Features & Specifications
The Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel has a huge feature list. The most noticeable feature is the design that looks like it was ripped from a real Porsche. The wheel is licensed by Porsche and carries the Porsche logo on the center. Fanatec says that the wheel is compatible with all PC and PS3 games supporting force feedback racing wheels.

The Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel uses wireless technology to connect to your PC and the PS3. A wire is required between the wheel and the pedals and the wheel and the shifter. The wheel comes with tow shifters, one is a sequential shifter and the other is a 6+1 H-pattern shifter. The pedals feature a clutch, brake and gas pedal. The wheel diameter is 300 mm. Three motors are used in the wheel with one for the force feedback effects and two others for vibration.

The wireless USB adapter for the wheel looks like the key from a Porsche and early editions of the wheel also include a 1GB Porsche USB drive that has the PC drivers for the wheel installed. Sensitivity for the wheel is adjustable independently of the game.

Setup
Setting the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel up is easy. The shifter can connect to either side of the wheel and slides onto two metal bars. The H-pattern shifter isn’t as slick feeling as the shifter on the Logitech G25, but the Fanatec shifter is usable and fun to play with. Paddle shifters are mounted behind the racing wheel as well.

The pedals get power from four AA batteries and connect to the racing wheel via what looks like an old school S-video cable. The racing wheel requires an AC connection due to the motors inside for force feedback.

One of the few bad points of the Logitech G25 is the USB cable required to connect the wheel to the PC or PS3. The Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel doesn’t have this issue thanks to the wireless USB receiver.

In Use
The Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel can be connected to a desk for PC use with a pair of clamps. A pair of wings are also included for use in the lap while playing PS3 or when a desk isn’t available.

I used the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel extensively on my PS3 with Need for Speed: ProStreet. I play this game frequently with my Logitech G25 so I am very intimate with the force feedback effects the game provides.

The laptop wings may work well for some gamers, but for me they didn’t offer enough stability. I found that during fast sweepers and especially during drifting events where lots of steering inputs are required the lap wings simply didn’t keep the wheel in place making the vehicle hard to control on screen. You can mount the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel to a racing seat and Fanatec supplies a drilling template. Mounting the wheel would certainly fix the issue of the wheel moving. However, I would like to see the lap wings wrap around the legs more so you can grip the wheel better during spirited driving.

Racing the same track with the same car and changing between the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel and the G25 with each run gave a great indication of how well the force feedback each wheel offers compares. The Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel has good force feedback effects, but the effects aren’t quite as realistic as the G25. That’s not to say the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel doesn’t work well, it does. You can also adjust the strength of the motor to your liking as well.

The pedals are nice feeling and arranged well. They were a bit too close together for me to use with my size 10 shoes on. The clutch pedal offers good fell that decreases as the travel changes. The brake is soft, but progressive so you can get just right braking during a race.

My favorite feature of the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel is the illuminated controls. When the wheel is connected to the PS3 the PS# control labels can be seen on the buttons. This is a fantastic feature. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to sit and hit the unlabeled buttons on the G25 trying to find the right control to start a race or make a setting change because the G25 has no labels.

After the dust settled and the testing was done the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel is a great racing wheel easily making the top 2 list along with the Logitech G25. The wireless connectivity if also a very nice feature that sets the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel apart from the G25. Gamers looking for a nice wheel that don’t mind the $350 asking price will love the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel.