CSL DD Ready2race Bundle

Our rating: 9.9/10

Sim-racing has gained considerable momentum in recent years, with the advent of brands such as Logitech, Thrustmaster or Fanatec. The giants of this discipline are players who have been in the game for a very long time, even more than 20 years for some names, and it’s fair to say that they have experience.

The main aim of sim-racing is to feel like you’re in the middle of a race when you’re doing a session on your rig. And in order to achieve this, you need a few key peripherals, including a base, steering wheel and pedals. Sure, you can push the realism switch to the max by getting a shifter, handbrake and cockpit, but that will cost you an arm and a leg in most cases, and the point of the game is to have fun, not to be harassed by your banker because of a big hole in your finances.

Several brands offer ready-to-use bundles that include a base, steering wheel and pedalboard at prices that are sometimes very attractive, even unbeatable for the segment. And from time to time, some players come up with a special offer that defies all competition, as is the case with Fanatec ‘s READY2RACE bundle, which includes a DD base, steering wheel and pedalboard for €399.85 incl. VAT!

Main and technical features of the bundle

• 5 nm torque Direct Drive base compatible with optional boost kit
• Aluminum construction
• Compatible with Xbox and PC
• Table and desk mounting system with clamp, and the base is compatible with virtually all cockpits available on the market.
• Load Cell kit available for pedals
• Base sold at almost half price if you buy it as a Ready2Race bundle

Design

If you’re a fan of sim-racing, I don’t need to introduce you to the base design. CSL DD. But if you’re not, you should know that it’s very handsome, compact and quite heavy all the same. Its outer casing is in black metal, with a radiator-like design to dissipate the heat generated by the motor. It’s beautiful and, above all, practical, as there’s no need for a cooling fan.

As for the steering wheel in this Ready2Race bundle, you can have the CSL Steering Wheel P1 V2, or any entry in the Fanatec catalog for that matter. This steering wheel is perfect for fans of different disciplines like rallying, GT and even F1. The steering wheel is round, 30 cm in diameter and has an all-black finish.

For the pedalboard, you have the CSL Pedals, which can be upgraded with the Load Cell kit by the way, and this device is made of metal, quite beautiful, but the color could stand out on an all-black setup.

Customized assembly

The base of this Ready2Race bundle can be mounted either on a table/desk using an easy-to-use yet robust clamp, or directly on a chassis compatible with the CSL DD. For cockpits, there are fixing points on the face of the base which allow the use of a front support.

Whichever method you choose for assembling the base, you should know that it’s very easy to do, and won’t take long. As for the flywheel, all Fanatec flywheels come with an in-house Quick Release system, in plastic or metal depending on the range. Once again, whatever the steering wheel’s Quick Release, it’s very easy to handle and will enable you to swap steering wheels quickly, unlike Thrustmaster and its T300RS for example.

Manufacturing and finishing

Where Fanatec shines compared to Thrustmaster and Logitech in the same price segment is in manufacturing quality. The CSL DD Ready2Race bundle’s direct competitors in terms of price (under €400) use plastic for virtually all their peripherals. This is the case with Logitech G29 and G923and Thrustmaster’ s T series bundles(T300RS, etc.). For Fanatec, metal is used for virtually all peripherals.

The base features a beautifully finished aluminum structure, with no burrs or manufacturing defects. The finish is perfect, whether on the base, the steering wheel or the bundle’s pedals. It’s just perfect, worthy of being part of a racing car’s equipment. It has to be said that Fanatec was ahead of Logitech and Thrustmaster on its entry/mid-range bundles in terms of build quality and finish, but at a much higher price.

Getting started with the bundle

So, this bundle is superbly easy to handle, especially with the P1 V2 steering wheel. The wheel is 30 cm in diameter, the same size as a car. The controls are placed within easy reach of your fingers, so you don’t have to take your hands off the wheel. The paddles are large and click superbly when you use them. What’s more, there’s a small LED display at the top of the steering wheel to give you some information about the car.

As for the pedalboard, the standard version without Load Cell is a bit basic, just like the G29 or T300RS, for example. However, and this is where Fanatec sets itself apart from Thrustmaster and Logitech, you have the option of upgrading the CSL Pedals with a Load Cell kit to get a competition-worthy brake pedal. Admittedly, this kit will cost you €140, but with the bundle on special offer and above all the CSL DD at just €199.95 if you take it with any of the steering wheels and pedalboards in the Fanatec catalog, it’s frankly an excellent deal, with value for money far ahead of the competition.

Sensations during play

Let’s move on to the essentials: in-game sensations. First and foremost, the CSL DD is a Direct Drive base, and at €400 incl. VAT and delivery (bundle), the competition is none other than Thrustmaster with its T300RS/GT (€380/450) and Logitech with the G29 and G923 (€350 incl. VAT, free delivery and special offer). And this competition isn’t Direct Drive at all, but belt/gear drive motors.

Basically, this bundle is a well of sensation, with extremely well-dosed force feedback in all situations. If you’re a pro sim-racer and feel the limits of the CSL DD and its 5 nm of torque, you have the option of purchasing the boost kit (for an additional €99.95) and you’ll unlock the full potential of the base with 8 nm of torque.

Steering feel is excellent, especially if you use a steering wheel with a metal QR. All the forces exerted on the car are transmitted to the steering wheel, whether it’s vibrations, shocks, changes in grip or trajectory. You’ll feel absolutely everything, and the competition can’t do that for the price of this bundle. Quite simply, Fanatec has more or less ruined the game by offering a Direct Drive bundle for €399.85, and with free delivery to boot!

As for the steering wheel, it’s rigid and won’t wobble during hard cornering. And the same goes for the pedalboard, especially if you spend an extra penny on the Load Cell kit, which makes a huge difference to the feel. Here again, Thrustmaster and company are no match for Fanatec and its highly customizable ecosystem.

Compatibility

Like any good student of the class, Fanatec offers cross-platform compatibility with this bundle, namely Xbox and PC. For Playstation racers, you have the Gran Turismo version of the CSL DD, which is compatible with all current platforms, but is more expensive if you take it on its own.

As far as steering wheels are concerned, you can have this bundle with the CSL Steering Wheel P1 V2 or other wheels for the same price. However, you should know that sometimes Fanatec products are out of stock due to demand far exceeding availability. But don’t panic! The promotion is valid for the entire Fanatec catalog, and you can take, for example, the CSL WRC or the McLaren GT3 V2which are far more premium wheels than the P1 V2, for €80 more. Even with a final price approaching €480 incl. VAT, it’s still unbeatable in my opinion.

Comparison with competing bundles

As we’ve just said, this new bundle is positioned directly opposite a T300RS and the G29/G923, at least in terms of price. But the rest is a different story.

Value for money

Already, at its initial price, Fanatec’s CSL bundle was excellent, whether in terms of performance, quality or feel. And now, with its special price of €400 incl. VAT, it’s just unbeatable. The value for money is so good that I can’t see how the competition will react and adapt to it.

My verdict

For those looking for a bundle with Direct Drive base, steering wheel and pedalboard, and all upgradeable, Fanatec is the place to turn, especially these days during promotional periods.

At €399.85 incl. VAT and delivery, you won’t find better value from the quality competition. You can tell me that there are other Direct Drive options at much lower prices on a site that starts with A and ends with S, but well, there’s the shipping, which costs an arm and a leg, given that the device comes from China, and also the prices aren’t at all inclusive of VAT and you’ll have to pay VAT and sometimes even customs duties. As a result, you can end up with a product of much lower quality, less performance and much higher price. As far as I’m concerned, this Fanatec bundle is by far the best on the market.