Thrustmaster Direct Drive T818

Our rating: 8.4/10

This is it! The day has finally come when Thrustmaster decides to dive into the basics Direct Drive ! It has to be said that aficionados of the French sim-racing peripherals manufacturer had almost given up hope, especially after Logitech released its G Pro last year. But better late than never, right?

So the race for Direct Drive bases has been raging for some years now, especially with the emergence of new brands that have managed to turn the market upside down. Manufacturers such as Moza Racing, Simagic, Asetek Simsports and many more, are all “new” to the game of sim-racing peripherals, but still have a very good product catalog, especially when it comes to Direct Drive bases.

The tenors of the industry are undeniably Fanatec, Logitech and Thrustmasterbrands that have been in the sim-racing business for a very long time. Except that our national peripheral manufacturer was slow to dive into the waters of Direct Drive bases, but managed to get his foot in the door. Today, I’d like to introduce you to the T818I’m going to tell you about its strengths and weaknesses, and give you my opinion.

Main and technical characteristics of the base

• Base Direct Drive with 10 nm constant torque
• RGB front banner
• Compatible only with PCs
• 5 kg weight
• USB-C, RJ45 and pedalboard sockets
• Metal construction
• Choice of customizable colors
• Rotation angle between 40° and 1080°.

Design

Whatever people may say, the T818 has a rather unique design. Instead of doing what every other brand does, Thrustmaster has chosen to take a rather original route, in the form of a hexagonal design for its very first Direct Drive base.

You have a metal structure, an RGB strip on the front that goes all the way around the base, and on the sides, you have 2 customizable elements in the form of metal plates in different colors. Obviously, these plates are optional and there are 5 of them (blue, orange, white, grey and black), and according to some information circulating, others will be added to the catalog at a later date.

Honestly, the T818 is not a base that stings the eyes, but one that can be appreciated over time. As far as I’m concerned, it’s still a beautiful peripheral that will appeal to a good number of riders.

Customized assembly

Assembly of the T818 is from the bottom, with 4 slots for M6 screws. Depending on your setups, you have 2 mounting options: one for the cockpit (a kit sold separately at €40) and one for the desk.

Fixing the T818 is really very easy to do, whether on a desk or a cockpit. For desktops, you’ve got a high-quality all-metal clamp that’s designed to take the torque of the base. Once in place, it doesn’t move at all, as is the case with other Thrustmaster peripherals. On this point, fixing, we’re not at all disappointed by the French manufacturer of sim-racing peripherals. However, I strongly advise you to use a cockpit with the T818as the torque of the base could damage your furniture.

Manufacturing and finishing

First Direct Drive base obliges, Thrustmaster has used metal for the housing of the T818. It’s very well made, very well finished and with customizable plates on the sides. The QR at the front, which is new by the way, is metal with a ring that allows the wheels to be quickly removed and attached to the base. The QR attached to the driveshaft is metal, yes, but on the flywheel side, it’s not the case at all, as you’ll need a plastic adapter to make the connection. More on this below.

Otherwise, the rest is very well constructed. The quality is there, and that’s a good thing, considering the price!

Getting to know the base

If you’re used to Direct Drive bases, you’ll notice something rather odd when you pick this one up. weight. Even though the structure is made of metal and the motor develops 10 nm of constant torque (which implies that it puts out more than that in max), the base weighs just 5 kg on the scales.

It’s pretty meager as far as I’m concerned, and the same goes for the dimensions. The T818 is a compact, lightweight base that’s easy to hold and install on your setup. Oh yes, you take a base in hand just to install it, and you’re not going to touch it afterwards, except to change its place or setup.

Sensations during play

It’s time to see what the T818 has in its belly. Before we get down to business, I’d like to point out that the T818 can be adjusted using Thrustmaster software. There aren’t many settings, but it’s handy for changing driving modes (Comfort, Sport, Performance and Extreme).

Sensation-wise, we’re pretty well served. The constant torque of 10nm is enough to give you a good driving feel and a fairly high degree of realism, depending on the mode you use. I prefer the performancebecause it’s the only one that really communicates what the car in front of me is doing.

The base is responsive and communicative, as are its Direct Drive competitors (CSL DD, Moza R9), but there’s no real customization in terms of force feedback. This limitation is clearly due to Thrustmaster’s software, which has not been updated to take into account a Direct Drive base. And that’s not the only problem with this device.

Since the T818 is a brand new base with a new QR, so it was necessary to have some kind of intermediary between this peripheral and the old Thrustmaster steering wheels. Say hello to a plastic QR adapter that frankly doesn’t measure up to the rest. You’ll inevitably feel some flex between the base and the wheel, whatever wheel you’re using. It doesn’t inspire confidence at all to go all out with this base, at least until Thrustmaster releases new steering wheels.

Compatibility

Thanks to the QR adapter, you can use all Thrustmaster wheels on the T818. This is both a plus for those already in the brand’s ecosystem, and a minus, as Thrustmaster has just released the base without the rest of the peripherals.

For platforms, it’s a big surprise: the T818 is currently only compatible on PC, which is a real shame. As far as sim-racing titles are concerned, all those available on the market will work with the T818 without a hitch. However, expect rather light software support.

Value for money

Priced at €650, this base unit is well positioned in relation to the competition, but only in terms of price. Admittedly, this is a quality device, well made and with an exemplary finish, but some of the manufacturer’s choices are not at all justifiable, like the QR adapter for example.

Nevertheless, the T818 base offers good value for money for a first attempt in the world of Direct Drive bases by Thrustmaster.

My verdict

I’ve been looking forward to this base from Thrustmaster, but in the end, I’m not really satisfied with this peripheral. If you’re a die-hard fan of the manufacturer and have never laid your hands on a Direct Drive base before, then yes, you might consider the T818. It’s still a good peripheral that offers a not inconsiderable driving sensation in the end.

But if you’ve already tried a DD base from one of the competitors (Fanatec, Simagic or others), you’ll find it hard to adapt to the T818. Between the almost total absence of torque adjustment, the very cheap plastic QR adapter and the software that’s there just to please, the T818 pales in comparison with the competition. If you’re a pro sim-racer, I can’t recommend this base, unless Thrustmaster fixes the software and makes it useful, and also releases steering wheels for its new QR. Until that happens, you’ll have to pass on the T818. It’s a real, real shame to have waited so long and left it at that.