The ultimate racing experience?
A few years ago the market for PC racing peripherals was literally being swamped with products that were of dubious quality to say the least. Meanwhile its seem as though the majority of the brands that once produced racing wheels have retreated from an over saturated market segment. This has left only two manufacturers who are still releasing products for the mainstream market: Logitech and Thrustmaster. This development in the market is not necessarily a bad thing, as over the last couple of years Logitech has released high quality products time and time again, thus garnering itself a substantial loyal fan base. Logitech's first MOMO steering wheel and later on its Driving Force Pro (DFP)-which was a PS2 release- were instrumental in establishing the company as a top tier manufacturer for Racing peripherals.
Logitech's latest release, the Logitech G25, is a force feedback racing wheel which at first glance seems to have been redesigned from the ground up. The list goes on and on: Better Force feedback effects, high end finish and a pedal set which incorporates three pedals instead of the usual two. The coupe de grace is the gear shift that allows you to choose between using the standard six speed H pattern to change gear or the sequential shift. All in all this promises to provide the ultimate racing experience for at home and we couldn't wait to try it out.
High End
For the racing sim fanatics out there things just cant get realistic enough and there are several specialist manufacturers who cater to their needs. Brands like Frex, Virtual Performance Parts and NIXIM build specialised steering and pedal sets which are practically indistinguishable from the real thing but which would cost you an arm and a leg to purchase, for example you could easily spend in the excess of a thousand Euro before you had a complete set. Most people aren't crazy enough to spend this kind of money on a steering wheel but there is a substantial market for people who demand a bit more quality than what is currently on offer from most plastic steering wheels and pedal sets.
The wheel is is encased in hand stitched leather,
With the G25 Logitech aims to meet the needs of this niche market and this becomes abundantly clear when you open the box. The steering wheel looks like it was taken out of a real car: The centre of the steering wheel is crafted from stainless steel whereas the wheel itself is encased in hand stitched leather, the wheel is also devoid of most of the Superfluous buttons that litter most other steering wheels thus enhancing the realistic look and feel. Like the DFP before it the G25 is capable of 900 degrees of wheel rotation equating to 2-1/2 turning times from lock to lock which is ideal for any racing simulator with touring cars in it. On the rear side of the wheel we find the sequential shift paddles which can be used to shift either up or down and these too are made of stainless steel.
The sequential shift paddles are made of stainless steel.
The pedals are a joy to use and offer realistic resistance making them easier and more accurate to use. As the pedals are crafted from stainless steel there is zero flex when pressing down on them which again adds to the realistic feel.
