There is no question that the true force feedback on the MS wheel is preferrable to wheels lacking that feature but has anyone driven this game with the Logitech wheel and if so how do you like it?  The reason I am asking is that I have the Microsoft wheel and while I love its performance its build quality is horrible.  There is a post out there with a hundred responses from people experiencing the same issues with the MS wheel.  I have no interest in opening the MS wheel up and gluing in a new bearing as is suggested in some forums.  I know the logitech wheel is a better quality wheel I am just curious as to how much game play will suffer with the Logitech's axial feedback vs the true force feedback equipped MS wheel.  Anyone with experience with the logitech wheel I would appreciate your feedback.  Or even if you don't have experience with that wheel for that matter.

Thanks

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Read my review; Logitech!

http://forums.forzamotorsport.net/forums/thread/233220.aspx

http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=f2setuppd3.jpg

---

Hi there Stompin,

I'm a proud owner of the Logitech DriveFX wheel, and I've also had the chance of testing out the MS wheel, both with Forza 2.

First of all, the build quality of the Logitech DriveFX is just amazing. The feeling you get when you put your hands around this wheel is just eons from the MS wheel. The wheel of the DriveFX is build with rubber in the sections in where you take the wheel, and although is a 25cm wheel, it pretty much feels as using a real wheel. Your hands get a really comfortable position, as the anatomy of the grip sections is great. The feeling of the MS Wheel is right, but what it takes me out of it is that it doesn't feel real, but a console driving wheel. All the qualities of the DriveFX are really good, and you can feel that the wheel will last forever if you don't drive a truck over it.

About the force feedback, Logitech features an 'axial feedback' in the DriveFX, and after trying both out, I haven't found any difference at all in both; the driving sensation is the same. I have around 15 hours already with Forza 2 and the DriveFX and I have to say that the experience has so far been fantastic. It's absolutely amazing when you take a curve with too much speed and you feel how the wheel loses its resistance, at the same time you're hearing the wheels drifting.

To finish, I'll throw a comment about the fact that DriveFX is not wireless, as the MS wheel. It's true that is much comfortable to use and play with the MS as you don't have to care about wires or setting it up, but what I feel is that you really need a set of spare rechargable batteries if you're going to be playing a lot Forza 2. The force feedback feature of the wheel really consumes batteries. It just takes less than a minute to set your DriveFX (mine is not in a fix place), and while your playing with the wheel fixed in a table, wires aren't anymore a problem.

All I can say is that, from my experience with both wheels, the Logitech's one feels much more of a real driving experience, and the build quality is much higher than in the MS wheel. I'll completely recommend you to, at least, buy first a DriveFX wheel and try it out before you get the MS one, but I must advice you, that if you do, you'll not go back to the shop :).

I hope that was useful information for you mate, but if you have any more questions about the wheel, feel completely free to ask.

Cheers.

Rafalas,
Did you have to play with the little black button a lot to get it just right? How many settings did you find there to be?  I agree with your synopsis, especially the part that it feels like a real wheel.

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campun123:

Rafalas,
Did you have to play with the little black button a lot to get it just right? How many settings did you find there to be?  I agree with your synopsis, especially the part that it feels like a real wheel.

Yes, I was trying different configurations with the little black button in order to get the best one for me. What the black button does is to increase the sensitivity of the wheel when you turn it, but only in the near range, so the wheel doesn't lose all its turning range if you see what I mean.

I think it has 4 or 5 different presets. The slower the light blinks, the higher the sensitivity is. I've tried different sensitivities in different games, and as in CR DIRT the best setting is the middle one, so you can drift faster, in Forza I found out that the best is the less sensible one (the one that blinks the fastest), as it keep a cohesive ratio wheel/game with the car. As well, with that setting, you won't have any problem of leaving your car moving completely straight even going at 250 Km/h if you don't touch the wheel.

Thanks for the feedback Campun! ;)

Thanks guys these are really helpful posts.  I don't even use my wireless wheel wireslessly as far as the power goes and I am sure I could buy a USB extension if I needed to.

---

I read your review and what I gather is.... that you like the Logitech wheel most but that the MS wheel actually offers better performance in the game.  Would you say that is accurate?  I sometimes find it hard to love something (no matter what its apparent quality) when I know that there is a competing product that offers superior performance.  Alas! I am fearing that perhaps the only way to be sure whether or not to spend the additional money is to go ahead and do it. lol

---

First, I do love the Logitech over the M$ hands down, as I said in other posts, it feels more like a real wheel and it just more fun to play with, but I am in the middle of testing different cars with each wheel so I can get some lap times hopefully up this week to compare just for curiousity.  Probably start with Nissan Speedway. 

---

Rafalas:

Hi there Stompin,

I'm a proud owner of the Logitech DriveFX wheel, and I've also had the chance of testing out the MS wheel, both with Forza 2.

First of all, the build quality of the Logitech DriveFX is just amazing. The feeling you get when you put your hands around this wheel is just eons from the MS wheel. The wheel of the DriveFX is build with rubber in the sections in where you take the wheel, and although is a 25cm wheel, it pretty much feels as using a real wheel. Your hands get a really comfortable position, as the anatomy of the grip sections is great. The feeling of the MS Wheel is right, but what it takes me out of it is that it doesn't feel real, but a console driving wheel. All the qualities of the DriveFX are really good, and you can feel that the wheel will last forever if you don't drive a truck over it.

About the force feedback, Logitech features an 'axial feedback' in the DriveFX, and after trying both out, I haven't found any difference at all in both; the driving sensation is the same. I have around 15 hours already with Forza 2 and the DriveFX and I have to say that the experience has so far been fantastic. It's absolutely amazing when you take a curve with too much speed and you feel how the wheel loses its resistance, at the same time you're hearing the wheels drifting.

To finish, I'll throw a comment about the fact that DriveFX is not wireless, as the MS wheel. It's true that is much comfortable to use and play with the MS as you don't have to care about wires or setting it up, but what I feel is that you really need a set of spare rechargable batteries if you're going to be playing a lot Forza 2. The force feedback feature of the wheel really consumes batteries. It just takes less than a minute to set your DriveFX (mine is not in a fix place), and while your playing with the wheel fixed in a table, wires aren't anymore a problem.

All I can say is that, from my experience with both wheels, the Logitech's one feels much more of a real driving experience, and the build quality is much higher than in the MS wheel. I'll completely recommend you to, at least, buy first a DriveFX wheel and try it out before you get the MS one, but I must advice you, that if you do, you'll not go back to the shop :).

I hope that was useful information for you mate, but if you have any more questions about the wheel, feel completely free to ask.

Cheers.

You do realize that, when using the MS Wheel in "wireless" (as in, no POWER cord), you do NOT get Force Feedback.

As the other's review stated, the force feedback is strong in the MS wheel, and if you've read any of the PitPass Reports on this site, Turn 10 made this game with the MS wheel in mind, with many effects for a simulation experience with the force feedback turned on.

I have to say, I've had the wheel for only 4 days.  It is amazing how you can feel every little bumb and wheel slippage during a race.  Totally a different driving experience compared to my Forza 1 days with the MadCatz wheel.  At that time, it was almost impossible to tell what your car was really doing.

I agree that the MS wheel does feel a little cheap, but in the same way that their controller does.  It feels like a toy....that's because it IS a toy.  Its NOT a real racing wheel from a real car, its a toy peripheral for your game.  And what is wireless is the connection from your wheel to your xbox360.  So, you can have the setup where ever you want and not have to hang a cord from your tv/xbox to where you sit.  Cat owners and parents will love that, as I have my power cord running underneath my couch completely out of site, instead of a long cord in the middle of my gaming that one can trip, or chew on, lol.

Anyway, not that I've used the logitech, but had to chime in about the force feedback.

SevyDuce:

Rafalas:

Hi there Stompin,

I'm a proud owner of the Logitech DriveFX wheel, and I've also had the chance of testing out the MS wheel, both with Forza 2.

First of all, the build quality of the Logitech DriveFX is just amazing. The feeling you get when you put your hands around this wheel is just eons from the MS wheel. The wheel of the DriveFX is build with rubber in the sections in where you take the wheel, and although is a 25cm wheel, it pretty much feels as using a real wheel. Your hands get a really comfortable position, as the anatomy of the grip sections is great. The feeling of the MS Wheel is right, but what it takes me out of it is that it doesn't feel real, but a console driving wheel. All the qualities of the DriveFX are really good, and you can feel that the wheel will last forever if you don't drive a truck over it.

About the force feedback, Logitech features an 'axial feedback' in the DriveFX, and after trying both out, I haven't found any difference at all in both; the driving sensation is the same. I have around 15 hours already with Forza 2 and the DriveFX and I have to say that the experience has so far been fantastic. It's absolutely amazing when you take a curve with too much speed and you feel how the wheel loses its resistance, at the same time you're hearing the wheels drifting.

To finish, I'll throw a comment about the fact that DriveFX is not wireless, as the MS wheel. It's true that is much comfortable to use and play with the MS as you don't have to care about wires or setting it up, but what I feel is that you really need a set of spare rechargable batteries if you're going to be playing a lot Forza 2. The force feedback feature of the wheel really consumes batteries. It just takes less than a minute to set your DriveFX (mine is not in a fix place), and while your playing with the wheel fixed in a table, wires aren't anymore a problem.

All I can say is that, from my experience with both wheels, the Logitech's one feels much more of a real driving experience, and the build quality is much higher than in the MS wheel. I'll completely recommend you to, at least, buy first a DriveFX wheel and try it out before you get the MS one, but I must advice you, that if you do, you'll not go back to the shop :).

I hope that was useful information for you mate, but if you have any more questions about the wheel, feel completely free to ask.

Cheers.

You do realize that, when using the MS Wheel in "wireless" (as in, no POWER cord), you do NOT get Force Feedback.

As the other's review stated, the force feedback is strong in the MS wheel, and if you've read any of the PitPass Reports on this site, Turn 10 made this game with the MS wheel in mind, with many effects for a simulation experience with the force feedback turned on.

I have to say, I've had the wheel for only 4 days.  It is amazing how you can feel every little bumb and wheel slippage during a race.  Totally a different driving experience compared to my Forza 1 days with the MadCatz wheel.  At that time, it was almost impossible to tell what your car was really doing.

I agree that the MS wheel does feel a little cheap, but in the same way that their controller does.  It feels like a toy....that's because it IS a toy.  Its NOT a real racing wheel from a real car, its a toy peripheral for your game.  And what is wireless is the connection from your wheel to your xbox360.  So, you can have the setup where ever you want and not have to hang a cord from your tv/xbox to where you sit.  Cat owners and parents will love that, as I have my power cord running underneath my couch completely out of site, instead of a long cord in the middle of my gaming that one can trip, or chew on, lol.

Anyway, not that I've used the logitech, but had to chime in about the force feedback.

I do realize all of this in fact my post said "I don't even use my wireless wheel wireslessly as far as the power goes" meaning I race with the power cord connected so I am gettin the force feedback

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To you Logitech wheel guys: How well does the DriveFX hold its center? Have you compared with the M$ wheel?

---

Keep it clean

Read my review, once you find the right setting with the little black button its pretty good, not as tight as the M$, but it makes up for it in the cornering.

http://forums.forzamotorsport.net/forums/thread/233220.aspx

http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=f2setuppd3.jpg

---

I actually read the review already. Good stuff.

Could you clarifiy the part where you say you can tighten it up with the buttons? Do you mean that by lowering the sensitivity it will hold the center better? Can you also elaborate on what you meant by "it makes up for it in the turns"?

Thanks man.

---

Keep it clean

If you look very closely at my picture of my setup, look just to the left of the center hub where it says Logitech and there is a little black button. When you push this button the LED above the hub with flash very slow, slow, fast, very fast.  This is one of my gripes with the manual or website, they don't tell you what this does, they should have painted it red or bright something.  Basically, I have found four settings, very fast flash (holds center very well-only setting I will use with Forza 2), fast-holds a line ok start to have a little play, slow-can't hold line, a lot of swerving, very slow flash-impossible too drive, if anybody wants a challenge, try to use this setting with a fast RWD car.  What I meant by makes up in turns the Logitech wheel is much smoother when you make a turn.  It might be because there is less FF, but for instance the 1st turn on Tsukuba with the Logitech is very smooth, you can do it in one clean motion, the M$ gets too jerky sometimes, but that could just be the FF as I said.

---

campun123:

If you look very closely at my picture of my setup, look just to the left of the center hub where it says Logitech and there is a little black button. When you push this button the LED above the hub with flash very slow, slow, fast, very fast.  This is one of my gripes with the manual or website, they don't tell you what this does, they should have painted it red or bright something.  Basically, I have found four settings, very fast flash (holds center very well-only setting I will use with Forza 2), fast-holds a line ok start to have a little play, slow-can't hold line, a lot of swerving, very slow flash-impossible too drive, if anybody wants a challenge, try to use this setting with a fast RWD car.  What I meant by makes up in turns the Logitech wheel is much smoother when you make a turn.  It might be because there is less FF, but for instance the 1st turn on Tsukuba with the Logitech is very smooth, you can do it in one clean motion, the M$ gets too jerky sometimes, but that could just be the FF as I said.

Thanks for elaborating! I do believe I shall go Logitech on this one.

---

Keep it clean

I am taking my MS wheel back today and will try to find a Logitech wheel. I will keep you guys posted on what I think of it. I have raced many PC sims with the DFP and Momo's, so I have some idea of what it should be like. So far MS wheel is not getting it done for me.

---

Keep it clean

Stompin73:

SevyDuce:

Rafalas:

Hi there Stompin,

I'm a proud owner of the Logitech DriveFX wheel, and I've also had the chance of testing out the MS wheel, both with Forza 2.

First of all, the build quality of the Logitech DriveFX is just amazing. The feeling you get when you put your hands around this wheel is just eons from the MS wheel. The wheel of the DriveFX is build with rubber in the sections in where you take the wheel, and although is a 25cm wheel, it pretty much feels as using a real wheel. Your hands get a really comfortable position, as the anatomy of the grip sections is great. The feeling of the MS Wheel is right, but what it takes me out of it is that it doesn't feel real, but a console driving wheel. All the qualities of the DriveFX are really good, and you can feel that the wheel will last forever if you don't drive a truck over it.

About the force feedback, Logitech features an 'axial feedback' in the DriveFX, and after trying both out, I haven't found any difference at all in both; the driving sensation is the same. I have around 15 hours already with Forza 2 and the DriveFX and I have to say that the experience has so far been fantastic. It's absolutely amazing when you take a curve with too much speed and you feel how the wheel loses its resistance, at the same time you're hearing the wheels drifting.

To finish, I'll throw a comment about the fact that DriveFX is not wireless, as the MS wheel. It's true that is much comfortable to use and play with the MS as you don't have to care about wires or setting it up, but what I feel is that you really need a set of spare rechargable batteries if you're going to be playing a lot Forza 2. The force feedback feature of the wheel really consumes batteries. It just takes less than a minute to set your DriveFX (mine is not in a fix place), and while your playing with the wheel fixed in a table, wires aren't anymore a problem.

All I can say is that, from my experience with both wheels, the Logitech's one feels much more of a real driving experience, and the build quality is much higher than in the MS wheel. I'll completely recommend you to, at least, buy first a DriveFX wheel and try it out before you get the MS one, but I must advice you, that if you do, you'll not go back to the shop :).

I hope that was useful information for you mate, but if you have any more questions about the wheel, feel completely free to ask.

Cheers.

You do realize that, when using the MS Wheel in "wireless" (as in, no POWER cord), you do NOT get Force Feedback.

As the other's review stated, the force feedback is strong in the MS wheel, and if you've read any of the PitPass Reports on this site, Turn 10 made this game with the MS wheel in mind, with many effects for a simulation experience with the force feedback turned on.

I have to say, I've had the wheel for only 4 days.  It is amazing how you can feel every little bumb and wheel slippage during a race.  Totally a different driving experience compared to my Forza 1 days with the MadCatz wheel.  At that time, it was almost impossible to tell what your car was really doing.

I agree that the MS wheel does feel a little cheap, but in the same way that their controller does.  It feels like a toy....that's because it IS a toy.  Its NOT a real racing wheel from a real car, its a toy peripheral for your game.  And what is wireless is the connection from your wheel to your xbox360.  So, you can have the setup where ever you want and not have to hang a cord from your tv/xbox to where you sit.  Cat owners and parents will love that, as I have my power cord running underneath my couch completely out of site, instead of a long cord in the middle of my gaming that one can trip, or chew on, lol.

Anyway, not that I've used the logitech, but had to chime in about the force feedback.

I do realize all of this in fact my post said "I don't even use my wireless wheel wireslessly as far as the power goes" meaning I race with the power cord connected so I am gettin the force feedback

You do realize I didn't even quote you to begin with, right?  meaning I was quoting the other guys statement about the wireless wheel consuming batteries due to the force feedback when in fact, you don't get FF with batteries alone.

SevyDuce:

Stompin73:

SevyDuce:

Rafalas:

Hi there Stompin,

I'm a proud owner of the Logitech DriveFX wheel, and I've also had the chance of testing out the MS wheel, both with Forza 2.

First of all, the build quality of the Logitech DriveFX is just amazing. The feeling you get when you put your hands around this wheel is just eons from the MS wheel. The wheel of the DriveFX is build with rubber in the sections in where you take the wheel, and although is a 25cm wheel, it pretty much feels as using a real wheel. Your hands get a really comfortable position, as the anatomy of the grip sections is great. The feeling of the MS Wheel is right, but what it takes me out of it is that it doesn't feel real, but a console driving wheel. All the qualities of the DriveFX are really good, and you can feel that the wheel will last forever if you don't drive a truck over it.

About the force feedback, Logitech features an 'axial feedback' in the DriveFX, and after trying both out, I haven't found any difference at all in both; the driving sensation is the same. I have around 15 hours already with Forza 2 and the DriveFX and I have to say that the experience has so far been fantastic. It's absolutely amazing when you take a curve with too much speed and you feel how the wheel loses its resistance, at the same time you're hearing the wheels drifting.

To finish, I'll throw a comment about the fact that DriveFX is not wireless, as the MS wheel. It's true that is much comfortable to use and play with the MS as you don't have to care about wires or setting it up, but what I feel is that you really need a set of spare rechargable batteries if you're going to be playing a lot Forza 2. The force feedback feature of the wheel really consumes batteries. It just takes less than a minute to set your DriveFX (mine is not in a fix place), and while your playing with the wheel fixed in a table, wires aren't anymore a problem.

All I can say is that, from my experience with both wheels, the Logitech's one feels much more of a real driving experience, and the build quality is much higher than in the MS wheel. I'll completely recommend you to, at least, buy first a DriveFX wheel and try it out before you get the MS one, but I must advice you, that if you do, you'll not go back to the shop :).

I hope that was useful information for you mate, but if you have any more questions about the wheel, feel completely free to ask.

Cheers.

You do realize that, when using the MS Wheel in "wireless" (as in, no POWER cord), you do NOT get Force Feedback.

As the other's review stated, the force feedback is strong in the MS wheel, and if you've read any of the PitPass Reports on this site, Turn 10 made this game with the MS wheel in mind, with many effects for a simulation experience with the force feedback turned on.

I have to say, I've had the wheel for only 4 days.  It is amazing how you can feel every little bumb and wheel slippage during a race.  Totally a different driving experience compared to my Forza 1 days with the MadCatz wheel.  At that time, it was almost impossible to tell what your car was really doing.

I agree that the MS wheel does feel a little cheap, but in the same way that their controller does.  It feels like a toy....that's because it IS a toy.  Its NOT a real racing wheel from a real car, its a toy peripheral for your game.  And what is wireless is the connection from your wheel to your xbox360.  So, you can have the setup where ever you want and not have to hang a cord from your tv/xbox to where you sit.  Cat owners and parents will love that, as I have my power cord running underneath my couch completely out of site, instead of a long cord in the middle of my gaming that one can trip, or chew on, lol.

Anyway, not that I've used the logitech, but had to chime in about the force feedback.

I do realize all of this in fact my post said "I don't even use my wireless wheel wireslessly as far as the power goes" meaning I race with the power cord connected so I am gettin the force feedback

You do realize I didn't even quote you to begin with, right?  meaning I was quoting the other guys statement about the wireless wheel consuming batteries due to the force feedback when in fact, you don't get FF with batteries alone.

Nope...alas I had not grasped that.  Now I do.

Just as a side note, I purchased a logitech wheel and it should arrive on Monday  I should be able to compare them for myself soon.

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sweetles. just got logitech, should be here fri. Force feedback, 2 year warranty and brand new for only £24.18.
I can put up with the wire :D

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Franscartoons.com

U999s FTW!!!
CARTOONS NEVER DIE!!!

I just received my DriveFX and I'm generally happy with it. The build quality is good although there are some rough edges here and there (no big deal). I've never tried the MS wheel so I can't compare it against the DriveFX. So far, I don't get centering issues when the minimum sensitivity is used.

Unsurprisingly, it's a lot more challenging to control the car when using the wheel (compared to using controller) as you got to be so much smoother in your driving. In a way, it teaches you to drive properly without jerking the controls like how I do with the controller. Yes, it's a lot easier to lose control with the wheel but it's fine as long as you get used to driving smoothly.

After about an hour of tweaking the settings and getting used to the wheel, I was only < 1s slower than my best time achieved with the controller in a Porsche 911 Turbo around the Mugello track (short). My times seem to be a lot more consistent with the wheel too.

All in all, it's a great experience driving with the DriveFX and I would definitely recommend it! Now I'm just waiting for my Virtual Racing Chassis to arrive...