Considering the current prevailing trend in sim racing that involves either a cheap joystick or racing wheel, that is no longer an option.
If one wants to race and be successful in the extreme ends of the online sim racing world, one definitely requires a decent wheel and pedals setup.
But with the abundance of steering wheels available in the market, which one will you really be able to purchase?
This thrustmaster T80 488 review will make it easier for you to reach that decision.
Table of Contents
- What is the Thrustmaster Ferrari T80 488 good at?
- What is the Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari 488 not so good at?
- Does the Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari 488 come with a wheel base?
- What about its Force feedback (FFB)?
- Is the Thrustmaster T80 good for beginners?
- What games are compatible with Thrustmaster T80?
- Is the Thrustmaster T80 easy to set up?
- What’s included in the box?
- Can I use the Thrustmaster T80 RS on PS4 and PS5?
- Does the T80 work on PC and Laptop?
- What are people saying about the Thrustmaster T80?
- Will the T80 make me faster?
- How much does it cost?
- Where can I get the Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari 488?
- Bottom line: Is the Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari worth it?
What is the Thrustmaster Ferrari T80 488 good at?
The Thrustmaster T80 488 is one of the cheaper steering wheels in the market, which is not a bad thing as some of the features included in the steering wheel are mostly found in more expensive wheels such as Fanatec’s.
For instance, this device permits the maximum rotation up to 240° non-stop due to its “bungee cord” unit. Even you would push the car to its limit, accuracy will still be enjoyed here.
Also Indicated is that there is also a quite rigid force feedback that auto centers which is in itself active and systematic thus making it possible to steer better and lower one’s lap times.
Perhaps the most important are the gearchanges and the system has also got a pair of sequential paddle shifters to guarantee that you execute gearchanges gone in the upshifts as well as downshifts that would be determined in the leather confines of a Ferrari 488 GT3 car.
Also, a good thing with the Thrustmaster T80 is the adjustable pedals set which will help you to hit the brakes hard as well as help to taper the brakes in the turn.
What is the Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari 488 not so good at?
Although the Thrustmaster T80 488 has got tons of great features, there are a couple of drawbacks that you should be aware of.
First of all, the look and feel isn’t quite as professional as an F1 steering like for instance most Fanatec wheels, in fact it looks quite cheap and not as good as other more sophisticated wheels.
In fact it looks more like a GT3 and GT4 wheel than an actual F1 steering wheel.
In addition to that, the force feedback is not as strong and as responsive as on other Thrustmaster steering wheels and so you may not feel the car as “heavy” as in real life racing.
Other than that, it should be clear to you by now that the Thrustmaster T80 488 is actually a really great choice for anyone looking for an awesome wheel at an affordable price.
But don’t just take our word for it, let’s now get in depth with our review of the T80 488!
Does the Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari 488 come with a wheel base?
Yes, it does, which is fantastic given that other steering wheels usually sell without one, like the Fanatec for example.
And if you are indeed wondering, the wheel isn’t meant to come away from the base so get used to it.
What about its Force feedback (FFB)?
The T80 overall has a smooth linear wheel force feedback for wheel movement resistance that gives the player realistic feeling of every bumb and kerb too when ones driving on the game.
Not only that, as a matter of fact it is more than very good indeed its unique “bungee cord” FFB system makes the steering quite realistic far than one can suppose.
This will certainly improve your driving accuracy and racing capability even under challenging situations such as when it is raining.
Is the Thrustmaster T80 good for beginners?
Yes, this Thrustmaster wheel is actually really good for total beginners.
In just a few laps you’ll be able to start feeling the grip from the car and begin setting personal best lap times in your favourite circuits.
That is really crucial since not everyone is a pro driver and finding the confidence to push the car limits further and further each lap isn’t an easy task to do.
What games are compatible with Thrustmaster T80?
The Thrustmaster T80 is compatible with pretty much any PC and PlayStation racing games.
In fact it’s been officially co-licensed by Ferrari and PlayStation 4.
Some of the games compatible with the Thrustmaster T80 are:
- iRacing
- Assetto Corsa
- ACC
- Forza Horizon 5
- Gran Turismo 7
- Gt Sport
- rFactor2
- RaceRoom
- Automobilista 2
- Nascar Heat 5
- and many more…
As you can see there are plenty of options to choose from and you’re definetely not going to get bored anytime soon.
Is the Thrustmaster T80 easy to set up?
Yes, this Thrustmaster wheel is honestly quite good for complete novices.
In just few laps you will start feeling the grip from the car and after that you would be able to set respective personal best lap times around your favorite circuits.
That is very important as it is worth remembering that not everybody is a professional driver and it can be difficult to gather the courage of doing so each and every lap.
What’s included in the box?
The Thrustmaster T80 comes with:
- T80 Ferrari 488 steering wheel
- Thrustmaster Wheelbase
- Paddle shifters
- Set of 2 pedals (Throttle & Brake)
- USB cable
- instruction booklet
Can I use the Thrustmaster T80 RS on PS4 and PS5?
Certainly, this wheel from Thrustmaster is supported by PS4 and PS5.
That’s cool, as the new generation of PS5 racing games are just some months ahead and you definitely don’t want to sit this one out!
Does the T80 work on PC and Laptop?
Yes the T80 works on PC/laptop with windows OS version 7 and above.
Still, we would strongly suggest try not to use it on a laptop as more often than not it will lack the proper GPU and CPU, therefore spoiling the whole experience making it all slow and quite unbearable.
What are people saying about the Thrustmaster T80?
From some online diggings and analyses, we have also discovered that the general opinion regarding the T80 RS is quite optimistic.
The most repeated observations arise from the fact that the wheel is capable of letting you feel the grip of the tires as well as how much the car can be pushed. This is very important for a sim racing wheel.
The budget friendly price tag is one more factor that sim drivers only seem to love.
Will the T80 make me faster?
This is something we cannot ensure 100 percent guarantee, but it is quite safe to say that you will surely enhance your driving skills with the use of this device, considering the accurate and realistic FFB Bungee-Cord system.
Many users who purchase the wheel T80 Ferrari review the course with appreciation and quite a lot changed their best lap time for the better.
How much does it cost?
Currently the wheel is priced at about 100 dollars and therefore it is really a steal.
This is indeed quite cheaper as compared to the other Thrustmaster and Fanatec wheels which sell for 350$ up to 1,500$, if you are trying to keep your costs low, this is certainly something to tell
Where can I get the Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari 488?
The T80 is mostly available on Amazon and even in this case we would recommend you to check its prices and reviews from the customers.
Incidentally, you can also find it at GameStop, Best Buy, Walmart etc.
Bottom line: Is the Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari worth it?
If you’re aiming to improve your sim racing experience significantly then the answer is yes and its current price is in fact one of the cheapest you can get in the market.
The Thrustmaster T80 is definitely a good value steering wheel that has certain advantages that are not typically seen in low end wheel bases.
It’s great for those who want an intense racing experience, whether they are novices or more skilled sim racers.
With this in mind, we highly recommend you check Amazon Reviews for some more insights which will help you make up your mind! 🙂
