Logitech G27 Racing Wheel $192 @ newegg

[BadMouth]

If it's been on anyone's radar......

Lowest price that I remember seing it for before this was $204.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104330&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL082812&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL082812-_-EMC-082812-Index-_-PCGameControllers-_-26104330-L014D
Use Promo code: EMCNBHB62

[Wade007]

Is this the best MAME cabinet racing wheel? Some games need a 360 degree wheel, other 270 degrees right?
What's the best wheel to get?

I don't have one, but plan to get one eventually. I don't know alot about the best wheel to get for a MAME cabinet.

I'm working on a stand-up cabinet and thought about placing a clamp down wheel on the front of my X-Arcade Dual Tankstick that could be taken off and then placed back on as needed.

What's your recommendation?

[TGov]

If you are just using a steering wheel for MAME games, then you are better off finding a used Logitech DFP or DFGT wheel.  They can be found for $50-75 if you look around and for MAME games will give you just as much enjoyment as a G27.  Now, if you also plan on using the wheel with games like Live for Speed, iRacing or even Dirt, then the G27 will be a nice wheel to have. But for arcade racers, I wouldn't spend the extra money.   

[teeuwen]

If you are just using a steering wheel for MAME games, then you are better off finding a used Logitech DFP or DFGT wheel.  They can be found for $50-75 if you look around and for MAME games will give you just as much enjoyment as a G27.  Now, if you also plan on using the wheel with games like Live for Speed, iRacing or even Dirt, then the G27 will be a nice wheel to have. But for arcade racers, I wouldn't spend the extra money.

Some people prefer the driving force GT to the G27 and G25’s, One main reason being both G wheels have dual motors, which gives a slight dead spot at top dead center. Though with the G wheels you do get a better pedal set to start with as well as a clutch.
Usually one would upgrade the pedal setup anyways either by modifying or buying a totally different unit.

I own the Driving Force Gt it does have a 900 degrees of rotation though in the calibration software you can set stops too it, previously to this wheel i owned the Logitech momo wheel, which was 270 degrees rotation but also had a much smaller wheel.

[TGov]

I agree.  The DFP and DFGT are both great wheels for the money.  I have owned both of them along with the G25.  I have a modified Thrustmaster T500rs now which is awesome for my needs but overkill for most arcade racers.   The clutch pedal is a novelty anyways unless you are using a sim with proper clutch emulation (Live for Speed) otherwise you might as well have the clutch mapped to a button on the wheel.

[BadMouth]

Is this the best MAME cabinet racing wheel?

It's the best reasonably priced wheel with a clutch and shifter for racing sims and PC games.  This wheel is the current standard, so everything is made to be compatible with it.
There are others that are better, but the prices get astronomical and they don't have logitech profiler which is a life-saver when it comes to setting up emulators.

For MAME, there's really no way around needing two separate wheels for 270 and 360 degree wheel games.  Even though this has 900 degrees of rotation, pole position still isn't playable with it.  The only MAME games that will benefit from the 900 degrees of rotation are Hard Drivin' & Race Drivin'. 

If you just want something to attach and remove, you could find a cheaper one with the sequential shifter attached to the wheel base (or just use the paddle shifters).
RacerMAME will allow you to use the sequential shifter or paddles on 4-speed games.
The pedals that come with those won't feel as much like real pedals as the G27, but they'll work.
The wheels also usually look more "plasticky", but again, the game will still play just fine.

Personally, I don't care for the G27 shifter.  It just doesn't feel like a real shifter or arcade shifter.  My old act labs shifter is fairly flimsy, but the throw is about the same as an arcade shifter and I keep the 4 speed plate on it, so it feels right.  I'm not sure how to describe the G27 shifter.  Guess it feels like an undersized game controller.
If I ever get around to building a racing pod, I'll probably stick with it anyway since I already have it.  Off the top of my head, the only game in MAME that uses a 6-speed is ridge racer (takes a beast of a pc to run), but it also has the option for sequential.  I prefer to use the paddles.

If you just want to test the waters, find yourself a used Logitech MOMO or Driving force for around $40.
Stay away from the Wingman Formula Force and Sidewinder wheels as they are ancient and use a different way to communicate ffb that only works with a few very old games.
Also stay away from xbox 360 wheels.  There are no pc ffb drivers for them.

[TGov]

Can't you lock out the rotation in the control panel to 270 and get it to work with some games?  I am pretty sure it has a mechanical lock in it for such things.

[BadMouth]

Can't you lock out the rotation in the control panel to 270 and get it to work with some games?  I am pretty sure it has a mechanical lock in it for such things.

If you're talking about the G27, you can set it to any amount of rotation that you want.
It works fine for 270 degree games.  It uses the feedback motors to stop the wheel.
They work surprisingly well and do feel like you've hit a mechanical stop.

I keep mine set to 270 degrees, not that I use it much.
It's more for wheel hacking experimentation than anything.

[Well Fed Games]

Looks like Amazon is matching, FWIW... http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-941-000045-G27-Racing-Wheel/dp/B001NT9TK4/ref=pd_rhf_ee_s_cp_20

Must resist temptation... I am still stocking up on the last generation's wheels and driving games now that they are dirt cheap.

[teeuwen]

Looks like Amazon is matching, FWIW... http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-941-000045-G27-Racing-Wheel/dp/B001NT9TK4/ref=pd_rhf_ee_s_cp_20

Must resist temptation... I am still stocking up on the last generation's wheels and driving games now that they are dirt cheap.

A really good older racing game is Richard Burns Rally

[Necro]

I have an older Ferrarri GT wheel - force 2 or something from Thrustmaster I've been trying with things...and I have to say either the wheel/pedals suck or I can't drive for crap.

 Grid - spinning all over. 
F1 2011 - Decent, but getting HOUSED in every race...or missing turns and spinning out. 

Debating getting the NFS ultimate pack on Amazon now but...not sure it's even worth it since I can't drive worth a damn!  

Wondering if this wheel is worth it for me...given that.  Maybe the force feedback will help

[Well Fed Games]

A really good older racing game is Richard Burns Rally

Thanks, I am not much into sim stuff but the rally side of things I could see being pretty fun... might have to check it out!

As long as we are recommending games, Outrun 2006 for PC is like 12 bucks at Amazon... http://www.amazon.com/Outrun-2006-Coast-Pc/dp/B000E1EFU6/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346349998&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=outrun+2006+coast+2+coast 

[Necro]

All of the recent NFS's for PC are $12 also (4 games for $12) - http://www.amazon.com/Speed-Ultimate-Digital-Collection-Download/dp/B008TTPRE8?t=slicinc-20&tag=slicinc-20

[BadMouth]

I have an older Ferrarri GT wheel - force 2 or something from Thrustmaster I've been trying with things...and I have to say either the wheel/pedals suck or I can't drive for crap.

 Grid - spinning all over. 
F1 2011 - Decent, but getting HOUSED in every race...or missing turns and spinning out. 

Debating getting the NFS ultimate pack on Amazon now but...not sure it's even worth it since I can't drive worth a damn!  

Wondering if this wheel is worth it for me...given that.  Maybe the force feedback will help

The newer games put way too much emphasis on simulation IMO.
I suck at them also.