In this highly competitive sim racing landscape using a joystick or a cheap racing wheel is not an option anymore.
You really need a proper wheel and pedals set if you want to race and compete at the highest levels of online sim racing.
But with so many steering wheels on the market, which one should you actually buy?
In this Thrustmaster T80 488 review, we’ll help you take a step closer to 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 a very affordable steering wheel that still offers features that are usually only found in more expensive wheels such as the Fanatec ones.
For example, it has a maximum rotation of 240° thanks to its “bungee cord” system, which gives you more precision and control when pushing the car to the limit.
Moreover it also offers a fairly strong force feedback with automatic re-centering which is both responsive and effective, thus allowing you to control the car better and improve your laptimes.
It also has got a pair of sequential paddle shifters which guarantee smooth upshifting and downshifting, exactly as you would have in a Ferrari 488 GT3 car.
In addition, the Thrustmaster T80 comes with an adjustable pedals set which will allow you to brake hard and progressively trail the brakes into the corner.
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, and that’s really great considering that most steering wheels require it to be purchased separately, like the Fanatec wheels for instance.
In case you were wondering though, the wheel actually isn’t detachable from the base so you’ll have to live with that.
What about its Force feedback (FFB)?
The T80 comes with a pretty realistic linear wheel force feedback resistance that will make you feel every bumb and kerb on the track.
Not only that, in fact it’s unique “bungee cord” FFB system makes the steering feel smooth and realistic beyond expectations.
This will substantially increase your driving precision and ability to race on track even when things get tough, for example in wet conditions.
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?
The Thrustmaster T80 is actually pretty straightforward to setup as it doesn’t require any special drivers or software to install.
You just need to connect it to your PC or PlayStation via USB and you’re ready to race.
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?
Yes, this Thrustmaster steering wheel is compatible both with the PS4 and PS5.
That’s awesome since the next-gen of PS5 sim racing games is just around the corner and you really don’t want to miss out on that!
Does the T80 work on PC and Laptop?
Yes the T80 works both on PC and Laptop with an operating system of Windows 7 and above.
However, we highly recommend avoid running it on laptop since it most of the time won’t have the right graphics card and CPU making the whole experience quite laggy and unpleasent.
What are people saying about the Thrustmaster T80?
After doing some online research and analysis we’ve found that the general consensus for the T80 RS is pretty positive.
The most common comment was that the wheel allows you to accurately feel the gip of the tyres and limit of the car which is really key for any sim racing wheel.
And also its extremely affordable price is something that seem to get sim drivers excited about.
Will the T80 make me faster?
We can’t guarantee that by 100% but it will surely help you improve your driving skills thanks to its precise and realistic FFB Bungee-Cord system.
You can check dozens of raving reviews online from people that have actually bought the T80 Ferrari wheel and now have improved their lap times by quite a bit.
How much does it cost?
The wheel is currently being sold at around 100 dollars, which makes it a real bargain.
It’s actually quite affordable compared to other Thrustmaster and Fanatec wheels selling between 350$ to 1,500$, so this is definitely something you should keep in mind if you’re trying to spend as little as possible.
Where can I get the Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari 488?
You can get the T80 on Amazon and we actually encourage you to check its current prices and latest reviews here.
By the way, you can also purchase it at GameStop, BestBuy, Walmart and other similar retailers.
Bottom line: Is the Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari worth it?
So, is the T80 really worth buying?
The answer is definitely yes if you’re planning to take your sim racing skills to a whole new level and its current price is actually one of the most affordable you can find on the market.
The Thrustmaster T80 is definitely a pretty good steering wheel that comes with features that are usually only found in more expensive models.
It’s perfect for anyone looking for a realistic racing experience, from beginners to more experienced sim drivers.
Having said that, we highly recommend having a look at its Amazon Reviews to make your final decisions! 🙂
