Car racing games have something special. It is true that they can be liked more or less, but nobody usually turns down the opportunity to play one. Even less if it is through a good simulator with its steering wheel, pedals and even seat like those used in racing cars. But how much does it cost to build the best racing simulator? We see it.
Feel like a real pilot
In the world of video games there is a genre that seems inexhaustible, we refer to that of car racing simulators . No matter how long there is more or less news each year, it has a very loyal user community who spend hours and hours behind the wheel.
And it is normal, because they end up mounting “real vehicles” inside the house thanks to all that hardware that allows you to feel as if you were really inside the cabin of a racing car. So, if you have the adrenaline rush generated by going at full speed and you are one of those who always compete to arrive first, let’s see everything you have to take into account to make your own racing simulator . Or, if money is no problem for you, buy one of the best that already exists in the market, ready just to connect and enjoy.
Vesaro Racing Simulator
Let’s start with the easy option, but not the cheapest. If you do not have money problems, it is clear that the best option is to opt for a ready-made solution. You get rid of complications when choosing components, how to square them, etc. Of course, you have to pay for that comfort.
Vesaro’s racing sim is possibly one of the best in this regard. A complete set where you not only have screens, but also a seat, steering wheel, pedals and everything you need for a truly realistic driving experience.
This Vesaro kit includes everything, from the structure itself to the screens such as the cockpit with steering wheel, pedals and seat. Although to justify the almost 50,000 euros it costs, it has to offer something more. So here we also have a vibration simulation system.
Broadly speaking, this system includes two parts so to speak . On one side is the part that holds the three screens that it uses as a U. These panels offer a 55-inch diagonal and are curved, so the feeling of being immersed and inside the vehicle increases.
Then there is the second part of the kit, the cokpit . Here we not only have a seat typical of race cars, comfortable and capable of transmitting those sensations that you would feel in a competition vehicle, but also a structure where the steering wheel and pedals are fixed. Thanks to that, you avoid something typical such as the seat or steering wheel and pedals moving while you play, making you have to sit well again, etc.
If all that were not enough, the structure where these elements are attached includes a movement simulation system with which you will feel the bumps in the road when you move at full speed on it. That’s one of the big reasons this racing emulation kit comes at the cost that it does.
Now, could we assemble all this on our own and more economically? Well the answer is yes, but logically we will have to make commitments.
How to build your racing simulator: hardware
Let’s put the third-party solutions aside and go to something more fun: how to build your own racing simulator? It really does not have much mystery, but you do have to know what hardware we might need and which would be the most recommended. In addition to an indicative price. Because it is not the same to invest 2,000 euros than, for example, go to about 12,000 if you are looking for certain components or extras.
The steering wheel
The first thing to enjoy a much more satisfying driving experience is, without a doubt, having a good steering wheel. There are hundreds of options here, so it will all depend on how much you are going to play and what kind of sensations you want to feel.
If it is something casual, you may have more than enough cheap and simple ruffles. However, if you are looking for something much more real, then Logitech solutions are one of the most attractive. They recently launched their Logitech G923 with TrueForce technology , a steering wheel with the latest in components, a great build quality and a vibration technology that in the games that support it offers a much more realistic driving.
In addition, this proposal is compatible with both cones such as PlayStation or Xbox and PC, which is really where it does not matter most for it to work, so we are going to tell you about it below. Other somewhat cheaper options are from Logitech itself or from brands such as Thrumaster. The important thing is that they all offer a good level of precision, so that when you turn a lot or a little, fast or slow, the car responds as it would in reality.
Gear box
To add much more realism to driving, along with the steering wheel and pedals you can also use a gearbox and add a bit of realism by feeling that you are driving as you would in a racing car or your own.
Of course, these gearboxes are useful for depending on what type of games. Because, as you know, there are cars like those of Formula 1 that said gearshift levers are placed right on the steering wheel. So don’t buy before you know exactly what controls you’ll need for the game you want to play.
Cokpit
The cokpit is nothing more than the cockpit , but quiet that it is not something literal. It is the structure that you can buy already complete, with seat included, or just with everything you need to anchor the one you want next to the steering wheel, pedals and other accessories.
The idea or purpose is that everything remains as if it were a single piece. So while you are playing, the pedals or the seat will not move from each other if with the tension of the race you exert more pressure or faster movements, and the same for the steering wheel.
It may seem like something not very necessary, but in the long run it turns into the opposite. So carefully consider all the options that exist in the market to be able to choose the one that best suits your budget. Because there are cokpit that can cost more than 1,000 euros quietly, although the normal thing is that with a seat included they are around 300 or 500 euros .
Monitor support
The next step to create your racing simulator is related to the monitors or monitor that you are going to choose. Depending on the number of them, you will need one type of support or another. There is a lot of similarity here to the ones you would use for a work environment. But it is important that you have it clear so that the height and angle adjustments are always the same.
For example, you can get an arm for two or three screens. This last configuration is the most ideal because you have a central screen for the view that you will see in front of the road or circuit and then the two sides for the panoramic vision.
However, in the event that you cannot or want to opt for several screens, the recommendation is that you bet with an ultra panoramic panel. It may be a somewhat more expensive choice, but you have 34 “and even 49” screens with which you do not suffer any type of cut and you will have a vision very similar to what you would have inside the vehicle.
Motion simulator
To round off the experience, if in addition to the money you also have the necessary space, a movement simulator will be the icing on the cake. Because the realism that is obtained thanks to the integration with certain simulators makes you feel the same experience as in a real car.
The problem, these are usually quite expensive. For example, the SimLight 150 that you can see in the image above has a cost of 12,040 euros onwards. And the rest of similar proposals are also on par in terms of costs.
PC Gaming and monitors
We haven’t talked about the PC because there really isn’t much to comment on. Most gaming-focused PCs will offer plenty of power to run these types of simulators. Of course, you should know that proposals such as iRacing or rFactor consume fewer resources than other more commercial options such as Project Cars 2.
So, a PC with a high-end CPU and GPU plus a solvent configuration in terms of RAM and storage will be enough to run these types of games at resolutions that will be around 1080p or 1440p at a refreshment above 60 fps.
And the same with the screens. Monitors that have a refresh rate above 60 Hz is ideal. For example, 144 Hz will give you a feeling of fluidity and speed when riding very high. In case you do not want to bet on several screens, remember that there are ultrawide models of 34 or even 49 inches that are frankly striking.
Therefore, to the starting question of how much it costs to mount a car racing simulator, the answer is that it depends. Not counting the PC, for about 1,500 euros you can have a very attractive set consisting of several screens, brackets, steering wheel and pedals. So it’s just a matter of thinking a bit about what you have, what you would like to have and going for it.