I really like the way you approach things, you don't try to put on a show or say things that don't need to be said, just ... nice and worth a sub... :))
Had a seat like that for over 2 years now. Recently upgraded to a lead cell. The bracket that the pedal plate bolts to failed completely. Bent out of shape and cracked. The adjustable legs are in the incorrect position to take the load from heavy braking, and they are there so you can have more adjustability in the pedal base angle. I had it on a hard surface the first 1,5 years and moved it to a carpeted surface, and there's a whole lot more movement in the rig if it's on a hard floor. I had "fixed" it by putting cardboard under the legs on the steering wheel stand when I had it on a hard floor and that did the trick. Another issue I found when on a hard floor is that the floor has less friction so under hard braking I was actually extending the whole base. The stock tool-less screws can't be tightened enough to keep it in place, so I replaced it with a regular bolt and tightened the crap out of it. Over all, it worked well for those two years I used it. I can't say that I'm unhappy with how it lasted but I do find it rather frustrating that I have to replace it because of a complete failure. The one thing I really disliked about it the whole time I had it though, is that the wheel stand comes up in the middle and basically blocks the center of the pedal base, so I actually removed the clutch pedal and moved the brake pedal all the way to the left because it was hurting my foot in long sessions having to be all crooked to reach the brake pedal in the middle.
Somehow even after literally showing you how to adjust the wheel deck section along the base I then didn't move it all the way forward which would have given me a better driving position!! Apologies to all for this error! :) But also bare in mind doing this and then extending the reach of the upright section would make the wobble/flex a little worse too.
You may well have found that moving the wheel deck forwards would have restricted access to the pedals to the point where you found getting to the brake pedal difficult - this is what I found so for a while I had to compromise a bit with the wheel/pedal positioning. The wheel deck flexing/wobbling doesn't really seem to change regardless of where you position it.
You're saving me a ton money, Karl. Really appreciate the honest truthful reviews. Honestly, IMO if you don't have much to spend, just get a Playseat Challenge, actually if you have less than £500 to spend just get a Playseat Challenge. Looking at the video the Challenge is way more stable, with virtually no side to side slop (There's a bit of forward backward slop, but not that much). It may look like a camping chair but it really does work well. I'm not upgrading until I need a setup suitable for DD wheels.
shamblemonkee yep, I actually got the playseat challenge for £90 from a nice guy who had just become a dad (meaning his priorities changed obviously so had practically no time to race) and it was in very good condition for £90
I think this review shows up the limitations of the Evolution out of the box well. I've had the Alcantara variant since 2017, back then there wasn't a lot of competition. I was lucky, I got it for £145 in a black Friday special and got the G920 for just £110, both were new so I paid more or less the same for my wheel and pedals as what Karl paid for that seat. I find the seat perfect for me, I can sit in it for hours at a time and the Alcantara is really nice. But I realised pretty quickly the flex issues were quite bad, even with a G920, and I had to remove the rubber piece from the brake pedal because the flex was so bad. Also, getting the wheel/pedals right is a compromise because of the centre post obstructing the brake pedal. I am a bit loathe to go and buy another one so I looked at mods and, if you're handy, you can greatly improve the Evolution and not for much money. It also appears to me the taller you are the more problems you will have setting it up. Bearing in mind I use mine on a carpeted floor here's what I did:- 1. Make a 50mm spacer for the wheel deck. For me this pushed the diagonal adjustment of the wheel deck as far forward as it could go which meant the centre post came closer to me, freeing up space for my feet. You will need new, longer bolts for fixing the wheel base to the stand again. For whatever reason I don't have the problem with my knees hitting the base of the wheel deck. 2. Buy two 5mm thick / 40mm diameter feet and stick them underside on the ends of the two wings of the centre post. This pretty much stops the side to side movement. To start I'd get some A4 paper and fold up to push under the wings to figure out how thick your feet need to be, you will find a point where too thick a foot worsens the up/down flex. There is very little you can do about the up/down movement because it is only clamped on one side. Thankfully, the G920 doesn't generate enough energy for this to be an issue. *EDIT:- You can stop the up/down movement of the wheel deck section. Loosen the clamp. Find washers/spacers that will fit snugly in the gap between the inner centre rail and the outer of the wheel stand that slides over it. Once inserted re-tighten the clamp. Now the up/down rocking movement should be completely gone. It also helps a bit with the side to side movement too.* 3. The pedal deck feet are pretty much useless and in the wrong place, being right under the pivot point and actually exacerbate the flexing issues. So something much more substantial is required. If your pedal deck is at an angle (mine is at about 30 degrees) make a box section to sit under the pedal deck and remove those useless feet. Make sure it's the same size as the deck, too short (my first one was smaller and sat half way up, just under the pedals) and the energy you put into the pedal deck will be reflected along the centre rail and cause the wheel stand to flap about. I made mine out of 18mm ply. it stops at least 80% of the flex and now gives a really solid feel. If yours is like Karl's and pretty flat I would suggest some 3x2 or 4x2 (depending on the gap at the front of the pedal deck) and cut to size to insert under the front of the pedal deck. 4. I found offsetting the pedals so the accelerator and brake were either side of the centre post really helps. It does require the pedal deck to be drilled but is well worth doing. The only reason I've done the mods is because I don't want to spend money on another cockpit. The mods cost me £5 and a couple of hours of my time. A lot less than a new seat. Five years ago this was a good seat. Now, it is eclipsed by pretty much everything out there. If I was buying now this would not be on my short list and at £250 for the "basic" model I think it is very poor value in today's very competitive market. Playseat really need to totally rework this seat or replace it with a better design.
I just bolted mine onto a big rectangle bit of ply wood about an inch thick then drilled right the the cross members that the wheelbase is built upon and the whole thing is pretty damn solid now. I have the runners on my playseat GT Alcantara with my new DD pro and it's absolutely pucka ;)
@@DAZUNIVERSALINDUSTREIS I no longer have this seat, I now have a simetik k2. Great cockpit. But I do seem to remember that the back of the seat upholstery used Velcro to hold it in place so I'd remove it and see if you can't put some oadding in front of that mechanism. I didn't have any problems with mine.
With a small amount of modification bolting the rig to a platform, the playseat runner and strengthening the pedal plate this can be a really solid rig, my main complaint is the arm for the steering wheel is in the way of the brake pedal. Great out of the box video as always 👍
Great honest review as always. For anyone thinking if saving for the ART is worth it, it 100% is! I've tried the playseat evo and it was noticably more flexable and the adjustments were a lot less then the ART. It's just my opinion, could be else for everyone (I'm 6.17 feet and the ART is perfect for me, went with the RS6 seat)
i feel like for the price point the NLR foldable cockpits seem more useable and more adjustable as well. love the honesty in all your reviews, top bloke
I already own the seat but have been looking around for pedals from Thrustmaster that would fit with barely any drills needed, so this was actually very helpful! Thank you
The arm position you demonstrated is actually the maximum distance, so correct arm length is any where that is comfortable for the individual as long as it does not exceed the position you showed. In motor racing it comes down to the driver preference. Everyone is a little different even if driving the same make of car in the same series it will vary, So you are both right! Sort of.
Hi Karl. I have been using it for 6 year before moving to simlab (and it is still my backup cockpit) and your review is correct. I am a bit shorter than you and I could find a better driving position. It is a good entry level cockpit for (not tall) beginners using logitech or t300 wheelbases
Another great review Karl! I was very interested to see how this held up. Just received my gt omega titan this week (Thanks for the discount) and I love it! Nice and sturdy compared to my Playseat I had previously. Really happy and seems like the most bang for your buck.
I had a Evo cockpit many many many years ago (G25 days) back as a teen it seemed fine. After picking one up again that had a wheel attached it's not 🤣 creaky springs in seat, not particularly comfortable, wobble to death, I swear I remember it being more solid than that I now actually use an eBay knock off wheelstand £60 (GT omega copy) believe it's called GT ART, but I've added a small piece of box section to diagonally brace it, it's much more solid with that simple mod and more than decent enough for a fold up solution. The seat base situation, made worse by load cell pedals pushing me back in office chair, I got the £60 GT omega seat base and cut and welded some box section to go between to suit the offset (official GT omega stand is 30mm or so wider than eBay copy) then put a free to collect puma seat thats fully adjustable and I could keep the runners on easily. Total cost £120. Ironically, the eBay copy stand has a better pedal plate than the official GT omega fold up stand, the eBay has a box section horizontally across and doesn't bend even with load cell. Only difference is actual width, which is annoying but easily sorted, b&q have same size box section for a few quid but you get straight pieces included with the seat base you can use, could even nut and bolt it if you can't weld. All folds away and even stands upright on its own without falling over, much more solid than the playseat. Obviously you'll need some DIY input but you really can get something mostly built for very little money, fold away solution is much better for me than doing something out of wood.
Glad I went with the playseat challenge. Thanks to your review actually. Definitely seems like the better option in every way. Weird to me they can design a fold up cockpit better than full cockpit.
If you're just starting out and it's all you can afford, buy the ADX and save £130. I have the ADX and it's utter s**t but no more s**t than the play seat, imo. Save the £130 for when you're ready to upgrade to something like an Omega Titan or Prime. Great review, as always, Karl. 👍🏽
This was my first cockpit that I used for a few years. It worked well enough with my Thrustmaster kit, but it wasn't strong enough for the Fanatec when I upgraded. The seat has an accessory for seat sliders, and I had those set up, so it was a lot more adjustable. Good for entry level but depends on your wheelbase and pedals.
Wheel base mount on mine split so had to weld myself to repair and more weld points for strength. Wheel base post wobbles on hard floor just the same as you said the cheaper version does. Pedal tray flexes and starts to split when using load cell pedals over a 3 year period. You're right Karl, it's an awfull seating position for an adult and the wobble is unbearable when you really got to work the wheel.
Having purchased this set for my 13yr old and having tried it myself as a 43yr old 6ft 3 male , I’d possibly suggest it’s a rig better suited to teenagers as I had lots of the same issues as Carl , hitting my knees, driving position was awful but my teenager finds it perfect- The unit very quickly brakes down for ease of storage which is great if you don’t have a dedicated rig area . All in all I think it’s been a good first rig purchase for my son but I can easily see an upgrade now coming within 12 months .
I seen these bolted down and the pedals closer to the bar and for a 37 5'9" guy, think this will work well. I'm getting a knock off one cheaper and comes with a shifter mount. When I turn 47 and become six three I'll upgrade. Lol
I only found this channel two weeks ago and I like your review style. I'm with you about steering wheel distance from me. I don't like it when the wheel is close to me rally driver style. I feel it's too hard to steer properly with the steering wheel close toe. I like having my arms stretched in front of me but not picking my elbows straight. Moving from a Logitech G25 to a Thrustmaster wheel I found the wheel is a bit closer to me and with my GT Omega Classic wheel stand it's very difficult to find a hoot position for the wheel because there's no forward and backward pedal adjustment like their new wheel stand. I need my pedals closer to me because I'm 5' 7".
My son was looking at buying a cockpi and after looking at what was around i couldn't agree more. For the price and the way its built you would be hard pressed to beat it.
Hi Karl, loving the videos! You have gained a sub :) just wanted your personal opinion. This is around the budget I’m looking to spend but I am torn between this and the Playseat challenge. I appreciate they’re very different in style but as a beginner looking to get into sim racing which would you recommend? Thanks.
The PS Challenge is less wobbly, but if you don't need a fold away cockpit then I'd save a bit more money and buy a GT Omega ART (discounted links in description), thats £190 but you'll need a seat to go with it.
Nice review again. I nearly bought one of these but decided to go with the F-GT Lite, which is actually a good rig for the price. I really wanted the Omega Art rig, but unfortunately they haven’t had any seats for them for a while now and still out of stock.
Just bought a GT omega titan with your discount code after watching these test. I'll be watching you from now on to see what's good and what sucks bollocks in the sim hardware racket. Thanks.
after having the playseat for like a year. i just found out the same problem that you have.. the rig doesnt have a way to adjust the steering wheel height without making the wheels closer to your body. it wasnt a problem when im driving gt cars and formula cars.. but when i started playing rally, i am unable to figure out a setup thats really comfortable for me..
Karl great review and totally agree, save up a few more quid and you can get the GT Omega Apex wheel stand, the Apex rear seat frame and an RS6 seat for £337 using your discount code. Loads of adjustment and stiffer than the Art cockpit too, a great set up to build from for not a lot more money. Best wishes and keep the great reviews coming 👍
I race on a Playseat Challenge (using a Thrustmaster T300 wheel and T-LCM pedals) with a few simple DIY reinforcements (additional wood base for the pedals attached to the front rack of the seat) and it's WAY better than this one. Better position of the wheel, less up/down movement, almost no left/right movemtent (relative to your seating position), absolutely rigid seating postition (because it's effectively fixed by your own body's weight) and (IMHO quite important) free space for your legs because there's no center part for the wheel to be attached. I also like this "integrated" feeling you have in the Playseat Challenge. Of course you (also) have to add a shifter mount (I use a very solid solution in form of 3D printed part) but if you want to limit the amount of spent money I defnitely would recommend the Playseat Challenge over the Evolution. It may look "less professional", but after all it's better for enjoying your racing experience.
I logged over 500 hours on AC with my play seat, Had a G920 + shifter mounted to it and the only issue i had was my right foot was a little restricted when heel and toe shifting. I am the size of a teen though. 5'9" 145 lbs
There's mounts and chair adjustments you have to buy the extra stuff. He doesnt want to keep it so he didnt buy it. Do yall research it on your own or just listen to people
@@BeanieKhalifa Why would I research it, I have no intention of buying such a cheap quality item, so I'd be wasting my time researching it. My point is still valid, at this price and its out of the box size/adjustments, it's as if it's aimed at parents buying their kids one.
Your point isnt because im 6'5 245 pounds and i dont have an issue with mine. I have the playstation edition playseat too. You and this person are bias so just say that. There's items you can purchase like i said...
Thanks for the review. I was considering this seat because of the price. I'm 6'5 and the video made me realise i need to spend more with some of the concerns you brought up about adjustments.
Great review. I bought myself the Race Room Game Seat RR 3055 Basic Bundle. Doesn‘t have this post in the middle and the monitor is mounted just in front of you. Since I bought it I enjoy sim racing much more than before.
I have mine on rails so seating position isn't too bad, it's not terrible but I would recommend getting the sliding rail for the seat and the g920 pedals bolt into at least 3 holes can't remember if i get the 4th one lined up 😅 but I have had the pedal part slide out from the seat when using the brakes before.
I've recently bought the Alacantra (black plush version of this) secondhand as my first dedicated rig, and the previous owner had drilled extra holes for the TCLMs he was using. I have the Logitech G29/920 pedals and, unless I'm missing something, still only one line of the bolt holes lines up with the holes on the pedal plate! It's not very well configured for some common pedal sets... Also as mine has already had some use, the pedals and seat are prone to slide apart as the clamp on the seat section doesn't hold the central tube securely, probably because it is slightly deformed (to be investigated)
After a year of owning an Evolution, I decided to go for a proper solid aluminum structure mainly because of the TLCM pedals. Its not a bad rig but as soon as you get some force into it, it will show its weaknesses. I wouldn't go anything stronger than a T300 or TX to be honest.
I bought a GT Omega wheel stand with pedal mount. Bolted a T300RS and T LCM pedals to it. After 5 hours of play, I noticed as long as everything is bolted down properly, pretty sturdy. It weighs about 70 lbs with the wheel, pedals and a th8 gearshifter. I may have a few adjustments to make, but this was a pretty decent piece of equipment for the space I have to use currently. I think I spent $120 USD on Amazon for it. So far I'm happy, but I'm trying to decide how i want to do an actual cockpit. I'm thinking of building a GT car seating position 3 monitor, but not sure how I want to do it.
Got this setup as first rig even with the g920 and work fine. You nailed on the head with your comments, if you haven’t used another cockpit the movements aren’t as bad. I have set it up like how I drive my car but it sits to low so will be making risers you have any ideas.
Think one of the benefits is that you can half fold the back of the chair, so at the end it will take just little bit more height then playsets challange
I have the ADX rig, slightly newer than the firebase, yes the pedal tray wobbles a bit and i turned the steering mount back to front for better position.
You can buy a cockpit adaptor for a T-LCM for a fairly cheap price, which makes the set compatible with cockpits that has holes for the T3PA pedal set. Maybe that way it would be more solid. I don't have space for a cockpit, but I still love your honest reviews, that other playseat clone, 2 weeks ago was utter crap :D Although the wobble (for the wheel) looks like it's kinda the same as with my Wheel Stand Pro, which is a cheap but I think good wheel stand for ppl with less space. And with that you have much freedom for the wheel deck position. Obviously for the seating position it's far from the optimal. The GT Omega Apex however looks more rigid than this playseat. But it still just a wheel stand. :)
I have one of these Im 6ft and 98kg. Move the wheel deck closer to pedals so it touches. Then you can raise wheel deck and bring closer. I have it close to my wrist. But to do so i have pedals (t3pa pros) raised and, supported to bring them close enough. I have no leg room. (middle bar an issue) but it works. Have to wedge things under legs. I have hardly any play. And you have to wedge something down side of the two pieces where it clamps, up and do it up FT. Then for starter probs best out there for under 300 notes. ( ts xw btw)
i have this one and i do not recommend at all. playseat have 2 big problems. 1. wheel height cannot be changed separately. if u change wheel height then it comes closer to u. 2. the pedals are in the air, and when you press the brake, the base plate of the pedals goes through i have changed playseat by my self to fix those two problems
I got the Playseat for £160 on Amazon and it seems fine for my needs. Cost me £350 for the Challenge seat, G920 wheel, pedals and shifter. Super cheap compared to my flight cockpit which is getting near to £2000, £460 just for the pedals! Not sure why racing is so much cheaper...
I tried the challenge and found it uncomfortable after less than one hour. But I got my evolution alcantara new for just £145 in a black Friday special four years ago and for that money it's great, I can sit in it for hours at a time with no comfort issues at all. However, I wouldn't pay £250 for this, the F-GT lite would be my choice now, at that price. While it's not as comfortable as the Evo it's definitely better in pretty much every other way.
Yet again, an informative and well put together product review! Thanks for your work and time, Karl I have a suggestion! [if you'll forgive my presumption?] I wonder if you could get a sheet of MDF cut to fit under your sofa, then maybe wrap it in a laminate sheet or something, so it looks fly. That would give you a nice, hard surface on which to test the flex and stuff. When out of use, slide it under the sofa. Forgive my 'Murica units, but maybe a 4x8ft sheet of 1" MDF cut down to 32"x72" would fit under the sofa and big [and thick] enough to work for most any of this type of cockpit. That would save any need for trips to the other room's floor.
Good video mate, I love your deep dives into these cockpits. I've got the Playseat challenge for racing with the G920 wheel, pedals and shifter although I've still hardly used it as I made a flight cockpit too and am obsessed with flying. My flight cockpit is based around the Playseat Airforce. I'm happy with it although I don't know enough about this stuff to make an informed judgment. What do you reckon to the Playseat Challenge and Playset Airforce compared to the Evolution and the Firebase?
Hey Karl, I have a playseat revolution which I believe is the model that came out before this one. I'm not sure why they made the changes they did as I have tried my friends evolution and we both agree that my revolution is much better in terms of wobble/flex. The main issue we had with both the playseats out of the box was pedal tray flex.
It's a great seat, but no place to put a handbrake, even with the gearshifter addon, wobble on the wheel, squeeky, and the wheel is too close to your legs. I've bought a bigger wheel to put on the G29, and I've definitely hit myself in the nuts by accident a bunch of times while drifting.
I bought that rig in june 2009. With seat glider and mounted it myself on a 18mm wooden board (multiplex) with casters. No flex, easy to move and adjust (seat glider). Biggest downside is that metal stand right in front of the brake pedal. Only a 2 pedal setup because of that. I got the platinium with this and t300rs gt for dirt rally (2015). The brake and clutch are connected by a small wooden plate so always left foot braking.
you know what Karl? its just dated mate. it was great in 2009 with a g25 but today? so much more on offer at that entry level price point. good fair honest review again though Karlos!
It's not a bad seat. I'm 6'4 and fit in no problems. I ran a Logitech g29 of it for a few years, I even had a fanatec DD1 podium on it for a month in low torque mode. It's an entry-level bit of gear and well worth the money
Hi Karl. Just got a Playseat evolution, and i find it quite stable, the one thing that bother me is that my upper back starts to hurt after i sit in it for about 1 hour(my lower back does not because i have a pillow there) and i am thinking about selling it and getting a playseat challenge(saw youre review on that also) because i am thinking it might be more comfortable for me, but i also wouldn’t like to lose too much stability. What do you think ? Nice videos btw, you just got anoter sub :)
I started with this! And it was a great begin in the racing scene. :) On the build you did a little mistake. The front pedal groundplate you have 180 degrees twisted mountet. This result in much more up and down flex for the pedals. 12:33
@@omer9572 under the pedals, you have this mount with two feets. in the video, the holding plate is 180degrees wrong rotated mounted. If it is correct mounted, the plastic feets are more ahead.
great review i went for the art and planed to mod the flex from the start . spos you get what you pay for £100 ish more with a seat an £ 18 at B&Q lol handles fanatec club sport 2.5 and peddles no probs
I've ordered the black one and hopefully it should get here before the end of this week(currently 2/Jan/2023) as I post this. I have a shorter body but longer legs so it might work better for me. For now I'm just mounting my wheel to my desk and having to put a box against the wall on the floor so that I can put my pedals against it and it will tend to move a bit as does my chair since it's on wheels. I have a tiled floor so movement shouldn't be an issue and I'm using the Thrustmaster T248 for Xbox and PC. And yeah, it's all I can afford for now. If down the track I find I want something better then I'll save up and maybe sell this to put towards a better one.
Hi Karl good vid if possible could you do a review on the simetek k2r cockpit ,ive just got mine and its so good im loving it everything from the packaging onwards is just top class,the best if not wanting 8020 profile
@@stanettiels7367 agreed, but I’d say all rigs in this price range benefit a lot from stability mods, and this is a dead easy and cheap one for anyone with a PlaySeat Evo.
Hi Karl, how would you compare this to the challenge? I'd think that would be a fair comparison in stiffness and I think the challenge has more benefits of storage.
Hold on, As i understood: The whole wheeltray stand can move indepedantly from the main "bus" in the length of the seat right? Why not moving the wheeltray stand towards the pedal base (wheel distance become greater) and then move the wheel up? Is that the maximum distance it can go?
I’m 5’11 and the position is very good , as you say the pedals close to the wheel stand and the seat further back , wheel can then be same height as in a car with the correct distance to the wheel from the seat . I have spacers under the two side feet , no flex from the pedal tray after cutting two bits of 3x3 to support it . A massive unexpected bonus is that the feedback from my Fanatec Clubsport wheel base goes straight to my pedal plate through the steering wheel support . I love it .
The ergonomics don't look well suited to you and the flex isn't great. Something from Omega or Next-Level is going to be a lot better at not a vastly higher price.
Both sets of Thrustmaster pedals I've owned have randomly disconnected quite a few times the quickest fix I've found was just unplugging them from the back of the wheel and plugging them back in Edit: Added "have owned" because I can't type to save my life
Great review as always Carl. Would you kindly see if it's possible to use that seat on the GT Omega Art? I have this playseat now and it's way too wobbly after upgrading to the CSL elite. Hoping to use this seat as it's beautiful and save some $ on the GT Omega art purchase. Thank you very much Sir!
Thanks for this review! I just learned of Playseat 30 minutes ago - I saw that someone on another UA-cam channel was sitting on one and was curious to find out what it was, so I decided to find out! It's a very cool idea. The current model looks to be about $700 US, on Amazon. My biggest concern is how many games does it come with and is there an option to buy more games, later? I'm wondering how long it would take me to get bored with using this product, until it becomes a dust collector and space waster? That's an expensive toy!
I have had mine for almost 10 years now. I use mine for sim trucking farming and GT racing. I also added a seat cover because seat foam was deteriorating/crumbling a bit; and also added a portable extra seat cushion as original seat cushion quite thin eh :) Happy with mine eh! Oh and I lrft foot brake; and map the clutch pedal to be the brake pedal :) A good less expensive sim rig IMO
I mounted mine on an old piece of kitchen worktop as it moves like yours on carpet and its now solid, only slight movement comes from join in steering column which i have fully extended cos i am over 6ft tall but i dont notice when driving
I'm sure this has been pointed out, but the base of the steering column can be moved further forward on the rail to move the wheel further away, allowing the wheel height to be raised. Great review otherwise!
It doesn't need pointing out because if you watch the video I literally show you how to do that... But somehow I then failed to actually move it further away after fitting the wheel and pedals to achieve a better driving position!! I'm not sure what happened there?! :) lol
Great video Karl thanks, perhaps share your height when describing that things are too close too far? I do like that you get realistic with that "price point" for those of us that can't afford Fanatec everything :D
You adjusted the lenght too close. You should adjust to make the wheel farther from you. It was your fault that the wheel was too close and too low. You could have put it in a perfect place, if you tried it.
I got myself the Alcantara one and The Seat Sliders for an extra 30 Euro, and its good for me i dont have any issues whit the knees , im 6'0 and 230 lbs .
I just got this playseat evo and the fanatec dd pro and I do not like the position of the wheel is not comfortable at all. I feel like I just wasted $400. In fact, the playseat challenge was way more comfortable
I really like the way you approach things, you don't try to put on a show or say things that don't need to be said, just ... nice and worth a sub... :))
I appreciate that!
Had a seat like that for over 2 years now. Recently upgraded to a lead cell. The bracket that the pedal plate bolts to failed completely. Bent out of shape and cracked. The adjustable legs are in the incorrect position to take the load from heavy braking, and they are there so you can have more adjustability in the pedal base angle.
I had it on a hard surface the first 1,5 years and moved it to a carpeted surface, and there's a whole lot more movement in the rig if it's on a hard floor. I had "fixed" it by putting cardboard under the legs on the steering wheel stand when I had it on a hard floor and that did the trick.
Another issue I found when on a hard floor is that the floor has less friction so under hard braking I was actually extending the whole base. The stock tool-less screws can't be tightened enough to keep it in place, so I replaced it with a regular bolt and tightened the crap out of it.
Over all, it worked well for those two years I used it. I can't say that I'm unhappy with how it lasted but I do find it rather frustrating that I have to replace it because of a complete failure.
The one thing I really disliked about it the whole time I had it though, is that the wheel stand comes up in the middle and basically blocks the center of the pedal base, so I actually removed the clutch pedal and moved the brake pedal all the way to the left because it was hurting my foot in long sessions having to be all crooked to reach the brake pedal in the middle.
Somehow even after literally showing you how to adjust the wheel deck section along the base I then didn't move it all the way forward which would have given me a better driving position!! Apologies to all for this error! :)
But also bare in mind doing this and then extending the reach of the upright section would make the wobble/flex a little worse too.
You may well have found that moving the wheel deck forwards would have restricted access to the pedals to the point where you found getting to the brake pedal difficult - this is what I found so for a while I had to compromise a bit with the wheel/pedal positioning. The wheel deck flexing/wobbling doesn't really seem to change regardless of where you position it.
For me, that pole in between the legs is a deal breaker.
Knee breaker*^
thats what she said?
Ha no, but trying to move your feet around with that giant pole must be lovley
thats why you buy the revolution instead of the evolution. It kinda solves the issue but it might still hit your knees.
Yeah rigs like these suck you want duel square bar stock rigs like the GTR Simulators
You're saving me a ton money, Karl. Really appreciate the honest truthful reviews.
Honestly, IMO if you don't have much to spend, just get a Playseat Challenge, actually if you have less than £500 to spend just get a Playseat Challenge. Looking at the video the Challenge is way more stable, with virtually no side to side slop (There's a bit of forward backward slop, but not that much). It may look like a camping chair but it really does work well.
I'm not upgrading until I need a setup suitable for DD wheels.
Haha yeah i have a challenge and a g920 - pretty generic! And I haven't any complaints about the challenge
@@jamesxracing8111 Same and they're both perfect for what's needed without at least doubling spend
shamblemonkee yep, I actually got the playseat challenge for £90 from a nice guy who had just become a dad (meaning his priorities changed obviously so had practically no time to race) and it was in very good condition for £90
Thank you for your comment. I was deciding between this and the Playseat Challenge
I think this review shows up the limitations of the Evolution out of the box well. I've had the Alcantara variant since 2017, back then there wasn't a lot of competition. I was lucky, I got it for £145 in a black Friday special and got the G920 for just £110, both were new so I paid more or less the same for my wheel and pedals as what Karl paid for that seat. I find the seat perfect for me, I can sit in it for hours at a time and the Alcantara is really nice. But I realised pretty quickly the flex issues were quite bad, even with a G920, and I had to remove the rubber piece from the brake pedal because the flex was so bad. Also, getting the wheel/pedals right is a compromise because of the centre post obstructing the brake pedal. I am a bit loathe to go and buy another one so I looked at mods and, if you're handy, you can greatly improve the Evolution and not for much money. It also appears to me the taller you are the more problems you will have setting it up.
Bearing in mind I use mine on a carpeted floor here's what I did:-
1. Make a 50mm spacer for the wheel deck. For me this pushed the diagonal adjustment of the wheel deck as far forward as it could go which meant the centre post came closer to me, freeing up space for my feet. You will need new, longer bolts for fixing the wheel base to the stand again. For whatever reason I don't have the problem with my knees hitting the base of the wheel deck.
2. Buy two 5mm thick / 40mm diameter feet and stick them underside on the ends of the two wings of the centre post. This pretty much stops the side to side movement. To start I'd get some A4 paper and fold up to push under the wings to figure out how thick your feet need to be, you will find a point where too thick a foot worsens the up/down flex. There is very little you can do about the up/down movement because it is only clamped on one side. Thankfully, the G920 doesn't generate enough energy for this to be an issue.
*EDIT:- You can stop the up/down movement of the wheel deck section. Loosen the clamp. Find washers/spacers that will fit snugly in the gap between the inner centre rail and the outer of the wheel stand that slides over it. Once inserted re-tighten the clamp. Now the up/down rocking movement should be completely gone. It also helps a bit with the side to side movement too.*
3. The pedal deck feet are pretty much useless and in the wrong place, being right under the pivot point and actually exacerbate the flexing issues. So something much more substantial is required. If your pedal deck is at an angle (mine is at about 30 degrees) make a box section to sit under the pedal deck and remove those useless feet. Make sure it's the same size as the deck, too short (my first one was smaller and sat half way up, just under the pedals) and the energy you put into the pedal deck will be reflected along the centre rail and cause the wheel stand to flap about. I made mine out of 18mm ply. it stops at least 80% of the flex and now gives a really solid feel. If yours is like Karl's and pretty flat I would suggest some 3x2 or 4x2 (depending on the gap at the front of the pedal deck) and cut to size to insert under the front of the pedal deck.
4. I found offsetting the pedals so the accelerator and brake were either side of the centre post really helps. It does require the pedal deck to be drilled but is well worth doing.
The only reason I've done the mods is because I don't want to spend money on another cockpit. The mods cost me £5 and a couple of hours of my time. A lot less than a new seat.
Five years ago this was a good seat. Now, it is eclipsed by pretty much everything out there. If I was buying now this would not be on my short list and at £250 for the "basic" model I think it is very poor value in today's very competitive market. Playseat really need to totally rework this seat or replace it with a better design.
I just bolted mine onto a big rectangle bit of ply wood about an inch thick then drilled right the the cross members that the wheelbase is built upon and the whole thing is pretty damn solid now.
I have the runners on my playseat GT Alcantara with my new DD pro and it's absolutely pucka ;)
I have the exact setup and I have really bad issues with the seat because of the folding mechanism after an hour of racing I find bruises on my back
@@DAZUNIVERSALINDUSTREIS I no longer have this seat, I now have a simetik k2. Great cockpit.
But I do seem to remember that the back of the seat upholstery used Velcro to hold it in place so I'd remove it and see if you can't put some oadding in front of that mechanism. I didn't have any problems with mine.
wOOOOOooooWWW!!!
Bloody hell that looked really uncomfortable when you was test driving it. Glad I went with the playseat challenge. Great video as always.
Thanks 👍
This is the most British thing I have ever read
With a small amount of modification bolting the rig to a platform, the playseat runner and strengthening the pedal plate this can be a really solid rig, my main complaint is the arm for the steering wheel is in the way of the brake pedal.
Great out of the box video as always 👍
Great honest review as always. For anyone thinking if saving for the ART is worth it, it 100% is! I've tried the playseat evo and it was noticably more flexable and the adjustments were a lot less then the ART. It's just my opinion, could be else for everyone (I'm 6.17 feet and the ART is perfect for me, went with the RS6 seat)
wtf is 6.17 feet?
@@crodles I translated 188cm's to feet and got 6.16797 as the anwser on Google. So I shortened it to 6.17
i feel like for the price point the NLR foldable cockpits seem more useable and more adjustable as well. love the honesty in all your reviews, top bloke
I already own the seat but have been looking around for pedals from Thrustmaster that would fit with barely any drills needed, so this was actually very helpful! Thank you
The arm position you demonstrated is actually the maximum distance, so correct arm length is any where that is comfortable for the individual as long as it does not exceed the position you showed. In motor racing it comes down to the driver preference. Everyone is a little different even if driving the same make of car in the same series it will vary, So you are both right! Sort of.
Yeah it's just about whatever is comfortable really, plus it's only sim racing and not real life! :) lol
This seat served me well for 5 years. I just replaced it with a TR160. Great for the money. I'm not nearly as tall as Karl though. Only 5'9".
Is TR160 very heavy of weight?
Hi Karl. I have been using it for 6 year before moving to simlab (and it is still my backup cockpit) and your review is correct. I am a bit shorter than you and I could find a better driving position. It is a good entry level cockpit for (not tall) beginners using logitech or t300 wheelbases
Agreed mate.
Another great review Karl! I was very interested to see how this held up.
Just received my gt omega titan this week (Thanks for the discount) and I love it! Nice and sturdy compared to my Playseat I had previously. Really happy and seems like the most bang for your buck.
I had a Evo cockpit many many many years ago (G25 days) back as a teen it seemed fine.
After picking one up again that had a wheel attached it's not 🤣 creaky springs in seat, not particularly comfortable, wobble to death, I swear I remember it being more solid than that
I now actually use an eBay knock off wheelstand £60 (GT omega copy) believe it's called GT ART, but I've added a small piece of box section to diagonally brace it, it's much more solid with that simple mod and more than decent enough for a fold up solution.
The seat base situation, made worse by load cell pedals pushing me back in office chair, I got the £60 GT omega seat base and cut and welded some box section to go between to suit the offset (official GT omega stand is 30mm or so wider than eBay copy) then put a free to collect puma seat thats fully adjustable and I could keep the runners on easily.
Total cost £120.
Ironically, the eBay copy stand has a better pedal plate than the official GT omega fold up stand, the eBay has a box section horizontally across and doesn't bend even with load cell.
Only difference is actual width, which is annoying but easily sorted, b&q have same size box section for a few quid but you get straight pieces included with the seat base you can use, could even nut and bolt it if you can't weld.
All folds away and even stands upright on its own without falling over, much more solid than the playseat.
Obviously you'll need some DIY input but you really can get something mostly built for very little money, fold away solution is much better for me than doing something out of wood.
Glad I went with the playseat challenge. Thanks to your review actually. Definitely seems like the better option in every way. Weird to me they can design a fold up cockpit better than full cockpit.
"And it's wobbling up and down like a bitch!" :D :D :D Great work Karl super-informative as always.
I’ve had this set for 4 months now and it’s great. I can have a very good seating position and don’t notice any flex so perfect for me
If you're just starting out and it's all you can afford, buy the ADX and save £130. I have the ADX and it's utter s**t but no more s**t than the play seat, imo. Save the £130 for when you're ready to upgrade to something like an Omega Titan or Prime. Great review, as always, Karl. 👍🏽
Owned one, made me a sim racing addict and still sold it for good value to buy something better. If you can't afford more in the moment, go for it!
This was my first cockpit that I used for a few years. It worked well enough with my Thrustmaster kit, but it wasn't strong enough for the Fanatec when I upgraded.
The seat has an accessory for seat sliders, and I had those set up, so it was a lot more adjustable. Good for entry level but depends on your wheelbase and pedals.
What cockpit would you suggest for the fanatec?
@@rkb654 I'm currently using the RSeat S1 which is incredibly sturdy. I know Next Level Racing do some good solid rigs too.
@@AndrewOgley cheers mate
Wheel base mount on mine split so had to weld myself to repair and more weld points for strength. Wheel base post wobbles on hard floor just the same as you said the cheaper version does. Pedal tray flexes and starts to split when using load cell pedals over a 3 year period.
You're right Karl, it's an awfull seating position for an adult and the wobble is unbearable when you really got to work the wheel.
Terrible! lol
Having purchased this set for my 13yr old and having tried it myself as a 43yr old 6ft 3 male , I’d possibly suggest it’s a rig better suited to teenagers as I had lots of the same issues as Carl , hitting my knees, driving position was awful but my teenager finds it perfect- The unit very quickly brakes down for ease of storage which is great if you don’t have a dedicated rig area . All in all I think it’s been a good first rig purchase for my son but I can easily see an upgrade now coming within 12 months .
I seen these bolted down and the pedals closer to the bar and for a 37 5'9" guy, think this will work well. I'm getting a knock off one cheaper and comes with a shifter mount. When I turn 47 and become six three I'll upgrade. Lol
I only found this channel two weeks ago and I like your review style.
I'm with you about steering wheel distance from me. I don't like it when the wheel is close to me rally driver style. I feel it's too hard to steer properly with the steering wheel close toe. I like having my arms stretched in front of me but not picking my elbows straight.
Moving from a Logitech G25 to a Thrustmaster wheel I found the wheel is a bit closer to me and with my GT Omega Classic wheel stand it's very difficult to find a hoot position for the wheel because there's no forward and backward pedal adjustment like their new wheel stand. I need my pedals closer to me because I'm 5' 7".
Watching this makes me so glad I went for the Art cockpit lol.
My son was looking at buying a cockpi and after looking at what was around i couldn't agree more. For the price and the way its built you would be hard pressed to beat it.
Me too!
Get the steel braces to make it even more rigid.
@@wjkkwjkf2980 I already have lol
Keep up the good work Karl , you're awesome m8, any last but not least your FFB settings are the best !!
Thanks, will do!
Hi Karl, loving the videos! You have gained a sub :) just wanted your personal opinion. This is around the budget I’m looking to spend but I am torn between this and the Playseat challenge. I appreciate they’re very different in style but as a beginner looking to get into sim racing which would you recommend? Thanks.
The PS Challenge is less wobbly, but if you don't need a fold away cockpit then I'd save a bit more money and buy a GT Omega ART (discounted links in description), thats £190 but you'll need a seat to go with it.
Can confirm with others, the metal bar between the legs hurts after a while because it is right in front of the break pedal (I left break only).
Nice review again. I nearly bought one of these but decided to go with the F-GT Lite, which is actually a good rig for the price. I really wanted the Omega Art rig, but unfortunately they haven’t had any seats for them for a while now and still out of stock.
Seats are in transit as we speak! :)
@@KarlGosling That’s good to know, thanks
Just bought a GT omega titan with your discount code after watching these test. I'll be watching you from now on to see what's good and what sucks bollocks in the sim hardware racket. Thanks.
after having the playseat for like a year. i just found out the same problem that you have.. the rig doesnt have a way to adjust the steering wheel height without making the wheels closer to your body. it wasnt a problem when im driving gt cars and formula cars.. but when i started playing rally, i am unable to figure out a setup thats really comfortable for me..
Karl great review and totally agree, save up a few more quid and you can get the GT Omega Apex wheel stand, the Apex rear seat frame and an RS6 seat for £337 using your discount code. Loads of adjustment and stiffer than the Art cockpit too, a great set up to build from for not a lot more money. Best wishes and keep the great reviews coming 👍
I race on a Playseat Challenge (using a Thrustmaster T300 wheel and T-LCM pedals) with a few simple DIY reinforcements (additional wood base for the pedals attached to the front rack of the seat) and it's WAY better than this one.
Better position of the wheel, less up/down movement, almost no left/right movemtent (relative to your seating position), absolutely rigid seating postition (because it's effectively fixed by your own body's weight) and (IMHO quite important) free space for your legs because there's no center part for the wheel to be attached. I also like this "integrated" feeling you have in the Playseat Challenge.
Of course you (also) have to add a shifter mount (I use a very solid solution in form of 3D printed part) but if you want to limit the amount of spent money I defnitely would recommend the Playseat Challenge over the Evolution. It may look "less professional", but after all it's better for enjoying your racing experience.
I still love your channel Karl! Been here since 8k I think, either way keep going brother!
I appreciate that! Thanks mate! :)
At these prices, with the adjustment and size issue, it's almost as if there designed for kids/teens
I logged over 500 hours on AC with my play seat, Had a G920 + shifter mounted to it and the only issue i had was my right foot was a little restricted when heel and toe shifting. I am the size of a teen though. 5'9" 145 lbs
There's mounts and chair adjustments you have to buy the extra stuff. He doesnt want to keep it so he didnt buy it. Do yall research it on your own or just listen to people
@@BeanieKhalifa Why would I research it, I have no intention of buying such a cheap quality item, so I'd be wasting my time researching it. My point is still valid, at this price and its out of the box size/adjustments, it's as if it's aimed at parents buying their kids one.
Your point isnt because im 6'5 245 pounds and i dont have an issue with mine. I have the playstation edition playseat too. You and this person are bias so just say that. There's items you can purchase like i said...
@@BeanieKhalifa 🙄🤦🏻♂️
Thanks for the review. I was considering this seat because of the price. I'm 6'5 and the video made me realise i need to spend more with some of the concerns you brought up about adjustments.
I'm 49 years old I'm liking the old school speakers 👍 👍
44 this year myself mate! Classic late 80's early 90's Jamo's :)
@@KarlGosling your late late 80s early 90s Nice 👍 👍 I'll be 50 next month in June 😬
Great review. I bought myself the Race Room Game Seat RR 3055 Basic Bundle. Doesn‘t have this post in the middle and the monitor is mounted just in front of you. Since I bought it I enjoy sim racing much more than before.
I have mine on rails so seating position isn't too bad, it's not terrible but I would recommend getting the sliding rail for the seat and the g920 pedals bolt into at least 3 holes can't remember if i get the 4th one lined up 😅 but I have had the pedal part slide out from the seat when using the brakes before.
I've recently bought the Alacantra (black plush version of this) secondhand as my first dedicated rig, and the previous owner had drilled extra holes for the TCLMs he was using. I have the Logitech G29/920 pedals and, unless I'm missing something, still only one line of the bolt holes lines up with the holes on the pedal plate! It's not very well configured for some common pedal sets... Also as mine has already had some use, the pedals and seat are prone to slide apart as the clamp on the seat section doesn't hold the central tube securely, probably because it is slightly deformed (to be investigated)
After a year of owning an Evolution, I decided to go for a proper solid aluminum structure mainly because of the TLCM pedals. Its not a bad rig but as soon as you get some force into it, it will show its weaknesses. I wouldn't go anything stronger than a T300 or TX to be honest.
I bought a GT Omega wheel stand with pedal mount. Bolted a T300RS and T LCM pedals to it. After 5 hours of play, I noticed as long as everything is bolted down properly, pretty sturdy. It weighs about 70 lbs with the wheel, pedals and a th8 gearshifter.
I may have a few adjustments to make, but this was a pretty decent piece of equipment for the space I have to use currently. I think I spent $120 USD on Amazon for it.
So far I'm happy, but I'm trying to decide how i want to do an actual cockpit. I'm thinking of building a GT car seating position 3 monitor, but not sure how I want to do it.
I do primarily (only) ovals in iRacing and I couldn't imagine not being elbows up on the wheel in a NASCAR.
Yeah for me being mostly Rally they would dig into my ribs under aggressive steering! lol
Got this setup as first rig even with the g920 and work fine. You nailed on the head with your comments, if you haven’t used another cockpit the movements aren’t as bad. I have set it up like how I drive my car but it sits to low so will be making risers you have any ideas.
Think one of the benefits is that you can half fold the back of the chair, so at the end it will take just little bit more height then playsets challange
Well glad I didn't bother with this and went for the NLR GT-T. Good review as always dude.
Thanks!
I have the ADX rig, slightly newer than the firebase, yes the pedal tray wobbles a bit and i turned the steering mount back to front for better position.
You can buy a cockpit adaptor for a T-LCM for a fairly cheap price, which makes the set compatible with cockpits that has holes for the T3PA pedal set. Maybe that way it would be more solid.
I don't have space for a cockpit, but I still love your honest reviews, that other playseat clone, 2 weeks ago was utter crap :D Although the wobble (for the wheel) looks like it's kinda the same as with my Wheel Stand Pro, which is a cheap but I think good wheel stand for ppl with less space. And with that you have much freedom for the wheel deck position. Obviously for the seating position it's far from the optimal. The GT Omega Apex however looks more rigid than this playseat. But it still just a wheel stand. :)
I think you can drill a hole aswell to screw it completely down
I have one of these
Im 6ft and 98kg. Move the wheel deck closer to pedals so it touches. Then you can raise wheel deck and bring closer. I have it close to my wrist. But to do so i have pedals (t3pa pros) raised and, supported to bring them close enough. I have no leg room. (middle bar an issue) but it works. Have to wedge things under legs. I have hardly any play. And you have to wedge something down side of the two pieces where it clamps, up and do it up FT. Then for starter probs best out there for under 300 notes. ( ts xw btw)
i have this one and i do not recommend at all.
playseat have 2 big problems.
1. wheel height cannot be changed separately. if u change wheel height then it comes closer to u.
2. the pedals are in the air, and when you press the brake, the base plate of the pedals goes through
i have changed playseat by my self to fix those two problems
The biggest issue I have with the Playseat is the between the legs steering wheel mount hinders left foot braking.
You might as well just buy a Playseat Challenge and you'll have a better experience for less money.
I got the Playseat for £160 on Amazon and it seems fine for my needs. Cost me £350 for the Challenge seat, G920 wheel, pedals and shifter. Super cheap compared to my flight cockpit which is getting near to £2000, £460 just for the pedals! Not sure why racing is so much cheaper...
I tried the challenge and found it uncomfortable after less than one hour. But I got my evolution alcantara new for just £145 in a black Friday special four years ago and for that money it's great, I can sit in it for hours at a time with no comfort issues at all. However, I wouldn't pay £250 for this, the F-GT lite would be my choice now, at that price. While it's not as comfortable as the Evo it's definitely better in pretty much every other way.
Yet again, an informative and well put together product review! Thanks for your work and time, Karl
I have a suggestion! [if you'll forgive my presumption?]
I wonder if you could get a sheet of MDF cut to fit under your sofa, then maybe wrap it in a laminate sheet or something, so it looks fly. That would give you a nice, hard surface on which to test the flex and stuff. When out of use, slide it under the sofa. Forgive my 'Murica units, but maybe a 4x8ft sheet of 1" MDF cut down to 32"x72" would fit under the sofa and big [and thick] enough to work for most any of this type of cockpit. That would save any need for trips to the other room's floor.
Yeah that would definitely help mate.
Good video mate, I love your deep dives into these cockpits. I've got the Playseat challenge for racing with the G920 wheel, pedals and shifter although I've still hardly used it as I made a flight cockpit too and am obsessed with flying.
My flight cockpit is based around the Playseat Airforce. I'm happy with it although I don't know enough about this stuff to make an informed judgment. What do you reckon to the Playseat Challenge and Playset Airforce compared to the Evolution and the Firebase?
I've not used the Air Force but the Challenge is better than the Firebase by a mile and I'd even say more stable than this.
I'd rather a playseat challenge tbh mate, but if I was gunna get a static cockpit it would be the titan you reviewed. Looks miles better
Yeah this is pony!
Hey Karl, I have a playseat revolution which I believe is the model that came out before this one. I'm not sure why they made the changes they did as I have tried my friends evolution and we both agree that my revolution is much better in terms of wobble/flex. The main issue we had with both the playseats out of the box was pedal tray flex.
Just like to note we are only using TMX wheels, so nothing super powerful. I can see it flexing with a beefier setup.
@@uni556playseat revolution came after evolution,and yes it's the better one for sure.
It's a great seat, but no place to put a handbrake, even with the gearshifter addon, wobble on the wheel, squeeky, and the wheel is too close to your legs. I've bought a bigger wheel to put on the G29, and I've definitely hit myself in the nuts by accident a bunch of times while drifting.
I bought that rig in june 2009. With seat glider and mounted it myself on a 18mm wooden board (multiplex) with casters. No flex, easy to move and adjust (seat glider). Biggest downside is that metal stand right in front of the brake pedal. Only a 2 pedal setup because of that. I got the platinium with this and t300rs gt for dirt rally (2015). The brake and clutch are connected by a small wooden plate so always left foot braking.
Makes me feel less like a pauper for going for the Playseat challenge, which also has the benefit of quick setup / tidy up in between sessions.
Agreed!
you know what Karl? its just dated mate. it was great in 2009 with a g25 but today? so much more on offer at that entry level price point. good fair honest review again though Karlos!
Your videos are great, learning a lot. I have a question, do you left foot brake in sim racing or use your right?
I use my right as I'm not that good! lol
It's not a bad seat. I'm 6'4 and fit in no problems. I ran a Logitech g29 of it for a few years, I even had a fanatec DD1 podium on it for a month in low torque mode. It's an entry-level bit of gear and well worth the money
Thanks for reviewing this model. I was about to pick one up; not worth the headache. The steering support column is the deal breaker.
Yeah it's not good mate, better options out there even from Playseat.
Hi Karl. Just got a Playseat evolution, and i find it quite stable, the one thing that bother me is that my upper back starts to hurt after i sit in it for about 1 hour(my lower back does not because i have a pillow there) and i am thinking about selling it and getting a playseat challenge(saw youre review on that also) because i am thinking it might be more comfortable for me, but i also wouldn’t like to lose too much stability. What do you think ? Nice videos btw, you just got anoter sub :)
I prefer the PSC but comfort is very personal, you may be a totally different size/height/shape to me.
Thanks mate! :)
I started with this! And it was a great begin in the racing scene. :) On the build you did a little mistake. The front pedal groundplate you have 180 degrees twisted mountet. This result in much more up and down flex for the pedals. 12:33
wait what do you mean 180 degrees twisted? i have alot of pedal flex on mine pls help
@@omer9572 under the pedals, you have this mount with two feets. in the video, the holding plate is 180degrees wrong rotated mounted. If it is correct mounted, the plastic feets are more ahead.
great review i went for the art and planed to mod the flex from the start . spos you get what you pay for £100 ish more with a seat an £ 18 at B&Q lol handles fanatec club sport 2.5 and peddles no probs
I've ordered the black one and hopefully it should get here before the end of this week(currently 2/Jan/2023) as I post this. I have a shorter body but longer legs so it might work better for me. For now I'm just mounting my wheel to my desk and having to put a box against the wall on the floor so that I can put my pedals against it and it will tend to move a bit as does my chair since it's on wheels. I have a tiled floor so movement shouldn't be an issue and I'm using the Thrustmaster T248 for Xbox and PC. And yeah, it's all I can afford for now. If down the track I find I want something better then I'll save up and maybe sell this to put towards a better one.
Great review karl !
Hi Karl good vid if possible could you do a review on the simetek k2r cockpit ,ive just got mine and its so good im loving it everything from the packaging onwards is just top class,the best if not wanting 8020 profile
Hi mate, that't a bit too much money for me to buy in just to review sorry.
@@KarlGoslingok no worries 👍
Hello, Karl. I wonder if this chair is suitable for tall people or people with long legs. Thank you!
I have the alcantera version of this. Paired with a G29. You can buy seat sliders from an automotive shop or eBay and it will attach to this.
The vertical movement can be fixed easy, with a £4 round furniture leg, a bolt and some washers.
Shouldn’t have to do that for the price being paid.
@@stanettiels7367 agreed, but I’d say all rigs in this price range benefit a lot from stability mods, and this is a dead easy and cheap one for anyone with a PlaySeat Evo.
That was a really helpful review thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Karl, how would you compare this to the challenge? I'd think that would be a fair comparison in stiffness and I think the challenge has more benefits of storage.
I would take the Challenge.
You can slide the whole upright for the steering wheel closer to the pedals and that should give you a little more steering room!
See pinned comment.
@@KarlGosling My Bad!
Iv currently got a loan of one of these it’s terrible. I’m nearly thinking a play seat challenge would be a better buy Karl?
I agree, it would!
I have had this seat for many years and the only thing that annoys me is the post in the middle of your legs but other than that it is great value
Thanks for this, appreciate the time and effort.
Hold on, As i understood: The whole wheeltray stand can move indepedantly from the main "bus" in the length of the seat right? Why not moving the wheeltray stand towards the pedal base (wheel distance become greater) and then move the wheel up? Is that the maximum distance it can go?
I’m 5’11 and the position is very good , as you say the pedals close to the wheel stand and the seat further back , wheel can then be same height as in a car with the correct distance to the wheel from the seat . I have spacers under the two side feet , no flex from the pedal tray after cutting two bits of 3x3 to support it . A massive unexpected bonus is that the feedback from my Fanatec Clubsport wheel base goes straight to my pedal plate through the steering wheel support . I love it .
The ergonomics don't look well suited to you and the flex isn't great. Something from Omega or Next-Level is going to be a lot better at not a vastly higher price.
Both sets of Thrustmaster pedals I've owned have randomly disconnected quite a few times the quickest fix I've found was just unplugging them from the back of the wheel and plugging them back in
Edit: Added "have owned" because I can't type to save my life
Great review as always Carl. Would you kindly see if it's possible to use that seat on the GT Omega Art? I have this playseat now and it's way too wobbly after upgrading to the CSL elite. Hoping to use this seat as it's beautiful and save some $ on the GT Omega art purchase. Thank you very much Sir!
I don't have an art any more mate sorry.
Thanks for this review!
I just learned of Playseat 30 minutes ago - I saw that someone on another UA-cam channel was sitting on one and was curious to find out what it was, so I decided to find out!
It's a very cool idea. The current model looks to be about $700 US, on Amazon.
My biggest concern is how many games does it come with and is there an option to buy more games, later?
I'm wondering how long it would take me to get bored with using this product, until it becomes a dust collector and space waster? That's an expensive toy!
It doesn't come with any games, it just a bare cockpit.
I have had mine for almost 10 years now. I use mine for sim trucking farming and GT racing. I also added a seat cover because seat foam was deteriorating/crumbling a bit; and also added a portable extra seat cushion as original seat cushion quite thin eh :) Happy with mine eh! Oh and I lrft foot brake; and map the clutch pedal to be the brake pedal :) A good less expensive sim rig IMO
Use for F1 ??????
You have to get the seat slider add on it really helps
It's an old design. When it came out there wasn't the range or competition available. They'd have been better retiring it or reducing the price.
Good shout yes.
I mounted mine on an old piece of kitchen worktop as it moves like yours on carpet and its now solid, only slight movement comes from join in steering column which i have fully extended cos i am over 6ft tall but i dont notice when driving
Looking for a review of this exact playseat. Search for it and see Gosling made one and I yell "YES!!" :)
Your seating position would be better if you tilt the pedals up bush the seat back and then you can have the wheel higher
I'm sure this has been pointed out, but the base of the steering column can be moved further forward on the rail to move the wheel further away, allowing the wheel height to be raised. Great review otherwise!
It doesn't need pointing out because if you watch the video I literally show you how to do that... But somehow I then failed to actually move it further away after fitting the wheel and pedals to achieve a better driving position!! I'm not sure what happened there?! :) lol
Great video Karl thanks, perhaps share your height when describing that things are too close too far? I do like that you get realistic with that "price point" for those of us that can't afford Fanatec everything :D
Good shout! 5'11 mate.
You adjusted the lenght too close. You should adjust to make the wheel farther from you. It was your fault that the wheel was too close and too low. You could have put it in a perfect place, if you tried it.
I got myself the Alcantara one and The Seat Sliders for an extra 30 Euro, and its good for me i dont have any issues whit the knees , im 6'0 and 230 lbs .
Ive had no problem with mineand you can buy seat sliders to adjust the seat whixh is £35 and a shift and handbrake mount for £45
I'm happy you're happy mate :) But that brings it to £330 and at that price point you are far better off with something else IMO.
The time lapse music starts*
My brain: "build waterslide swimming pool house jungle"
i have the alcantara version and i have zero up and down flex , mine is solid
I just got this playseat evo and the fanatec dd pro and I do not like the position of the wheel is not comfortable at all. I feel like I just wasted $400. In fact, the playseat challenge was way more comfortable
Yeah it's not great mate, sell it on and go for something else if you can maybe?
Interesting thanks. I don't think I'll bother with it :-) I'll check your review of the ART Simulator Cockpit