Released in 2014, the Fanatec Porsche 918 RSR wheel is as popular as ever in cockpits. I was looking forward to getting my hands on one myself. And now I have! So I’m taking this opportunity to give you an uncompromising test of this almost exact replica of the steering wheel of the fabulous Porsche 918 RSR.
Will the Fanatec replica live up to my expectations as a seasoned Porschiste? Let’s find out!
The Fanatec Porsche 918 RSR steering wheel from a technical point of view
- Compatibility Bases: Fanatec: Podium, ClubSport, CSL DD, CSL Elite
- Console compatibility: PC, PS4, PS5
- Vibration: 2 motors adjustable via on-board menu or Fanatec SDK
- Wheel diameter: 32cm
- Materials: Leather, aluminum, carbon and plastic
- Paddles : 2 large, fully adjustable metal paddles
- Customizable buttons: 11 buttons, 1 clickable joystick, 1 7-position encoder
- Lap counter: integrated LED bar
- Display: LED for displaying telemetry information and steering-wheel adjustments
- Connections: Quick Release ClubSport Fanatec
- Weight: 1.69Kg
Design and ergonomics
Fanatec didn’t do things by halves with this replica of the Porsche 918 steering wheel, and it shows as soon as you open the box.
It’s an almost exact copy of the original. The 32 cm diameter makes it truly impressive in its realism, and I’m also expecting to feel quite a bit of precision thanks to this large wheel.
What immediately catches my eye is the quality of the materials. The leather is simply superb, and the aluminum wheel center and carbon accents really add to the superb look. The small embossed Porsche logo is also a real eye-catcher.
However, I’m not so keen on the way the LED bar at the top of the wheel has been integrated. Its shiny plastic coating is a bit at odds with the wheel’s overall aesthetics.
Another minor complaint concerns the leather stitching around the thumbs. The thread is a little too protruding, and if you’re not wearing gloves, you’re likely to be irritated after a long simulation session. Of course, on a steering wheel of this quality, wearing gloves seems like a matter of course, so you shouldn’t be bothered.
The metal paddles are large and adjustable, promising a good fit whatever the size of your hands. But more on that later.
The last point I’d like to mention is the weight of the wheel. 1. 69Kg is light! All thanks to the choice of materials. And it promises good transmission of force feedback in all its finesse.
From a purely aesthetic point of view, it’s fair to say that this is one of Fanatec’s top-of-the-range wheels.
Installing the Fanatec Porsche 918 RSR steering wheel
Installing the Fanatec Porsche 918 RSR is as simple as using the ClubSport Quick Release system.
All you have to do is pull back the black outer ring to connect or disconnect the wheel to your base.
Be careful, however, not to damage the pins inside the mechanism that link the wheel to the base. If you bend or break them, it’s going to be complicated to repair..
A word of advice: when changing wheels, take your time and make sure you position the Quick Release correctly in the hub axle.
Fanatec also supplies a screw for those who wish to mount the wheel “permanently” and secure it 100% on the hub. If you change wheels frequently, you won’t need to use the screw. The Quick Release fits snugly on the hub and there’s no play in the assembly.
Fanatec Porsche 918 RSR settings and compatibility
Once you’ve installed the Porsche 918 RSR steering wheel on your Fanatec base, you can adjust it to fit your hands perfectly.
As I mentioned earlier, the paddles can be adjusted to suit your body shape. Three positions are available, more or less distant from the outside of the wheel.
However, there’ s no depth adjustment. I’ve got long hands, so I’m not bothered, but my life and track partner Flo has trouble using them. The solution we came up with was to remove the plastic tubes that connect the metal shifter arm to the paddle. The problem is that in this configuration, the screws protrude by almost 1cm. This doesn’t interfere with use, but it’s not very aesthetic.
As for compatibility, the ClubSport Porsche 918 RSR steering wheel is compatible with Fanatec Podium, ClubSport, CSL Elite and finally the famous CSL DD base!
If you don’t already have a GT wheel, you’ll have no excuse for missing out on this one! Machine compatibility, on the other hand, is limited to PC, PS4 and PS5.
Comfort and feel
I think we’re all agreed that the Fanatec Porsche 918 RSR wheel is magnificent. Now let’s see how it feels in your hand!
I’m not going to keep you in suspense for 3 hours 😉 This wheel is just super pleasant to use. Without gloves, the leather is really top-notch. Your hands find their place very naturally in the ergonomically hollowed-out spaces in the wheel.
With gloves, you lose the leather feel, but you’re just as well guided in the grip. On the other hand, avoid gloves with grips to avoid damaging the stitching or the leather itself!
The LED bar is bright enough that you don’t need to look at it to know what’s happening on the engine side. On the other hand, I sometimes have a bit of trouble reaching the buttons at the top of the center stack with my thumbs..
Fanatec Porsche 918 RSR steering wheel customization
If you’re like me and can’t remember which button does what, you can buy a set of customizable covers in different colors from Fanatec.
These covers are perfectly matched to the buttons on the Porsche 918 RSR steering wheel. They can be customized in two ways: You can change the background color of the button, and add any acronyms or annotations supplied.
A must-have if you don’t want to turn on your windscreen wipers when you want to activate the DRS!
