Recently I've been considering trying out some casual sim racing on the PC. As such, I'm on the look out for a wheel and pedal set.
What seems to differentiate a lot of wheels out there is compatibility with consoles. However, this will only be used for PC games.
After doing a bit of research, it seems that the best option for someone not wanting to spend much over $500 on a pedal and wheel set is either a Logitech G27 for around $250, or stepping up to a Thrustmaster T500rs which goes for almost $600 at the moment.
The Fanatec clubsport wheel looks interesting, but at >$800, not including shipping, for a basic clubsport pedal and wheel set up, this is getting a bit pricey. The lower-end Fanatec wheels (ie, the Porsche GT3 V2) seem to offer much better value (you can currently grab an entire set for $300 with the CSR elite pedals, plus shipping) but there are some reliability concerns. Plus this wheel, as with the G27, seems to be getting a bit dated.
The most interesting new wheel in the sub $500 range is the Thrustmaster TX. But at almost $400, with no included shifter, clutch pedal, load-cell brake, and a whole lot of plasticky parts, it seems like you are paying through the nose just to have something that's compatible with the Xbox One (which I have no interest in). The TX, along with Forza 5 is supposedly pretty great though.
So, any semi-serious wheel users here that can offer a recommendation? Is the G27 "good enough" to offer a no-compromise introductory experience to sim racing? If not, T500rs? Something else?