The Fanatec CSL Elite is a high-priced racing wheel by most people's standards, but it is the entry-level model in the Fanatec lineup. However, given that it is the best racing wheel you can get for $600, it is hard to see why.

The Fanatec CSL Elite starts at $570, but because it is a highly modular system, you can spend more on the steering wheel itself, upgraded pedals, or a separate gearbox and handbrake. Thus, the cost could easily jump to $1,000 or more before jumping to the advanced Clubsport wheelbase.

This review makes things common sense. We're looking primarily at the standard Fanatec CSL Elite wheels and bases, but we replaced the standard $100 CSL Elite pedals with the recommended $230 load cell brake pedals.

The Fanatec CSL Elite is the best racing wheel available at this price, especially for PC players. It outperforms the Thrustmaster T-GT in several key respects and is a clear upgrade over lower-priced alternatives such as the Logitech G29 and Thrustmaster T300 RS GT. Logitech just announced its new TrueForce racing wheel, so we'll have to get our hands on it to see how it compares.

But if the Fanatec CSL Elite is going to be your first racing wheel, these things don't mean much, so let me explain the basics. Force feedback racing wheels use a motor to emulate the forces you experience in a real car. While cornering, the wheels struggle against your turns, and you will feel the wheels sag as you lose traction on the pavement.

With the force feedback strength maximized, Fanatec CSL Elite provides a solid workout for your arms and shoulders; in real racing sims such as Dirt Rally 2.0, Project Cars 2, and Assetto Corsa, the car's While they are wasted in arcade-style racers where less emphasis is placed on physical details, real racing sims like "Dirt Rally 2.0," "Project Cars 2," and "Assetto Corsa" make them more engrossing.

What CSL Elite upgrades over cheaper racing wheels is smoothness. For example, the Logitech G29's helical gearing system gives the user something like the click of a rotary watch bezel with every turn.

The Fanatec and Thrustmaster systems, however, use belt-driven motors, so this "notched" feel is almost non-existent The CSL Elite is considerably smoother than any of Thrustmaster's wheels, including TS's top-end models The CSL Elite is much smoother than any of Thrustmaster's wheels, including the top-end TS model. Tried side-by-side, the difference is obvious and immediate. Smoother turns lead to cleaner feeling force feedback. Any jolts or shocks you feel are programmed by the developer, free of the tactile feedback bed of notched wheel action.

Pedals are another highlight. Fanatec's pedalboard has an all-metal internal construction, solid resistance, and a load cell brake option. This is a far cry from entry-level pedal sets that are only slightly stiffer than the gas pedal and clutch.

The bad news: if you use a simple wheel stand, you are not going to appreciate hardcore braking hardware. Without a proper frame to hold the Fanatec CSL Elite in place, you can't even apply that kind of pressure without the pedalboard gradually or rapidly leaving your feet.

The good news is that almost every other parameter under the sun can be customized. This includes the default pedal sensitivity, which is a bit over- or under-sensitive.

This is an enthusiast's wheel, which becomes clearer once you dig a little deeper into the pedalboard and realize that you can actually move and switch individual pedals. However, this highlights an aspect of the Fanatec CSL Elite that some buyers may find off-putting, at least. It is less "plug-and-play" than the Thrustmaster T-GT or lower-priced wheels, and will require a PDF manual.

Inside the wheel is a menu system, indicated by a huge LED at the top. This allows control of 11 statuses that change the behavior of the wheel. Multiple presets can be programmed, one for each racing game, and switched on the wheel.

You don't have to tweak everything, but I regularly tweak brake sensitivity (arm training alone is enough), force feedback intensity, and force effect intensity (FEI). This is curious: FEI does not change the intensity of the wheel pull, but the intensity of the feedback effect. The higher the setting, the more ferocious and faster the attack, and some games work better with it maxed out.

Playing with force feedback and FEI, we also found one way the stepped-up Fanatec Clubsport 2.5 wheelbase improves CSL Elite. It seems to be able to better handle the intense sting and very fast changes in force feedback. This is not surprising; the Clubsport 2.5 has a completely different force-feedback system that uses two "ribbed" belts instead of the Elite's single non-ribbed belt. Fanatec says it brings it closer to the feel of a direct-drive wheel, but thanks to the smooth rotation of the CSL Elite, it didn't feel as big an upgrade as the upgrade from the Logitech G29 wheel to the Elite.

The Clubsport 2.5 also has much more torque, at 8 Newton meters compared to the CSL Elite's 6 Newton meters. The torque of the Club Sport 2.5 is much greater, 8 Newton-meters versus the CSL Elite's 6 Newton-meters.

When the CSL Elite first launched in 2017, the actual steering wheel would have been another negative to note. The first iteration of the standard Fanatec P1 wheel had rubber grips. It was larger and less toy-like than the Thrustmaster T-GT's, but it felt and looked a bit cheap for a wheel of that grade.

Fanatec solved this problem by replacing some of the rubber with Alcantara, a synthetic suede that is also used in real-life sports car wheels. This has a much better feel.

Clubsport Steering Wheel The BMW GT2 steering wheel is even better, being heavier and fancier looking. For comparison, we tried these rims on the Clubsport 2.5 wheelbase. However, while I might have recommended this upgrade in 2017, it is most likely not so necessary now that the baseline P1 design is so nice.

Something else to consider: the Fanatec CSL Elite has noticeable fan noise after a few minutes of use, especially when using the high force feedback setting. Fanatec switched to a dual-fan system in the ClubSport 2.5 to remedy this; it is louder than Thrustmaster's T-GT, but not enough to outweigh the benefits of larger wheels and a smoother ride.

The CSL Elite wheelbase also has a plastic case, which looks less elegant than the Thrustmaster T-GT's and feels cheaper than the metal of the ClubSport 2.5. But let's cut to the chase: does plain plastic really matter? The case also has a rev counter LED, which adds to the immersive experience.

However, those who play in cavernous rooms may not like the glare.

Also, console owners should be aware of the wheelbase to purchase, as there is a PS4-only version. It is slightly more expensive, but Fanatech's PS4 bundle will make up for it.

The Fanatec CSL Elite is the sweet spot racing wheel for many sim fans. While not as expensive as direct drive setups, it offers undeniable advantages over Logitech and Thrustmaster alternatives. Smooth action, great pedals, and a relatively wide diameter wheel that doesn't feel like a toy.

The Fanatec CSL Elite is not as easy to use as the Thrustmaster T-GT and is a bit louder. Both are great, but the Elite wins with a cleaner feeling force feedback. For a serious setup, I would recommend upgrading to a load cell brake, and if buying used, avoid the rubbery first generation P1 steering wheel. The recent Alcantara steering wheel deserves an update.