Logitech Zone

Logitech G27

August 19, 2011

The logitech G27 is one of the best wheels out their. It is the best wheel from Logitech, just, and it is almost on a par with the best from fanatec. The pedals are just behind the clubsports in terms of feel. One of the main selling points is the sequential gear box this along with the clutch ensures one of the most realistic wheels out their. This is the one thing that the G27 provides that the DFGT doesn't.


 
 As the games improve the supporting hardware must equally improve with steering wheels being the most tangible addition naturally. Logitech's latest is the £275 G27, a 900-degree, force-feedback wheel that is, at first glance, barely distinguishable from the G25 which proceeds it. There are differences, of course, but sadly few are entirely for the better.

It takes a few moments to notice the changes made in the years between the new G27 and the older G25 – there remains the same leather and metal look; the same brush shifter paddles; the same diminutive golf ball shifter; the same faux-drilled pedals; the same compatibility (Windows PCs and PlayStation consoles only). But if you look closer, however, and the same tweaks start to appear. Whereas before the wheel sported only a pair of red buttons, two sets of three have appeared, and on top of the hub you'll now find sits a row of tiny LED's. And the paddles on the back, which previously had flimsy internal switches, are now in the position of activating more meaty external ones, plus the shifter lacks its trick mode dial, with the heavy pedals now being adjustable, along with the brake and clutch being slightly elevated.

A new shifter brings the biggest change, but, unfortunately, it's a definite step backwards. To give an example, on the G25, a dial could be turned to toggle between sequential shifting (moving up and down from gear to gear) to H-pattern (like most road cars where you select exactly which gear you require). When, in the latter mode, the shifter had a particularly flimsy feel to it, it was a huge improvement in respect of your average wheel of the day. However, the G27 ditches the mode selector knob and along with it goes the sequential shifter mode too, gone in exchange, in point of fact, for a slightly improved shifter feel. Many of us – and perhaps most – won't miss this omission, for the simple reason that most just use the paddles at the rear, but as far as serious sim racers are concerned this marks an unfortunate move.

Logitech introduced some big changes in order to address some of the G25s more glaring game-play related issues. Yet by doing this, however, they sadly ignored one of the more annoying usability-related aspects: this concerns cable overload. The wheel sports external boxes for the pedals, the shifter, and the AC adaptor, with each having a cord running up to the wheel; this, in turn, sprouts a further USB cable. And the result of this? Well, it's a slew of lines which are strung from all corners back to the wheel, and then another one back down to the desktop. And in whatever way you try to arrange it you end up with a mess. We'd have far preferred, for example, if each component had its own USB connector which would have allowed far more flexible cable management in combination with a cheap USB hub. At the same time it would also have allowed sim purists to operate the old G25 sequential shifter if they like – yet sadly it remains incompatible with the G27 wheel and this, despite using the same connector.


 
There's another alteration, however, which we didn't realize until leafing through press materials concerning the wheel: this is a switch to helical gears. What you think of as a typical gear, for example, with slab-like teeth, remains straight-cut: strong, yet loud and far from being smooth, with the big flat teeth slapping against each other. You have to appreciate that a helical gear has teeth cut at an angle, much like a screw, so the engagement from one tooth to another is more progressive, more smooth and more quiet. Of course we tried the wheels back-to-back and we have to acknowledge there is an improvement. However, having said this, it's a slight one, and one that we honestly wouldn't have noticed otherwise.


 

As far as the Logitech G27 is concerned it's not two steps forward and one step back. It's really more like a stumble in each direction which leaves it standing more or less where it began. Although it's a wheel that is improved for each tasty upgrade comes a painful omission, downgrade or flaw. For serious virtual racers it's all a bit tragic; the company was obviously listening, addressing many G25 owners' concerns, yet in the process, whilst keeping their ears close to the ground, it inspired plenty of new complaints.

At the end it's difficult to recommend the G27 over the G25, especially for anyone thinking of moving from one to the other. But if you must have the latest and flashiest the G27 with its blinkenlights is your wheel.

The wheel is brilliant though and if your not racing on a budget, it is one i would recommend however if you are the logitech DFGT is the wheel for you 
 

Source:  openwheeler

 

Logitech DFGT Review

August 19, 2011
My opinion of the DFGT is that its the best value for money out their. For £89 it is great. My biggest gripe is the pedals which are fairly cheap. The force feedback is great and the wheel is compatible with every PC game out their.


 The Logitech Driving Force GT comes in two parts, the first being a fully-fledged steering wheel with gear-stick base unit. The wheel itself is a generous 11 inch wide (28cm), a perfect size, in fact, that sits easily between your sweaty gripping paws. A rubber g...


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