Why I Hate the Logitech G29 (And Why You Might Still Buy It)

I was in your exact position three years ago. A few hundred euros burning a hole in my pocket, an empty bank account, and a burning desire to race. No experience. No clue where to start. And everywhere on Reddit, you see the same damn question: “G29 or Moza R3?” or “Is Thrustmaster worth it?”

So I bought a G29. And I hated it. And I regretted it. But (here’s where it gets interesting) if I could go back in time, I’d probably do it again. Sounds contradictory? Yeah. Let me explain why.

The Big Three: What You Get for Your Money

Logitech G29 (€299-€349)

The Logitech G29 is the Toyota Corolla of sim racing. Not exciting. Reliable as hell. You get:

Force feedback: Helical gear-driven. Feels like you’re turning through a tub of toothpaste. No joke.
Build quality: Plastic. Lots of it. But it keeps working, even if you drop it.
Pedals: The brake has a rubber stopper that feels like stepping on a tennis ball. Weird, but it works.
Compatibility: Everything. PS4, PS5, PC. And with a drive hub, Xbox too.

Price: €299 for a bundle. Sometimes €349 with shifter.

Thrustmaster T248 (€399-€449)

Thrustmaster did something odd with the T248: they made a wheel that’s better than the G29, but not much more expensive.

Force feedback: Hybrid (belt + gear). It’s quieter and smoother than the G29. But not as good as direct drive.
Build quality: Better than Logitech. The wheel is leather, the buttons feel solid.
Pedals: The T3PM pedals are some of the best entry-level pedals out there. Magnetic, adjustable, and they don’t feel like you’re pressing a frisbee.
Compatibility: PS4, PS5, PC. Xbox? No, for that you need the TX.

Price: €399. That’s €100 more than the G29.

Moza R3 (€499-€549)

Moza is the new kid on the budget block. And they did something Logitech and Thrustmaster didn’t dare: direct drive for under €500.

Force feedback: Direct drive. Yes, really. It’s a 3.9 Nm motor, directly connected to the wheel. No gears, no belts. Pure power.
Build quality: Metal. Lots of it. The wheel is aluminum and leather. Feels premium.
Pedals: The SR-P Lite pedals are okay, but not great. The brake has a rubber stopper, a bit like the G29.
Compatibility: PC and Xbox (with Xbox version). No PlayStation. Too bad.

Price: €499 for wheel + pedals. Sometimes €549 with desk clamp.

The Comparison: What Really Matters

Force Feedback: The Big Differences

Force feedback is the most important thing. It’s what lets you feel whether you’re driving on grass, or if your wheels are losing grip.

G29: Feels like holding a blender. It’s loud, jerky, and you feel every gear. But (and this is important) you get used to it. After a week, you won’t notice it anymore.
T248: Quieter. Smoother. It’s a clear upgrade from the G29. But it’s not direct drive.
Moza R3: This is the real deal. Direct drive means you feel every nuance. Every pebble on the track. Every edge of the kerb. It’s like going from a 720p TV to 4K.

My take: If you have the money, go Moza R3. The difference is huge.

Pedals: The Hidden Hero

Pedals are often underestimated. But they’re just as important as the wheel.

G29: The brake is too hard. Seriously. You have to stomp on it. But if you buy a mod (€30-€50), it gets better.
T248: The T3PM pedals are great. Magnetic sensors, adjustable resistance. No mod needed.
Moza R3: The SR-P Lite pedals are okay. The brake is too soft. You’ll want to buy a mod (€25).

My take: Thrustmaster wins here. But Moza is close.

Compatibility: What Works With What?

This is where it goes wrong for beginners.

G29: Works with PS4, PS5, PC. Xbox? No. But you can use a drive hub.
T248: PS4, PS5, PC. Xbox? No. Thrustmaster has the TX for Xbox.
Moza R3: PC and Xbox. No PlayStation. If you have a PS5, look at the Logitech G Pro (expensive) or the Fanatec DD Pro (also expensive).

My advice: Buy a wheel that matches your console. If you’re on PC, you’re lucky: everything works.

Upgrade Paths: Where You’ll Be in 6 Months

Here’s where it gets interesting. Because you’re not just buying a wheel for today. You’re buying a platform for the future.

Logitech G29

You can’t upgrade the G29. It’s a closed system. You can buy a shifter (€50) and a handbrake (€30). But the wheel stays the same. After a year, you’ll want more. And then you have to replace everything.

Upgrade path: G29 → Moza R5/R9 or Fanatec CSL DD. Costs €500-€800.

Thrustmaster T248

Thrustmaster has an ecosystem. You can replace the wheel (€150-€200), upgrade the pedals (T-LCM, €200), and add a shifter (TH8A, €150). But the wheelbase stays the same.

Upgrade path: T248 → T-LCM pedals → Thrustmaster T818 (direct drive). Costs €300-€600.

Moza R3

Moza has the best upgrade path. You can replace the pedals (SR-P, €299), add a shifter (€99), and even change the wheel (€150-€200). And if you want more power, you can buy the Moza R5 (5 Nm) or R9 (9 Nm). The wheel and pedals still work.

Upgrade path: R3 → SR-P pedals → R5 or R9. Costs €200-€500.

My take: Moza wins on upgrade path. Logitech loses.

The Real Question: Which One Should You Buy?

Okay, here’s my honest advice. No marketing talk.

Choose the Logitech G29 if:

Your budget is €300 or less.
You’re not sure if sim racing is for you.
You play on PS4 or PS5.
You want something that just works, no fuss.

Why: It’s cheap, reliable, and you can sell it for €200 if you quit.

Choose the Thrustmaster T248 if:

Your budget is €400.
You want better pedals out of the box.
You play on PS4 or PS5.
You want a quieter wheel than the G29.

Why: The T3PM pedals are the best in this price range. And the wheel is quieter and smoother.

Choose the Moza R3 if:

Your budget is €500.
You play on PC or Xbox.
You want direct drive, the best force feedback.
You want an upgrade path for the future.

Why: Direct drive is a game-changer. You won’t regret it.

My Recommendation: The Winner

If I had €500 and played on PC, I’d buy the Moza R3. No doubt. It’s the best investment for beginners.

But if your budget is tight, or if you play on PlayStation, then the Logitech G29 is still a good choice. It’s not the best, but it works. And you can upgrade later.

The real winner? The Moza R3. But only if you have PC or Xbox.

Common Mistakes: What I’d Do Differently

I bought too cheap. I bought a G29 because it was cheap. But I wanted more within 6 months. I should have bought a Moza R3 directly.
I ignored the pedals. I thought the wheel was most important. Wrong. Good pedals make a bigger difference than you think.
I didn’t buy a desk clamp. I thought I could put the wheel on my desk. It moved. Buy a desk clamp or a stand.
I thought force feedback was just noise. No. It’s essential. Direct drive is worth it.

Final Words

Sim racing isn’t cheap. But it doesn’t have to be expensive either.

Choose wisely. Think about the future. And don’t forget: it’s about having fun.

If you’re unsure, buy the Moza R3. You won’t regret it.

And if you have questions? Ask them. I’m happy to answer.

Drive safe.