The Ultimate Cockpit List

[Technique]

It would be nice if there were a single thread where all of the known cockpits are listed. So... I figured I'd start one!

If you have any cockpits to add, use the following format and I'll add it to the list:

Format:
Website - Cockpit name - Cost (Currency) - Things it includes besides chassis - Other info (i.e. cannot fit 3 pedals, no LCD mount, etc)

If any item is not known, just use "???". If someone has a better format let me know If you have any experience with the product, feel free to write a brief review. I posted a few to get us started.

Ultimate Cockpit List
www.bobearlracing.com - VRC (Virtual Racing Cockpit) - 204.892 EUR - Bucket seat - Accessories: Monitor mount, G25 shifter mount
www.cxcsimulations.com - Motion Pro II - ??? - Motion simulator, wheel, pedals, racing seat, shifter, surround sound, 3 lcd's
www.cyberkart.com.au - Cyberkart - 559.705 EUR - Reclining seat, adjustable wheel/pedal base - No Display mount, shifter mount appears in virtual tour but no where else
www.force-dynamics.com/301/ - Force Dynamics 301 - ??? - Motion simulator
www.force-dynamics.com/401/ - Force Dynamics 401 - ??? - Motion simulator
www.formulasim.com - Formula Sim - 338.055 EUR - Adjustable wheel/pedal mount, seat - No seat cover, no monitor mount, no shifter mount, no rear speaker mount
www.formulasim.com - Formula Sim Spec R - 439.501 EUR - Adjustable wheel/pedal mount, seat, seat cover, shifter mount, rear speaker mount - No monitor mount
www.frex.com/gp - Frex GP - 247.327 EUR - Aluminum chassis - Accessories: Seat, Monitor rack (145.336 EUR), keyboard holder, mouse board, shifter stand, overhead pedal mount, foot rest
www.gamepod.co.uk - GamePod GT2 - 508.44 EUR - Racing Seat, wheel/pedal mount - No monitor mount, no shifter mount
www.gameracer.co.uk - GameRacer Elite - 434.205 EUR - Seat, wheel/pedal mount - No monitor mount, no shifter mount
www.gamerscockpit.com.au - Gamers Cockpit GT2 - 1,147.70 EUR ??? - Autotecnica 'Monza' Race Seat, G25, 2.1 logitech sound - No monitor mount, no shifter mount
www.granturismocockpit.com - MOVETECH GTC Professional Racing Cockpit - 349 EUR - Reclining Seat, 1 yr warranty - Accessories: G25 shifter mount, LCD mount
www.gtcockpit.com - Sparco Racing Cockpit Prop - 236.499 EUR - 1 yr warranty - Accessories: Sprint Seat or Siena Seat, Only compatible with DFP (?)
www.gtrevolution.com - GTRX-01 - 203.705 EUR - Seat, wheel/pedal mount - Accessories: monitor mount, g25 adapter kit, cup holder/arm rest
www.hotseatinc.com - HotSeat RACER GT - 547.487 EUR - Seat, 5.1 surround - No LCD mount, no shifter mount
www.hotseatinc.com - HotSeat RACER GTX - 684.530 EUR - Seat, 5.1 surround, LCD mount - No shifter mount
www.hyperstimulator.com - Hyper Stimulator Clubman – 344 EUR - MDF chassis kit (not assembled) – Accessories: Fiberglass seat, steering/pedal brackets or hyper pc wheels/pedals
www.hyperstimulator.com - Hyper Stimulator ProtoGP – 2214 EUR – Wheel/pedals, fiberglass seat – Accessories: sequential shifter, cup holder, wheels, keyboard mounts, vibrator
www.hyperstimulator.com - Hyper Stimulator Extreme – 3831 EUR – Wheel/pedals, carbon fiber seat, sequential shifter - Accessories: cup holder, wheels, leather trim
www.interactiveracing.com - BRD Race Frame Pro V2 - 609.305 EUR - Cobra Monaco Seat, monitor stand - No shifter mount (?)
www.interactiveracing.com - BRD Race Frame Pro V2 (No Seat) - 460.814 EUR - Monitor stand - No shifter mount (?), no seat
www.interactiveracing.com - BRD Sim Game Frame - 165.161 EUR - Basic pedal/wheel chassis - No seat, no monitor mount, no shift mount
www.manu-factory.it - SEAT 4 SPEED - 294 EUR -Seat, wheel/pedal stand - No monitor mount, no shifter mount
www.myhomesimulator.com - Sim Racer 4000 - 339.955 EUR - Adjustable seat, wheel stand, 2.1 surround, FF rumbler in seat, rumbler control unit - Accessories: TV/Monitor stand, keyboard/mouse tray
www.myhomesimulator.com - Home Simulator Pro - 2,724.86 EUR - Adjustable seat, adjustable pedal base, FF rumbler in seat, rumbler control unit, keyboard tray, mouse tray, 5.1 surround, monitor mount
www.nixim.com - Nixim Racecraft GT - 900.873 EUR – COBRA Monaco race seat, surround speak mounts (?) – Accessories: shifter mount, keyboard/mouse mount, monitor mount, speaker mounts
www.nixim.com - Nixim Racecraft Polecat - 667.990 EUR – COBRA Monaco race seat – Accessories: shifter mount, keyboard/mouse mount, monitor mount, speaker mounts, No rear speaker mount
www.obutto.com - oZone - 170.568 EUR - Reclinable seat, keyboard/mouse mount, monitor stand - Accessories: 10 EUR shifter mount
www.playseats.com - Playseat - 365.07 EUR - Folding racing seat - No monitor mount
www.precisechair.com - Precise Racing Chair - 150 EUR - Adjustable wheel stand, accessory stands for keyboard, mouse, shifter, converts to rocker - No monitor mount
www.realsnakepit.com - SNAKEPIT GSL - 476.167 EUR - Wheel/pedal mount, Reclinable APC Seat (may change) - No monitor mount, no shifter mount
www.redlinesims.com - Qualifier Series - 271.266 EUR - Aluminum wheel/pedal mounts, cup holder – DIY (assembly required), Accessories: Seat, monitor mount, vibrator
www.redlinesims.com - Speed Series - 406.938 EUR – Basic seat, Aluminum wheel/pedal mounts, cup holder - Accessories: Better Seat, monitor mount, vibrator
www.redlinesims.com - Checkered Flag - 678.238 EUR – Painted finish, Speed seat, wheel/pedal mounts, cup holder – Accessories: Better Seat, monitor mount, vibrator
www.rfaction.net - RFaction Base - 217.362 EUR - Swivel seat base only - Accessories: Seat, pedal assemblies, swivel casters, connecting tube for seat to pedal
www.rinoseats.com - Rinoseat - 169 EUR - Folding seat - No monitor mount
http://forum.rscnet.org/showthread.php?t=304293 - Rinoseat Revolution G25 Edition - 199 EUR - Folding seat, Shifter mount - No monitor mount
www.sim-gear.com - SimGear Profile Cockpit - 408.080 EUR - Keyboard/mouse mount, Aluminum profile acts as monitor mount, wheel/pedals mount, and seat mount - No seat
www.trinity-racing.com - Race Frame GOLD - ??? - Cobra Seat, Clark transducer, custom wheel/shifter, PC, sim software and display
www.virtual-gt.com - VirtualGT Personal Racing Simulator - 11,576.98 EUR - MasterCraft Seat, 4 corner suspension, 4.1 audio, adjustable wheel/pedal bases, G25 wheel/pedals (?), vibration transducers - No display (but display options exist) Accessories: Cover, Sequential Shifter
www.virtualperformanceparts.com - VPP Racing Rack Basic - ??? – 3yr warranty – Attaches pedals to office chair, no seat, no wheel mount, no lcd stand
www.virtualperformanceparts.com - VPP Racing Rack Professional - ??? – Racing seat, monitor stand, keyboard/mouse holder, 3 yr warranty
www.virtualracerx.com - VRX Pro Series - ??? - Sparco Monza racing seat, surround sound, vibration system, wheel (G25, DFP, or momo, xbox 360)
www.virtualracerx.com - VRX Mach 4 - ??? - Sparco Monza racing seat, surround sound, vibration system, wheel, wind system, 3 LCD’s
www.virtualracerx.com - Custom VRX - ??? - Sparco Monza racing seat, surround sound, vibration system, wheel, 1 LCD, Head tracking IR
www.virtualroadster.com - Virtual Roadster - 537.635 EUR - Race-grade seat, Wheel deck supports 100lb monitor (need better pics), Accessories: Shift Deck for G25 or Act Labs shifter
www.visionracer.com - Vision Racer VR3 - 476.871 EUR - Seat (?), wheel/pedal mount - Accessories: LCD mount, corporate plinth, harness

www.xe.com for currency converter

*Cockpit details not guaranteed to be accurate

[jaws99]

Good thread Very helpfull

[Polyracer]

Good Idea for a thread (sticky?)
Wish it was around when I bought my chassis.

You even spotted the difference between the Nixim Racecraft GT and the Polecat.

I bought the GT with custom Renault colours (old blue and yellow) and had my own design for the bonnet motif print (you can design your own and Nixim will print and apply it for you).

The chassis is (very) strong and stiff, all the mounts can be fitted left or right handed - and there is a mount for everything that a simracer needs.

Everything can be adjusted for height, reach, and angle.

Looks gorgeous with those Carbon fibre panels, well designed, well finished, can't think of any complaints after about four months of blissfull use.

Not at all cheap - but if you're lookin for the best - you found it.

[Turbo Dad]

http://https://shop.interactiveracin...p?ProductID=25


BRD raceframe - What i got

[Technique]

Polyracer, may I ask what wheel/pedals you are using? I was just wondering how easy it was to mount them to the Nixim chassis.

[Polyracer]

For my G25, I'm using the "standard" pedal mount - for cheap plastic pedals, it angles the pedals back towards you, to match the low sports car type driving position.

I thought that when I bought the Nixim GT that I would very quickly need to upgrade to a better pedal set - but actually no, I found that with the Nixim chassis and the Nixim G25 brake mod, the pedals are actually placed perfectly for me and feel like a much more expensive pedal set.
I will upgrade to a better pedal set, but there's no hurry now, so I have plenty of time to see what comes on the market.

There is another mount for more high end pedals like ECCI and VPP etc, - I have read comment like "the ECCI pedals and Nixim chassis were made for each other".
I'm hoping that Nixim get their own pedals out soon but they seem to be taking forever to release them .

I'll post a picture of my setup if ya want me to.

[Andy MacMartin]

The Virtual Roadster is coming onto the market in the U.S. this month or next, and looks really good. Price will be around $700 I think, but this is to be confirmed by the vendor:

http://www.virtualroadster.com/

[blackbird04217]

Virtual Roadster does look good, and if I had the chance to actually see or maybe test one I might be willing to buy it... But without seeing it in person or using it I can't let myself spend $700... I don't know how good it actually is because they didn't have much info that I would be interested in. Also how is the total weight 70lbs and the shipping weight is 37lbs or something like that?? Confused. The only thing I would complain about is their ad video isn't showing their product much. There are a lot of in game clips, and clips of people "enjoying the game" but I would like to see the cockpit/rig in a walk around and explanation type of video. Well sorry to intrude on the thread about cockpits, I did find it helpful and am thinking about buying or building one within a year or two...

[BBO@BSR]

Originally Posted by Turbo Dad

http://https://shop.interactiveracin...p?ProductID=25


BRD raceframe - What i got

Nice but why do you then link to some "porn stuff" site
(erase the https:// in your link )

[RacerAsh3]

Originally Posted by Turbo Dad

http://https://shop.interactiveracin...p?ProductID=25


BRD raceframe - What i got

Clicked the link just as my mum came in

Nice one

lmao

[XCNuse]

Stuck like Gorilla glue

Figured it's a good list to look through, no need to be hidden in the depths.

[ted5155]

In regards to the comments on the Virtual Roadster from blackbird04217, post 8:

Thank you for the compliment and I understand your hesitance to make a major purchase over the Internet on merchandise you haven’t tested. That’s why one of the first Virtual Roadsters is going to Lou Magyar at AutoSimSport so he can do a thorough review.

You mentioned the website doesn’t have much info that you’d be interested in. What kind of information are you interested in? What questions do you have?

The Specs page has weights of the assembled cockpit, 70lbs, and the two boxes, 37lbs and 64vvlbs.

Your comments on the video were well taken. It was intended for a non-technical audience, more visceral than explanatory. Perhaps we should do another one, highlighting the features and addressing the concerns of simracers?

If you wish, I could send you a PDF of the Owner’s Manual, which has many illustrations and answers.

Thanks for your suggestions and I forward to your reply.
Ted

[renorino]

Additional informations (video&picture&review)

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_ruAMgWHyo driver height 190cm
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci03Sy3p47I
video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=UDjdhOSILXc
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4jFmuImnx8 driver height 181cm

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKMxINVNd70 hard test
&review: http://forum.racesimcentral.com/show...2&postcount=33

video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xN5QLNdUwuo driver height 197cm
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN8WQtYEE1k driver & codriver

pictures: http://picasaweb.google.ro/Gaas35/Ri...ezentacijaTest
pictures: http://picasaweb.google.ro/rinoreno/RinoseatRevolution
assembly: http://teamxfr.org/temp/ (only 12kg/ package 84cmx48cmx17cm)

videos: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=shoock123&p=v

video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=AbfLCZ4QrS8 heel and toe technique
my opinion about posibility of driving with heel and toe technique with Rinoseat + G25:
http://forum.racesimcentral.com/show...49&postcount=5

one of the reviews:
http://forum.racesimcentral.com/show...6&postcount=41
some reviews from Sweden:
http://forum.swedishsimracers.com/vi...?p=73553#73553

big thread page2 with many reviews:
http://forum.racesimcentral.com/show...=304293&page=2
big thread page1 (GENERAL PROMOTION):
http://forum.racesimcentral.com/showthread.php?t=304293

More reviews, soon from Finland, Switzerland, Croatia, Netherland, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, Italy, Germany...

Renato M.
Rino Industries Ltd.
Zagreb CROATIA
reno@rino.hr
http://www.rinoseats.com
RINOSEAT REVOLUTION
THE KING OF SPEED & PLEASURE

[aoun]

Hyper Stimulator the best to go with. Maybe most expensive, but very nice! I sat in one today and the carbon fiber seat vibrates. Comes in heaps of colors. Maybe getting one later on this year . Or soon! Ill post a video when i do!

Edit: No where to put the G25 gearbox. Im looking into that trying to fix that problem.

[Polyracer]

Removed

[Albieg]

Nice list. Maybe Frex should be there too.

Polyracer, your post (with the huge quote) is much worse than what you criticise. I'm one of those who like to know what's available and to make up my own mind, so I find those information useful. I don't see a good reason to react that way for some additional information added by a cockpit producer who also has a fresh S2 license.

[renorino]

Originally Posted by Polyracer

So, not happy a link in the first post - we seem to have a producer abusing the thread!!!

It will be only thread from me.
Thanks

[blackbird04217]

That and it was appropriately placed... Its loads better then having a thread for it...

Anyways, that seat looks terribly uncomfortable and "flippy". Almost like it will flip backwards if you leaned back without a monitor. I see that it won't from some videos but idk... Thats my 3c

[renorino]

Originally Posted by blackbird04217

...that seat looks terribly uncomfortable and "flippy"...

Please, can you read this:

...there is no need to move, it adjusts by your body and its very comfort, no pain in back or something,you can drive for hours without cramps or any other problems
i was testing like 15min and while driving, i didnt even feel that im sitting in something, it was really great, very soft so it feels like your levitating...
http://forum.racesimcentral.com/show...6&postcount=25

http://forum.racesimcentral.com/show...6&postcount=32

...I was enjoying sitting there on a very comfortable and great sim-racing seat - without any pain in the ass. Or maybe in my neck. Oh wait, my feet also dont hurt. And my back is perfectly fine. I think I could fall aspleep in it - I think this is enugh to convince everyone that it is actually very comfortable...
http://forum.racesimcentral.com/show...2&postcount=33

...Plus, it's very comfortable with lumber support and thanks to the design it can easily be put under a bed...
...When I first sat down in the seat, I couldn't believe how soft and comfy it was. You can just forget about anything else except that you're in a racing car trying to make that corner...
http://forum.racesimcentral.com/show...6&postcount=41

http://forum.racesimcentral.com/show...3&postcount=45

Originally Posted by blackbird04217

...Almost like it will flip backwards if you leaned back...

Rinoseat looks minimalistic (and it is light, only 10kg and cheap too), but such type of design was enormous problem for construction. You can't see that on video, but in structure of seat back are many steel reinforces.

Please, look at this picture (driver height: 190cm, seat back angle >130deg)


This is the last position of seat back.

Can you imagine, how Rinoseat must be stabile and strong, when it can keep the driver safely sitting in this position (position of F1 driver).


Rinoseat is totally different from any other raceseats, because we have been developing raceseat to improve driving experience and to improve the feeling of driving. For improving driving experience, we have many factors. Some of that are: foot pedal angle, seat base length, seat base angle, position of your crank, lumbar support, commodity, angle of your back... "Real" race seat is not good option for sim racer. Maybe for realistic look, or feeling of "siting", but for long long driving it is not a good solution. When we started Rinoseat project (2.5 years ago), we decided that we would make something completely different, something revolutionary. We do not want to copy other similar products. We have analized the market and we made construction and design priorities and developed Rinoseat through series of rigorous tests.

[Polyracer]

OK - a shot of my pride and joy

[blackbird04217]

I did read some of the quotes you added to this page, I was voicing my opinion about the pictures - it "looks" unstable and uncomfortable. I have not sat it one so I don't know how comfortable it may actually be. Anyways you sure got a lot of information up available for those that want to see it - and who knows, I might look into this down the line... But from my sight on an image that has been transferred over the internet - I don't see it being stable and comfortable ... I could very well be very wrong since there are loads of great testimonials out there for the product... But I won't know until I get to sit in it for myself.

[Chrester]

I am i proud owner of a Rinoseat. Had it for a couple of weeks now.
I understand that the seat looks weak and "flimsy" but it sure aint.
The construction is wery well and its very solid and stable.
It uses your body weight as a stabilizer and therefore the chair itself doesn't need to be a big heavy coloss

Sure, if you can have a seat placed permanently all the time at front of your screen, maybe you could get a more permanent solution of a "heavier" seat. But like myself and sure many other simracers i have to remove the seat while not racing and move it back to infront of my monitor when im into some good racing.

The sit comfort is excellent and you can sit for loong sessions. Im 184cm long and 90kg heavy and have no problems att all to feel comfort in the seat.

So for the modest price (around 200EUR) its a very good choice. I haven't tried any other playseat/racing seat so i cant compare with them but this seat is good enough for me

[Technique]

Even though I started this thread looking to purchase a cockpit, I'm not sure if I'm entirely satisfied with what's out there. It looks like I may wind up building my own.

Here's my thoughts on some of the units out there (note: I have not tested any of them in real life). With several of the cockpits, it appears that the pedals are at the same height as the seat base. I've never driven a Formula car. The only thing I've driven with that sort of layout is one of those corporate go-karts. In a cart, my left foot is fixed on the brake, and right is fixed on the right pedal. In a cart, I don't have to worry about heal toe downshifting or moving my feet at all. It seems like it would be uncomfortable (or maybe a better word is unnatural) to attempt to operate a 3 pedal unit in this configuration. The nixim, virtual roadster, and several others appear to have this sort of layout.

Others like the rinoseat appear to be better in this regard. My main complaint with the rinoseat just from pictures is the seat appears to be reclined too far. In all the cars I've owned, I've always sat in a racing position (even when not racing) with the seat close to the wheel and barely reclined. I can go on 6 hour road trips in this position without feeling uncomfortable. Perhaps this is a flaw in the rinoseat itself in that it needs to be reclined a fair amount to be comfortable.

Another complaint I have with just about all the cockpits is that they're all designed for 99% of the pedal units out there - the standard floor mounted pedals In my quest for absolute realism, I bought an overhang design. I can't blame them for this. Overhang style pedals are very rare and designing for them doesn't make sense $$ wise.

So in summary, I want my cockpit to be a clone of a sports car seating position. The perfect seating position is different for everybody. For example, in my Miata (or MX-5 for the rest of the world), all the controls (wheels, pedals, shifter, seat, ebrake) are perfect for my body size, arm length, etc. On the other hand, the position of the shifter in my RX-8 is too far backwards, the ebrake is too far away, etc. I think in order to properly emulate my car's cockpit, I would have to build one myself.

[Technique]

Originally Posted by blackbird04217

Virtual Roadster does look good, and if I had the chance to actually see or maybe test one I might be willing to buy it... But without seeing it in person or using it I can't let myself spend $700... I don't know how good it actually is because they didn't have much info that I would be interested in. Also how is the total weight 70lbs and the shipping weight is 37lbs or something like that?? Confused. The only thing I would complain about is their ad video isn't showing their product much. There are a lot of in game clips, and clips of people "enjoying the game" but I would like to see the cockpit/rig in a walk around and explanation type of video. Well sorry to intrude on the thread about cockpits, I did find it helpful and am thinking about buying or building one within a year or two...

I felt exactly the same in regards to the video. There's too much footage of the games, and not enough of the cockpit. People appear to be enjoying "the games" - not the cockpit. A racing cockpit doesn't make you smile or laugh, the game does. The video appears to be targeted towards the console gamer market. I think us sim-racing folks are much different. We want to know all the details. Does the monitor vibrate? Is the steering wheel mount solid? And possibly most important, is the driving position natural? The video doesn't actually show someone sitting in the cockpit from head to toe. It either shows their upper body or their feet. And there's no picture gallery on the website (or atleast I couldn't find one). I'd like to see someone sitting in the unit. Anyway, I hope the virtual roadster folks don't mind my feedback

[renorino]

Originally Posted by Technique

Others like the rinoseat appear to be better in this regard. My main complaint with the rinoseat just from pictures is the seat appears to be reclined too far. In all the cars I've owned, I've always sat in a racing position (even when not racing) with the seat close to the wheel and barely reclined. I can go on 6 hour road trips in this position without feeling uncomfortable. Perhaps this is a flaw in the rinoseat itself in that it needs to be reclined a fair amount to be comfortable.

Hi,

Did you saw the next pictures:




We have 5 positions of seat back, but we do not use 2 positions, because they are too close to the wheel, but...

Thank you for your opinion.

[Technique]

I had not seen those pictures. Thanks!

[Polyracer]

Originally Posted by Technique

Here's my thoughts on some of the units out there (note: I have not tested any of them in real life). With several of the cockpits, it appears that the pedals are at the same height as the seat base. I've never driven a Formula car. The only thing I've driven with that sort of layout is one of those corporate go-karts. In a cart, my left foot is fixed on the brake, and right is fixed on the right pedal. In a cart, I don't have to worry about heal toe downshifting or moving my feet at all. It seems like it would be uncomfortable (or maybe a better word is unnatural) to attempt to operate a 3 pedal unit in this configuration. The nixim, virtual roadster, and several others appear to have this sort of layout.


Another complaint I have with just about all the cockpits is that they're all designed for 99% of the pedal units out there - the standard floor mounted pedals In my quest for absolute realism, I bought an overhang design. I can't blame them for this. Overhang style pedals are very rare and designing for them doesn't make sense $$ wise.
So in summary, I want my cockpit to be a clone of a sports car seating position. The perfect seating position is different for everybody. For example, in my Miata (or MX-5 for the rest of the world), all the controls (wheels, pedals, shifter, seat, ebrake) are perfect for my body size, arm length, etc. On the other hand, the position of the shifter in my RX-8 is too far backwards, the ebrake is too far away, etc. I think in order to properly emulate my car's cockpit, I would have to build one myself.

I would describe the seating and pedal position in my Nixim as a the perfect sports car driving position.
Heel and toe driving is no different to that of your Mazda or Porche or Ferrari - heck I am using a G25 and H&T is second nature especially in games like GPL or GTL.

What makes H&T more difficult, is not having a progressive pressure to the brake pedal to work from, not your actual seating position - though with rubbish pedals it may help if you had an unrealistic driving position - like sitting as if you were drivng a truck.

The quality and feel of your pedals are the make or break for heel and toe driving, - not your actual seating position.

[renorino]

Originally Posted by Polyracer

The quality and feel of your pedals are the make or break for heel and toe driving, - not your actual seating position.

I do not agree with you.

I was wrote next text 06.01.2008 http://forum.racesimcentral.com/show...49&postcount=5

---------------------------------------------------------------
I am the designer and constructor (inventor) of Rinoseat Revolution. http://www.rinoseats.com/images/head1.gif
I studied simrace seats for almost 3 years. http://www.rinoseats.com/images/rinoseats11.jpg

Heel and toe technique of driving was one of the most important thing when I was developing Rinoseat.

For using this tehniques of driving, you must UNLOAD YOUR LEGS AND FOOT WITH PROPERLY POSITION OF ANGLE PEDALS PLATE!!!

Good simrace seat must have the following options:

1. long seat base (you unload your legs)
2. long side suport seat base (we discovered that you must have support when you push your pedals with heel and toe and that you rotate your foot)
3. proper angle of seat base (you get the feeling, that your legs are levitating)
4. small thickness of sponge under your knees (what we discovered from praxis was that your brain must feel one fixed position on your legs, one point of your legs must be fixed so that you could push pedals)
5. posibility (an option) that you can extend your legs without moving up your knees (even in case that you are 200cm height)

Originally Posted by Technique

...it appears that the pedals are at the same height as the seat base...

6. properly set height diference (distance) betwen your seat base and pedal plate
7. posibility that you can change angle of your pedal (correct angle is VERY IMPORTANT for your foot)
8. strong support for your pedal plate without flexing it (when you push your pedals, you produce really big force)
9. free space between your legs under knees

You can see all of this on this picture of Rinoseat:
http://www.rinoseats.com/images_share/seatpos1s.jpg

There is a video of heel and toe technique with Rinoseat:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AbfLCZ4QrS8
http://youtube.com/watch?v=A77dylVLsoU (on the end)

You can ask driver shown on this video anything about that. He used Rinosat for the last month with special attention on heel and toe technique (his review)
...Also I noted that my skills regarding pedals control has improved ALOT - because of my legs resting freely on the seat, and not floating in the air which is case if I'm driving on my regular chair...
http://forum.racesimcentral.com/show...2&postcount=33
---------------------------------------------------------------

Of course, you must have quality pedals, like you must have quality seating position, too. (G25 is fine, like you see)


P.S. We are preparing a special video with Rinoseat & Richard Burns Rally (Heel and toe technique of driving)

[Technique]

Originally Posted by Polyracer

The quality and feel of your pedals are the make or break for heel and toe driving, - not your actual seating position.

I agree that proper pedal placement and pedal feel is important. That's why after looking at all the pedal choices out there I decided to buy the CST's. For what it's worth I've never sat in a nixim cockpit so I can't argue that it does not have an ideal driving position. But if my goal is to emulate a car, I think it's important that the relative position of the pedals, wheel, shifter are as close as possible to an actual car - even if real cars' cockpits have safety/cost constraints and are not ideal.

I can't speak for everyone here of course. Not everyone is trying to emulate a car. Some may want an F1 style cockpit, others might want something small and portable, etc

[Polyracer]

Removed