Step up to the Logitech Driving Force Pro and experience more realism, more intensity, and more fun than ever before on your PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. With 900 degrees of wheel rotation and a rack and pinion steering system, the Driving Force Pro duplicates the true-to-life steering dynamics of race cars. The rubber wheel, sequential stick shifter, and responsive gas and brake pedals all combine for an incredible level of performance. Add in today's best force feedback technol
1 Very Nice
I bought this wheel a couple of months ago. I have to say that I really like it. I don't believe that it made me any better at gran turismo, but it makes a lot of the races more fun. I mostly enjoy using it when I'm confident that I'll win a race. It's also fun when I feel like I want to be "really into" the race.
The force feedback is great. The feel of the wheel is great. The pedals are a little close together and I wish the pedal base was a bit heavier, but no biggie. I tend to hold the base still with my left foot, while using it with my right. I love the fact that the controls are also on the wheel so I don't have to pick up my control pad for certain things. Overall, this has to be the best wheel on the market and great fun for the hardcore gamer.
2 Nice wheel with unique multiturn feature
Being a gadget lover, I decided to upgrade my Logitech Formula Force GP wheel to the well-reviewed Driving Force Pro. The bottom line is that the DFP is indeed a big step up, with 900 degree steering support, additional side shifter and better feedback effects. It also feels more rugged, though it is still all plastic.
This wheel is marketed as a Playstation2 accessory, but it does work under Windows, and that is half the reason I bought it. Just install the Logitech drivers and plug it in, no special tricks required. Currently I don't know of any Windows games which support 900 degree steering, but hopefully we'll see some eventually. For now, the DFP is working great for Richard Burns Rally in 200 degree mode. It still provides better feel (and more buttons) than the good old FFGP. It's also great with Gran Turismo 4 and Need for Speed 2: Underground on the PS2, which both support 900 degree steering.
Unfortunately, the DFP still suffers from a mediocre clamping system--not that this is the only wheel to be so afflicted. The clamps don't open quite as wide as I would like either, which made it hard to attach to my desk. As others have recommended, I suggest a using a TV tray.
If you are in the market for your first wheel, this is a very good choice, especially if you want something that works for Windows and the PS2. If you already have a wheel you like, this would only be worth the upgrade if you are a real driving nut.
By the way, this would have been a 5-star review if the DFP had a clutch pedal.
3 Very good.
I had borrowed a Logitech WingMan Formula Force GP from a friend to see if I like it. One week later I was looking for the best. I now have the Logitech Driving Force Pro. It is very nice. It feels better in your hand and all the controls that are on the controllers are there. The gear knob is place close to the wheel so that your hand can easily change the gear with out leaving the wheel. If you don't like that, you have the paddles under the wheel. The foot peddles are nice and the pad grips to the rug very good.
The only thing that I thing should have been done is to place a colour band around the top of the steering wheel. This allows you to check that your wheel is centre when wrapping with the 900 degrees turning during a rally. I sometimes get lost and have to look down to see which way it is pointing.
VERY VERY GOOD!!
4 Another PS2 Logitech wheel: Worth the upgrade?
I'm not new to racing games/simulators or racing wheels. I've tried several over the years, and the first one that I bought myself was the MadCatz wheel for the Dreamcast. Paddle shifters were nice and it worked ok, but the feel wasn't quite there and I could never get it to be positioned correctly. When Gran Turismo 3 came out, it only took me a couple of hours to decide that the $100 was worth it. It was terrific -- it added a whole new dimension to the game. The force feedback was a welcome addition (albeit a bit noisy), the steering had some heft to it, and it was a lot more precise than previous wheels I had used. Later editions came out that added the D-pad to the wheel, making it useful as a single controller.
SO ... what's so great about this new wheel vs the old? After all, you can pick up the older one for half the price and even cheaper used. Well, after spending countless hours with the old one and sitting down with the new one, here's the rundown:
1) The steering feel is much better and heavier. The force feedback is more subtle and much more realistic than the last version, though obviously not like the real thing.
2) The wheel itself is more comfortable in the hand than the previous one.
3) The pedals don't slip on carpet! A retractable grip foot claws the carpet -- no more adjusting mid-race!
4) The pedal feel is also much heavier, particularly on the brakes, making precise pedal modulation much easier.
5) The 900 degrees of rotation isn't a big deal -- but when you've overcooked a turn and you just need to whip the wheel around, it's nicer to just crank it instead of hitting a bump stop.
6) The sequential shifter isn't a big deal, either. It seems like fun at first, but I'll take the paddles over the stick when it comes down to license tests and battling it out with friends.
7) The force feedback's stepper motor isn't any quieter than the last iteration. For those unfamiliar with this wheel, the motor is silent while driving, but when you jerk the wheel to make an adjustment while fighting it, it makes an almost zipping sound, like fingers over corduroy. It's not annoying or really that loud -- rarely noticed when you're into a game -- but it can be heard in the next room.
8) The clamping system is just as effective (or ineffective) as the last one. Find a good place to put it and you're set. Only heavier tables will work well and a lot of people seem to have trouble finding the appropriate way to mount it.
9) The cheap RJ-11 phone connector for wiring up the pedals has been upgraded to a DB9 serial port connector -- much more sturdy and less prone to breaking, especially if it's thumb-screwed down.
It's a hard financial choice to have to upgrade instead of keeping what you have, but I did find the wheel's feel to be much nicer than the previous one and I'm happy with my purchase. If you find GT4 demo'd at store, sit down and you'll notice right away that it's different.
5 Works great while it lasts
Unfortunately, it doesn't last very long. The pedals have the same problems previous wheels had, they don't get enough power and that causes all sorts of calibration and other problems. My problems started after 4 weeks, got worse after 6, and now that I am at 7 weeks I finally have to figure out how I can return the item for an exchange.
6 A decent wheel
The Driving force pro is a decent wheel in the general consumer market. Though I initially said this is the best affordable wheel on the market, I'm beginning to think the more I use my Driving Force Pro that the Logitech Driving Force (not the Pro) is the better wheel; and that I should have rated this as 3 stars and not 4. Let me explain why:
While this is a decent wheel, there are some imperfections that are not bad individually but as a whole really hurt this product:
1)Its clamping system is cheap. The driving force pro has two clamps. Both are made of cheap plastic. You really can't turn the wheel as hard as you want to (even on mild force feedback strength setting in GT 4) without easily breaking these clamps. The clamps should have been made of metal or something just as strong. The 900 degree turning feature is negatively affected by the weak clamps.
2)The steering wheel is too small. After playing with the wheel a few times, it seems that Logitech either designed this wheel for Hobbits or children. It is very hard to turn this wheel because of its size. Again, the 900 degrees of turning feature suffers from this weakness. It would be nice if it was closer to the size of a real steering wheel.
3)Slight delay or re-centering in force feedback during turning. Overall, the force feedback is incredible. However, on sharp turns it has a tendency of helping you oversteer in GT 4. Basically in real cars, the wheel has a natural tendency to re-center when you slowly let go of the steering wheel while turning in a real car. This is not the case with the driving force pro. One of two things happen. Either it doesn't even try to re-center or it re-centers too late resulting in over-steering. The bright side is that you can minimize its effect if you turn on the feature in GT 4 that helps prevents spinouts. Once again, the 900 degree turning feature suffers...
If there is a noticable overall pattern, it involves the 900 degree turning feature. On paper and the first few times you play with it, this feature seems great. However, after a lot of regular play you really begin to notice its drawback because of the 3 previously mentioned problems. This is why I think the Driving force is better than the Driving Force pro. Given the clamps, wheel size, and force feedback re-centering response rate, 200 degrees of turning gives a better gameplay experience. Moreover, the driving force is also half the price of the driving force pro. The only thing extra you get with pro is a stick shift. GT 4 was also designed for the driving force too. Get the Driving Force not driving force pro (unless you want to wait for the next version of the driving force pro). (On the bright side, the driving force pro is great for games that don't support 900 degrees of turning).
*Some people also complained about the noise or the brake pedals, but I haven't experienced these problems with my driving force pro.
Last Minute Advice:
DO NOT GET the official Logitech lap attachement (see review). It is an expensive piece of garbage. Instead, get a square tv tray with straight edges. The tray's legs should also be wide enough to stick your legs in between. Ideally it would be great if you could play with heavy desk (for greater stability), but that would be tough to fit in the living room.
7 Mount it to what?
I bought this item for my huband who is a total GT geek! He loves the game! So we thought this would be the perfect item to add a different element to the game. If you had been used to playing with just the PS2 controller (as he was) this makes the game more fun and more challenging. (It's like having 2 games in one - with the wheel and without).
HOWEVER... what on earth do you mount the thing to??
The wheel has too much force behind it to just set in your lap (even if you turn this feature off). Our dining room table was too far away and a fold up TV tray type of thing was not stable enough. We have gotten lots of different suggestions, but the makers of the game should have thought about this a little more. Also, the coffee table does not work because then you can not comfortably control the foot piece.
Bottom line: Great addition to GT4, but you better have an old school desk on hand or set your TV on your dining room table!
8 Way better than a controller!
It's absolutely wonderful to play GT4 with this wheel. I had to practice in the "parking lot" for about an hour. You have to get used to the force feedback. The amazing thing is that it allows me to use my actual driving skill in the game, because I can "feather" the gas and brake when hitting turns. The standard controller always forced me to use full throttle and max brakes.
I hated other wheels, but this one has a 900 degree spin, and auto centers just like a real car.
Here are the problems:
The shift knob is too close to the wheel, but the paddle shifters are more convenient anyway.
The wires are a little too short.
The wheel is a little too small.
9 Next to a sports car this is a real drivers must have
If you are a true racing fanatic this is the wheel to have. It works great on GT4 and works great on my PC with other racing games. While it does lack a true shift gate and pattern, the nice heavy rubber grip of the wheel makes up for it. The force feedback works well but is a little noisy. This wheel gets 5 stars as I don't think there is anything else out there that can compete as of this writing.
I only hope the next one will have a shift gate and a clutch :)
10 Thanks Logitech for such great great wheel. ^_^.
Lucky I'm living in San Francsico. I don't have to preorder games from EBgames or Gamestop thanks to the great Sony Metreon Entertainment Center at downtown San Francisco. I got the Gran Turismo 4 from Metreon's playstation store. Inside the playstation store, they had a giant test drive room for the GT4 and the Logitech Pro wheel. That's the very first time I played with the Logitech Pro Wheel. I played it, I loved it. A true 5 stars wheel for driving games. I ordered my Logitech Pro Wheel from Amazon at once. The 900-degree rotation, intense force-feedback and the precision controls made the GT4 feel more authentic driving. I would say Logitech Pro Wheel is a 10 stars Wheel unlike any other.
11 Almost perfect
Everyone from customers to news outlets like IGN and GameSpot have praised the Logitech Driving Force Pro, and even though I figured its expensive ticket price would probably merit its worth, I was skeptical. I just got it yesterday and it's awesome. No more fiddling with analog knobs to make those tight corners.
But the wheel, in my opinion, does have some weak points I wish Logitech could've worked on:
* Wheel size: It's kinda small. For an adult, it feels like I'm driving a go-cart.
* Gearshifter: Small and hardly moves. I wish it had more movement so I could distinguish between shifting up or down. The clicking sound is too small, too. You're not gonna get too much fun out of shifting on this wheel, that's for sure.
The positive points far outweigh these minor detractions, though. I haven't tried other wheels, but I can't imagine getting better control over your car in GT4.
12 The Missing Link for Gran Turismo!
I have been a video gamer for many years. I have also been extremely into cars for my entire life. Accordingly, you can see why I would want to be one of the first to try anything combining the two! The Driving Force Pro is the single best piece of video gaming hardware I have ever owned. It adds a level of realism that is unparalleled by any other peripheral. As one can see from looking at the logo in the center of the wheel, the Driving Force Pro was made for Gran Turismo. Using this wheel while playing Gran Turismo 4 is unbelievable! The 900 degree steering means that the turning handles just like a real car would handle. The force feedback enables you to actually FEEL the road. For example, when entering a corner at high speed, you feel gravity pulling you to the outside. If a car bumps you from the side, you feel it. If you run over gravel or grass, the wheel shakes in your hands, just like how it would in real life! The shifting action on both the paddle shifters and the stick are smooth and precise. The pedals are incredibly responsive as well. The fact that you can control how much throttle you give the engine or how hard you apply the brakes gives you more control than you could ever dream of when using the standard Dual Shock 2 controller. Since I have purchased this wheel from Amazon (who has the lowest price of any retailer), I have not been able to stop playing! I never thought I could have this much fun with a racing game that was not an actual arcade. If you consider yourself a hardcore gamer, you simply must get this wheel. The imitations, although cheaper, do not even come close, so you should not waste your time or money with any of them. Logitech makes a fabulous product (I recommend checking out their wireless controllers as well). The only complaints I have about this wheel is that the USB connection cord to the PS2 is a little shorter than I would like it to be and I wish the clamps lowered down more than they do, so as to accommodate a thicker table. If you have a very thick table, you should think about ordering the lap attachment, although I feel it is best to mount the wheel to a table. If you are thinking about adding whole new level to your gaming experience, The Driving Force Pro is THE WHEEL TO BUY! PERIOD.
13 Great Wheel
This wheel is the next best thing to racing in real life! GT4 fanatics, I would say buy it if you have not all ready.
14 A whole new gaming experience
If you've never used this wheel before, you should give it a try...at first, its harder because its more precise...but that precision makes for more accurate driving once you get used to it...and the force feedback is rediculous..you feel everything, its really cool...anyway, there are plenty of reviews out there, but i wanted to add something, as some people have difficulty setting up the wheel comfortably somewhere: SET THE WHEEL UP ON YOUR IRONING BOARD...this allows for perfect height adjustment and leaves room underneath for your pedals...
15 Worth the Money
Steering wheel is same size as F1 steering wheel. This is for racing, not your daily drive around the block. There's no power steering, so be prepared to put some effort in your turns...and break early!
Excellent feedback. You can "feel" the car when you're driving, i.e. how smooth a car accelerates or decelerates.
Great design. Durable materials used and the shifter doesn't lag when you down/upshift. Also, the shift buttons behind the wheel work great, but not as responsive as the stick shift.
You might have to do some fiddling around with furniture to find a comfortable setting for the wheel and pedals. I used a chair and small table instead of a sofa. It's kinda hard to drive on a couch because of the low height.
It's expensive, but heck, what you pay is what you get, and this wheel is damn good.
16 Good product but disappointed ....
Initially looked at the price and product description, and all seemed good. Steering wheel felt spot-on, and reacted as expected. However, the pedals were malfunctioning. Either not working, or they'd activate with no input from me. This is my second experience similar to this with a product bought from Amazon. I like the product, but will purchase at a local store versus through Amazon.
17 I wish steering wheel was bigger like real life,but it works
A competent and durable (so far) steering wheel that plays well with the games it supports. Before continuing, keep in mind you need some serious room to play this game, you need an open outlet near you to get the power going, and you'll definitely need a sturdy table, (coffee tables won't cut it" and probably a comfortable chair to get the full driving experience and you have to figure out a trick to keep those slippy slidy pedals from going all over the place while you're playing. Carpet helps, but it's not enough.
1st of all this wheel will not play on your lap, at least until they release the "lap" device which hopefully is coming out soon. I had issues with my particular location because all I have is a coffee table. I tightened the "clasps" of the device and snugged it tight to the front of my coffee table which sits in front of my sofa. Horrible experience for coffee table users. You'll either have to sit on your knees "while trying to run the pedals and concentrate on driving too. Driving on your kness, nah, don't think so. I tried sitting in the sofa for awhile and slouching down to reach the wheel, just doesnt' work unless you want to see a chiropractor in a few days. The pedals from a sofa or chair, just doesn't feel right. My advice, get a TV Tray, or like the other guy informed, maybe a 2x4 piece of wood and lay it over your chair, but if you have a sofa, you'll need a pretty long board. Without a table, you simply cannot use the wheel as you need the clasps of the device to hold the unit in place. The pedals laying on the ground from an average sofa or chair are a bit too low compared to an actual vehicle, so the higher you are, the better as it feels more like an actual car. Some people may have to spend a little extra dough to get comfortable to your liking to enjoy the wheel, but you need to ask yourself is it worth it and will you play it religioiusly?
Also, if we're all going to spend 100+ dollars for a virtual steering wheel, why not make it larger to actual size of the real thing? I would be willing to spend a few dollars more for the material. Why should size matter though? With a smaller steering wheel, in all honesty, you have to turn it more to make those hairpin corners. I also have big hands which can be an issue for SOME, and keeping that in mind, it feels more like a "kids" wheel than a driving simulation wheel which is supposed to simulate an actual "car".
Of course this particular wheel is the best yet, it supports some major force feedback, it responds and jerks around when crashing into walls, other cars and guardrails, slipping and sliding, even the cracks in the road it responds and gets herky jerky when things get bumpy. The wheel boasts a full 900 degrees which is a bit crazy for any driving game as most will only use about 300 for most instances, but it's nice having the ability to turn your wheels like that magnitude. The wheel was made for GT4 but it also works magnificently for Burnout 2 and 3 which are the best arcade games you can get for the wheel. Realism is great, but when it comes down to it, this is made for arcade racing and I think you'll have more control and driving with Burnout 2 and 3.
But realism buffs should definitely consider Gran Turismo 4 as it's the finest driving simulator around. The steering wheel is plug and play for the most part. However, I had some issues getting the game to run without the pedals. I attempted to configure the acceleration and brakes in the options screen, but for the life of me, the game would only let me play it when I had both the steering wheel and pedals plugged in. One might find that a bit tedious with all the plug and play required to play, but most won't care, but I'm sure there is a way to play without the pedals.
So lets look at this wheel in summary. I really like it overall, setup can be tedious, especially if your game room is not set up with a table and people with no table or coffee tables will be in a rut as this wheel needs to be right at your chest, anything lower will give you back spasms and getting to the pedals and keeping them in the same space without slipping or sliding is a chore to say the least. No setup is required, just plug it in to the USB port and make sure the pedals are plugged in and you're set. Works for many of the new driving games including Burnout series and Gran Turismo 3 and 4. I wish the wheel was bigger to simulate an actual vehicles wheel "as I feel it's too small" but people with small hands won't care. Overall, its' a great wheel, just make sure you have the right environment going to really enjoy it.
18 Don't play Gran Turismo 4 without it
As several reviewers have pointed out, this wheel works great with Gran Turismo 3. But how does it feel with Gran Turismo 4, the game it was designed for? In one word: Amazing.
This is the first console wheel designed with 900 degrees of rotation, just like a real steering wheel. This means that you have to switch hands in order to crank the wheel over enough to get the car through low to mid-speed turns. Having to handle a console wheel as if it were the real thing will put a smile on your face the first time you do it, but the extra degrees of rotation are more than a gimmick. The extra steering lock allows your steering input to be much more precise than with the old wheel. I've read some online reviews stating that having 900 degrees of rotation is overkill, but I disagree. The steering in the game feels very natural and realistic.
The wheel has more going for it than just extra steering lock. The sequential shifter is leagues better than the old wheel's paddle shifts and makes shifting, especially upshifts, feel much crisper and faster. The pedals feel more solid and substantial than the old wheel. They also come with traction spikes on the bottom in order to keep the pedals from sliding around. The spikes work fairly well.
The force feedback really drives the experience home. Yeah, the wheel rumbles when you go over a rumble strip or run into something, but it also skips lightly in your hands as the car goes over surface irregularities or the tires chirp. And of course, the faster you go, the more effort the steering requires. It also conveys loss of control effectively, going light when you spin the car.
Simply put, this is a great wheel. Buy it, you won't regret it.
19 Believe the reviews
I was a bit hesitant to buy this wheel because of the list price, but amazon's lower price and good reviews convinced me. I bought it just to play Gran Turismo 4 and could not be happier. This is an excellent wheel. If you have the cash, are a GT fan, then you won't be disappointed. It will make your game driving experience rock!
20 Works great!
This thing rocks when it comes to driving games. There are a few things I wish were changed though.
First, the clamping mechanism needs to open just a wee bit wider. I mean, like 1 mm. That's all I need to be able to attach the thing to a countertop. However, even having it on a countertop would not work really well, so I need to find something else to mount it to.
The other problem is the manual - there really isn't one. This caused me a bit of confusion when I hooked it up the first time to play Gran Turismo 4 - The thing powered on, did it's self centering, then proceeded to be ignored by the game. Only after some time spend messing around did I figure out that you need to remove the Player 1 joystick from the console when you want to use the wheel.
Other than that, this thing is killer.
21 Gran Turismo Lover? This is YOUR Wheel!
I picked up the Driving Force Pro last night and I must say, it is the single most important piece to the Gran Turismo puzzle. Heading home from work early, I decided to stop by the local electronics store to check out some of the latest toys. I saw a display setup of GT3 and the Logitech Driving Force Pro. I immediately jumped on it and couldn't stop playing. People were crowding around to see how well the wheel worked with the game. I had to buy it right then and there.
The wheel is well built; excellent materials and craftsmanship. The steering wheel has a very ergonomic feel to it with thumb depressions and compliant vinyl/rubber padding. The shifter clicks are mature and solid. The brake and accelerator pedals have a long range for great modulation. Although GT3 allows only a 200 degree turning range, it works really well. I can only imagine how the 900 degree range will be for GT4!
Ask yourself this question; do you love Gran Turismo? If your answer is yes, pull out that credit card and order this wheel. Yes the dualshock controller with the analog sticks are great, but with this wheel, it's just unbelievable! I've never had a wheel for GT before, much less ever driven with one. It didn't take long to get used to it and once I did, it was hard to stop playing.
I have a totally new respect for Gran Turismo. You really do see how much the designers of the series implemented much of the realism that comes with driving; overcorrecting your wheel during a turn will send you off the track. The feedback is amazing as well. IF YOU THINK GT IS GREAT NOW, WAIT TILL YOU PLAY IT ON THIS!
Hope this review was helpful.
22 so real...
This wheel just came today, so I hooked it up to my PS2 and loaded Gran Turismo 4 Prologue, nothing. Turns out you have to unplug your pedals first and the wheel will calibrate itself, then plug it back in. Once everything is working...you can immediately tell the response from the wheel was MUCH better than using a regular controller. More precise steering and a "feel" that you are actually driving the car. On rally races though, I did much better with the controller. The force feedback really makes you feel like you're driving a car without power steering, and it imitates the front two tires (on Gran Turismo 4) really well. When I spun the car out, I could feel the front wheels skipping on the pavement. Get this wheel...best PS2 investment ever!!! Enough procrastination...calc 2 midterm tomorrow...
23 For the ultimate Gran Turismo experience
This is a steering wheel unlike any other on the market. The Driving Force Pro (DFP) allows a full 900 degrees of rotation, unlike most other wheels that only allow one full rotation of the wheel. The DFP is also a 'Force Feedback' wheel, which means that the wheel/car 'fights back' as you go into a corner, accurately simulating the real driving experience. With adjustable plastic clamps, the DFP will stick like a rock on to almost any sort of table. My table is almost 2.5 inches thick, and the clamps still fit (albeit only just!).
The wheel itself is smaller than a regular steering wheel, but is similar in size to those used in actual racing-type cars. It looks and feels beautiful... padded with an imitation leather-type material, you can grip it as firmly as a squash racket with no danger of slippage. The wheel also sports a very attractive silver 'GT' logo in the centre, leaving you in no doubt which game this wheel was designed for. With the pedal unit on the floor beneath your table, a great little 'spiky strip' digs into your carpet to ensure that they remain solidly in place, even when your driving like a idiot. The accelerator is as sensitive as in a real car, and the brake is realistically more solid. With the DFP you also get a choice of transmission controls - a little stick shifter on the right of the wheel, or (my personal preference) 'Formula One'-style paddles mounted behind the wheel.
The other PS2 controls are all on the centre of the wheel itself. My only quibble with the controls is that, depending on how you set them up, you probably will have to use a wheel-mounted control to reverse, which is a tad awkward when your trying to steer at the same time... but that's a minor complaint... a good enough driver shouldn't need to use the reverse gear anyway!!
The DFP is compatible with many racing titles, like Colin McRae Rally and (surprisingly) Gran Turismo 3 (a 2001 title).. although GT3 only supports the regular 360 degree mode, GT4 allows you to choose between 360 and 900 degree modes by pressing a simple sequence of buttons. GT4 (I have only played Prologue) however, doesn't really like you playing in 360 mode however, as the wheel vibrates quite badly, and hence the 900 degree mode is preferable. In GT3 however, the 360 mode is as smooth as anything, and is a joy to drive with.
Importantly, you can select the strength of the force feedback, which is ideal as it allows you to select a mode you feel most comfortable with. Some tracks in GT4 are very tight and winding (Citti Di Aria, Grand Canyon), while others have long straights and sweeping curves (Le Mans, Nurburgring Nordschielfe), and these two types of circuit handle very differently, and I personally use different levels of force feedback for each. Due to the nature of the wheel being a force feedback wheel, it does make quite a noise, and seems a little strange/off-putting at first, but you get used to it. My solution was to connect my PS2 up to my Hi-Fi and crank up the volume!
All together, if GT (or racing games) are your thing, then this is a dream product. It's exactly like having your favourite arcade machine right there in your home, and GT4 is infinitely the better for it.
24 Best Wheel for the PS2
All right, let my start by saying that this is indeed the best wheel on the market, but that doesn't say very much since 95% of the wheels out there suck. The Driving Force Pro and the Mad Catz MC2 are really the only ones worth paying for. If you are shopping for a wheel I'd suggest looking at the MC2 also. It is a lot cheaper and has a few better qualities than the DF Pro, although it doesn't have force-feedback or 900-degree steering.
The Driving Force Pro is Logitech's second attempt at a steering wheel for a game console. Its most notable feature is the 900 degrees of steering, which is something that no other wheel on the market has. However, the 900-degree steering is only compatible with certain games. I am not sure which yet, but I do know that Gran Turismo 4 (scheduled for release in January/February 05) will. It will automatically switch to 200-degree steering for games that do not support 900-degree. The wheel's other big feature is the force-feedback. It is a little loud, but it really brings the game to life. Since it has force-feedback it has to be plugged in, so make sure you have a free outlet.
Other features include a textured rubber grip, easily adjustable clamps for your table or set-up, very nice styling with a steel GT (Gran Turismo) logo in the center of the wheel, paddle shifters which move with the wheel, L3 and R3 buttons, a sequential stick shifter, USB connection to the PS2 (Works with PC's too, but I haven't been able to get the Force Feedback to work with it yet), and a very functional carpet gripping system for the pedals. I do have a few complaints about it. For one, the wheel is a little bit small at 10 inches in diameter. The MC2 is about 11. It also doesn't have dual-shock (vibrating motors) like the MC2, but this is made up with the force-feedback. The addition of a sequential stick shifter is good, but I personally feel that they put it a little too close to the steering wheel. It also doesn't have much movement when you shift, which kind of takes the fun out of it.
Pros:
-900-Degree steering
-Force Feedback
-Nice design
-Steering unit and pedals stay in their respective places well
Cons:
-No Dual Shock
-Shifter leaves something to be desired
-No calibrating controls or throttle guage
-Price
I should also mention that I had a little bit of trouble with it freezing up briefly while playing GT3. It has happened a few times, but I'm not sure if it's a defect with my unit or an actual incompatibility with the PS2 or GT3. I plan on exchanging it for a new one soon to see if this is a universal problem. I hope this has helped.
25 Cr@zy I'l\/l SeRi0uS
This Logitech Driving Force Pro is wonderful. I have it's previous model too, and this wheel is much better. The only competitor is the next model that is going to come out. This wheel has a 900 degree steering which you all know. It also has teptronic which is really great. It feels real and is also real, the force feedback is wonderful. It is crazy! when you are on a straight line in the Fuji International Speedway (GT4 Prolouge)you have to down shift and the reaction of the wheel is wonderful. It responds excellent. This wheel is like driving a real car. This is a great present because it would be giving a car to your son. It's really really real!
26 Well worth the money!
I wasn't very sure of my purchase at first, given the price tag on this PS2 Wheel.
As the racing game freak I am, I decided to give it a try.
A couple of years ago I bought a MadCatz racing wheel for PC, I played with it for two or three weeks, and decided that it was easier and, in fact, more fun, to play with the keyboard instead of the wheel.
This totally changed when I got the Driving Force Pro.
The looks of this wheel is the first thing that let you realize that you made a good purchase, it looks really cool, and feels comfortable in every way. It doesn't feel like a cheap wheel at all.
Hooking it up is really easy because of its clamp system, which makes it very solid if you attach ot to a table...in my case I put a board across the arms of my Tv chair and attached the wheel to it. I works pretty good like that. The pedals feel real, the brake pedal is a little harder, just like in a real car.
When you connect the wheel and restart our PS2, it automatically turns left and right and finds the center point for you.
Once playing it takes a little while to get used to it...it took me about 1 hour to start matching my times on Grand Turismo 3, and about 2 to start cutting time down.
Now I'm playing Pro Race Driver, and it can't be better...I can't wait for the release of GT4 to test this baby on 900 degree mode!.
If you are thinking about buying a racing wheel for the PS2 this is the way to go, the money you pay for it is totally worth.
There's only one thing I didn't like too much about this wheel: there's too many cables hangin' around the pedals (power, connection to the wheel, and connection to the PS2), and sometimes you get those around your legs....no big deal though, just try to put them away, on the side, and you won't have anything to complaint about.
27 Best wheel yet
I have both this wheel and the older 200 degree model. While the old model was light years ahead of using the D-pad, it did not give enough fine control to be consistent on the infamous GT3 licence exams and you would find yourself constantly oversteering. This new wheel with its 900 degrees has is much more comparable to a real car and I have been able to get good consistency as I have progressed through GT4-Prologue, which in is essentially licence exams. The pedal unit has also been improved with a larger base that you can get your heel on it with even my size 12 (US) foot, so it plays well even on my tile floor. It has toothed grips for firmer mounting on carpet. The sequential shift knob is placed too high for it to be useful as a gear shift when the unit is mounted on a table, but one of the controller configurations in GT4 Prologue allows you to use it to go in reverse and I have found that handy. To get the most out of this wheel, it needs to be clamped on a table.
28 expensive...but worth it
this wheel is very good. i got it for 101.64 from amazon.com with free shipping. the steering is great. the gas and brake pedals are very responsive. it is realistic because the brake pedal is harder to push then the gas. the new tetonic shifter is a nice touch. it reminds me of the interior of an rsx. it supports a lot of great games. the wheel itself look and feels great. very easy to set-up. the carpet-grip system helps a lot. 900-degree steering is awesome and since gt4 isnt out yet it automatically chnaged to 200 on games htat dont suppot 900-degree. the force feedback is great you can toggle from 60% and 100% forcefeedback at will ( i prefer 100% it is harder and more realistic) there are too many great things about this wheel that i don't have time to write about. overall this wheel is a great sturdy wheel with plenty of HELPFUL new features in my book this is a must for any ps2 racing game. buy now before it sells out.
29 Wowee I'm drivin' my tv!
Yes, it's all true. The Logitech driving force pro steering wheel really is amazing. The vibrations are vibrant. The pedals are to the metal. The shifter is shifty, as in "nifty". It's a total pleasure in the palm of your hands. I like to drive my tv wearing a bicycle helmut while eating cashews at the same time. Sometimes I put cheese in an underwater snorkle and gently blow into it as I fly past the cempetition doin' a hundred and eighty miles per hour. That's how great this wheel is. I can't imagine playing G.T. without it. Definitely worth the money! Squeel ya later. Uncle Dee
30 Some things to be aware of when purchasing this device!
Logitech's Driving Force Pro for PS2 is an excellent input device for novice and more advanced users in driving simulation games. The response is excellent, the feel is decent, and the functionality is superb.
Those who purchase this unit must be aware that the 900 degree turning can only be used by games that support this type of input. If 900 degree movement is not supported by the game (such as Gran Turismo 3) the user will find that this wheel automatically detects this and adjusts the steering locks accordingly. When this author purchased the wheel for use with Gran Turismo 3, he found that the standard turning radius of 200 degrees seemed to create a problem for fine tuning the position of the wheel. Because of the smaller rotation area, minute movements are much more pronounced than when 900 degree rotation is allowed.
The steering feel of this device is as close to true as one will find in a gaming device. The force feedback power can be manually adjusted from full power to 60% power directly on the device. Some games may allow further tuning of force feedback power in-game. The footpedal unit feels firm, with different resistances for gas and brake, adding some to the realism of most games. The buttons on this wheel are not pressure sensitive like the Dual Shock controllers and other accessories are. This device is all digital, using the PS2's own USB port to connect. An outside AC power source is required for use.
Technical note: This device is listed as Force Feedback, but with all technicality, this is not correct. Force feedback devices use pressures from the users hand and responds by generating its own force which opposes the hand. Typically in these devices, the counter force generated by the device is proportional to the force applied by the user. This wheel uses a different mechanism that does not require a force from the user to be present. In a nutshell, this all means that this device will move on its own, independantly of whether or not a user is present.
Overall, this device is unique, and a great buy.
The goods:
Great feel, as close to realistic as you're gonna get
Excellent range of motion
Solidly built, Heavy duty. Nothing flimsy about it
Table clamps are very strong, with no extra movement
Learning curve is at a minimum
Quick and easy setup. Up and running in no time
GT emblem on the wheel. Looks GREAT!
The bads:
Force Feedback is a little noisy, though not exceedingly loud.
200 degree motion makes it difficult to fine tune steering on the fly.
Initial price seems a little high. (well worth it, however)
Too addictive! Can't seem to put it away!!
31 A must have for racing enthusiasts!!
The Driving Force Pro is the first wheel that I have owned and used at home. At first I was a bit hessitant because let's face it, the wheel is still expensive compared to other products. All my doubts soon left me after I was cutting lap times in GT3. It did take a good 30 mins to and hour to get used to the action. The wheel came nicely packaged, and it took me all but 10 mins to set it up. (Be sure to buy a lap accessory if you aren't going to use it on a table.) I heard the force feedback was noisy, but personally I could barely notice the noise. The wheel itself is tuff. It looks and feels very heavy duty. The game play with only 200 degree steering in Gran Turismo 3 is amazing, it will defininately be unreal with GT4. If you are considering buying this wheel, DO IT!! It is worth every cent. It totally adds to the experience of racing!
32 Great.
Well, i recieved the wheel a while ago. I havent played it much but i have used it to my liking. This is my first wheel purchase. Although it can be a bit noisy with the feedback, it is really good. I have tried other wheels and they are nothing compared to this one. I play GT3 using only this wheel setting up my cars with drift settings and its great. It feels good drifting through a corner and its almost life like. Overriding the 900 deg turning makes it a harder play in GT3 as it is not accustomed to playing with a 900 degree turning wheel so its best to keep it at 200 deg legacy mode. I wonder what it would be like to play it on GT4 when it comes out.
Anyway if i were you and i dont have one of these wheels to play with, i suggest you BUY NOW because when GT4 comes out, these will be short of stock everywhere for sure.
33 Excellent!
Just got the wheel in tonight and I've been putting it through its paces with GT3. GT3 only uses 200-degree mode, so that's all I can talk about, but it's very cool indeed. It's going to take some getting used to, but the feedback is good, the wheel itself is very responsive, and rally is just plain awesome! In rally, I found myself not thinking about the wheel at all, just about controlling the drifts with the gas pedal. My arms were completely on autopilot, doing all the steering by instinct. Very cool. The pedals are excellent as well, light and linear on the gas, and heavy and tight on the brake, just like a car. I haven't seen any other pedals that are like this; Logitech definitely thought of everything. The paddle shifters don't stick out very far, but that makes them very non-flimsy. You definitely need some kind of table to mount this to (I use a fold-out dinner tray), or your knee is going to bump the power cord out while it bounces around on your lap. I believe there's a $20 lap attachment accessory that probably also works, but a table is better.
I was very pleased to get this for $35 less than MSRP ($150 for even this wheel is a bit much) and with free shipping. Overall, great buy, and a must for racing fans!
34 Verry realistic
(...)This wheel has changed the way I play GT4: Prologue. Instead of mashing buttons with the DS2 controller, I am now 'driving' the cars that I use in the way that I normally would in real life. Using the McLaren GTR in Fuji Speedway is incredibly amazing now that I have the wheel. The cool little paddle shifters behind the wheel help to heighten the sense of speed as well as the feeling of being in one with the car.
But somehow, driving the rally course in Grand Canyon still sucks. Its like 95 percent of the course requires you to drive in 1st/2nd gear with the optimum speed at 50kph. Translated to mph, its 30mph....Grand Canyon is by far the most boring track in GT4P. I hope they fix the rally physics by this fall.
(...) To sum up, this wheel is just damn sexy.
35 Amazon is a lier
This wheel is great so realistic. Its just that Amazon lied. First they told me that I will get this wheel around April 5-6. But what now Amazon!!!! I got this on March 30th of the same F----- year. I mean what's up with that. The thing is that Amazon is great and the wheel is also great. Now I can drive up to 100mph on the streets coz of this. j/k. Buy this wheel and your need for speed will be fulfilled!!!!
36 The Wheel
Sony did not make this steering wheel. It was made by Logitech. Stop giving sony the credit and with that said XBox could easily have a wheel like that since Logitech also makes wheels and other stuff like that for XBox.
37 [PS2's]GT Longitech Driving Force
Hi there, I belive that since the announcements of GT4 and its innovative technology SONY has done for many fans out in the world, I believe it's the best they've done since the release of GT3. With the introdution of the Longitech Driving Force Pro. for PS2, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT is at its peak of the gaming world. I give real credit to this guys, they have done an extraordinary job with their new steering wheel that no other gaming company, not even XBOX has ever done for the bublic, to introdue a steering wheel with its own gear shift knob; back in the days, the steering wheels only included the triangle,square,circle and x-button, and also the directional arrow keys which made life a lot harder for racing game players to shift from gear to gear by pressing buttons. Now that SONY has brought the gear shift knob on its steering wheel it does not only makes life a bit fun, but it makes it more challenging for the racing fan.
38 this ROCKS!!!!!
when i read the rating and info this sounded like the best RACING WHEEL in the whole darn world. i download a video of it and the 900 degree steering is UNBELIVEABLE!!! and it looks and feels like a real race car. i but theirs one problem i think this wheel is a little overpriced it should be at leas $120 doolars.
