The 7 Cheapest Direct Drive Sim Racing Wheels & Wheel Bases

Direct drive sim racing wheel bases offer the most realistic sim racing experience on the market. They can also cost a pretty penny, and for those not familiar with direct drive wheels, it can be a risky investment. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable direct drive wheels on offer.

The 7 cheapest direct drive sim racing wheels are:

1. MOZA R5 Bundle
2. Fanatec CSL DD WRC
3. Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro
4. Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel
5. Thrustmaster T818 Ferrari SF1000
6. SimXperience AccuForce Pro V2 Steering System
7. Simucube 2 Sport Tahko Bundle

The 7 cheapest direct drive sim racing wheel bases for sim racing are:

1. MOZA R5
2. Fanatec CSL DD
3. Thrustmaster T818
4. SimXperience AccuForce Pro V2
5. VRS DirectForce Pro
6. Simucube 2 Sport
7. Fanatec Podium DD1

The MOZA R5 bundle is by far the cheapest way to get into direct drive racing, but the choice between a bundle with a wheel and the wheel base on its own is an important one to make. Below, I’ll go through each of these options and explain why I think they’re the best for those on a budget.

Note: While the Cammus C5 direct drive wheel can be picked up fairly cheap, we’re not yet sold on its level of quality and reliability, so we decided not to include it for now.

The 7 Cheapest Direct Drive Wheels For Sim Racing

1. MOZA R5 Bundle

Peak Torque: 5.5 Nm | Compatibility: PC | Also Included: SR-P Lite Pedals

The R5 bundle is priced just a hair under the CSL DD WRC from Fanatec, and although you don’t get the same level of torque, this is still the cheapest way to get into direct drive with both a wheel base and a wheel rim. Plus, you even get a set of pedals with this bundle, making it a great starting point for beginners that want to skip the gear and belt-driven options out there.

Excellent Value For Money

The value of this bundle is hard to overstate, as you get a great introduction to direct drive wheel bases and a wheel rim for the same price as some of the best beginner belt-driven options. This opens up a world of detailed force feedback that beginner sim racers would have had to spend four figures to achieve only a few years ago.

The wheel base itself does produce just 5.5 Nm of peak torque, so it really only is ideal for beginners who are new to direct drive, or for those that don’t need too much power. For those that do need a bit more oomph from their wheel base, the MOZA R9 is the next cheapest option, but you’ll need to pick up a wheel rim for that separately.

Great Wheel + Base Combo

With this bundle you get the excellent wheel base of course, but you also get a highly functional and very well made wheel rim. It comes with plenty of mappable buttons, and the hand-stitched leather combined with the aluminum body make for a durable but good looking wheel rim. You get some nice rev lights and some tactile paddle shifters on the back too.

There’s not much to say about the potentiometer pedals, and this article is about direct drive anyway. However, it’s a nice addition for beginners, although more experienced racers will want to check out either the SR-P pedals or the CRPs. Overall, the value for money here is super high, and while it’s not the most powerful direct drive wheel base, it is the cheapest!

PROS:

• Incredible value for money
• Cheapest direct drive wheel base
• Strong upgrade path

CONS:

• Not compatible with console
• Included pedals aren’t the best

2. Fanatec CSL DD WRC

Peak Torque: 8 Nm | Compatibility: PC/Xbox | Also Included: 8 Nm Boost Kit

Our next wheel is from Fanatec, and it utilizes their newest wheel base – one of the cheapest direct drive wheel bases out there – the CSL DD. This produces 5 Nm of torque as standard, but with the boost kit included in this bundle you get up to 8 Nm of peak torque at your fingertips.

We’ll go into more detail about this specific wheel base in more detail in the next section, and for now we’ll focus on the wheel itself. It’s a 300 mm WRC-licensed steering wheel used in official esports competitions for WRC events. Its brushed aluminum spokes and Alcantara grip make this a truly wonderful looking wheel that also feels like sheer quality as well.

Shifters, Lights & Buttons

You get some nice tactile paddle shifters, along with a strip of LEDs at the top to show revs and other useful information within your chosen game. You can also use this small screen to access the tuning menu of the wheel base. This allows you to have more control over the force feedback offered by the CSL DD base.

You get a total of 12 buttons (not including the paddle shifters) and a 4-way directional pad with a push button. These can be applied to things like your windshield wipers and headlights within your favorite rally games, but they’re also usable in most other racing titles as well.

Combining all of this with the reasonably priced but fairly powerful CSL DD wheel base makes it the perfect direct drive option for rally fans, but it’s also a cheap way for any sim racer to get into the more advanced territory that direct drive has to offer. As with most of Fanatec’s products, you can swap out the rim for others at any time, making it a versatile bundle.

PROS:

• One of the cheapest direct drive bundles available
• Great for rally fans
• Upgradeable

CONS:

• Wheel may not suit other racing disciplines
• Weaker torque than some other options

3. Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro

Peak Torque: 5 Nm (8 Nm with boost kit) | Compatibility: PlayStation/PC/Xbox | Also Included: Fanatec CSL 2-Pedal Set

For around the same price as the WRC 8 Nm bundle, you can get a 5 Nm DD Pro wheel base with a Gran Turismo wheel rim, along with a CSL 2-pedal set. This makes this option arguably the perfect budget option for sim racers looking to get into direct drive racing, especially for those on console, as this wheel works with PC, Xbox and PlayStation.

You can upgrade to the 8 Nm version, but it also increases the price significantly and, as you’ll see below, if this is something you’re considering you may be better to opt for the CSL DD with a boost kit instead as it’s cheaper (if you’re not playing on PlayStation of course). But for the price, this is a good option for those that want a simple setup with pedals included.

The Pedals

The pedals are Fanatec’s CSL line, which while decent don’t really keep up with the quality of experience offered by the DD Pro wheel base underneath the GT rim (more on that in a moment). You can upgrade these pedals to a 3-pedal set and there is a load cell kit available for the brake pedal, but this combination at this price point really sets this bundle up as one for beginner sim racers only.

The Rim

Now, the wheel included in this bundle is a Gran Turismo styled wheel, fully equipped with four multi-directional toggles that can be mapped to things like traction control and brake bias in Gran Turismo 7 (or GT Sport etc). It’s a smaller wheel than the WRC option at 280 mm, but it also has a rev stripe and an OLED screen that you can use for tuning the force feedback.

Along with the four 5-directional sticks there is a menu navigation stick that also moves in 5 directions, alongside 11 other buttons and two paddle shifters at the back. These paddles, along with the overall rubberized feel of the wheel, can make it feel a little cheap for some, but for an entry level console-compatible direct drive bundle, this is hard to beat.

Perfect For Beginners

Like the WRC wheel this wheel and wheel base is compatible with many of Fanatec’s other products, and you’ll be able to use compatible shifters, handbrakes, and other peripherals, along with exchanging the rim out for another if you have one. This is an excellent choice for beginner sim racers looking to see what direct drive has to offer.

PROS:

• Perfect bundle for beginners
• Ideal direct drive option for PlayStation users
• Highly functional wheel

CONS:

• Only comes with 5 Nm peak torque as standard
• Wheel might feel a bit cheap

4. Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel

Peak Torque: 11 Nm | Compatibility: PC (console compatible versions are available) | Also Included: N/A

Up next we have the first direct drive offering from Logitech. This is now straying into the not-so-cheap territory, but given some DD wheel bases alone cost several thousand dollars, we wanted to include this on our list anyway as it is still ‘relatively’ cheap compared to some of the more premium options, and it can serve as a great first direct drive wheel.

Note: The links for the Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel below are for the PC version of the wheel. If you want the console version, you need to buy it from Logitech directly.

The G PRO is an impressive piece of kit, offering 11 Nm of direct drive force feedback. It’s a solid wheel and base combination, and there are bundles that come with the Pro pedals as well. However, if you want the cheapest version, you can get the standalone wheel and wheel base (PC only).

Note: I haven’t included the base on its own in the second list further down because, while the base on its own is fairly well priced, it currently only works with one wheel rim (the one in this bundle), so I don’t see why you’d buy the base on its own (yet).

Build Quality

The build quality is solid. There is a fair bit of plastic on the outside of the wheel base, but it stands up to the forces on offer and you won’t notice it when you’re racing. The force feedback provided is also detailed but smooth, and there is more than enough of it for beginners and even more advanced racers too.

You also get Logitech’s ‘Trueforce’ force feedback, which adds some extra texture to the racing experience. However, it’s not available on all games, and I personally don’t think it adds a great deal of value to the wheel itself. The standard force feedback is good enough in my opinion, and while sometimes it’s very noticeable, the Trueforce can feel like a gimmick at times.

The wheel rim looks very much like a Logitech wheel, with a decent selection of buttons, some rotary encoders, and a thumb stick. You get solid metal paddle shifters and even dual clutch paddles as well. The rim can be removed from the direct drive base, which suggests there may be alternatives coming in the future.

A Great Upgrade

If you’re already in the Logitech ecosystem and like their products, or are looking to move on from another belt-driven wheel, the G PRO racing wheel may be a suitable upgrade. As I mentioned above there are console-compatible versions of this, but they’re usually a touch more expensive, and if you’re on PC, you’ll be able to mix and match this wheel with your existing pedals.

PROS:

• Excellent force feedback
• Great selection of buttons and paddles
• Fairly affordable high level of direct drive

CONS:

• Cheapest version isn’t console-compatible
• Lots of plastic in the construction

5. Thrustmaster T818 Ferrari SF1000

Peak Torque: 10 Nm | Compatibility: PC | Also Included: N/A

From Logitech’s first direct drive to Thrustmaster’s – the T818. In this case, it’s the T818 with the SF1000 Ferrari racing wheel, which is straight out of a Ferrari F1 car. This is therefore clearly a great pick for fans of single seater racing, but it’s also just an excellent choice for those in need of their first direct drive sim racing wheel.

Starting with the base, you get a 10 Nm peak torque output, which is more than enough for beginners. It’s 1 Nm less than the Logitech, which many won’t notice, but 10 Nm is about as low as I’d like the ceiling to be on a wheel base at this price point. If you want something that’s perhaps more future proof, I’d consider one of the next options on this list instead.

Quality Force Feedback

However, the force feedback itself is amazing. It’s highly detailed, and you’ll feel every bump, kerb, and tiny movement in the car no matter what you’re driving. I’ll admit the wheel base is an odd shape, and there may be some mounting challenges depending on your specific rig. But there’s no denying the red side plate complete with the Ferrari logo looks incredible!

The Wheel Rim

Next, let’s discuss the rim. Obviously it’s only going to be suitable for certain types of sim racing, with rallying and drifting likely not an option with this one. However, if you’re into single seater racing series, this could be the dream wheel rim for you. It’s a replica of the SF1000 F1 car’s steering wheel, meaning you get all the buttons and switches you’d expect on the real thing.

With 25 buttons, you can control every aspect of the car as you travel at 200 mph. You also get a neat 4.3-inch display that can show you key data while you race, and this sits in the middle of the real carbon fiber faceplate that really makes you feel like you’re actually in a race car.

Other notable features include the quick release system, which presents a real upgrade over Thrustmaster’s previous quick releases. You can mount the base to a desk, but with 10 Nm of peak torque, I recommend you use this with a dedicated rig. It’s not console compatible, but if you’re an F1 fan on PC looking for your first direct drive wheel, this is definitely one to consider.

PROS:

• Force feedback feels great
• It looks amazing
• The included wheel rim is outstanding

CONS:

• Not compatible with consoles

6. SimXperience AccuForce Pro V2 Steering System

Peak Torque: 13 Nm | Compatibility: PC | Also Included: Button Box, Force Feedback Controller

SimXperience’s AccuForce Pro V2 steering system is a truly unique offering. You get the excellent AccuForce V2 direct drive wheel base, capable of outputting a decent 13 Nm of torque, along with a stunning Alcantara-wrapped 320 mm steering wheel. You even get an additional button box with paddle shifters too.

This is all alongside everything else you need to set up your AccuForce wheel for success, like the force feedback controller and all the various cables and mounting screws. It’s designed to be ready to play, and it’s an excellent choice for those that need a bit more power from a direct drive wheel without breaking the bank.

PC Only

This wheel (and its associated wheel base) is only compatible with PC, and it’s quite an upgrade over some of the cheaper direct drive wheels discussed above. The wheel base is extremely powerful and packed with advanced technology for rapid response times and incredible precision. All of this is highly customizable with the included software too.

You get an excellent button box, which has a carbon fiber finish and several push buttons, rotary switches, toggle switches, and aluminum shifters on the back. It offers up to 400 hours of battery life and is easily charged up. All of this combines to make a very sleek but highly functional sim racing setup, offering amazing feel with the direct drive wheel base.

PROS:

• Excellent peak torque
• Great value bundle
• High-quality materials

CONS:

• Only compatible with PC

7. Simucube 2 Sport Tahko Bundle

Peak Torque: 17 Nm | Compatibility: PC | Also Included: Simucube mount (optional)

Finally, we have an entry from one of the best brands in the business. The Simucube 2 Sport wheel base is one of the best in the sim racing space at its price point, and while more expensive than the options discussed above, this bundle really provides a step up in terms of quality and performance.

Incredible Build Quality

As with all Simucube products, this bundle, including the wheel base itself and Simucube’s Tahko wheel rim, is made from high-quality materials using advanced production methods. You get a CNC machined wheel base that feels just weighty enough and instantly feels like it’ll last you a long time, and the wheel rim also oozes quality.

It has a nice orange and black color scheme, with a suede fabric finish. The rim has a precision milled aluminum structure, and it works wirelessly with your Simucube 2 Sport wheel base. It’s lightweight but durable, and aside from that it just looks amazing!

Plenty Of Functionality

You get two adjustable magnetic paddles on the back of the wheel rim for tactile shifting, and on the front you have a wide selection of buttons, a 7-way switch, and a rotary encoder. The ‘Simucube Button’ on the back allows you to quickly and easily change key force feedback settings while you race, which just adds a new layer of flexibility to your driving.

Back to the wheel base, the Simucube 2 Sport is the brand’s cheapest offering, and it’s actually a potential choice for those closer to the beginner end of the sim racing spectrum. It offers a nice middle ground in terms of peak torque (17 Nm), and this is balanced well with the price. It also works with Simucube’s excellent True Drive software, meaning you can easily set up and switch between driver profiles.

Overall, this wheel and wheel base combo feels very premium indeed, and it’s the ideal choice for those with a slightly bigger budget that want a balance between price and excellent performance.

PROS:

• Incredible build quality
• One of the best wheel bases in the business
• Highly functional wheel rim

CONS:

• It is on the pricey side
• It won’t work with consoles

Summary Of The Cheapest Direct Drive Wheels

Wheel	Pros	Cons
MOZA R5 Bundle	The cheapest way to get into direct drive Good path for future upgrades	Not console compatible The included pedals are poor
Fanatec CSL DD WRC	The cheapest choice for Xbox players Strong upgrade path	Included rim mostly ideal for rally racing No pedals (poor considering it’s a beginner bundle)
Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro	The cheapest DD option for PS4 and PS5 Highly functional wheel rim included	Low peak torque Included pedals aren’t great
Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel	Decent amount of torque for the money Nice dual clutch paddles	Not console compatible Quite a big wheel base
Thrustmaster T818 Ferrari SF1000	Amazing for F1 fans Good entry-level direct drive option	Also not compatible with consoles Mounting isn’t always straightforward
SimXperience AccuForce Pro V2 Steering System	Great value for money High-quality construction	Not compatible with console Hard to get your hands on
Simucube 2 Sport Tahko Bundle	Incredible wheel base included The wheel rim is simple but brilliant	Not console compatible Stretches the limits of ‘cheap’

The 7 Cheapest Direct Drive Wheel Bases For Sim Racing

1. MOZA R5

Peak Torque: 5.5 Nm | Compatibility: PC

We’ve already discussed the value for money of the MOZA R5 wheel base in the previous section, but it really is incredible that you can pick up a direct drive wheel base for such a low price. It’s testament to MOZA’s drive to bring affordable but high-quality immersion to a broader sim racing market.

High-Quality Materials

The first thing to note about the R5 wheel base (other than the low price) is the build quality. Made from sturdy aeroplane grade aluminum, this is a lightweight but powerful piece of kit. It has a high-power density motor inside that’s capable of producing 5.5 Nm of peak torque, which isn’t the most by any means, but it’s enough for beginners.

It’s passively cooled, like many of the other wheel bases on this list, and you can control many aspects of it remotely through MOZA’s Pit House app. This makes it easy to tweak the force feedback from your phone, which is an excellent feature that you’ll find across all of MOZA’s wheel bases.

Great Compatibility

You can pair this wheel base with any of MOZA’s excellent wheels, and thanks to MOZA’s excellent quick release system, you can also mount sim racing wheels from other manufacturers too (although you may need adapters and functionality may be limited). This opens up a huge range of options that allow you to create your ideal sim racing rig while benefitting from the best that different manufacturers have to offer.

This wheel base isn’t the most powerful out there, but it’s definitely the cheapest. There are more powerful options from MOZA, like the R9, R16 and R21 wheel bases, but in terms of the cheapest, this one takes the top spot – and without sacrificing quality too!

PROS:

• The cheapest option
• Great build quality
• You can tune it from your phone

CONS:

• 5.5 Nm of torque is a little low

2. Fanatec CSL DD

Peak Torque: 5 Nm (8 Nm with boost kit) | Compatibility: PC/Xbox (PlayStation with the GT DD Pro)

The Fanatec CSL DD is our number 1 pick, being the cheapest on the list without sacrificing too much in the way of price. The cheapest iteration of this wheel base is the CSL DD with 5 Nm of peak torque, while the most expensive standalone (no wheel or pedals) option is the GT DD Pro with 8 Nm of torque.

While the 5 Nm of torque may seem low, given that it’s only 3 Nm higher than the usual standard of 2 Nm on a traditional belt or gear driven wheel, it is still a direct drive system, meaning it will feel more responsive and far more powerful. A boost kit can be purchased separately, unlocking the full 8 Nm of power that it can deliver, or you can opt for the GT DD Pro version.

Excellent Functionality

It also doesn’t need any active cooling as the aluminum chassis works as a passive heatsink keeping the motor nice and cool even at high sustained levels of torque. The passive cooling also means that you don’t have to deal with the annoying sound of a fan firing up to cool the unit down under high sustained torque.

The tuning menu has been simplified for ease of use and opens the door to beginner enthusiasts. The advanced tuning menu is still available for those who want to tinker around with it a bit more and who knows what they’re doing.

Settings such as the maximum steering angle, overall force feedback strength, natural damper, friction, inertia, and everything in between can be finely adjusted to your personal preference. Regardless of which DD option you choose, these wheel bases are compatible with the Podium, ClubSport, and CSL wheels, all Fanatec pedals, along with their shifters, handbrakes and RennSport cockpits.

Size And I/O

The DD is quite small, no matter if you choose the CSL DD or GT DD Pro, and you will be able to accommodate this into your setup with relative ease. It’s also a great option if you were looking to make a more minimalistic sim racing setup that you can easily pack away when not in use or for easy storage.

The wheelbase also acts as a hub, allowing you to input 1 set of pedals, 2 shifters, and a handbrake from the Fanatec ecosystem into the unit. This can be especially helpful for those who might not have enough inputs on their PC or console and don’t want to use a traditional USB hub.

Optional Boost Kit

I highly recommend getting the optional boost kit that unlocks the true potential of the unit. It is essentially a larger power supply that allows it to reach a peak torque of 8 Nm, which is a significant and noticeable boost in power. If you purchase the available bundle including the boost kit you can also usually save some money as opposed to buying the CSL DD and boost kit separately.

Without the boost kit, the 5 Nm can leave you wanting more and the high-frequency details can sometimes be lost with the lower power 5 Nm version. I would strongly recommend that if you are going to purchase the CSL DD that you should budget for the 8 Nm boost kit.

CSL DD vs GT DD Pro

As we mentioned, there are various iterations to choose from:

• CSL DD (5 Nm)
• CSL DD (8 Nm)
• Gran Turismo DD Pro (8 Nm)

There are options for both the CSL and Gran Turismo wheel bases that come with wheels, and one of the GT options allows you to buy the 5 Nm wheel base with a wheel (see our list above), even though you can’t seem to purchase the 5 Nm version of the GT DD Pro wheel base on its own (i.e. without the boost kit). This makes choosing between the options a little tricky at first glance.

The CSL DD and the GT DD Pro are both very similar, but the DD Pro is actually just under 2 kg lighter than the CSL DD (about 4.4 lbs). The CSL DD also has a Fanatec Data Port on the back, while this is absent from the DD Pro in all configurations. Other than these two differences, and subtle differences in the way they look, they’re pretty much the same.

GT DD Pro For PS4/PS5

The real key difference is that the Gran Turismo DD Pro is compatible with PC, Xbox and PlayStation, while the CSL DD only works with Xbox and PC. That will be the main differentiator if you’re a console player. The GT DD Pro is perfect for those who frequently hop between platforms or simply want to future-proof their wheel just in case they choose to purchase a PlayStation further down the line.

The Gran Turismo DD Pro is almost double the price of the 5 Nm CSL DD and that price increase is mainly due to the boost kit being included, making 8 Nm of torque possible, alongside the added PlayStation compatibility.

However, if you aren’t interested in using this in tandem with a PlayStation console it may be in your best interest to just get the CSL DD and purchase the boost kit separately. This is still about $100 cheaper than the GT DD Pro wheel base on its own with the same torque rating, making this the ideal option for most people.

PROS:

• One of the cheapest direct drive units available on the market
• Various iterations to choose from
• Noiseless passive cooling

CONS:

• 5 Nm version without 8 Nm boost kit feels underwhelming
• Traditional table clamp may not be ideal for use with 8 Nm boost kit
• Compatible with PC and Xbox but not PlayStation

3. Thrustmaster T818

Peak Torque: 13 Nm | Compatibility: PC

I’ve already discussed the T818 from Thrustmaster above in the bundle with the Ferrari SF1000 wheel, so you shouldn’t be surprised to see the wheel base itself appear as one of the cheapest on the market. It’s a newcomer, only being announced in late 2022. But given Thrustmaster have been on the sim racing scene for so long, many fans couldn’t wait to give their first direct drive base a go.

Odd Shape, Great Performance

I’ll be the first to admit that the hexagonal shape of the T818 is less than conventional, and I’ll leave it up to you to decide if that affects its worthiness as part of your rig. However, the 10 Nm of peak torque on offer is excellent for the price point, and while it may leave more experienced racers wanting more, it’s plenty for beginners.

It offers a responsive feel, and I find it’s on par with the Logitech Pro’s feedback. There’s a lot of detail, and you can tweak the settings to get it in your sweet spot. I will say that mounting the base can be a bit tough depending on your specific setup, and I also feel like the quick release, while better than on Thrustmaster’s other products, is still far from perfect.

Ideal For Thrustmaster Fans

The Thrustmaster ecosystem is a large one, so there are plenty of rims you can pair with this base. This makes it the ideal upgrade path if you already own a Thrustmaster wheel rim.

PROS:

• Excellent direct drive force feedback
• Lots of choice when it comes to compatible Thrustmaster rims
• Very sturdy design

CONS:

• It’s not console compatible
• Mounting can be tough

4. SimXperience AccuForce Pro V2

Peak Torque: 13 Nm | Compatibility: PC

Robust Software

As one of the more expensive options on our list, the AccuForce Pro V2 delivers a more moderate 13 Nm of sustained torque. Out of the box, it provides strong and immersive feedback but it isn’t until you tune the device using the Sim Commander software that its potential truly reveals itself. Within the software, you can finely tune the wheel to your liking.

The software allows you to scan your system for games and then it will automatically gather game profiles ready for you to use. You can adjust these profiles to your preference but these profiles must be applied for the wheel to feel as smooth and responsive as it can be.

While the completely user-definable force feedback system may be more useful to an advanced user, the software’s ability to auto-optimize and pull up profiles for you based on the game you are playing is a very beginner-friendly addition that doesn’t go unnoticed. There is also an array of expansion ports available for additional buttons, pedals, displays, and rotary encoders.

High Quality Build Materials

The build quality is excellent, while the automotive-grade quick release system itself is made from machined aluminum and holds together really well with little to no play. This is a truly impressive direct drive wheel base, and is fairly affordable given the quality.

PROS:

• Robust software included features automated game profiles
• Build materials of high quality
• Powerful low inertia motor capable of 13 Nm sustained torque

CONS:

• Noisy fan can become annoying after a while

5. VRS DirectForce Pro

Peak Torque: 20 Nm | Compatibility: PC

VRS has always focused on both quality and little to no compromises as possible. The VRS DirectForce Pro is no exception, with the exceptional build quality and 20 Nm of torque available. 20 Nm is more than most people would even need to fully immerse themselves and provide the powerful and snappy response that direct drive wheels are known for delivering.

It comes with a VRS DirectForce Pro Controller, which is essentially an all-in-one motor and forces feedback USB controller. The controller is well ventilated and is powered by a 400W power supply. The power supply itself is huge and will take up a good chunk of space on your desk.

The electric motor has sensors built in that detect whether temperatures are at unsafe levels, where upon reaching these thermals, it will turn off the device, preventing potential fire hazards. While it’s unlikely that the motor will ever reach such temperatures, it’s a great feature to have nonetheless.

The Tuning Software

The DirectForce Pro software allows you to properly center the wheel and configure various settings such as the smoothness and the max force feedback. These, among other settings, can be finely adjusted using the software, meaning you can adjust this until it is perfect for you.

Separate profiles can be made for different games meaning dialing in someone else’s settings or switching between profiles when switching to a different sim racer is quick and easy.

Smooth And Refined

The first thing you notice while using the DirectForce Pro is how smooth the rotation is. Some traditional belt or gear-driven systems can feel clunky as if the wheel is rotating in notches. High-frequency details such as differences in terrain or driving over rumble strips are excellently highlighted, even when set to a more moderate 12 Nm of torque.

Its extremely powerful motor and affordable price make it a very enticing option for those looking to seriously up their game.

PROS:

• Very high peak torque of 20 Nm
• Versatile software
• Exceptional build quality

CONS:

• Many users will find 20 Nm uncomfortable and will lower the peak torque
• The controller, power supply, and device itself can take up a lot of space
• Not as affordable as other competitive options

6. Simucube 2 Sport

Peak Torque: 17 Nm | Compatibility: PC

We’ve already discussed this wheel base when we went through the Tahko bundle, but the Simucube 2 Sport is probably the cheapest high-end sim racing wheel base around that offers the absolute best performance. With 17 Nm of peak torque, it packs a big punch, but it’s also just so well designed that it’s hard to find something that competes with it.

One Of The Best Around

Simucube take pride in their ability to produce top-quality product after top-quality product. The Sport wheel base may be their cheapest offering, but it really is incredible how much build quality and functionality they packed into this relatively lightweight, relatively cheap (all things considered) sim racing wheel base.

The CNC machined metal construction makes this look like a slick piece of kit, and it feels about as robust as a wheel base can feel. This construction quality extends to the quick release, making it beyond easy to take your wheel rim on and off. Plus, it’ll work wirelessly with your compatible rim as well for a no-fuss set-up procedure.

Superior Force Feedback

The 17 Nm of peak torque and 4.8 Nm/ms slew rate are definitely impressive, but it’s the quality of that force feedback that is truly excellent. It’s smooth but intense in all the right ways, allowing you to feel every bump in the road in a way that cheaper wheel bases just simply cannot manage.

This wheel base is one of the best on the market, perhaps only bettered by Simucube’s own Pro and Ultimate wheel bases. It provides a powerful, low latency, smooth force feedback experience that really does make it worth the higher price point if you can afford it.

PROS:

• Incredible force feedback
• Works with Simucube’s brilliant True Drive software
• Superior build quality

CONS:

• A bit expensive
• Not console compatible

7. Fanatec Podium DD1

Peak Torque: 20 Nm (DD1) or 25 Nm (DD2) | Compatibility: PC/Xbox

The Fanatec Podium DD1 wheel base is truly a powerhouse, pushing a staggering 20 Nm of peak torque if you opt for the cheaper DD1, or 25 Nm with the DD2, far more than you will probably ever need. High-frequency details are at the forefront with zero compromises. The high torque also means having much heavier wheels attached won’t affect the motor acceleration or speed.

The build quality is fantastic. The DD1 features an all-aluminum housing with an automotive-grade quick release system, while the DD2 comes with a carbon fiber finish. The new Podium software allows you to fine-tune your wheel and how the motor behaves. It can also display useful telemetry data like your brake temperatures and lap times.

The wheelbase has an integrated OLED display that shows you real-time data such as the power output and force feedback clipping. If you opt for the more powerful (but more expensive) DD2, you’ll also get an emergency stop button to use if the 25 Nm of peak torque gets a little too much.

Size & Setup

The Fanatec Podium DD1 and DD2 are both the most expensive, most powerful, and the largest units on our list. It may be more difficult for some to accommodate one of these into their setup due to their sheer size, but mounting one is relatively pain-free and the instruction manual is straightforward and easy to follow. If you can afford one of the Fanatec Podium bases it is absolutely worth it.

The powerful motor, excellent build quality, and the integrated OLED display that can display telemetry data make the Podium DD series of the most enticing options on the list given the feature set. However, it is also the most expensive and is quite an investment.

PROS:

• Integrated OLED display that offers telemetry data in real-time
• Very powerful 20 Nm motor
• Very high-quality build materials

CONS:

• Far more expensive than other competitive options
• Setup can be awkward due to its sheer size
• Not compatible with PlayStation

Summary Of The Cheapest Direct Drive Wheel Bases

Wheel Base	Pros	Cons
MOZA R5	The absolute cheapest choice Great build quality	Won’t work on console Low peak torque
Fanatec CSL DD	Cheapest option for Xbox players (PS players need the GT DD Pro) Small and lightweight	Without the boost kit it’s quite weak Need the more expensive version if you’re on PS
Thrustmaster T818	Good choice for beginners Force feedback feels smooth but detailed	Mounting can be difficult Not console compatible
SimXperience AccuForce Pro V2	Great software Ideal amount of peak torque	Fan can become a little noisy Won’t work on console
VRS DirectForce Pro	Very high peak torque Software is versatile and user friendly	Quite a big piece of kit Not console compatible
Simucube 2 Sport	Excellent force feedback Brilliant Simucube True Drive software	A bit on the expensive side Not console compatible
Fanatec Podium DD1	Huge amount of Xbox-compatible torque Solid build quality	Very heavy piece of hardware Also very expensive

What Is A Direct Drive Sim Racing Wheel?

A direct drive sim racing wheel is a wheel that is mounted directly onto an electric motor. With the wheel mounted in this way, the force feedback you receive feels more raw and realistic than other types of mechanisms. A traditional wheel delivers force feedback through a gear or belt system.

This traditional force feedback delivery system is usually enough for most sim racing enthusiasts, but a direct drive sim racing wheel is the next level in realistic sim racing. Belt and gear-driven force feedback delivery systems simply cannot offer the same forces as a direct drive delivery system.

A direct drive sim racing wheel’s mechanism also has fewer parts, which means fewer things can go wrong and are usually of much higher quality. The parts themselves are often sturdier and are made of much higher quality materials. Because of this, prices can often range in the thousands of dollars.

Is There A Competitive Advantage?

Direct drive sim racing wheels are also far better at conveying the roads and terrain on which you are driving. Terrain such as gravel and dirt roads or even small rocks and pebbles on the track are far easier for the motor to simulate as precise movements require little effort from the electric motor to produce when the wheel is mounted directly onto it.

This precision can also be attributed to the fact that higher frequency details are not being absorbed by any belts or gears. All of the motor’s power is going directly to the wheel.

This also offers a competitive advantage as you can feel when the grip of your tires is giving out while cornering, you can feel the curb, you can feel the difference in terrain when you go slightly off track, and you can get control of your vehicle far easier as a result. Using a direct drive sim racing wheel is a better performing, precise, and realistic way to experience sim racing.

How To Choose A Direct Drive Sim Racing Wheel

Choosing a direct drive wheel involves many different factors, but the most important when looking for a budget option is whether you opt for a standalone wheel base or a bundle with a wheel rim/pedals. Our lists above contain both of these options, starting with the cheaper bundle option. This is by far the cheapest way to get into the world of direct drive sim racing.

There aren’t many direct drive bundles out there, and this is largely because direct drive wheel bases are designed to be compatible with many different wheel rims within a given ecosystem. This allows you to create your own ideal setup, rather than buying a wheel base with a built-in rim for example. The bases are also just already very expensive. However, there are some great sim racing bundles out there.

Bundles Are Usually Cheaper

If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest option, it’s best to go for a bundle in most cases. However, this isn’t always the case if you want to go with a specific manufacturer, or if you have very specific requirements from your direct drive wheel base. You may also already have a direct drive compatible wheel rim, and so you might only need the base.

Regardless of whether you want a bundle or a standalone direct drive wheel base, we have lists of the cheapest options for both above. We’ll go through the wheel bundles first as they’re cheaper, but they all feature the wheel bases we’ll discuss in the section after that. But first, let’s find out if a direct drive wheel is even worth it for you.

Is A Direct Drive Wheel Worth It?

A direct drive wheel is worth it if you’re someone who prefers the enhanced immersion into your racing sims and you can afford it. It can help to simulate even the minute details of pebbles on the road, as well as the steering forces you would feel driving the real car.

If you can afford it, it’s absolutely worth it! If you are seeking realism then it really is next level with regard to immersion. As I previously mentioned, a direct drive wheel can simulate every little bump or even pebbles on the track. It allows you to feel a difference in terrain with a level of precision that traditional belt or gear force feedback delivery systems simply cannot match.

There is also a competitive advantage to using direct drive. While cornering the feedback, your wheel does a great job letting you know when you’re about to slide, as you can feel the grip of the tires giving out. Direct drive wheels are also far easier to maintain, as there are fewer parts needing repairs or replacing.

Traditional Wheel vs Direct Drive Wheel

If we think of the belts or gears in a traditional sim racing wheel as a buffer to the input given to the machine, a direct drive wheel cuts out the middleman and allows the motor to directly and immediately deliver force feedback. This can provide a more responsive experience, reducing input latency by a significant margin and heightening our immersion while offering a competitive advantage.

Cost

While the price of a direct drive wheel often ranges in the thousands, there are still many affordable options out there on the market.

Most sim racing enthusiasts will be perfectly happy with a consumer-grade sim racing wheel that uses a traditional belt or gear force feedback delivery system, but for those looking for the most immersive sim racing experience, a direct drive wheel can be a very enticing option regardless of the price.

Competitive Advantage

While someone who uses a traditional consumer-grade sim racing wheel would technically be at a competitive disadvantage compared to a direct drive wheel user, one could argue that the advantages are slight.

A skilled racer could absolutely outmaneuver and outplay a direct drive wheel user as long as they know their machine, are used to the slight delay in force feedback and have tuned the wheel to their optimal configuration.

But regardless, the lower input latency from having the wheel directly affected by the motor, acute awareness of the terrain, and information you can get from the precise force feedback certainly does provide a competitive advantage.

What To Consider

While the above stand true for direct drive wheel bases, there are lots of different options out there. One of the main differentiating factors is the peak torque offered by the wheel base.

This is an indication of the ‘power’ of the force feedback, measured in Nm, and while a gear or belt driven sim racing wheel might offer up to 2 or 3 Nm of peak torque, some direct drive wheels are capable of 20+ Nm. This means they offer much stronger – and much more realistic – force feedback than a gear or belt driven wheel.

As an absolute beginner, anything more than 5 Nm or so is usually enough to provide a substantial upgrade over belt driven wheels and provide a good introduction into the world of direct drive. However, if you’re looking for a very realistic and powerful sim racing experience, those with 10+ Nm might be more what you need.

KEY POINTS

• Direct drive offers the best force feedback in sim racing

• The cheapest way to get into direct drive is often through a bundle

• It’s definitely worth it if you want the most immersion possible

Final Thoughts

Getting a direct drive wheel doesn’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of affordable options out there on the market. I would recommend the R5 from MOZA, or the R5 bundle if you need a wheel rim to go with the base. If you can afford it, the Fanatec Podium DD1 and the Simucube 2 Sport offer the best feature set under the $1,500 mark.