I literally just bought and set one of these up after waiting years on a g27. Haven’t even used it yet. Woke up this morning excited to finally turn it on and see this video. It’s like it was meant for me. Your the man Berry!.. let’s get to it!
@@steveclark9934 Hey Steve, I will be starting on Iracing but I play everything. Lots of Dirt Rally, AC, ACC, PCars and Rfactor. Its a huge upgrade from where I was. It was a bit pricy, around $1700 for the Forza bundle, brake kit and handbrake. but I've had a Logitech for well over a decade so figured id pull the trigger. Happy racing!
Aaah... normalcy prevails, another outstanding review by Sim Racing Garage. This has to be the #1 go-to channel for sim racing fans. Awesome stuff, Barry.
Have used one of these for about 2 yrs now. About 10 hrs per week no issues. Great feedback and very quiet. Love it👍 Thanks Bazza another great review🇦🇺
I found sim rig from guy he selling all for 1200€ with this base and v3 pedals shifter and e brake its looks phenomenal and wheel is forza lether with xbox hub exactl ehat i need because i have xbox not pc
I considered buying one, but at the time the cost of the base + button box + rim + shipping was within $10 of buying a full Accuforce kit, I went with the Accuforce. (I'm in Canada and Fantec shipping is very expensive)
Even before shipping fees, there's only about $150 between this base with the bmw wheel bundle, and the accuforce with wheel included. Unless that $150 is a dealbreaker, or you need console compatibility, or want to lock yourself into the fanataec ecosystem, why not have an excellent DD for not much more?
Got mine ordered just the other day, along with the gt wheel and the v3 pedals. I'm upgrading from a ten year old second hand logitech wheel and pedal set so I'm fascinated and excited to see what difference it makes! EDIT : it's amazing! The leap in performance is huge! I am one VERY happy customer!
@@seebarry4068 Just upgraded from the G29. Night and day difference. My roommate has the CSL DD and it's pretty comparable. The CSW 2.5 is actually stronger than his setup even with the boost git. I've been racing all day and haven't spun once in a race compared to multiple times with the G29. Was slower at first but once I got used to how strong it was, was way faster and consistent.
I just got my CSW 2.5, Barry’s videos have definitely given me a better idea on what to expect before making the purchase, coming from a G920 there’s a big learning curve but a little seat time and tuning and I feel comfortable with it.
Keep it up man, i based my purchases on your reviews honestly and haven't failed me yet. I have no problem with binge watching these!!!! awesome work man!
Yet I’ve read the difference is a lot smaller then one might think. Sure you get more TQ but feel is what matters more than just raw power. The CSW 2.5 does that just fine.
@@drift400 I have used the 2.5 before and the added tq and sustained tq you get from DD does add to the immersion. I think you get to a point with sim racing where it just comes down to added immersion. I and many others were plenty decent and quick with all logitech gear
@@chuckystang There's almost no correlation between better gears equals better laptimes. The fastest alien Sim racers some of them are using simple Thrustmaster setup.
@@radityaindera3442 yes in a dining room chair on a standard 1080p screen at a wooden desk. I will go with this bundle and pedals as my premium. i was so impressed with TS-PC
Barry, you are the main reason I decided to buy fanatec stuff. Watched hours of your reviews. The amount of details covered is awesome. Thanks again for a nice review!
Thanks for the review, great to know how your wheel base looks inside. I can't help but smile at your "Fananalab" comments 😄 Seems you realized by 35min. and forward though 👍
I've been with Fanatec since 2014. While I've had very small issues here and there (mostly hall sensor related on pedals), Fanatec is a super solid brand. I know some people like to dump on them because they expect everything to always be 100% perfect. Nothing is. Coming from the IT field, we are used to this.
@@Fanatec_is_TRASH well yeah because the DD1/2 were at their infancy then and the software had a lot to catch up (still does if you ask me, too many broken features")
I just paid a bit over $1k for one of these here in Oz. At least the supplier offered free delivery. Direct drive seems to be the future. However, it is cost prohibitive atm. That been said. With one of these at least you get something that looks like a dash behind the wheel. Lifetime Professional driver. First time building myself a sim racing setup. Nice review.
Great, in depth review as usual. This is the wheelbase that I wish I had. I rarely drive my car anymore because my arms and legs are less functional by the day because of spinal cord damage, but I tried an older club sport wheel my friend has. Wow, are there amazing and not to the point I have to worry about getting my arms ripped off.
Barry, regarding Project Cars 2. If you select custom for the ffb and use the wrist breaker settings provided by Hugo Vai, you will find a tremendous difference and very pleasing experience. Try the Formula Renault around Bannochbrae, it is fantastic.
I want one of these so bad. My father and I are currently building a sim rig out of wood but we're both disabled so it takes us a long time to do anything. We're currently trying to get our seating position down and I downloaded the Rimco seat position guide lines. I'd love for Barry to cover a whole video just on seating positions using the Logitech system and then more high end systems. It could become a guide for everyone getting into sim racing because of how thorough he is.
For my CSW2.5 I mounted it with the angle plate onto a 1/4" sheet of G10 (high quality fiberglass sheet), which was then bolted onto a $50 plastic folding table from Staples (Tied some 10lb weights to the sides of the table and it doesn't wiggle too much). This setup works well for me because I can still fold up the table and tuck things away. Biggest problem is the cable connectors on the back of the unit are a NIGHTMARE to get plugged in if you ever feel like you need to disconnect the pedals.
I've had a CSW 2.5 since feb. 2018, never had an issue. I think this is the best decently priced wheelbase when you're just starting with simracing, it's not cheapest and not the most expensive, the middle segment. Can probably find it used since people upgrade to the podium series, providing even better value. For maybe 350 to 400 USD you can find one. Yes, direct drive is a whole new world, but for someone starting out this is the way to start. Fanatec rims are not expensive if you look at other manufacturers, I think they are pretty good value. Once again you can find them used easily. I bought my formula carbon for 150 USD in mint condition.
Always cracks me up when he says "Fananalab" LOL It's fan-AH-lab, Barry...not fa-NaaNAH-lab :-) Great review as always, this and the Porsche 918 Rim are the only Fanatec gear that hasn't given me any problems in 2+ years (can't say the same about the V3 inverted pedals, The H-Shifter, The McLaren or Formula V2 Rims).
Please do a playlists on your channel, separating the review videos of steering wheels, cockpit, pedals, etc for easier browsing when someone is looking at your videos.
@@rizzeerizz8985 looks great but so far i have one big problem i do also drifting so the cord will be in the way and that is a bummer. also how warm does the unit get but it looks great and thanks for sharing the info. also here in oz this wheel be over $999 but still cheaper i guess
Barry your reviews are super detailed but more often than not are lacking the information people really want. I know your style is not to compare one product to another but, when people are dropping large amounts of money on something like this, that is what they are after. You can dial in pretty much any wheel system to a point where you can get a good feel for what the car is doing. This conclusion is not really helpful to someone wanting to buy this wheel. What would be helpful is a bit of info on how it compares to say a DD wheel (considering the cost of this V 2.5) and also how it compares to say the Thrustmaster TS-PC wheel? For whatever reason this is not something you ever do but are clearly in a privileged position to comment on. I guess companies don't want their products compared to another manufacturer and maybe that is part of your agreement in how you operate. Anyway I appreciate your in depth look inside inspections but would appreciate reviews which cover a bit more ground. I know that any comparisons are purely subjective but, at the end of the day, people are coming here for your opinion not your vernier readings!
I can only tell you how this wheel feels compared to my old T500. It blows it completely out of the water on all fronts. On the T500 I could feel the "notchiness", i.e. that I was rotating a belt. None of that here, it's buttery smooth. And really really fast compared to the T500. Able to catch all kinds of slides now. It's also a lot more powerful, really strong feedback. I haven't tested a DD wheel yet but honestly I'm so happy with this wheel that I won't even consider a DD for the foreseeable future.
I would think he doesn’t go down that road as then for example he says this Fanatec 2.5 is light years better than the Trustmaster Tx... oh shit, that’s what I’ll buy than.... than the guys buddy has the thrustmaster and he tries it out and says wtf, Barry is a jackass, this is much better than my Fanatec he said which was better. It’s all subjective. Many have used Logitech, Thrustmaster, Fanatec, and direct drives and prefer X over the other, and another guy May prefer the opposite. So he gives “you” the detailed information to make your own decision.
I believe he does the right thing, comparison is subjective. He opens things up, he goes on the details of the product... what you can do now is watch another of his review and YOU do a comparison and YOU draw your conclusions
Well.... Most wheels above a certain price point have the same kind of performance IE: the buttons work, the wheel is rigid, the paddles click nicely but it's the added amenities that make a Martin Ascher wheel cost what it costs... After taking a look at them while they do look like a nice wheel I don't think they're at that Martin Ascher level just yet
Another Great video Barry . Had mine just over a year but its great too see whats going on underneath . i do a lot of Gt and touring car races ("tin top"as you say) and wondering if the v2 rim would be good for those sort of races ? Keep up the good work Barry !
I'm sure you've been asked this too many times already, but how would you compare it to a lesser model like a g29? Is it a significant leap in performance?
@@yamabushi170 I've never used a g29 personally, but I will say this; the g29 is great for what it is, especially considering you can get a wheel, pedal, and shifter for like 300 ish new. However, it feels like a plastic toy compared to Fanatec 2.5 base and v3 pedals. You're not gonna find any plastic on the parts besides the buttons, and they're built very well in general. The Fanatec stuff feels much less like a toy/controller and much more like sim equipment. Thrustmaster is arguably a middle ground, but frankly, I think one is much better off either spending some more for Fanatec gear, or spending less and getting Logitech stuff. But if you're not looking to spend over a grand, a g29 or g920 will do you just fine as basic sim equipment. Only thing I'm not really a fan of is the lack of a clutch pedal
@@CGoody564 thanks for the reply! Yeah, from what I read I was coming to a similar conclusion, that being either to economise with the logitech and still have a decent quality wheel or just go for it and get the fanatec gear. The thrustmaster seems like a pointless compromise for a relatively small saving over the fanatec and there seems to be some inconsistency with the build quality on the TM wheels. I'm currently playing with a really old logitech wheel which is pretty flimsy and has really weak ffb but I'm still loving the racing, having started a few months ago initially with a joy pad. I'll stick it out for a bit longer and if I'm still keen then I'll probably take the plunge with the fanatec csw 2.5 and 3 pedal set.
@@yamabushi170 also remember you don't need to upgrade all at once. You could order pedals at one point, base and wheel at another, etc. If you can afford a bundle and it saves you some money, go for it, but if you can't, you can always piece it together Direct drive would be preferred over belt driven, but for a belt driven base, you're not finding much better than fanatec
@@CGoody564 well I just decided to take the plunge and got the clubsport 2.5 with the v3 load cell pedals and gt wheel. I could have gone for dd but that's twice the price and I reckon if I decide to upgrade further I can get a damn good price for the clubsport so it's win win imo. Can't wait to try it out!
lol they are not manufacturing the USB cables, maybe Fanatec had contract on the braided version, supply was low so they moved to alternative. It's just a stupid USB cable. It's same with the $3 HDMI cable it can pull same res and frequency as the highend $50 HDMI cable. No one cares honestly.
If you think that price high, just check out the Australian site and then you will not complain about price. If you want quality you have to pay the price.
You should do a collaboration with AvE... BTW, there’s a power diode, Schottky I think, on that board behind the motor, which is prone to blowing up. I replaced mine with a somewhat generic power Schottky and it has been good ever since.
I like your reviews, but it would be nice if you specified competitors at the price point. Like what would be comparable to this wheelbase? Same with your other reviews. Just makes it easier on the users to know what else is out there.
So I decided to take mine apart, because you did (obvs) and when I put it back together and plugged it in- it created a gravitational singularity in my man cave that spaghettified my two Jack Russells. Good news no more crazy dogs bothering me- bad news I'll never get that vision out of my head and really bad news is that my wife is pissed. And I immediately got a message from Fanatec saying don't even think about returning it, we know what you did. My wife is a fancy London born and Cambridge educated lawyer and she is going to sue the universe and quantum physics. She loved those dogs man.
exellent reviews .... not only this :-) Do you notice an empty - tiny space while steeing with force-power ? from left to right or right to left ? perhaps is something loose inside on my base but I don't see anything loose ...
Did you actually run Drift mode at -5? It slows down quick movements massively and i dont understand how you can like it, especially you since you have experience with DDs.
I tried 0 yesterday on ACC and I could barely feel anything at all on the car, I couldn't catch any slides, the wheel would barely move. Put it on -1 and I had feeling again. Not going any higher, though.
I was going to buy this one a year ago when I wanted to upgrade my Fanatech Porsche GT11 (and I needed analog levers on the wheel, hence the McLaren GT3 y bought with it). But I don't have a cockpit and I needed to add the base clamp, that was another 60 euros, so I costed 210 more than the CSL Elite PS4, it isn't PS4 compatible, it doesn't have leds, and while it is better built than the CSL, it's not that much better to justify 210 euros more, so I settled for the CSL Elite PS4, that also had an upgraded engine over the regular CSL Elite.
I wish they had one fan pulling the other pushing air out that would keep it even more cooler as design factor. Nice review think overall this will be the wheel I get n settle on as Logitech wheel just isn’t cutting it for me.
Both fans on my unit are very loud and actually introduce vibrations in the wheel when they turn on. Really annoying. What quality fans can i use to replace them?
Barry thanks for the info. you give all of us in the Sim Racing World. I have a TX leather thrustmaster and i am not happy with it because the of the slack zone clunking and belt cog feel. I really wish the reviews i had watched before purchasing it would have spoke of this crappy feel. So with that said doses this Fanatec 2.5 have this same feel in the neutral zone? Also DD1 some say it is not much better then CSL 2.5? I am really trying to make right decision this time.
I'm honestly a little worried with firmware or hardware issues, even if its a rarity. because im dumb as a post but fast as F. so getting back into racing on PC or console ranked, I want this as my premium buy, but while being more open to great used packages. Your videos over the last few months have really given me a solid understanding of all wheels and the value and why they cost differently. But I'm not tech-ee, so I'm a little worried haha. Can you race online in VR against people? ONline? Ive been going to VR ASC and iRacing, and wide screen 34, I've been renting a seat at a sim place for about 1.25 hours so far. I cant believe all the things you say are true. I've tried a few rims, bases, seats and tv or VR... its so cool.. This VR is just too real. I had F4, F3 and F2 at spa... and my last 15 they let me do F1 at spa and barcelona. it was incredible focusing the sight and braking in hard zones, and looking through the corner or to the exit in fast corners and blind corners... incredible.
You should really give Assetto Corsa Competizione a try. Btw I own a 2.5 as well and I run it at drift mode -1. I wouldnt reccomend going any lower than -2.
Hey Barry Great video as always and big Hallo from Austria. Maybe u can test the drive hub one day . Would be very interesting how the CS 2.5 works on PlayStation with that drive hub. Original not possible, with Han possible BUT how good is the FFB and everything else compare without the hub on pc or x box!! Would be great to see someting about. Thank u , wish u all the best :)
Been wanting this base for the longest time, always sold out and people reselling them jack up the prices. So hard to get my hands on one of these may have to settle for CSL Elite.
Nice review Barry. I see you have swapped your old D-Box 4400 with new ones. Is there a spesific reason why you swapped them? I see you have less heave in this video than you used to have, and you've added more roll and pitch. Different motion systems reacts differently, perhaps? :) EDIT: I see now that it's a prosimu. Do you find it better than the D-Box?
@@jeffbanfieldsflwr3537 the software is called fanalabs, but Barry calls it fananalabs. He sticks in an extra a and n. Makes it sound more like banana. Just amuses me, that's all ☺️
Barry, did you try, DRI -2 or -3? That should give you almost no oscilations and kills almost no FFB resolution, because the electronic damper is only in the motor and lets active ffb signals pass
I was really interested in this wheel base, but it seems like for what this base plus a nice rim costs... I think I'd have to go with the Accuforce v2 DD wheel instead. I currently have a G27 that I've had for about 10 years now. I think I'll be deciding between the CSL Elite (to save $) and the Accuforce v2 (do it once, do it right). Can't see why I'd spend $800+ on the Clubsport 2.5 when the Accuforce v2 is just a bit more $... Has to be worth saving a bit more for right?
@@harrison7494 I don't have rim. That's a minimum of $250 for me (I don't like the cheapest option. That's $750. If you want a nicer rim, it's $3-400. So $800-850. Accuforce v2 is $999 and just has to be way better? If you already have a wheel rim, then $499 isn't bad and is way cheaper than the Accuforce v2...
I always wonder where you are pointing when you suggest to "hit the subscribe button" at the end of your videos. You point up the top, but the sub button is below the video :-P
I wanted an expert review of this unit. This where I come when I need one.
I have had mine over a year and have had no issues with it really good and smooth massive improvement over Logitech wheels.
@@philipbristow8243 Hopefully making the same leap this month🙌🏻
I literally just bought and set one of these up after waiting years on a g27. Haven’t even used it yet. Woke up this morning excited to finally turn it on and see this video. It’s like it was meant for me. Your the man Berry!.. let’s get to it!
I'm excited for you sounds like today will be super fun which driving game will you be trying first on it?
@@steveclark9934 Hey Steve, I will be starting on Iracing but I play everything. Lots of Dirt Rally, AC, ACC, PCars and Rfactor. Its a huge upgrade from where I was. It was a bit pricy, around $1700 for the Forza bundle, brake kit and handbrake. but I've had a Logitech for well over a decade so figured id pull the trigger. Happy racing!
@@mikedail580 Thats a sick settup you got yourself ;) deffinatly gonna enjoy it. Hope u have safe fun!
Remember to thighten down the allen screw on the wheel or it will kill your wheel in a short time
How is it? I'm also on Logitech and seriously considering the upgrade
This guy's like the Bob Ross of sim racing! Keep up the amazing reviews
Yes! Exactly what I was saying! :)
Same comment under every video ...
UvuvwevwevweOnyetenyevweUgwemuhwemOssasVEVO rinse out
@@danielturtle6994 ok then
There should be some kind of documentary about barry, the mans knowledge and insight is beyond amazing!!
ali bell he should do ASMR
11mo After this comment, CSL DD comes.
@@thomas9290 I know it’s a killer , that’s my next step lol
Aaah... normalcy prevails, another outstanding review by Sim Racing Garage. This has to be the #1 go-to channel for sim racing fans. Awesome stuff, Barry.
Can't believe I just found this awesome channel, best ever reviews I've seen yet.
this video helped me repair mine when opening it to fix the start button not clicking, thank you for going so indepth on this review.
Have used one of these for about 2 yrs now. About 10 hrs per week no issues. Great feedback and very quiet. Love it👍 Thanks Bazza another great review🇦🇺
Just ordered one today, it looks phenomenal and well buitt. I also love seeing the interior from the tinted glass.
@@abu1950 you will thoroughly enjoy it. Make sure you dial it in correctly to feel the road and correct feedback settings.
@@GMCRaptor will do mate, thanks
I found sim rig from guy he selling all for 1200€ with this base and v3 pedals shifter and e brake its looks phenomenal and wheel is forza lether with xbox hub exactl ehat i need because i have xbox not pc
I considered buying one, but at the time the cost of the base + button box + rim + shipping was within $10 of buying a full Accuforce kit, I went with the Accuforce. (I'm in Canada and Fantec shipping is very expensive)
Never heard of ordering from a shop? Direct from the manufacturer isn’t cheaper anymore, they sell their gear at full retail price most of the time.
Shops “can” give discounts
Even before shipping fees, there's only about $150 between this base with the bmw wheel bundle, and the accuforce with wheel included. Unless that $150 is a dealbreaker, or you need console compatibility, or want to lock yourself into the fanataec ecosystem, why not have an excellent DD for not much more?
@@dylanzrim1011 Then you have canada, where it's full retail with a chunk extra on top (for sim racing stuff anyway).
You've made more than the right choice!
Got mine ordered just the other day, along with the gt wheel and the v3 pedals. I'm upgrading from a ten year old second hand logitech wheel and pedal set so I'm fascinated and excited to see what difference it makes!
EDIT : it's amazing! The leap in performance is huge! I am one VERY happy customer!
Are you still a happy customer?
@@DavidGarcia-oi5nt oh absolutely!
I'm about to do the same for one of these. They look to be a huge upgrade from my g29.
@@seebarry4068 Just upgraded from the G29. Night and day difference. My roommate has the CSL DD and it's pretty comparable. The CSW 2.5 is actually stronger than his setup even with the boost git. I've been racing all day and haven't spun once in a race compared to multiple times with the G29. Was slower at first but once I got used to how strong it was, was way faster and consistent.
I just got my CSW 2.5, Barry’s videos have definitely given me a better idea on what to expect before making the purchase, coming from a G920 there’s a big learning curve but a little seat time and tuning and I feel comfortable with it.
At last a great in depth review, even though I have been using my CSW V2 (upgraded to 2,5) for 2 years now it was great to see, thanks BR.
Do you mean you bought a 2.5 after owning a V2? Or that you upgraded the components of your V2 to the ones from a V2.5?
@@DavidGarcia-oi5nt i upgraded my v2 thru fanatec cost $300 at that time. Cheaper and easier that selling my old and buying again
Keep it up man, i based my purchases on your reviews honestly and haven't failed me yet. I have no problem with binge watching these!!!! awesome work man!
Barry has a AAA Newscaster voice. Top notch video. Just bought my 2.5 3 days ago and your review hits the nails on every head. Well done.
I have been waiting for this review for a while. Thanks for the review!
very timely review, I'm considering upgrading to one of these.
time to get comfy
MostlyRandom Honestly I recommend is very smooth quick and quite strong it gets close to DD territory.
This channel is very, very underrated
already own their DD1 but who else would have liked a quick comparison to their podium series.
your dd is much better than this wheel, there is no comparison there.
Yet I’ve read the difference is a lot smaller then one might think. Sure you get more TQ but feel is what matters more than just raw power. The CSW 2.5 does that just fine.
@@drift400 I have used the 2.5 before and the added tq and sustained tq you get from DD does add to the immersion. I think you get to a point with sim racing where it just comes down to added immersion. I and many others were plenty decent and quick with all logitech gear
@@chuckystang There's almost no correlation between better gears equals better laptimes. The fastest alien Sim racers some of them are using simple Thrustmaster setup.
@@radityaindera3442 yes in a dining room chair on a standard 1080p screen at a wooden desk. I will go with this bundle and pedals as my premium. i was so impressed with TS-PC
Love that Porsche sounding intro!
Barry, you are the main reason I decided to buy fanatec stuff. Watched hours of your reviews. The amount of details covered is awesome. Thanks again for a nice review!
Love your stuff Baz.
"Lets GET TO IT!"
Thanks for the review, great to know how your wheel base looks inside. I can't help but smile at your "Fananalab" comments 😄 Seems you realized by 35min. and forward though 👍
A time must come where direct drive wheels sell for less than. $600.
Soon
The Simagic Alpha Mini is direct drive servo with 10nm at $550
If he doesn't open it he isn't sim racing garage 🤣❤️
Dude! This guys voice is amazing!
I've been with Fanatec since 2014. While I've had very small issues here and there (mostly hall sensor related on pedals), Fanatec is a super solid brand. I know some people like to dump on them because they expect everything to always be 100% perfect. Nothing is. Coming from the IT field, we are used to this.
Another classic review, Barry!
I like it when you take everything apart 👏👏👏👏👍
Perfect timing :-) Great that you cover this when I'm just started researching the Fanatec lineup. Thanks!
Esports drivers prefer this over the DD1 and 2 lol
@@Fanatec_is_TRASH well yeah because the DD1/2 were at their infancy then and the software had a lot to catch up (still does if you ask me, too many broken features")
Fantastic review, thank you!
i clicked like as soon as i heard his voice
You hear his voice before clicking on the video? 🧐
@@relate97 It is an XFile moment when you hear the video audio when you haven't clicked/play yet.
@Jason I've once smell my fart before I ripped it.
@@hamzterix i clicked "like", as in the noun, as soon as i heard his voice, got it?
I just paid a bit over $1k for one of these here in Oz. At least the supplier offered free delivery. Direct drive seems to be the future. However, it is cost prohibitive atm. That been said. With one of these at least you get something that looks like a dash behind the wheel. Lifetime Professional driver. First time building myself a sim racing setup. Nice review.
Great, in depth review as usual.
This is the wheelbase that I wish I had. I rarely drive my car anymore because my arms and legs are less functional by the day because of spinal cord damage, but I tried an older club sport wheel my friend has. Wow, are there amazing and not to the point I have to worry about getting my arms ripped off.
Sometimes I like the idea of a DD but practically 8nm is as much as I can use without building a large dedicated rig out of aluminum rail.
Yes!!! Quarantine SRG video FTW!!!!
Barry, regarding Project Cars 2. If you select custom for the ffb and use the wrist breaker settings provided by Hugo Vai, you will find a tremendous difference and very pleasing experience. Try the Formula Renault around Bannochbrae, it is fantastic.
Finally!! Thanks for your review !
I've been trying to decide if I should buy one of these, very timely video.
Thank you for the video Sr.
I want one of these so bad. My father and I are currently building a sim rig out of wood but we're both disabled so it takes us a long time to do anything. We're currently trying to get our seating position down and I downloaded the Rimco seat position guide lines. I'd love for Barry to cover a whole video just on seating positions using the Logitech system and then more high end systems. It could become a guide for everyone getting into sim racing because of how thorough he is.
For my CSW2.5 I mounted it with the angle plate onto a 1/4" sheet of G10 (high quality fiberglass sheet), which was then bolted onto a $50 plastic folding table from Staples (Tied some 10lb weights to the sides of the table and it doesn't wiggle too much). This setup works well for me because I can still fold up the table and tuck things away. Biggest problem is the cable connectors on the back of the unit are a NIGHTMARE to get plugged in if you ever feel like you need to disconnect the pedals.
I've had a CSW 2.5 since feb. 2018, never had an issue.
I think this is the best decently priced wheelbase when you're just starting with simracing, it's not cheapest and not the most expensive, the middle segment. Can probably find it used since people upgrade to the podium series, providing even better value. For maybe 350 to 400 USD you can find one.
Yes, direct drive is a whole new world, but for someone starting out this is the way to start.
Fanatec rims are not expensive if you look at other manufacturers, I think they are pretty good value. Once again you can find them used easily. I bought my formula carbon for 150 USD in mint condition.
Very well made product and review from Barry!!!
Just ordered one of those Spenard cockpits, may be looking for a new wheel soon great review as usual.
Always cracks me up when he says "Fananalab" LOL
It's fan-AH-lab, Barry...not fa-NaaNAH-lab :-)
Great review as always, this and the Porsche 918 Rim are the only Fanatec gear that hasn't given me any problems in 2+ years (can't say the same about the V3 inverted pedals, The H-Shifter, The McLaren or Formula V2 Rims).
I had this base for couple years and been super happy with it. Going to DD after this one isent that insane upgrade tbh
I also subbed mate great work champ. Watching from Sydney Australia
Great review, thank you so much👍
That intro voice could melt butter
Thanks for that, it was eye opening... I want it 😪😪
Great job super informative as always. I am looking to upgrade my t300 soon, thanks for the info!
"...a simulation where Assetto Corsa wants to be and of course iRacing is"...Really???
I give a thumbs up anyway, good job man!
Ac is shit
Please do a playlists on your channel, separating the review videos of steering wheels, cockpit, pedals, etc for easier browsing when someone is looking at your videos.
Yeah yeah
Saving up for this as my budget isn’t huge and I’m so over my Logitech wheel. So can’t wait to enter some sort of reel sim wheel n peddles
why would you buy this when you could get the accuforce v2 for 999 dollars
rizzee rizz I will look into it
@@rizzeerizz8985 looks great but so far i have one big problem i do also drifting so the cord will be in the way and that is a bummer. also how warm does the unit get but it looks great and thanks for sharing the info. also here in oz this wheel be over $999 but still cheaper i guess
@@rizzeerizz8985 i also race on rfactor 2 and acc as i find both to be great in ffb out of all sims i play and ac for drifting
@@MrFrosty888 about 1.9k for accurate pro v2 to Aus
And the cord will be fine, if it's long enough it will be fine
Barry your reviews are super detailed but more often than not are lacking the information people really want. I know your style is not to compare one product to another but, when people are dropping large amounts of money on something like this, that is what they are after.
You can dial in pretty much any wheel system to a point where you can get a good feel for what the car is doing. This conclusion is not really helpful to someone wanting to buy this wheel. What would be helpful is a bit of info on how it compares to say a DD wheel (considering the cost of this V 2.5) and also how it compares to say the Thrustmaster TS-PC wheel?
For whatever reason this is not something you ever do but are clearly in a privileged position to comment on. I guess companies don't want their products compared to another manufacturer and maybe that is part of your agreement in how you operate.
Anyway I appreciate your in depth look inside inspections but would appreciate reviews which cover a bit more ground. I know that any comparisons are purely subjective but, at the end of the day, people are coming here for your opinion not your vernier readings!
StalkersPicnic I would like to see how it compares to the CSL elite as well
I can only tell you how this wheel feels compared to my old T500. It blows it completely out of the water on all fronts. On the T500 I could feel the "notchiness", i.e. that I was rotating a belt. None of that here, it's buttery smooth. And really really fast compared to the T500. Able to catch all kinds of slides now. It's also a lot more powerful, really strong feedback.
I haven't tested a DD wheel yet but honestly I'm so happy with this wheel that I won't even consider a DD for the foreseeable future.
I would think he doesn’t go down that road as then for example he says this Fanatec 2.5 is light years better than the Trustmaster Tx... oh shit, that’s what I’ll buy than.... than the guys buddy has the thrustmaster and he tries it out and says wtf, Barry is a jackass, this is much better than my Fanatec he said which was better. It’s all subjective. Many have used Logitech, Thrustmaster, Fanatec, and direct drives and prefer X over the other, and another guy May prefer the opposite. So he gives “you” the detailed information to make your own decision.
C’mon Bazza give us the bottom line, part 2 please 😝
I believe he does the right thing, comparison is subjective. He opens things up, he goes on the details of the product... what you can do now is watch another of his review and YOU do a comparison and YOU draw your conclusions
I'm really happy with mine, but I found out the angled bracket caused flex and made the wheel quite loud. It's better not to use it.
Barry's got the magic baby !
Hey Barry you should go review one of those PolSimer wheels. Meant to have the same performance as a Martin Ascher unit while having a steady price.
Well.... Most wheels above a certain price point have the same kind of performance IE: the buttons work, the wheel is rigid, the paddles click nicely but it's the added amenities that make a Martin Ascher wheel cost what it costs...
After taking a look at them while they do look like a nice wheel I don't think they're at that Martin Ascher level just yet
Great job as always mate!
the fact that your setup shakes is nuts lol
Another Great video Barry . Had mine just over a year but its great too see whats going on underneath . i do a lot of Gt and touring car races ("tin top"as you say) and wondering if the v2 rim would be good for those sort of races ? Keep up the good work Barry !
I really enjoy mine. When I have more room and such I'm gonna upgrade to Direct drive, but for now I'm fine with a belt driven base on my stand
I'm sure you've been asked this too many times already, but how would you compare it to a lesser model like a g29? Is it a significant leap in performance?
@@yamabushi170 I've never used a g29 personally, but I will say this; the g29 is great for what it is, especially considering you can get a wheel, pedal, and shifter for like 300 ish new. However, it feels like a plastic toy compared to Fanatec 2.5 base and v3 pedals. You're not gonna find any plastic on the parts besides the buttons, and they're built very well in general. The Fanatec stuff feels much less like a toy/controller and much more like sim equipment.
Thrustmaster is arguably a middle ground, but frankly, I think one is much better off either spending some more for Fanatec gear, or spending less and getting Logitech stuff. But if you're not looking to spend over a grand, a g29 or g920 will do you just fine as basic sim equipment. Only thing I'm not really a fan of is the lack of a clutch pedal
@@CGoody564 thanks for the reply! Yeah, from what I read I was coming to a similar conclusion, that being either to economise with the logitech and still have a decent quality wheel or just go for it and get the fanatec gear. The thrustmaster seems like a pointless compromise for a relatively small saving over the fanatec and there seems to be some inconsistency with the build quality on the TM wheels. I'm currently playing with a really old logitech wheel which is pretty flimsy and has really weak ffb but I'm still loving the racing, having started a few months ago initially with a joy pad. I'll stick it out for a bit longer and if I'm still keen then I'll probably take the plunge with the fanatec csw 2.5 and 3 pedal set.
@@yamabushi170 also remember you don't need to upgrade all at once. You could order pedals at one point, base and wheel at another, etc. If you can afford a bundle and it saves you some money, go for it, but if you can't, you can always piece it together
Direct drive would be preferred over belt driven, but for a belt driven base, you're not finding much better than fanatec
@@CGoody564 well I just decided to take the plunge and got the clubsport 2.5 with the v3 load cell pedals and gt wheel. I could have gone for dd but that's twice the price and I reckon if I decide to upgrade further I can get a damn good price for the clubsport so it's win win imo. Can't wait to try it out!
Mine came with a braided USB cable and this was when it cost $499. Sad to see them cutting corners after raising prices.
lol they are not manufacturing the USB cables, maybe Fanatec had contract on the braided version, supply was low so they moved to alternative. It's just a stupid USB cable. It's same with the $3 HDMI cable it can pull same res and frequency as the highend $50 HDMI cable. No one cares honestly.
I buy one this may/june... can't wait ! Came from a t300
That is a solid wheel
The ferrite choke addict.
You should totally build a sound booth In your sim room thier and do voice over work , you would be an amazing radio personality
Thats awesome! Wish the price on these would go down though. Time to stick with my t150 during quarantine.
Same.
If you think that price high, just check out the Australian site and then you will not complain about price. If you want quality you have to pay the price.
There's a huge difference between a T150 and the CSW2.5. I made that jump and I couldn't go back to a T150 now.
I got my CSWv2 when the 2.5 came out and Fanatec dropped the price to $499 aud :) I can tell you i was and still am stocked !!
But i was hoping Barry would compare the v2 to the 2.5 he reviewed years ago :(
Oh my. His voice..... yes please
40:40 “Fananalab” hahaha
Spat my drink out 🥲🤣🤣🤣
you guys are amazing!!! thanks to your awesome reviews ive gonna and bought myself a new complete fanatec sim racing setup!!!!
Barry the sub button is at the bottom right of the screen, stop pointing to the top right of the screen at the end of your videos 😁
Thank you for another awesome video Barry, will you review the new hpp pedal set in the future?
Hi there, why not testing with RaceRoomExperience? Would be nice to see how it performs there. Best Regards from Germany.
Yep, I think RR FFB is superior to both iracing and AC, especially if you play around with the settings. I'd like to see Barry testing in RR too.
Yes, testing with RRE in the Future would be great. 👍
You should do a collaboration with AvE...
BTW, there’s a power diode, Schottky I think, on that board behind the motor, which is prone to blowing up. I replaced mine with a somewhat generic power Schottky and it has been good ever since.
He'll just let the smoke outta' her :p
In all seriousness, that could be fun.
I like your reviews, but it would be nice if you specified competitors at the price point. Like what would be comparable to this wheelbase? Same with your other reviews. Just makes it easier on the users to know what else is out there.
Make's you wonder the cost's of T-GT 🤔 very nice review Barry 👍
Exactly, the t-gt is overpriced
So I decided to take mine apart, because you did (obvs) and when I put it back together and plugged it in- it created a gravitational singularity in my man cave that spaghettified my two Jack Russells. Good news no more crazy dogs bothering me- bad news I'll never get that vision out of my head and really bad news is that my wife is pissed. And I immediately got a message from Fanatec saying don't even think about returning it, we know what you did. My wife is a fancy London born and Cambridge educated lawyer and she is going to sue the universe and quantum physics. She loved those dogs man.
exellent reviews .... not only this :-) Do you notice an empty - tiny space while steeing with force-power ? from left to right or right to left ? perhaps is something loose inside on my base but I don't see anything loose ...
Did you actually run Drift mode at -5? It slows down quick movements massively and i dont understand how you can like it, especially you since you have experience with DDs.
I have put drift on -1. On 0 it has ver little feel.
@@valrond maybe -1 i can understand, i prefer none but definitely not -5...
I tried 0 yesterday on ACC and I could barely feel anything at all on the car, I couldn't catch any slides, the wheel would barely move. Put it on -1 and I had feeling again. Not going any higher, though.
-2 is the way to go, believe me.
@@kentsangkh I read it, tried it, but I prefer - 1
I was going to buy this one a year ago when I wanted to upgrade my Fanatech Porsche GT11 (and I needed analog levers on the wheel, hence the McLaren GT3 y bought with it). But I don't have a cockpit and I needed to add the base clamp, that was another 60 euros, so I costed 210 more than the CSL Elite PS4, it isn't PS4 compatible, it doesn't have leds, and while it is better built than the CSL, it's not that much better to justify 210 euros more, so I settled for the CSL Elite PS4, that also had an upgraded engine over the regular CSL Elite.
I wish they had one fan pulling the other pushing air out that would keep it even more cooler as design factor. Nice review think overall this will be the wheel I get n settle on as Logitech wheel just isn’t cutting it for me.
Both fans on my unit are very loud and actually introduce vibrations in the wheel when they turn on. Really annoying.
What quality fans can i use to replace them?
The V2.0 was my first wheelbase for four years, great product. Now I got a DD2 because of curiosity :)
Automobilista 2 has awesome force feedback with this wheel !
Can you do a review on the thrustmaster ts-xw? BTW I love your videos keep up the good work!!!!!
Great video as always! What motion platform are u using? Thx for info.
Fananalab 🍻😂😂 40:42. Said it a few other times. Banana fanana
Barry thanks for the info. you give all of us in the Sim Racing World. I have a TX leather thrustmaster and i am not happy with it because the of the slack zone clunking and belt cog feel. I really wish the reviews i had watched before purchasing it would have spoke of this crappy feel.
So with that said doses this Fanatec 2.5 have this same feel in the neutral zone? Also DD1 some say it is not much better then CSL 2.5? I am really trying to make right decision this time.
not a big deal and I might be wrong but I think the colour of those screws would be black chrome rather than gun metal grey.
I'm honestly a little worried with firmware or hardware issues, even if its a rarity. because im dumb as a post but fast as F. so getting back into racing on PC or console ranked, I want this as my premium buy, but while being more open to great used packages. Your videos over the last few months have really given me a solid understanding of all wheels and the value and why they cost differently. But I'm not tech-ee, so I'm a little worried haha.
Can you race online in VR against people? ONline?
Ive been going to VR ASC and iRacing, and wide screen 34, I've been renting a seat at a sim place for about 1.25 hours so far. I cant believe all the things you say are true. I've tried a few rims, bases, seats and tv or VR... its so cool.. This VR is just too real. I had F4, F3 and F2 at spa... and my last 15 they let me do F1 at spa and barcelona. it was incredible focusing the sight and braking in hard zones, and looking through the corner or to the exit in fast corners and blind corners... incredible.
You should really give Assetto Corsa Competizione a try. Btw I own a 2.5 as well and I run it at drift mode -1. I wouldnt reccomend going any lower than -2.
another great vid!
Hey Barry
Great video as always and big Hallo from Austria.
Maybe u can test the drive hub one day . Would be very interesting how the CS 2.5 works on PlayStation with that drive hub. Original not possible, with Han possible BUT how good is the FFB and everything else compare without the hub on pc or x box!!
Would be great to see someting about.
Thank u , wish u all the best :)
Been wanting this base for the longest time, always sold out and people reselling them jack up the prices. So hard to get my hands on one of these may have to settle for CSL Elite.
though this is now pretty much obsolete but I really like the look of this unit.
Nice review Barry. I see you have swapped your old D-Box 4400 with new ones. Is there a spesific reason why you swapped them? I see you have less heave in this video than you used to have, and you've added more roll and pitch. Different motion systems reacts differently, perhaps? :) EDIT: I see now that it's a prosimu. Do you find it better than the D-Box?
Every time he says Fananalabs I loose my shit :-) Barry is the best
What's the joke there?
@@jeffbanfieldsflwr3537 the software is called fanalabs, but Barry calls it fananalabs. He sticks in an extra a and n. Makes it sound more like banana. Just amuses me, that's all ☺️
@@Aussiewalrus oh, thanks for explaining.
Barry, did you try, DRI -2 or -3? That should give you almost no oscilations and kills almost no FFB resolution, because the electronic damper is only in the motor and lets active ffb signals pass
I was really interested in this wheel base, but it seems like for what this base plus a nice rim costs... I think I'd have to go with the Accuforce v2 DD wheel instead. I currently have a G27 that I've had for about 10 years now. I think I'll be deciding between the CSL Elite (to save $) and the Accuforce v2 (do it once, do it right). Can't see why I'd spend $800+ on the Clubsport 2.5 when the Accuforce v2 is just a bit more $... Has to be worth saving a bit more for right?
i got a V.25 for $499 new.....
@@harrison7494 I don't have rim. That's a minimum of $250 for me (I don't like the cheapest option. That's $750. If you want a nicer rim, it's $3-400. So $800-850. Accuforce v2 is $999 and just has to be way better? If you already have a wheel rim, then $499 isn't bad and is way cheaper than the Accuforce v2...
I always wonder where you are pointing when you suggest to "hit the subscribe button" at the end of your videos. You point up the top, but the sub button is below the video :-P
When he said you could see the components inside, I immediately thought oh RGB would look cool in there. 😃