Since my dad showed me my first F1 race on the TV and bought me Gran Turismo on PS1, sim racing has been in my DNA — something that I really got into by getting my own rig 3 years ago.
Pair that with my know-how on spotting great Black Friday deals, and I’m in the best place to help fellow sim racers at all skill levels. Whether you’re getting started on a budget or looking to take your passion to the next level, I’ve got it all covered here.
There’s just something special about this kind of competitive gaming that makes it unlike anything else in the world of online multiplayer. Entering your average lobby feels like the toxicity you expect from the likes of a Call of Duty has been stripped away, as most people thrive on hard but fair racing. (Emphasis on most, as you can get a few bad apples.) But once you catch the bug, the community is welcoming and supportive.
If sim racing sounds right up your alley, you can get into it with a decent sim setup starting from as little as $400. Let me take you through every skill level and the gear that I recommend you buy for each one.
Deals for beginners
At the starting point for every racer, it’s easy to look at the tidal wave of Black Friday deals and essentially overspend on gear you don’t need. My recommendation is to start small and learn on cheaper equipment. You can always upgrade certain elements going forward!
Deals for enthusiasts
Now we’re stepping up to the next level. You’ll really start to feel this when you turn off all the assists in your sim and rely on your own wheel knowledge to extract the most out of the car. With weaker wheels, you’re not going to feel the finer details of oversteer or understeer to truly feel in control. It’s time to get something stronger.
Deals for Pros
Now we’re reaching the top. If you’ve got the money to take things to the top level, you can really get some incredible sim racing gear that will last you for a good long time. These are for when you’re looking for 1:1 accuracy in terms of force feedback and the gear (and game) to race professionally.
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