Fanatec Porsche Vision GT Wheel Review

Fanatec seems to have gotten badly sidetracked here. They went through all the effort of making a CSL-level, officially Porsche-licensed wheel to a surprisingly nice standard, but for the wrong car. For every 1 person that wanted a Porsche Vision GT wheel, there are 1,000 people that would have wanted a Porsche GT3R or Cup wheel. They’ve really gone around the pile of cash to pick up a penny, but so be it. This is what we’ve got, and I’ll just tell you, it’s sneakily impressive, more posh and plush than I was expecting. However, there is one big problem with the ergonomics that you must know before you buy because it’s a real dealbreaker. Let’s take a look around.

Fanatec Porsche Vision GT Wheel

Before we begin, the wheel has not been provided by Fanatec for review, but let’s call it how it is. I have a Fanatec affiliate link below which, if you use it to travel to Fanatec before you buy, supports me at no added cost to you whatsoever. However, please read the whole article through before deciding. All words are my own, and I tell you exactly what I think, good and bad. That’s no truer than in this article.

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Unboxing the Fanatec Porsche Vision GT Wheel

The unboxing is quite suave. Fanatec definitely puts effort into the packaging these days, that’s for sure. Taking the wheel in hand, it feels remarkably plush and solid compared to what I was expecting. I’m not going to declare it automotive grade, but it’s definitely not toy-grade.

The Wheel is Surprisingly Well Finished

The synthetic suede wheel covering is nicely done, with stitching that veers away from the thumb contact point; that’s a nice touch. There are multiple encoders on board, integrated into the rim itself, with thumb dials a bit further in. The centering stripe on the top looks good, the thumb buttons are integrated seamlessly, the frame is cast aluminum with a nice quality plastic shroud over the top, the shifter paddles are crunchy and clear. There’s just a lot going on, and it’s all very nicely executed for the price. The fit and finish actually give off clubsport vibes more than it does CSL, because it’s a clear and distinct step up in luxuries from, say, the McLaren GT3 wheel. Good thing given there’s a clear and distinct price gap between those two, but my point is that this wheel is likely to surpass your expectations in terms of quality and build; it’s quite nice.

The one thing that has been given undue critique, in my opinion, is the presence of the QR2 Lite quick release. To pay 350 euros and have a plastic quick release, regardless of how good it is, is hard for some to swallow, but I honestly don’t have anything against it. The QR1 Lite was awful, weak, and restricted you to low torque mode. The QR2 Lite is marvelous, much stronger, and has no torque restrictions on preinstalled wheels.

Fanatec Porsche Vision GT is Shaped Like a Pretzel

It was all going so well until I used it. Immediately, I noticed something. Like coming up one chair short at a wedding ceremony, there’s seemingly nowhere for my thumbs to officially rest, so they just rest on the hard cowl on the top of the wheel spoke. To whoever designed this - why?

The Fanatec Porsche Vision GT Seems To Have Forgotten About Thumbs

On every other wheel I’ve ever used, every single one, there’s always been a piece of wheel rim here, some kind of perch, big or small, for the thumb to sit comfortably. Not here. My thumbs naturally fall onto the hard cowl, and it feels like I’m using it wrong or as if I’m somehow outside of normal proportions, but I know I’m not. I’m using it the same way I’ve used the past 10 wheels I’ve had come through, and this just feels weird, uncomfortable, distracting even. I’m testing this on a CSL DD, but if I were using it on something more powerful, then those thumbs are gonna get sore and irritated over time.

The Thumbs Naturally Rest on an Element of Hard Plastic

Now, look - my hands are not those of an oil rig worker, I know, but I am confident that my sentiment will be shared by a few of you, so think about where your thumbs sit on your current wheel if you have one. For me, this is something that spoils the entire wheel, but equally, I like the rest of the wheel enough that if push came to shove, I’d be tempted to just add a rubber or fabric cushioning pad where my thumbs are resting, and it’d probably do. I shouldn’t really have to, though; this thumb-less rim design deviates from conventional steering wheel wisdom, and I use that word wisdom purposefully, and the result is your thumbs feeling ostracized, without a place to be.

Besides that, things are actually looking good overall. I like the diameter of the wheel; the design is low-profile and understated enough that it fits in and doesn’t look toyish. I think it could do without the little red riding hood plastic rings on the buttons, but honestly, it’s a sleek design that has almost everything you need for general GT-style driving. It’s a perfect hybrid, or compromise, between GT and GT3. It looks better in person and feels better in hand from a quality standpoint than the pictures and video really convey.

The Fanatec Porsche Vision GT Shifters are Clear and Crisp

The shifters are metal, quite loud, heavy, and crisp in activation. The magnets are strong, so it feels like a distinct pop. These feel more premium and expensive than most, but just be aware of the potential for noise pollution; they’re considerably louder than the CSL P1 V2 wheel, for example. The little screen in the bottom right does the same job as most of the displays on Fanatec’s wheels—nothing too special, merely a way to navigate the tuning menus and add a bit of life to it as you drive. Another thing you might notice is the lack of any onboard lighting besides this, not even a shift light. It makes sense given that the Porsche Vision GT Concept this is based on is an EV, but it's worth noting because I make the same point elsewhere.

The Product Detail and Execution are Above Expectations. The Ergonomics Let it Down.

So, I’ll conclude and summarize. It is made well; the quality and plushness of the materials and finish are genuinely higher than I expected. Yes, it has a plastic QR2 Lite as standard, but I personally have no issue with it. It works great, so don’t get too hung up on it because there’s something else you should be focusing on instead if you’re making your decision. You can see with your own eyes that this isn’t a rally or drift wheel; it’s all about hands at 9 and 3, which is why that ergonomic oversight over the thumb placement really hurts, figuratively speaking. If not for that, I wouldn’t have had much to find fault with, honestly. It seems quite good for the cost in all other areas, and I was genuinely impressed with the detail, materials, and overall execution up until the point I actually used it. Not everyone will feel the same way about it, but everyone should at least hear about it before you make up your mind. I watched a couple of reviews in case I was on my own on this, but I’m not the only one to bring it up. For me, I’m just gonna call it: unfortunately, this is one of the least comfortable steering wheels I’ve used for one of the silliest reasons. The Simagic GT Neo isn’t very comfortable because the grips are rock hard; same thing with the Moza ES Formula Wheel. The Fanatec Porsche Vision GT is like driving a very nice car with comfy seats, but the roof is so low that you have to drive with your neck crooked. It’s an unfortunate dealbreaker that not everyone will be affected by, but those that do will be glad of the heads-up.