The Act Labs wheels have a loyal following among sim racers. The thick wheel is very comfortable to hold but I just didn't care for the overall feel as well as the other wheels that I tested.
The Looks
Like the non-Force version, the extra thick brown leather-like steering wheel with good looking pedals made this unit one of the most attractive in the review.
Convenience
Again, getting this wheel clamped to my thicker-than-average desk was a struggle. The two clamps just don't open wide enough to fit my desk. With a little creativity I got it in place for some serious racing but be forewarned, if your desk is extra thick you may have trouble with this wheel.
Installation was a snap with the included software. Plug everything in, plug in the engine (more on this in a minute) run the installation routine and away we go.
The Feel
The extra thick leather-like wheel was far and away the most comfortable wheel to hold. The pedals were also at a nice angle.
But this wheel just didn't feel right to me. The force feedback effects just didn't enhance my racing experience and turning this wheel quickly makes a very distracting grinding noise that had me worried about breaking it.
Update: Like the pedals on the RS, after a few hours of use the belts that cause this "grinding" loosen up and the noise stops. This is considered basic "breaking in" by ACT Labs and is not a concern.
The variable spring tension makes up for one of the weaknesses in the non-force version of this wheel but I just couldn't enjoy myself while racing with his wheel.
Other Features
Act-Labs racing products have one very unique feature. They can be used with nearly any gaming product. Want to race on your PC? Plug in the PC interface cartridge and away you go. Have a PlayStation or Nintendo N64? Just swap the interface cartridge (sold separately) and you can use the same steering wheel and pedal unit with multiple gaming systems!
