We’re back with a new review of Thrustmaster’s new flagship product, the T818 , with its new Direct Drive system and 10 Newton/meter for the most demanding drivers who want to feel all kinds of forces in their hands. Could it be a good option in the Direct Drive market? It’s time to put it to the test and see how it performs on virtual circuits! Let’s get to it!
Before we get started…
In this article, we’ll delve into everything we know about this new steering wheel base, including its price, specs, accessories, and whether it’s worth investing in.
The first thing most SimRacers are interested in is its power, and the Thrustmaster T818 base offers 10 Nm sustained, which is quite remarkable. While most users will be satisfied with this power, if you’re a fitness freak who wants to have a second gym in your house, 10Nm may seem insufficient, but believe us when we say, for most earthly virtual racers it’s more than enough.
On the other hand, Thrustmaster promises smooth and powerful force feedback without filters. This means that the base replicates the effects of the simulator exactly as the simulator conveys them, allowing us to experience the precise sensations of the cars and track surfaces.
In addition, the manufacturer claims that the effects are created by the developers of each game, so they are game-specific. However, we will have to try it out for ourselves to see if the claims are true. Now let’s get started!
Where can we buy it?
For the moment and following the trends imposed by Fanatec and Logitech, the T818 can only be purchased through the Thrustmaster website, with prices starting at 649.99 euros. In turn, you can opt to add accessories such as T818 Metal Plate Color, the Desk Mounting Kit or the Cockpit Mounting Kit for an additional cost. It’s worth noting that Thrustmaster does not include any mounting hardware with the product, with the exception of a quick release (QR) adapter.
Update: Now we can purchase T818 Ferrari Direct Drive SF1000 on Amazon.
Content
The Thrustmaster T818 Wheel Base comes with the following components: the T818 Base, power supply, USB-C cable and a QR adapter, which allows simRacers to use their Thrustmaster wheel with the new Direct Drive base. However, as mentioned, Thrustmaster doesn’t include any additional mounting hardware, which can be a drawback if you don’t have all the tools available.
First impressions
Now, let’s get to the main question: how does the T818 feel ? As soon as we pick it up, we can notice that the base is robust and gives some respect, it is not a toy. If you are an experienced user of this type of base you will know what I mean, however, if this is your first DD base, avoid resting the base on fragile places such as tables with very thin glass as it has a respectable weight of 5 kilos.
It is important to note that this is a lower weight than bases of similar characteristics. It seems a trivial detail, but this reduces the moment of inertia, which is essential to achieve a good angular acceleration later.
In case you still don’t know, you will need a good aluminum cockpit to enjoy it to the fullest and not become a problem in the short and long term. Thrustmaster offers an additional mounting kit that can help solve the anchoring problems, and it is important to note that mounting accessories can make a big difference in the stability of the final configuration. Anyway, note that there is the possibility of mounting it to tables with an additional kit.
We have been able to enjoy it with the following materials:
- Cockpit Mounting Kit: support to anchor it to the cockpit in a safe way.
- TM Open Wheel Add-On: removable steering wheel rim to use it through the QR on the base.
Mounting
Once you have the right mounting materials, installation is quick and easy. You just need to connect the USB cable to the PC and connect the power supply. We won’t go into too much detail either because there are hundreds of videos through different media channels plus a pretty clear instruction manual inside.
Let’s talk about its Quick Release
One of the most significant new features of the T818 is its new Quick Release design. It took Thrustmaster over two years to release their DD, which suggests that they were innovating. If you think this and other QR designs are the same, let me tell you that you are wrong. This one comes with parts made of a new plastic and aluminum alloy material whose primary mission is to lighten the weight. In the past, we have had bad experiences with plastic parts in Direct Drives so it better be stronger.
Thrustmaster has chosen a good design for its Quick Release system. It is easy, fast and convenient to change the rim using a secure fit. On paper, we can be sure that there will be no gap or play, although this depends on the rim you are using as the play appears depending on the material of the back of the rim. Our rim in this case is a TM Open Wheel, as we said before.
Fairy lights
The T818 comes with an RGB light ring on the front that allows you to create any lighting mood you want. Personally, when I saw it, I thought it was a gimmick. I want to simulate that I’m in a car, not a Star Wars spaceship fighting the Empire for control of the galaxy.
But after a while, it’s an added bonus, and Thrustmaster explains that this RGB light ring will interact directly with the game, offering useful information. For example, it can serve as an LED rev indicator, and when there is a yellow flag on the track, the lights will turn yellow. In this way, Thrustmaster adds a useful feature that goes beyond aesthetics. With the rim, the light ring seems to be somewhat hidden, so it doesn’t draw as much attention to itself.
Software
It has never been the strongest point of the French brand and is where the least worked aspect of this base is. The program used to manage the forces and settings has not been renewed in over a decade and is starting to need a facelift. To make things worse, the ability to update the firmware is done through a different executable, which is annoying and strange in this day and age. Both are in need of an update to complement the launch of this type of product which is an important milestone in their catalog.
Compatibility
When it comes to racing simulation, having compatible hardware is key to get an immersive and enjoyable experience. In this sense, the Thrustmaster T818 Direct Drive Wheelbase is an excellent choice, as it offers versatile compatibility with various peripherals from the brand’s ecosystem and allows you to make the leap into the Direct Drive universe without having to make an extraordinary investment.
In addition, it features an RJ45 port that, according to the manufacturer, will open new doors to an ecosystem in the future. This promising feature demonstrates Thrustmaster’s commitment to improving its products and offering more options in the near future.
However, it is important to note that the T818 Direct Drive Wheelbase is designed for PC use only, so it does not offer the console compatibility we are used to with Thrustmaster. This limitation may be a disadvantage for some users who prefer console gaming or who have both a PC and a console and want to use the same racing simulation hardware for both platforms.
Feelings
Let’s face it, we have been looking for possible flaws or bugs to see if we managed to reproduce things we had seen on the internet when the first shipments of this base were produced. At least as of today and unless we have to rectify it later in case we find it, the base has behaved correctly and has worked as expected in Direct Drive bases of similar range.
What we expect in any Direct Drive is an immediate response to the effects and imperfections of the road showing us through the FFB the different surfaces that we touch with our tires and the lateral forces, grip or roughness that happen during a race. This base more than meets these requirements once you have properly configured the options that the panel has and the options that our simulator has. In this case we have chosen to leave the Damper filter at 0%, the force at 100% and the mode in Performance or Extreme.
There are four filters in the Thrustmaster panel that are responsible for filtering the signal. Until we release the base strength above 70% the main two are not available. The Performance and Extreme modes are the least transformed and offer the best FFB.
As a general rule in simulators the use of internal filters is also reduced to residual or 0 values, because as in many Direct Drives, the pure (and sometimes abrupt) FFB is obtained in this way. The 10 Nm feels powerful enough to meet all the expectations of the average simracer, and the base is completely silent, with good internal manufacturing (as you can see in the Simracing Garage video) and is the most robust product in the company’s catalog.
Many details we liked regarding what we have seen in other products in the price range. There are no established hardware rotation limits or fixed bumps. That is, if you turn it off you have infinite rotation, which denotes a good internal construction. Also note that the 10Nm appears (looking at the output graphs) to never go to the limit and have a margin in the case for some strange reason we need even more force. This is something that always feels at the limit using other bases of lower torque.
Final Thoughts
Now, moving on to my personal opinion about the Thrustmaster T818, I must say that I find it a very competitive base with very interesting features. The 10 Nm sustained power is more than enough for most users, and the smooth and powerful FFB with barely any filters promises a very realistic driving experience.
- The new Quick Release model also strikes me as a great innovation, and the fact that you can use older Thrustmaster rims with this new design is a big plus for those who already have a collection of Thrustmaster steering wheels.
- As for the RGB light ring, while it seemed like a superficial addition at first, I have to admit that the ability for it to interact with the game is very interesting and adds additional functionality to the base that could be expanded in different ways.
- However, the fact that it is only PC compatible at the moment is a bit disappointing, and hopefully, other console compatible versions will be released in the future.
- Finally, the price of €650 is in the average of the competition, with the advantage (in case we have previous Thrustmaster hardware) that it only includes the base and Quick Release, and that the steering wheel and pedals are sold separately. Looking at the big picture of the market and what it offers at the price it does, it seems to me a very good purchase option, being unquestionably the best if you already rely on Thrustmaster hardware.
In conclusion, the Thrustmaster T818 is a good base that offers great performance and a very realistic driving experience. This base does the important job of putting Thrustmaster back in the market and staying on the lead train along with the rest of the competitors. If you are a simracing enthusiast and are willing to invest in a Direct Drive Steering Wheel Base, the T818 might be the best choice if you already own Thrustmaster hardware. If that’s not the case, we’re still talking about one of the best options, but competition is hard in these ranges and you’ll have to weigh whether it offers just what you’re looking for.
The Ferrari variant of the T818 with the SF1000 included can be purchased for €1099 on Amazon.
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