It is a steering wheel that has many positives, which outweigh its negatives.
I never drove an F1 car and didn't see a reason to drive this specific steering wheel. I had bought it with the intention of changing its lights with heavy modding at some point when I had time, with LEDs, functional knobs, etc., just for the hobby.
However, this year, after being encouraged by a friend, I tried driving it in the GT3/4 races that I participate in, and I really enjoyed it. So, after over 100 hours of driving:
I'll start with the negatives:
- The paddles are average. Firstly, it has an annoying single-piece paddle that when you shift gears, it pulls the other way. Foolish. While I don't like the mods from 3drap.it, the specific magnet paddles kit that I have tried is a very good upgrade compared to the stock paddles, and I recommend it 100%.
- The rubber grips are uncomfortable when the hand starts sweating after hours of driving. I always drive with gloves, but whenever I take them off, I regret it. I plan to cover them with leather at the first opportunity.
- It's annoying to spend so much money and have fake dials on the face. Obviously, the bases don't support so many buttons to pass through, but still. It's something you say is a shame.
- It doesn't have paddles for the clutch like regular F1 cars. I haven't needed it, but for realism, it would be nice to have.
- Price. Especially now that I see it at 190, it seems overpriced. It's relative, but I have to say it.
- The two rotary encoders don't have much tactile feedback, resulting in imprecise adjustments.
And now the positives:
+ Its construction is very high-quality, you can feel it in your hand when you hold it, from its weight.
+ It has many buttons, in very convenient positions for on-the-fly changes. It has helped me a lot since I drive in VR. Of course, as I mentioned above, it could have more, but...
+ For F1 fans, it's truly a pleasure to drive in a replica.
+ It allows for a lot of modding, and I have seen some amazing wheels for inspiration online.
+ Due to its design, you always have your hands in the right positions.
In conclusion:
It is one of the most functional Thrustmaster steering wheels for use on their bases with specific types of racing. If someone is on PC and has the knowledge and tools, they can build a similar standalone wheel, possibly at the same price, and choose better switches, etc. For those who want something ready-made, it is the cheapest solution. Whether it's worth it or not is up to each person and their budget.