Folks

Since I've bought the M3 I've been dreaming about the Nurburgring and am going to move heaven and earth to make it next year, hopefully on the official BMW driving day in August.  I read in last months Car an interesting article about that chap who knew the circuit inside out from GT4 who took his 350z to the ring and found the GT4 experience to be very valuable once he got there.   I've scoured the net and have found lots of people whose experience was the same. [obviously with the caveat that nothing truly prepares you for the real life experience with the camber & elevation changes etc etc etc but as a pure way of memorising the basics of the circuit it seems ideal]

Now I've always been more of a PC Game person than a console fan, but I noticed Game are doing pre-owned PS2's for just €89 (which seems next to nothing) and have been thinking of taking the plunge.

What do ya think?  Seems like a bargain to me.  I know XB360 and PS3 are just around the corner but theres lots of cheap PS2 floating around so it seems a bit of a no-brainer.

Just wondering though; do you really need the wheel to enjoy the game?  internet opinion seems mixed on that one.

Mick

Hey Mick,

My old girl (below) is never going anywhere near the 'ring - but I'd say buy the PS2 and GT4 anyway. The driving experience is not that similar to real driving, but as you say, it can't hurt to learn the "look" of the track, which is apparently very accurate.  

The game in general is brilliant IMO, and GT3 & 4 are pretty much the only games I play (as I'm a PC man myself)

And no, you really don't need a wheel - the controller works fine once you are used to it.

i have a microsoft force feedback wheel and pedals for the pc if you would like to buy them  

i have a ps2 and gt4 (bought primarily for the game), with the logitech force feedback pro wheel its fantastic - thats the wheel with 900 degrees of rotation (2.5 turns lock to lock), costs £100 but oh so worth it, it completely transforms the game

micky_h wrote: Try GTR on the pc and download the 'Ring circuit.Only worthwhile with a force feedback steering wheel though.

have you tried Live For Speed yet?   thats one of the best driving sims available on the pc imo http://www.liveforspeed.net/ - http://www.liveforspeed.net/

billgates e30 wrote: that wheel works with the pc too, you need to download a driver or two but other than that, works perfectly

so i believe, i havent tried it yet though, hence my spare ms force feedback wheel

Will do Eamo.  I think I'm gonna get a PS2 anyway.  €90 isn't much and I've been checking out lots of pre-owned games are going fairly cheap now.  I don't mind being slightly behind on the technology curve.

Looking forward to mondello.  Only problem is my car is filthy at the moment so it means I've got a lot of cleaning to do in advance :)

Mick

Anything that can prepare you for your first visit or refresh your memory has to be a good thing--providing you accept the facts on elevations and Ideal lines can only be learnt on Nordschliefe.

Some of this years UK drivers on the 3 Day Course, recorded the instruction and runs thru each section, and then the open laps following the instructors car for their individual lap in the group sessions.Copied to DVD on their return.

Still no substitute for getting out the car, walking  a section and eye lining thru to the exit point , which we do when the groups have each of their section closed.When you walk you remember better than any film and dont forget it.

See you ALL in August 06.