Driving fast is a right. But how often are the conditions actually right for racing? It takes days of work to organize track days, in addition to the cost of purchasing a track car, getting it prepped, and having a plan in case something goes wrong with the car.
Before terms like “indoor spinning” were coined to simulate the feeling of riding a bicycle but safely indoors, there were driving simulators to satisfy enthusiast drivers in the same way. Designed to elevate the experience of playing Gran Turismo or a similar game, driving simulators are the next best thing to actually being behind the wheel of a car that’s too fast for your ability. Your leased car might not have a manual transmission, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to use one in your video game of choice.
You might be thinking: I’m a grown adult, so why not spend money on an actual car? Well, don’t be quick to dismiss these driving simulators—even if some of them cost as much as actual automobiles. If there’s a hole burning in your pocket, you’re often jonesing for the chance to play race-car driver, and you’re considering a new digital addition to your living room, check out these six simulators first:
1. The simulator for the beginner enthusiast: Say you’re on a budget, but you still want the experience of a driving simulator. The Logitech G27 Racing Wheel, which comes bundled with three pedals and a stick shift, is one of our favorite solutions. Behind the leather-wrapped steering wheel are shift paddles in case you haven’t learned how to drive the six-speed manual (also included) in the digital world. Just because you don’t spend a lot on a simulator doesn’t mean you can’t have a complete experience. Bring your own seat and seatbelt.
2. For the enthusiast with money and time to burn: The most customizable solution for indoor driving enthusiasts is expensive, although it’s far from the costliest experience on the market today. Start with the CXC Motion Pro II in basic spec, which includes all the necessary bits—screen, steering wheel, virtual environment with cars and tracks—and add on any or all of the options you need to make the experience feel authentic. Prefer a sequential shifter over a traditional manual? No problem. Like the feel of a vintage, wooden steering wheel? It’s available. (Want to pretend you’re a pilot? That’s an option, too.) The only limiting factor about this simulator is your budget.
3. The smartphone-based simulator hack: We’re only beginning to scratch the surface of true virtual reality environments, but Samsung offers a taste of the future in the Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6. For less than the monthly cost of a parking spot, this Samsung goggle set uses Oculus and a Samsung Galaxy S6—yes, you need to have one to make this work—to deliver a panoramic experience for a fraction of the cost of a standalone hardware setup. The future is here, and it’s clearer than ever.
4. For the NASCAR junkie: Here’s a simulator sure to please NASCAR fans and would-be stock-car racers. The simply named Stock Car Racing Simulator from Hammacher Schlemmer offers armchair racers the full simulated experience of banked curves and pitch and dive. Just like on today’s stock cars, the design of the car on the outside has little bearing on the experience within. Aluminum pedals and paddle shifters complete the experience. Also consider: a Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack and a season pass to Talladega.
5. The kit and caboodle: Think of the FMCG International Racing Car Simulator as the eccentric, loaded grown-up’s equivalent to the race-car bed. This made-to-order simulator features three screens, a Formula 1–style steering wheel, “high end” pedals, and speakers surrounding the driver to deliver something close to the effect of actual racing. Oh, and did we mention it’s also essentially a shell of a race car? Fitted with a real transmission, actual Brembo brakes, and carbon fiber inside and out, this driving simulator is nearly as real as the cars you can pretend to race using it. As the Costco U.K. description reminds us, it’s abundantly clear that “[due] to the nature of this product you cannot ‘Add to Basket’.”
6. This, or nine Miatas: In addition to the Stock Car Racing Simulator, Hammacher Schlemmer also offers the Most Realistic Racing Simulator, which is an over-the-top experience—but maybe you’re an over-the-top kind of guy or gal who appreciates such delights? The simulator is intended to replicate the intensity of driving at high speeds, and its reinforced fiber unibody reacts with squat, dive, and bucking. The manufacturer boasts that this simulator is the one that Ford uses to “demonstrate ride experiences.” Unless you’re an engineer benchmarking ride quality and suspension travel for a product six years in the making, can we suggest spending the $185,000 (before taxes) on building a collection of classic cars?
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This story originally appeared on roadandtrack.com.
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