Thrustmaster T248 Review

Manufacturer: Thrustmaster
Where to Buy: Thrustmaster
RRP: £299.99

I’ve always enjoyed a good pheripheral when gaming. Be it a light gun, maracas, the entire ensemble of Rock Band or a steering wheel and peddles, there’s definitely a better sense of immersion when using something like this. We were recently sent the Thrustmaster T248 for review and from my time with it so far I’m thoroughly enjoying even the kinds of racers I’m not usually keen on.

Lets get it out of the way though: this is not a light investment. You’re going to really need to want to get into games like Forza, GRID, Assetto Corsa etc in order to justify the layout. It’s far from the most expensive wheel out there – or even that Thrustmaster do – but at more than a Series S there’s no escaping this is a pricey bit of kit.

What you get should you splash out though is some seriously good stuff. I’ve had a few home-based steering wheels in the past, but they all felt slightly under-whelming and plastiky, almost like too rough a turn would rip the wheel right off. Not so here. The T248 is a sturdy beast, with a lovely premium look and feel. There are buttons galore, featuring the usual Xbox controller accompaniments as well as a few extras but they aren’t gaudy to look at and actually blend quite nicely into the design. The foot pedals are of equally high quality, looking the part and – importantly – feeling the part under our feet. The feel is spot on to a real steering wheel too, with 900 degrees of movement allowing us ot swing around those sharp turns with ease (in theory, anyway – user skill may vary).

Setting up the wheel will need some consideration. If you’ve the space and money, then a full chassis is the ideal way to play (something I’ve yet to test, but Special Guest Pete has offered his for me to try out), but if that’s not an option then be sure to have a table or something to clamp it on to. The clamp is easy to use and set up – and comes included – though you’ll need something high enough to comfortably set the pedals underneath. The wheel itself also needs a power outlet, as well as a USB port on the console. These are fairly generous in length but again it’s something else to consider when looking at a wheel like this.

Get the set up right though, and it transforms any racing game into a far superior experience. The T248, once set up as above, is simple to use: just plug and play. Each game offers options to customise the experience but without touching a menu we’re able to get up and playing instantly.

I booted up Forza Horizon 5 as my first test, and boy, what a way to start. That downhill scramble on the volcano felt far more violent, immersive, and fun than it ever did with a controller in hand. The force feedback is immense, the wheel fighting our turns as we bounce over bumpy terrain or land an awkward aerial manoeuvre. Even just exploring the open world was a joy, the wheel providing ample feedback on just how terrible a driver I am. It does take some getting used to the more physical nature of the experience but the T248 makes this about as accessible as possible.

Moving onto Forza 7 and F1 2021 was just as intense. Nailing a tight turn in F1 is far tougher – and more rewarding – with this, and even just keeping it on the straight and narrow felt exhilarating. Using manual shifting is a breeze thanks to the snappy magnetic paddles on the wheel, while that full 900 degrees gets a good work out for sure. The pedals also hold up incredibly well. Being able to feather the pedal is far more intuitive than on a controller trigger, and slamming on the breaks just as hair-raising.

My bread is buttered though on more arcade style experiences, so I had to test out two favourites: Daytona USA and Wreckfest. The former is a classic in the racing genre and I’m happy to report that while I am still frequently at the back of the pack I found it so much more fun using the T248. The latter is a more modern title that I enjoyed on controller but man, the destruction derby nature of the races and the fight arenas really take on a new level when using a wheel. Swerving into other cars has a more tactile and deliberate feel to it, as does drifting a corner and t-boning someone as we straighten up.

There’s a lot to like about the T248 then, from it’s premium look and feel to just how well it works with any game I’ve thrown at it. There’s a little bonus for PC users in the LCD display on the wheel itself. This can display information such as lap position, miles, speed and more in certain games, though it doesn’t seem to be supported on Xbox just yet. That small niggle aside, this is still a fantastic bit of kit that will elevate those who are serious about their racers to the next level.

Conclusion

If you’re serious about getting into the racing genre then the Thrustmaster T248 is a solid suggestion that’ll carry you through as many races as you can throw at it. It looks and feels great and performs excellently as long as you have the budget and space to make the best use of it.

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Hardware provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.
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Good
  • Easy to use
  • Premium look and feel
  • Helps immerse us in the races incredibly well
Bad
  • You'll need space and appropriate furniture to set it up
9.2
Excellent
Written by
I've been gaming since Spy vs Spy on the Master System, growing up as a Sega kid before realising the joy of multi-platform gaming. These days I can mostly be found on smaller indie titles, the occasional big RPG and doing poorly at Rainbow Six: Siege. Gamertag: Enaksan

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