Merci
I liked how you said Ireland time and uk time lol
Just so there’s no confusion :)
You should've covered fanatecs weakpoint, the very bad customer support and horrendous shipping time and issues. I got all my stuff that I ordered 1 month late and that is pretty fast by fanatec standards. And a lot of people get ignored by customer support and if they reply it's like 2 weeks late.
ha you were lucky to get yours. I ordered my setup almost 2 months ago and still nothing. Had to file a dispute with paypal to get my money back. The only reason I considered them was PS support. Avoid Fanantec at all costs. Worst experience ever!
Corsair to the rescue lol. They are fantastic at all the things Fanatec is horrible at and the difference is already noticable.
Laurence, did you use it in PC Mode (red light) or PC compatibility mode (yellow light) for Assetto Corsa Comp?
I know I switched between them at times but I think I just used PC mode
If I’m playing with the CSL on pc could I use a different brand shifter and hand break if it has just usb or will the CSL lock it to not allow it?
You can use any mix of USB devices on PC. no hardware can stop you but some arcade games want everything to be connected via the wheelbase to it depends. Any proper sim title will not limit you in any way. wreckfest, beamng, dirt rally 2.0, iRacing, rFactor2, ACC, AC, AMS, AMS2 all work with mixed hardware for sure
I’ve gone from a G923 to a SC2 Pro. Waiting for my rig to arrive but looking forward to seeing the difference. I’ve gone from a Mini to a Ferrari 🤣
holy upgrade path Batman!!!
Upgrading from a Logitech G923. Currently trying to decide between this, Moza R9 or a simagic alpha mini. I know the simagic will cost more but I’m worried about the quality of the others. Is it worth the extra money in your opinion?
The alpha mini is a lot better than the r9 in my opinion
@@LaurenceDusoswa How is the alpha mini in comparison to the CSL DD?
Hey nice video but you need to start adding links for Canada just saying 😊
Are there Fanatec links for Canada? I don’t think they have a Canadian site. Or do they?
I need advice please guys should i go for the Fanatec CSL DD 5nm without loadcell pedals, Thrustmaster T300 ferrari 599x evo edition, or Thrustmaster T248? Thanks I will read all responses. I have never owned a wheel and im super into racing games. My budget is about £400/$500/€460
get the CSL DD, you'll love it. in a year or two if you can afford it, get the CSL Elite V2 pedals
@@LaurenceDusoswa Okay thanks. All the reviews say the 5nm one leaves a lot to be desired but I can always just buy the 8nm upgrade later on as well eh
It’s good this product exists, but I believe Moza or simagic is the way to go for build quality and QR. For xbox or PS4/5, sure..but if you’re on PC I’d go another route.
If I had to choose between a moza r5 and a CSL DD 5Nm, the light round Fanatec rims would win my money.
🤦... Absolute utter nonsense... 😑
Moza's pedals are dogshit, the ecosystem is super small, and you can get a CSL DD 8nm w/ QR2 setup for HUNDREDS less than an R5 one if you get a 3rd party 8nm boost kit PSU off Amazon w/ Prime for $60 or off AliExpress for ≈$40-$45 shipped from China! And the CSL DD at 8nm absolutely ROCKSTOMPS the R5!!!
The Moza R9 otoh is slightly more powerful (+≈10%) but has slightly less feedback fidelity/resolution than the 8nm CSL DD IMO. Plus it also still has a tiny ecosystem and ofc it's also even MORE expensive than the already more expensive vs Fanatec R5 bundles! 🤷
The Moza R12 is a great piece of kit but IMO it's I'd probably go with Simagic at that point if you're ok with a small ecosystem. 🤷
Thanks for this great review. Is the "CSL Steering Wheel P1 V2" steering wheel the same as the WRC wheel but without the Alcantara and with a different color scheme?
With the new promo, I can get everything I need to make the jump to direct drive and upgraded pedals for around $1000. I want this to be my forever rig. I’ve been sim racing for about a year and a half on a G923 - will I be wanting more in another year and a half?
I can’t answer that question. There is better hardware out there. But I’m sim racing as with every other hobby, there’s a point of diminishing returns on your investment. Only spend money that you have.
Ultimately if you upgrade to this setup from your g923, you’ll be blown away. And you’ll only get the itch for something ‘better’ when you have the spare money lying around.
@@LaurenceDusoswathanks for the response. I have been thinking about this a lot, so I am content whatever way I go.
I am definitely just looking for a fun, immersive experience. I am not esport driver!
@@NeverEvenRacedDude, if you have the money just buy A CSL DD 8Nm. I just bought one coming from a T300 and I'm awestruck. This thing is a dream. FFB is strong and incredibly smooth, even smoother than DD1 and DD2 without the massively more torque that nobody uses (nobody uses DD2 over 40-45% torque).
CSL DD for it's price is a dream come true.
Hii ! Great video...Just need a suggestion...I wanna buy my first wheelbase,Should i go for the G29 or G923 which are both around 250 Euros or the CSL DD bundle 5Nm for 400 Euros...Is it worth the difference?
This is a great choice if you have the ability to fix it yourself or have a good friend that can carry out plastic and electrical repairs. Otherwise stay away from FANATEC. I will go out of my way to warn others about the number of premature failures I and many others have experienced with the McLaren wheel and CSL pedals.
Thankfully Corsair is in charge now instead of Thomas. Rapid improvements on this and the customer service front are fastly improving!
I ordered the DD CLS and pedals and the booster pack and it cost me an extra 159 pounds from the courier
159 extra delivery charges?!
Nice review but i'd like to have your opinion on something.
I'm currently on the market to get a dd as i already have an awesome rim. So i'm comparing the fanatec csl dd 8nm and the simagic alpha mini.
How do you think these two would compare as i don't care about ecosystem or any of their wheel addon ?
And in my country the price difference is only 110euros between the csl dd 8nm + podium hub and the alpha mini + qr adapter.
I feel like it's a no brainer to go the simagic way but i want to have someone's opinion.
For me, Simagic is in a different league to the Fanatec gear. The new Fanatec ClubSport DD might be worth a look though. But you cannot go wrong with the Alpha mini.
Thank you for the review Laurence, would you recommend the Fanatec or the Moza ecosystem at the moment?
What's the benefit of installing both pieces of software? Seems counterintuitive
To be honest, if you're on a budget and you want a round rim, there is also the P1 v2 and the BMW rim.
Those are of the same quality and functionality...
Yep! Good point. I had been told that but couldn’t verify it myself so didn’t want to make the claims.
@@LaurenceDusoswa Also, they're €60 to €80 cheaper
Would you recommend this or should i go for the La Prima?
buy la prima or i'll recco you to buy simagic alpha or alpha mini
if i have not got cs v3 pedals I would have gone for elites v2 pedals also i wish that they had clubsport version of the mclaren wheel
Great review 🔥
thanks so much for the motivating comment
Is the 8Mn worth it over the 5?
Yes :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa What if im attaching it to a desk only lol, i dont have a cockpit
NGL I want one
Not the 818?
@@EpicFatLip u tryin to *flex* on me 😂
@@fleamcbaggins3087 🤣🤣
It’s an excellent choice as a first DD and maybe even your forever wheelbase
QR lite ir veeery good, they need just make it stronger with metal and it will be very fast ant simple and cheap qr to use
I liked it for what it was
My problem with Fanatec happens to be one of availability. Given the company's reputation for shipping, buying from a distributor is pretty much the way to go. Guess what, there is only one distributor in Canada and that distributor, Simulation1, has a habit of specifically selling Fanatec products for way more than they are actually worth.
The premium CSL DD Pro bundles sells for 1750 CAD. This looks fine until you take in consideration that a Simagic Alpha Mini GT1D Bundle, plus their P1000 Pedals, retails for roughly 1944 CAD. So for an additional 200, you more than getting your money's worth.
Please tell me, is it compatible with PS5?
There is a PlayStation compatible version.
I just bought a g923 a few days ago , now im kicking myself not getting this especially that its discounted
You have consumer rights. You can return the g923 maybe?
return it - The DD PRO is miles ahead. Like astronomical far away.
@@LaurenceDusoswa I should, but ive already opened and used it, and thrown away all original packaging
They must have seen your review they are offering the QR for free when you order the 8nm base and WRC wheel lol i just ordered it yesterday
Interesting! Yeah they did comment on here too
@LaurenceDusoswa I own a small Mobile Sim Racing business, I do birthday parties, store fronts and business events. I look for ease of setup and use, I love your page
100 bucks for their quick release is an absolute con, it's a terrible QR which unfortunately is a must buy as their plastic one is even worse and not fit for purpose
I found the plastic one as 'good' as the QR-1 for these wheels. I would strongly advise against spending the extra money and just enjoy it for what it is.
@@LaurenceDusoswa i had the plastic one on my mclaren rim when i had fanatec gear, i had to use pieces of paper as a shim because it would slip and knock otherwise, pure garbage, moza are putting fanatec to shame
Love your videos! Which pedals do you recommend for max 600 euros I considered the HE sprint but 65 kg probably will not be enough for me. I need only 2 pedals
Thought about the venym pedals or the vrs
Venym, Fanatec CSL elite v2, simforge, asetek forte. All great choices. I never reviewed the VRS pedals
@@LaurenceDusoswa fanatec don’t ship to Israel, simforge is too weak(60 kg) and forte dan Suzuka said that they are actually potentiometer. Which is better venym or the meca evo? If the meca I’ll probably try to buy the hydraulic
No shipping to Canada 🙄
yeah that's a real pity
love it great vid
Aftermarket boost kit is 45€
Yeah I have no experience with them but there are people in my community who have it and like it
ive been struggling trying to choose between this and the r9. fanatec is cheaper for me coming in at around $800 ($770 + $25 shipping) with the csl bmw wheel (the all black one is sold out), csl 8nm, and the csl elite v2 pedals while moza is around $1000 ($860 + $120 shipping) with the r9, srp pedals, and the es wheel with the wheel mods. Is it worth the extra $200 to go moza or should i go the fanatec route?
Based on your budget, Fanatec is the better option. the pedals are also superior to the moza pedals. (namely the brake). Ultimately though, you'll be happy with both. But if you want superior build quality, MOZA is the way to go.
I paid 100 euro and I do feel crap ever time I have to look for my hex key to switch wheels the QR lite is better but I got disconnect problems on my gt3 wheel so I paid the 100 euros I wish the screw was a thumb screw
fanatec did send me a new QR lite free of charge and I've had no problem with the one on my p1 wheel
Yeah the 100 euro for the QR is too much. Nice to hear a good customer service story too!
V3 bad pedals, beautiful but useless. The Load Cell pedal is so outdated. That yes, the $135 CSL LOAD CELL outperforms the V3. In V3 constant wedge feeling. It doesn't really matter if there's lube in there or not. CSL ELITE V2 needs to add a replacement spring to the gas pedal. And V3 will completely lose both CSL PEDAL and ELITE V2 WIN
yeah the throttle needs to be heavier on the CSL Elite V2. But I love them!
@@LaurenceDusoswa Yee
I tont have any play at all in my qr
Yeah I think it’s a build quality thing. Some people have very little play and others have lots
The v2.5 is not compatible with the the new qr2. Makes it hard to decide whether to go second hand or wait and save for a DD.
Highest resell wheel on the market .
Yes, lots appear second hand. Same thing happens with phones, game consoles, cameras, etc. The volume of CSL DD units that have been sold is incredibly large.
@@LaurenceDusoswa but
With wheel basses you don’t see
The others like sc or other good ones .
@@wallyedmonds8199because many people don’t have them and can’t afford them. Or don’t sell them because they are at top of the line.
@@LaurenceDusoswawhich wheel do you like more, WRC or the McLaren gt3 wheel?
I have the 5nm and I am not impressed at all. I’m looking at tiers sellers for a boost kit and might take the plunge to see what’s what, but so far, not impressed at all.
It’s hard to know without diving into settings or knowing what your experience and expectations are. But 5Nm is definitely very entry level. 8Nm is 60% more powerful
lesgooo
Notifications squad!!!
QR lite is absolute garbage, had two incl replacement from fanatec when I complained, 100% you’d be able to tell the difference between qr1 & lite in blind test, and you mainly appreciate qr1 because it’s less shit then the lite. I can appreciate fanatec being of average quality compare to pretty much any other sim company but the new QR (whenever that magically appears) must be better and should not cost what it does, current price for what amounts to a aluminium sleeve is ridiculous.
Honestly, I can’t. And I’m putting my reputation on the line saying that. There’s every chance I got lucky with a good shaft in the base but I wouldn’t put my house on it that I could tell them apart in a blind test. I specifically tested that exact thing a lot over the last few months. I did many races with both. I agree that it’s expensive for what it is and that’s why I recommend to stay with the plastic QR
do moza r9 and moza ks
I have an r9 review in the works still but I am thinking of concentrating on dedicated comparison videos
Jason Dam
Harber Knolls
CRAIC !
Fritsch Throughway
Aracely Forge
Annetta Stravenue
I’ve got no idea how people can think 8nm is enough to never upgrade again. I’ve got 23nm and while I don’t feel like I need more I definitely wouldn’t consider any wheelbase under 20nm. 8 is enough to be competitive but not even close to enough for realism.
Some people don’t see the return on the investment… it’s like how people with a 300hp car can’t imagine anyone needing more power.
Realism. That's funny. I'm glad I don't know you in real life.
@@BobK58 lol why 😂😂?!?
@@LaurenceDusoswa fair point!
Forrest Prairie
Felicia Walks
Its creaking cause you tested it with a plastic wheel
The wheels themselves have a small bit of creaking even when not attached 😂
@@LaurenceDusoswa yes haha, but it is a very good deal for the wheel even with the creaking
Lindsey Meadows