Fanatec has announced the Fanatec Clubsport Wheel Base V2, the successor to the company’s flagship wheel!
After a week of buildup and wild speculation, the answers to our questions are in! Clubsport Wheel Base V2 will be compatible with the full range of Clubsport products, so you can hold onto all your wheel rims and peripherals. In addition to the added compatibility, some hardware improvements have been introduced. The quick release system has been made a little beefier, to ensure a solid connection and to avoid slop in the rims. The optical sensor, which led to some centering issues in the V1, has been replaced with hall sensors, which effectively DOUBLES the resolution of the wheel.
The FFB motors were arguably one of the weaker aspects of the original Clubsport Wheel, so they have been replaced with brushless motors. The new motors generate around 75% more torque than the V1, bringing the total up to 7 NM (to compare, the Bodnar Simsteering wheel generates around 15 NM). The belt drive system has also been overhauled, with Fanatec claiming that cogging is essentially nonexistant.
Many people were asking for next gen support for Fanatec wheels, and they have been listening. They have commented about how they have to jump through some hoops to get support working for the PS4/Xbox One, and it is just a matter of time. Out of the box, however, the CSW V2 will NOT support the next gen consoles. A later rim release will provide next gen support. As of right now, Fanatec has signed an agreement with one of the console manufacturers, but that will be announced at a later date.
The latest “Invitation Only” preview from yesterday raised a few eyebrows, and now we’ve received clarification about what that entails. Fanatec is anticipating a large influx of popularity for the CSW V2, so they are going to restrict who can order the first run:
- Purchasers of the Clubsport Wheel V1 or CSR Elite will gain first priority. If they order a CSW V2, they will receive a second invite code, which they can give to a friend.
- Owners of other Fanatec Clubsport products, including the Clubsport Pedals or Clubsport Shifter, will receive the second priority run of invite codes.
- All other Fanatec customers will receive the third run of codes.
- Anybody who has pre-ordered the CSW V1 will automatically have the order upgraded to the V2 for free.
Fanatec will send an email to all customers eligible for invite codes over the next few months. Once you enter the code in the Fanatec website, you can pre-order or purchase the CSW V2. After you purchase the wheel, you’ll receive the second code, to give to a friend or to buy a second base. Limit two codes per customer.
Codes will also be given away via Fanatec’s Facebook page. Thomas has requested that you do not send messages to the sales team asking for invites, because they are not authorized to do so.
Now, the biggie, the price! Anyone who pre-orders the wheel will get the unit for a reduced price or $499.95 USD. Once the wheel is released, the price will increase to $599.95 USD. For more information, including pricing for your region, you can check out Fanatec’s official announcement on their blog.
Fanatec started production on the new units this week, and pre-orders will open as soon as the units start shipping. The first batch should reach users around the end of September, or early October.
Are you going to order the Fanatec Clubsport Wheel V2? Let us know in the comments!
Hey Darin i just read you will no longer be showing Fanatec products or reviewing them on the channel? That’s pretty pathetic if true. Im sure most of us would rather see Fanatec stuff over the Mad Catz wheels you show!!!!!!!!!!
The reason why Fanatec products are unlikely to be reviewed by Inside SimRacing is that Fanatec will not supply their products to be reviewed despite requests from Darrin.
Fanatec blame Inside SimRacing. “Darin Gangi of Inside Simracing wrote us an email that he will no longer show our products on his channel so I guess you need to watch a different channel for a review. We assume that he gets trouble with his sponsors.” Any comment Darin?
Typical of Fanatec / Thomas to slander me and my company to try and make his look good.
What the hell happened? If I’m not mistaken I thought you (Darin) were going to work with/for Fanatec at one point a few years back?
I worked for them for about 4 months at the end of 2011 and left due to not agreeing with the way they conducted business.
It’s really up to any and every manufacturer to send over a product to review. These companies are aware of how this works, especially with us in the sim community. We wait for reviews, hands down. This stuff is quite expensive and we only buy them once every few years. Its Ridiculous for Darin to even have to ask at ALL to get a product in his hands to show the masses especially when Fanatec is so proud of it, they tease you for 7 days with it, and then hit you with a private preorder. I’m no Fanatec hater as I own all their stuff, but from a marketing and sales perspective its totally bad biz to not send one to the biggest review site in the land. 2cents.
I just purchased a new CSW V1,
last month and have not even opened it yet, as we have been vacationing. So I
am naturally disappointed I could not have ordered there latest product.
However in fairness if I would have just purchased a new car for thousands and
then discovered the new model just released a few months later seems to be
greater and better. I know that the manufacture would not offer a trade up for
a new one, even if I was willing to pay the difference. I am sure with all the
reviews that have been on the CSW V1 I will be very happy.
It is no secret that there is bad blood
between ISRTV and Darin Gangi. I think Darin needs to fight this business
battle privately with Fanatec. If Fanatec needs ISRTV to help promote their
product I am sure they will. If it sounds like I am defending Fanatec I am not
that they don’t need my help. You have to show all the products as fairly as
you can. If Fanatec won’t give you a product to review, just mention that.
That’s it let us decide if Fanatec is afraid to let you review their product. Your
audience is smarter than you think.
What I miss more is the old ISRTV. I really
liked your reviews of products with Shaun Cole, and when you interviewed
manufactures at the trade shows. The last few months your site has lost some of
its momentum it seems like to me. It just doesn’t have that personal touch any
more. Any way I hope it comes back as I enjoyed
it very much and used your site almost exclusively for buying decisions in the
past.
I want all my comments to be positive non-controversial
as the winner here should be the Sim racing industry. I just love this sport.
RJ
I own SimXperience and I’m a sponsor of ISR. I would love to see Darin do an objective review of the CSW V2.
That is the case.. After getting the run around from them after asking multiple times for a hub and handbrake to review, I sent them a letter stating I wouldn’t be reviewing their products any longer since they seem to prefer to send them to other outlets and ignore my requests. It seems they want to send review units to outlets that conform to their review guidelines and don’t point out both the Pros and Cons. They also seem to think I did this because “my sponsors don’t allow it”. That’s not the case and they have my address if they want to send me review units at the same time the other outlets receive them so that I have an opportunity to post my review in conjunction with my competition.
After getting the run around from them after asking multiple times for a hub and handbrake to review, I sent them a letter stating I wouldn’t be reviewing their products any longer since they seem to prefer to send them to other outlets and ignore my requests. It seems they want to send review units to outlets that conform to their review guidelines and don’t point out both the Pros and Cons. They also seem to think I did this because “my sponsors don’t allow it”. That’s not the case and they have my address if they want to send me review units at the same time the other outlets receive them so that I have an opportunity to post my review in conjunction with my competition.
Hey. Check again. There’s only couple month old latest Fanatec product review.
I don’t know about ISRTV not reviewing Fanatec products??? This site is all about simracing therefore I don’t get why they would be making a disission as a bussiness, not to review one of the most popular products on the market.
I know I’m going to give this wheel base a try and sell my 1 year old V1. If I don’t like it then I’m going to opt to try the accuforce whenever that come out. After buying a few RIMS and 2 DSD button boxes made for the wheel base I need to give this product a try. It seems to me they addressed all the issues from the previous version.
Hopefully it will be rock solid and last 5+ years… If that is the case this product is a Grand Slam! When you think about it they have all these nice RIM options and it will work with the two best consoles.
Seems to me they have a very solid bussiness plan. Oh and the price for a Servo motor is real good.
Just hope the motor is as good as the price. Time will tell.
Cheers
See my response below as to why I sent them an email stating I wouldn’t be reviewing their products. Bottom line is that I’m not going to beg and play second fiddle to second rate / copy cat review outlets. If they want to send me review units at the same time they send them to my competition, I will produced a fair and unbiased look at their products. Ball is in their court.
Thanks for setting the record
straight. I fell I need to add that I purchased my Fanatec gear after your
reviews of the clubsport lineup. I had all the info that I needed both pro and
cons compared to their competition and I chose their product and will be
getting a V2 if I get that special invite. On that note I must say that I find
it a little weird as a marketing strategy but I can see a few reasons why they
would want their best clients getting this product first.
What I don’t understand is why they would not send you their products to review since in my mind your
reviews where absolutely fair. I’m thinking they not like the comments concerning
their past product bad support and failures. Well it is fair for ISR to
mention that.
I bought my Fanatec gear 14 months ago and I can say that I have had real good experience dealing with
them for any issues or questions that I have had. I’m not at all worried about
getting bad support or RMA nightmares from Fanatec.
The only thing I not like was how they pushed their latest firmware on the V1 Club
Sport wheel base. To me it made my wheel fell like c*@p and I can’t seem to
revert back to my previous firmware as all the force settings are the
same. Some people do like what they did with the firmware but I’m not one of
them.
I think Fanatec is thinking too highly of themselves! A new base, without any reviews, invite only??? They wish!
Looks like your prophecy was all wrong
Seems clear we won’t be seeing more Fanatec reviews on ISRTV as there’s no more trust between the parties. I get both sides, Darin as never been shy about his opinions regarding Fanatec produtcs/business practices and add in the fact that ISRTV is sponsored by the competition… well Fanatec has the right to feel ISRTV isn’t a good fit for them as Darin as the right (and obrigation) to voice his opinions how he sees it.
As for the CSW V2, seems like a good product, fits nicely between more consumer oriented wheels and the more high-end über expensive direct drive wheels, 600€+250€ (at least) for the rim is still pretty expensive. I wouldn’t pre-order without good solid reviews. The invite only thing it’s a marketing tactic clearly, making you feel special, part of the chosen few and at a discount makes you more akin to release you hard earned money promptly.
My sponsorship has nothing to do with it. My current sponsors have never pressured me to bash his products. He came out today and whined to an associate of ISR about the cons I mentioned in the CSS review and said it wasn’t fair. I said I loved the shifter and gave it a 4 of 5 and still have the same sponsors I did then. I know Thomas and had problems with him when he was a sponsor where he didn’t like me mentioning the issues and always debated them with me.
My stance now is that I refuse to take a back seat to the other outlets in our community when Fanatec used to send us items to review pre-release. I can safely say and bet every penny I have in the bank that I have contributed to thousands of sales of his product only to be shunned and ignored when requesting products to review.
My final say on this is.. Thomas just doesn’t want my completely unbiased opinion to be made public..
Well I bought my Fanatec GT2 off the back of your review, I regard insidesimracing as the best out there when it comes to anything to do with sim racing equipment reviews and your opinions on the sims them selves. Its Fanatecs loss, its a shame they seem so up there own ass lately
We don’t doubt the integrity of ISR reviews, I’ve seen you often pointing out cons in the most gentle and constructive way possible, it’s a shame Thomas/Fanatec’s position, like Hennessey said, it’s mostly their loss. ISR has been instrumental in the amazing evolution of simracing gear over of the past few years and we have all benefited from it (Fanatec included), thank you all for it.
I’m amazed how these guys conduct their business, and avoid bankruptcy. An army of unsatisfied customers, product failures and they still don’t get it. That price is just pure arrogance. I’ll stick to my good old plastic and reliable Logitech and Thrustmaster.
Darin- I must say that I have been following your site for years. Your reviews have made so many of the decisions i’ve made about my sim purchases. I understand your frustration. You want things to be fair. I read their short message on Facebook and to honest with you I don’t feel like they where unprofessional about it. They are the ones sending out products that cost them money to produce. I agree that they have probably sold countless wheels because of you and your site ( i have a fanatic setup biased on your review). But I wish you would take the high road on this one. They send you their products as an investment. If they no longer feel like that investment is worth it then I would not be offended. It is business right? I get the feeling that you have a history with this guy and there might be more to this on both sides. I hope that you can work this out. You’re an awesome advocate for us simracers. Please think of us in your actions. I would rather wait for your review then look to another site.
Aristotle said “The mark of an educated mind is the ability to entertain an idea without accepting it.” Fanatec has a prospective as well and I hope you can make an effort to find it out. For your followers and fellow simracers. Either way, you have my support.
Ok this might sound pretty basic but i got a question.
If i have a CSR elite , Will the Rims and the pedals i have work on the v2 ( or v1 )
no. CSW rims and CSR-Elite rims are not interchangeable. The electronics within the rims are completely different.