What is it like swapping your beloved keyboard for a steering wheel? MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann tried out the Thrustmaster T818. You can read the impressions in the following article.
If you want to experience racing games or driving simulations on the PC, you can either play with a mouse and keyboard or with the steering wheel. I’ve only played with a mouse and keyboard for years and have always been happy with it.
Now the manufacturer Thrustmaster offered me to test their new T818 base. So I swapped the mouse and keyboard for the steering wheel and gas pedals for the test. You can read about my experiences with the device and whether the investment is worthwhile in this article.
Scope of delivery, appearance and structure
What’s included? The T818 comes with a basic set of accessories. Also in the box next to the base:
I need a power supply unit and USB cable to supply the device with power and to connect it to my PC in the next step. You only need the adapter if you want to use an old steering wheel with the base.
On the side of the model there is another control panel with 4 buttons: Two action buttons (with arrow), another button to change the pedal mode (loadcell / no loadcell) and a fourth button to change the steering angle. But you need a steering wheel from Thrustmaster. The buttons are easily accessible when the device is directly in front of you.
Otherwise there is an integrated LED ring directly on the front, but it has no function.
Incidentally, fastening material such as clamps or a plate are not included in the scope of delivery and must be purchased separately.
Which technology is used? The Thrustmaster T818 relies on “Direct Drive”. In addition, there are two other systems with gear and belt drive. “Direct Drive” is said to be the most realistic and accurate technique and can produce particularly strong force feedback effects. But that also has an impact on the price, because the other systems are significantly cheaper.
How does the structure work? A printed manual is not included with the T818, instead there are a few brief instructions on the T818’s box. And if you don’t set up a system like this every day, that’s a bit too little. Thrustmaster’s official support website is anything but clear and doesn’t tell me what I really need from it and whether one of the many PDF files can really help me.
The manufacturer Thrustmaster writes on its website that the “racing wheels can be exchanged in just 5 seconds and without tools”, but I need much longer.
In the beginning, for example, the steering wheel would not start. Because the nub for attaching the steering wheel was not in there properly. However, the manufacturer does not provide any information on what to look out for when setting up. The rest is then very easy: power cable in on the back and the USB-C cable is connected to the PC. Pedals are only plugged in on the back and work right away.
This is where I encountered the next problem: The T818 does not want to start when I connect the device via a USB hub. The device then started without any problems via a direct port on the computer. Overall, I would have imagined the structure to be a little simpler.
processing
The T818 is sturdy and quite heavy. After all, the base weighs around 5 kg and therefore does not fit on every table. The direct competitor, the Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel, also weighs 5 kg.
Otherwise, the case of the T818 Base consists of a lot of plastic and several aluminum plates. This gives the part a valuable impression. The hinges for attaching the steering wheel are also made of metal, the adapter for the steering wheel is only made of plastic.
Fingerprints are quickly visible on plastic and metal. On the back, however, this is hardly noticeable, since you only see the device from the front when playing games and your eyes are more focused on the monitor.
First experiences with the Thrustmaster T818
What have I played? I played my first sessions in the arcade racer Need for Speed: Heat. Here I can do a few rounds against the AI without consequences. The game warns that the T818 is not supported, but the steering wheel can be used without any problems. You just can’t toggle any keys.
I then played further sessions with Euro Truck Simulator 2. Here the simulation is more in the foreground than action-packed racing.
Positive experiences with the Thrustmaster T818
The first experiences were pretty chaotic, because until now I’ve only played racing games with mouse and keyboard. In the first few minutes, I felt like I took every bush, every crash barrier and was startled every time the steering wheel vibrated or struggled under my hands when I went off the road and preferred to drive cross-country instead of on the asphalt.
This is where the integrated Force Feedback shows its full strength and I really like that after the first moments of shock. Rarely has a ditch felt so realistic.
But this also shows that the part is not just a toy: Because if you let go of the steering wheel out of sheer shock, it quickly spins around and then catches your hands and fingers if you’re not careful. It definitely doesn’t belong in the hands of children.
Another experience is that the steering wheel requires a lot of arm and hand work as I am constantly turning and cranking. With pure keyboard control, both hands rest comparatively calmly on the arrow keys and a few special keys. This was very exhausting at the beginning, but makes the racing game all the more immersive. After my first two races I was drenched in sweat.
I also notice that I’m much more precise with the steering wheel and pedals than with the keyboard. In Euro Truck Simulator 2, for example, I’m more precise when parking the freight than when I have to maneuver the part with the keyboard into the parking space. With the pedals, the acceleration can also be dosed much more precisely than if I hammer on the arrow keys.
On top of that, the force feedback plays a subordinate role in a simulation, since I don’t push my way through oncoming traffic with the heavy truck as quickly as with a fast racing car.
Negative experiences with the Thrustmaster T818
If I want to use the steering wheel, it feels like I have to convert half my desk. Because the system requires a lot of space. In addition, the tabletop must not be too thick for the assembly device. So I had to take my glass plate and mouse pad off the table every time so that the steering wheel could be mounted securely. Without attachment, the steering wheel is very unstable and tilts to the side when moving or when “Force Feedback” is activated.
Otherwise, the software used in the Thrustmaster T818 is anything but intuitive. The software’s interface looks old-fashioned and unworthy and outdated for a 650-euro model. At least there is a chance that Thrustmaster will improve the software in the long term.
At first the device didn’t want to work either. This was because the steering wheel would not start at all when I tried to connect it to the PC via my USB hub. Everything then worked smoothly via a USB port directly on the computer.
Conclusion: Good device with initial difficulties, but nothing for my everyday use
Would I buy such a device privately? Probably not and that’s not even due to the price of 649 euros. The processing can convince me and the small technical problems solved themselves.
Rather, it is the great effort that counteracts the fun: Because I would have to rearrange my desk every day for a session in order to be able to use the equipment.
Although this is very quick from the third time, it is still time-consuming and costs me 10 minutes each time. That’s just too much for me for a few evening rounds in Need for Speed or other arcade titles. Everything feels more precise and accurate (especially in a simulator like Euro Truck Simulator 2), but then I stick with the mouse and keyboard and do without the immersion.
Can I recommend the device? If you are looking for a well-made model and you want to play racing or simulator games in the long term, then I can recommend the Thrustmaster T818.
And you should bring a passion for racing games with you, because the 649.99 euros for the base does not include the costs for the steering wheel and pedals. So if you don’t have a racing set yet and have to buy a completely new one, you’ll easily pay more than 1,000 euros.
You can currently only buy the Thrustmaster T818 Base directly from the manufacturer. You can currently pre-order another set on Amazon:
*Affiliate links. We receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
What alternatives are there? Especially if you want to have “Direct Drive”, the alternatives are currently limited to a few options. And they are not all cheap:
Otherwise you can also use significantly cheaper sets or options that do not offer “Direct Drive”. We have also tested a starter set for aspiring racers on MeinMMO:
Gaming steering wheel Thrustmaster T248 in the test – better than the Logitech G920?