Gonna add a Steering Wheel ... The only question is, which one?

[TheShaner]

Well, the title says it all, I think I am going to go ahead and add a steering wheel to my cab, I just dont know which one I should go for.  Anyone have any opinions or insight they'd mind sharing?

[Le Chuck]

The biggest one Randy carries, the small one is crazy tiny... if you're doing a spinner conversion. If not then I am no help in this thread. 

[BadMouth]

360 degree (Pole Postion, Ivan Stewarts Offroad)
or
270 degree (Cruisn', Daytona USA)

The 270 completely sucks for 360 games.
The 360 can be made to work on the 270 games, but is less than ideal.  It can be made a bit better with some complicated workarounds.

Lotsa info on that in the driving cab thread in my sig.

If you are just going to use a PC wheel as it is,
I'd recommend a Logitech because the profiler software makes life a lot easier when setting it up for various emulators.

[TheShaner]

Thanks Le Chuck.  I guess that is the big question ... do I go with a generalized PC type steering wheel setup, or go with a spinner conversion?  I dont give a ratts ass about forced feedback, but there is something to be said about clamping it on and having all of the controls necessary together.  I eventually plan on carving some slits into my control panel to allow for modules to be added and clamped down, such as steering wheels and flight sticks, etc.  This might be a good time to do it, but I would hate to go down that root if a standard PC type controller will net more game support in the end.  hmmf.

[rCadeGaming]

I plan to base my racing cabinet around Gran Turismo 5 for PS3.  This is the ultimate wheel for it:

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/g27-racing-wheel?crid=714

Does anyone know about using this with MAME?  I was hoping to mod it to work with a PC and a Dreamcast.  I think it has provisions so that you don't have to use it in 900 degree mode when not playing GT5.

[jkonami]

I love plenty of racing/car games in mame, but as cool as a wheel would be to have, it's one of the many frankenpanel options I had to sacrifice.  One of my ideas though was to build some sort of bar at the base of the control panel so you could attach a PC steering wheel when you wanted to, then remove it later.  You know they usually make them to attach to computer desks in a Vise Grip fashion.  What do you think?  Then you could get any PC steering wheel set you wanted.

[rCadeGaming]

I'm not sure what the op is planning, as he seems to have a stand-up cab right now, but I'm thinking of a dedicated sit down racing cabinet.  I already have two matching car seats.

I don't think it works too well on a stand-up due both to ergonomics and frankenpanel-dom.  There was a thread recently where someone picked a factory stand-up racer, and he said it was extremely uncomfortable standing for long play sessions, and chair/stool ideas didn't work too well either as the pedal to wheel spacing is meant for standing up.  I've played stand-up Cruisn' cabs a few times, and I can totally see it.

Maybe it would work if you made a large assembly you could roll up that had a raised seat, with appropriately positioned pedals and such.  If you got really creative, maybe you could make it fold up for storage.  Otherwise, if it's a solid assembly you might as well slap a monitor on it and have a separate cabinet.