Sim Racing Bundle / Set – Recommendations

Table of contents

Sim Racing Bundle / Set – Recommendations

Many of the current simracing manufacturers are now able to cover ever larger areas of simracing hardware. Whilst wheel bases, pedals and steering wheels are offered by almost every manufacturer, there are still some differences when it comes to accessories.

Introduction

While simracing bundles have always been the first choice in the console sector, PC users have mainly favoured combinations of different brands. However, more and more manufacturers are now offering all components of a typical system from a single source. This has various advantages, but also limits the choice. That’s why we first present the best bundles from different manufacturers. The final section then focuses on combining hardware from different providers. The recommendations are limited to sets consisting of a base, pedals and steering wheel. Additional steering wheels or matching sim rigs are not included in the respective budgets.

Note: All components mentioned or recommended here were tested for this list. The majority of them were also tested over a longer period of time and in combination with detailed reviews, which you can also find on this website.

Manufacturer in Comparison

Below you will find an overview of the largest current suppliers of sim racing hardware. They each have at least one base, a pedal set and a directly compatible steering wheel in their range.

Base	Wheels	Pedals	Misc
5 – 25 Nm	Formula: ✅ GT: ✅ Street: ✅	LC: ✅ Hydr.:❌ Active: ❌	Seq: ✅ H: ✅ HB: ✅
5.5 – 27 Nm	Formula: ✅ GT: ✅ Street: ❌	LC: ✅ Hydr.:✅ Active: ❌	Seq: ❌ H: ❌ HB: ❌
12 – 20 Nm	Formula: ✅ GT: ✅ Street: ❌	LC: ✅ Hydr.:✅ Active: ❌	Seq: ❌ H: ❌ HB: ✅
3.9 – 25 Nm	Formula: ✅ GT: ✅ Street: ✅	LC: ✅ Hydr.:❌ Active: ✅	Seq: ✅ H: ✅ HB: ✅
9 – 18 Nm	Formula: ✅ GT: ✅ Street: ❌	LC: ✅ Hydr.:✅ Active: ❌	Seq: ✅ H: ✅ HB: ✅
17 – 32 Nm	Formula: ✅ GT: ✅ Street: ❌	LC: ❌ Hydr.:❌ Active: ✅	Seq: ❌ H: ❌ HB: ❌
4 – 10 Nm	Formula: ❌ GT: ✅ Street: ❌	LC: ❌ Hydr.:❌ Active: ❌	Seq: ❌ H: ✅ HB: ✅
13 – 32 Nm	Formula: ✅ GT: ✅ Street: ❌	LC: ✅ Hydr.:❌ Active: ❌	Seq: ✅ H: ✅ HB: ✅
6 – 20 Nm	Formula: ✅ GT: ❌ Street: ❌	LC: ✅ Hydr.:❌ Active: ❌	Seq: ❌ H: ❌ HB: ❌
8 – 11 Nm	Formula: ✅ GT: ✅ Street: ❌	LC: ✅ Hydr.:❌ Active: ❌	Seq: ❌ H: ✅ HB: ❌
10 Nm	Formula: ✅ GT: ✅ Street: ❌	LC: ✅ Hydr.:❌ Active: ❌	Seq: ❌ H: ✅ HB: ✅

Seq. – Sequentiell Shifter, H. – H-Pattern Shifter, HB – Handbrake

Special Features / Advantages

Below are a few points in which the product lines of the individual manufacturers differ. Some criteria, such as console support, are rather specific and depend primarily on personal requirements.

Upgrades: Various providers currently offer upgrades within their ecosystem. Asetek is top of the class in this area and offers upgrades for the wheel bases (Initium and La Prima series) as well as the pedal sets. In addition to the VRS uDFP20 Wheel Base, which is limited on the software side, Fanatec is currently the only other manufacturer to offer an upgrade for its CSL DD Wheel Base (5 → 8 Nm) via an optional power supply unit. Otherwise, the upgrade options are generally limited to pedals.
Console support: Even if the focus of this list is not on console support, this is a decisive criterion for many users. The use of a complete bundle is often mandatory here, which limits the choice within the various ecosystems to certain components. In any case, you should make sure that the selected hardware is fully compatible with the desired system before putting it together.
Anschlüsse: Most bases have ports on the back for the rest of the manufacturer’s hardware. As a rule, these are proprietary ports that only support hardware from the relevant manufacturer. Asetek is once again a pioneer in this area and integrates a freely usable USB port on the rear of its higher-priced Forte and Invicta series bases.
QRs: Another important differentiating factor is the topic of quick release. All manufacturers – with the exception of Simucube – now offer systems that enable wireless power and data transfer directly via the QR without additional cables or batteries. Quick releases with USB passthrough are also becoming increasingly popular. These allow the use of many third-party steering wheels without a separate cable. Such solutions already exist from Asetek, Simagic and CONSPIT.
Software support: Almost all of the hardware currently on offer can be used with any current simulation. However, the further you move away from the most popular titles or look further back in time, the greater the differences become. Fanatec is currently still the first choice here, while other manufacturers are only partially compatible or not compatible at all with various simracing titles. In this area too, you should check the relevant compatibility lists before buying, especially if you are a fan of more unusual games.
Mounting: Another factor can be the compatibility of the hardware with rigs or desks. Fanatec is the measure of all things here due to its long-standing position as market leader: Almost every cockpit currently on offer is compatible with the German manufacturer. Other suppliers therefore often orientate themselves to Fanatec’s hole patterns or offer adapter solutions. You should also be aware that from a price of around €1,200, desks can generally no longer do without customised solutions.
SimHub-Support: Meanwhile, the existing SimHub support is also a factor for many sim racers, especially when it comes to steering wheels. The software is the jack-of-all-trades among simracing programs and offers an extremely wide range of customisation options. While many manufacturers have entered into co-operations, others continue to rely on their own solutions.

Recommendations

Im Folgenden findet ihr Empfehlungen für verschiedene, grob eingeteilte Preisbereiche. Diese starten bewusst erst ab 400 Euro und beinhalten ausschließlich Bundles mit einer Base basierend auf dem Direct-Drive-Konzept. Für absolute Einsteiger gibt es zwar auch heute noch Bases mit Zahnrad- oder Riemenantrieb, diese sind jedoch nicht mehr zeitgemäß und lassen sich in der Regel auch nicht sinnvoll mit anderer Hardware kombinieren.

~ 500 Euros – The Start Into Sim Racing

Even for the comparatively low price of around 500 euros, you can now have a lot of fun with sim racing. The hardware is significantly more powerful than comparable entry-level sets a few years ago. Thanks to PXN, the entry hurdle is now even less than 369 euros. A real bargain – especially when you consider the former RRP of 329 euros for the infamous Logitech G29. This is miles inferior to today’s bundles in every respect.

Fanatec – CSL DD Bundle (Fanatec CSL-DD – Direct Drive Base Review): For a price of just under 500 euros, Fanatec offers a bundle consisting of the 5 Nm CSL DD base, an entry-level steering wheel and a 2-pedal set of CSL pedals. The main advantages here are the subsequent upgrade option to 8 Nm for the base and an optional Loadcell brake for the pedals. 5 Nm – 499 €
MOZA – R5 Bundle (MOZA R5 Bundle – Review): With the R5 bundle (a 5.5 Newton metre base, a steering wheel and a 2-pedal set), MOZA offers the corresponding counterpart to Fanatec and also includes a table mount in the package. In return, the upgrades are limited, but the selection of wheels and accessories within the MOZA ecosystem is significantly larger and more varied. 5.5 Nm – 479 €
PXN – VD4 Bundle (PXN VD4, VD6 and VD10 – Direct Drive Ecosystem Review): PXN is relatively new on the market with the VD4 bundle. On paper, this offers the highest power (combination of the maximum six Newton metres peak and the extremely light steering wheel) as well as the best equipped steering wheel. However, one disadvantage at present is the still very limited selection in the manufacturer’s ecosystem. 6 Nm – 369 €

~ 1200 Euros – Hardware That’s Fun To Use

The next price level primarily increases the demands on the pedals – a Loadcell is mandatory here – and enables the integration of somewhat stronger bases into the budget. The hardware, especially the CONSPIT bundle, is also suitable for very demanding simracers who place higher demands on the strength of their wheel base. From this price range upwards, a stable rig or at least a wheel stand is mandatory. The selection is much more varied here and you can also choose other combinations for the bundles and integrate a different steering wheel, for example.

Fanatec – CSL DD QR2 Ready2Race F1 Esports Premium Bundle (Review Base / Wheel): Fanatec currently offers a real highlight in terms of value for money with its Ready2Race F1 Esports Premium Bundle. It consists of the CSL DD with 8 Nm, the CSL pedals with load cell kit, and the good, but now somewhat outdated, F1 Esports Wheel. The price is significantly lower than that of other sets. However, the pedals are comparatively inferior and the base also offers significantly less maximum torque at eight Newton meters. At the regular price of around €1,000, the bundle is still worth considering, but the competition does a better job in many areas. 8 Nm – 740 €
MOZA – R12 + KS Wheel + CRP2 Pedals (Review Base / Wheel / Pedals): Compared to the Fanatec set, the MOZA bundle consists of a much more powerful base with a maximum torque of 12 Nm and a comparable wheel. The biggest difference is the significantly better pedals, which also perform better compared to the Fanatec V3 pedals. 12 Nm – 1287 €
CONSPIT – ARES + APEX 310 + CPP APEX (Review Base / Wheel / Pedals): In the € 1,200 price range, it is now possible for the first time to use hardware from the relatively new manufacturer CONSPIT. CONSPIT currently offers the best price-performance ratio in the medium and higher price segments and is the only manufacturer to offer hydraulic pedals for less than 500 euros. 12 Nm – 1277 €
SIMAGIC – Alpha EVO + GT Neo + Simagic P500 (Review Base / Wheel): Simagic also offers comparable hardware to CONSPIT and MOZA in this price range. While the quality of the steering wheel lies between the products of the two manufacturers, the selected P500 pedals fall somewhat short. 12 Nm – 1233 €

~ 2000 Euros – High-End With Compromises

With a budget of around €2,000 or more, the selection becomes even wider, and you need to consider and decide which components you want to take into the high-end range. The decision here also depends heavily on personal preferences, for example, in terms of the design of the steering wheel or specific features offered by individual manufacturers. Other suppliers such as Simagic, VNM, and VRS also offer very good hardware in this price range, so the three recommendations should primarily serve as inspiration.

CONSPIT – ARES Platnium + MAX 01 + CPP.Lite (Review Base / Wheel / Pedals): CONSPIT currently offers the best value for money in this price range. The selected combination exceeds the budget by around ten percent, but also offers a high-end steering wheel with screen, a 20 Newton metre base and hydraulic pedals. To stay within budget, you can swap the steering wheel for the 300GT or the Apex 310 Wheel and choose the 3-pedal setup instead. 20 Nm – 2227 €
MOZA – R16 + FSR Wheel + CRP2 Pedals (Review Base / Wheel / Pedals): MOZA offers the cheapest of the three bundles presented here around their R16 Wheel Base. Within this price range, an upgrade to the R21 base or an additional clutch pedal for the CRP2 pedals would be possible. The FSR Wheel is of a lower quality than the MAX 01 Wheel, but also offers a screen and illuminated buttons. 16 Nm – 1707 €
Asetek – Forte Bundle (Review Base / Wheel / Pedals): The third bundle presented here comes from Asetek and includes hardware from the Forte series. The base stands out from the crowd of competitors thanks to features such as the integrated USB hub on the back and the QR with USB passthrough. However, the wheel does not have a display and the pedals in the Forte series cannot compete with MOZA or CONSPIT in this price range. 18 Nm – 2272 €

2500+ Euros – High-End

In the absolute high-end sector, personal preferences play the absolute leading role. Wheel bases with more than 20 Newton metres of maximum torque and absolute high-end steering wheels in a wide variety of configurations are the standard here today. We are also entering a new area in the pedal sector, where active pedals, which are currently only offered by MOZA (mBooster) and Simucube (Active Pedal Pro and Ultimate), are being considered for the first time. In addition, it is becoming increasingly attractive to break out of the respective ecosystems and use steering wheels and pedals that are operated via USB and not the base directly.