Fanatec Ready2Race

Let’s start with what are considered the best cheap Direct Drive bundles currently available on the market. These are, of course, Ready2Race from Fanatec. This German brand is a heavyweight in the sim-racing industry, and has been for over 20 years. Today, the manufacturer covers literally every motorsport discipline, with a catalog of over 40 steering wheels that are all compatible with Fanatec’s bases.

Speaking of bases, the CSL range of Direct Drives are the ones that have democratized DDs at low cost. On the Fanatec store, you’ll find 13 Ready2Race bundles with the CSL DD, in 5 and 8 nm torque versions. This is an excellent basis for getting started and improving your sim-racing skills. Fanatec’s biggest advantage over the competition is its highly upgradable peripherals. You can start with the 5 nm CSL DD, then buy the boost kit and upgrade to 8 nm.

When it comes to Ready2Race steering wheels, you’ve got a bit of everything: GT, Formula, rally, and even licensed Gran Turismo. It’s a virtual driver’s delight, and all the wheels are compatible with all the bases offered by Fanatec, including CSL DD.

Each Ready2Race bundle comes with a classic CSL Pedals crankset, but some of them feature Load Cell on the brake pedal. And even if you opt for a bundle without LC, the kit is available on the Fanatec store for €79.95.

Let’s finish with the prices. Depending on the bundle, the whole package, i.e. DD base, steering wheel and pedals, starts at €399.95, ending at €859.95. The top of the range is expensive, yes, but clearly worth the price. And if you prefer a more budget-friendly option, the bottom and middle are perfectly positioned to offer you the best price-performance ratio.

Logitech RS50 System

Logitech, alongside Thrustmaster, has long been active in the low-cost sim-racing peripherals segment, notably with its G29, G923 and other bases. But that changed a few years ago with the launch of the G Pro, the first Direct Drive bundle. Aiming to reach new riders, Logitech has just released the RS50 System, a DD bundle aimed at novice drivers.

The base model develops 8nm of torque, a truly successful design, and above all a smaller footprint than the G Pro, which was massive for the power generated by the electric motor. As for the steering wheel, we’re treated to a brushed aluminum wheel, with TPU leather on the hoop. Controls are spread across the faceplate and around it, on a hub. At the rear of the hub are 2 paddles only, as this is a budget-friendly option, and the QR developed on the first DD base.

As for the pedalboard, unfortunately Logitech has decided to sell it on its own, but it’s in Load Cell, which is both a good thing and raises the final bill. Speaking of the latter, depending on the platform you’re on, expect to shell out in the region of €800 if you take the full bundle.

Moza R3/R5

Moza is a rather young player in the sim-racing industry, as the brand is only 6 – 7 years old in the game. However, in the space of just a few winters, the manufacturer has made a name for itself not only as one of the key players in the segment, but also as one of those offering quality, high-performance peripherals.

For low-cost options, Moza offers the R3 and R5 bundles, with Direct Drive bases developing 3.9 and 5.5 nm of torque respectively, aimed at a beginner and hobbyist audience. The R3 is available as an Xbox version if you’re on Microsoft’s console, while the R5 is PC-only.

Both bases are good for sim-racing, and Moza’s ecosystem is pretty good when it comes to other peripherals. You get an ES steering wheel as standard with these two bundles, but you can swap it without any problem, as Moza uses a standard QR throughout its range.

As for the pedalboard, it’s a simple peripheral that comes with the bundles, the SR-P Lite. It features 2 pedals, a metal structure, and upgrade kits to enhance racing immersion.

Let’s talk money now. The PC version of the R3 costs €329, while the Xbox/PC version costs €399. The R5 is priced at €599.

Thrustmaster T598

Like Logitech, Thrustmaster set foot in Direct Drive less than 3 years ago, enabling the brand to attract a new spectrum of virtual racers. The T598 is based on an axial electric motor, which develops 5 nm of constant torque and has the ability to boost this figure when you need it.

The design of the T598 base is very compact, with an air of Logitech about it. It’s octagonal in shape, very small, and with a lot of plastic. On the one hand, this makes sense, as the T598 is aimed at a specific audience of beginner runners, and on the other, it keeps the price attractive.

The steering wheel is an entirely round wheel, 30 cm in diameter. Its structure is plastic, but the paddles are magnetic. The controls are located on the outside of the faceplate, making them easy to use when racing.

For the crankset, we’re talking about the LTE with metal structure, upgradable and spring on the brake. Thrustmaster has just announced a Load Cell kit for this crankset, which will be available at a later date.

Let’s finish with the price. This bundle costs €499.99, regardless of the platform chosen. It’s cheap, it’s good for getting started, and it works quite well. The only downside is the brand’s ecosystem, and this also applies to Logitech: both manufacturers have yet to develop products, such as steering wheels, that go hand in hand with their new DD bases.