Review: Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Racing Wheel

If you're a racing sim fan who absolutely needs Porsche branded gear, Fanatec's Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel is not a bad place to start. It's a sturdy piece of equipment that when clamped onto a desk feels as solid as it might if nestled firmly onto a dashboard. It does come with a pair of "lap wings" for the couch-inclined, but you'll only look ridiculous and feel uncomfortable if you're not operating this on a steady surface.

Wrapped in hand-stitched leather, the fine trim is marred by flimsy plastic buttons adorning the center of the wheel - a petty complaint, but justified by the price tag and "Porsche quality standards." Nitpicking aside, the wheel is solidly built, as are the pedals that accompany it. A metal plate keeps the pedals rooted in place, and offers stability as you're gliding expertly (or mashing frantically) about the race track.

The wheel is linked wirelessly by a USB dongle to your PS3 or PC (sorry 360 fans). To get the full effect, including full 900 degree rotations and jarring vibrations on the wheel during less successful turns, you'll need to race in a title that supports force feedback wheels (for the PC, we went with rFactor).

The pedals are powered by 4 AA batteries, but the wheel requires an AC adapter to keep its motor running, keeping you tethered. Of special note is the shifter knob. Fanatec packs two: a bland sequential shifter, and the much nicer 6-speed knob, which, when paired with the clutch pedal, feels so close to the real deal you can almost hear the polished Oxford accents of would-be passengers.

The force feedback motors crammed into the wheel makes steering this thing a lot like the real deal-depending, of course, on the particular simulation you're playing. With a physics heavy simulator like rFactor, the wheel gave an appropriate amount of resistance, around every bend, going so far as to spin spasmodically during our less successful laps. Combined with the responsive (and adjustable) race pedals, we noticed a measurable differencein performance between cars using Front, All, and Rear wheel drive...in a video game. The only thing missing were the cheetah print seat covers.

Face it - the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel is the closest many of us will ever get to whipping around a track in a genuine Porsche. You're getting a great racing peripheral, but be prepared to pay a lot for that fancy emblem.