Thrustmaster T500 RS Racing Wheel + Ferrari F1 Wheel Attachment PS3/PC Review

So overall the how does the T500 RS and F1 hold up?  well It doesn’t take any more than one race to notice how good this wheel is, with support for up to 1080 of steering lock, the full 360 wheel grip on the GT wheel, the superb oversized gear changers and what has to be the most robust pedal set I’ve ever used, all add to making this a premium racing experience.

Thrustmaster have really done their research on this one, bringing support for some of the top racers available on the market today on both PC and Playstation 3, something that shines through with their partnership with Gran Turismo 5 developers Polyphony Digital and of course their premium licence with Ferrari, both of which are huge brands when it comes to racing in the digital world and the real world alike.  Paying close attention to the styling and details for each on their respective steering wheels, with the fantastic looks of the GT5 wheel and the replica setup of the F1 wheel really make this setup stand out, both in style and functionality.

A lot of fancy technology has gone into this wheel too, the drive system for the motors is the extremely quiet, especially when compared to other wheels on the market, meaning that when your racing the only thing you can really hear is the sound of the engine and not the ominous belt drive noise that plagues a lot of simulation steering wheels.

The build quality is second to non also, the pedals are made with an almost industrial construction, meaning that even when they are free-standing on the floor you have no problem with them slipping away from you and certainly no worries about breaking them should you feel the need to slam the brakes on full force on a regular basis.  Both wheels are robust, heavy and should last a lifetime too, every button, joint and connection is as well built as you would expect from a product in this price range.

For your average racing game fan, this wheel is going to seem a bit much, especially in terms of budget, but if you’re a serious fan of racing simulations then there really is no compromise, while there are plenty of amazing wheels on the market for less than half the price of this setup, you can’t put a price on the perfect performance and premium build quality of this setup.  With the addition of optional upgrades such as a full H shift gear selector, F1 wheel attachment and even an upgradable pedal system, this is an enthusiasts dream.  If your serious about F1 racing I don’t think there is a better option on the market.

While I would love to award this product our gamers choice award, I think its specialist nature takes it out of the reach of the average gamer, but due to its exceptional performance and quality I am more than happy to award both the Thrustmaster T500 RS and the separate F1 attachment our Editors Choice Award.