If you are not already aware Simnet pedals are natively compatible with Fanatec on consoles. This means you can plug them directly into your Fanatec base and they will work without an adaptor on GT7. I have been using these pedals for a few weeks, this is my review.
The Simnet pedals are modular so you can choose what options you want. This review will focus on the two-pedal set without haptics, since that is all you need for GT7. I will be looking at performance of the brake and throttle, adjustability, quality, and value. For reference I have owned and used the following pedal sets in GT7.
• Fanatec CSL Elite V2
• Fanatec Clubsport V3
• Thrustmaster T-LCM
• Thrustmaster T-3PA
• Thrustmaster T-3PM
• G29 with TrueBrake mod
For a long time Fanatec has not had a pedal set that fits into the “Podium” line of products. Most PC racers run other brand pedals with Fanatec, but where does that leave console racers? The V3’s are quite old now and lack some important adjustments compared to modern premium pedals. I personally preferred the CSL Elite V2’s which many don’t realise are newer than the V3’s. Of all the brakes listed above the V2’s will be my bench mark here since on price they are very comparable to the two-pedal set from Simnet, and performance wise I found the V2’s to be the best I had used. So, the question is can the Simnet SP Pros substitute for that missing podium tier brake set from Fanatec?
Adjustability
These pedals are highly adjustable. Compared to any of the pedals listed above, which likely account for 90% of GT7 players, these pedals have far more adjustability. You can adjust pedal height, weight, damper position, removable damper, preload, angle and throw. The optional heel support is also adjustable which was very welcome, and you have three sets of elastomers and an optional spring set. And that’s just the physical adjustments on the pedal itself. In the desktop software you can map the pedal response curve, adjust the load cell pressure, offset and deadzones. Incidentally you do lose the ability to use the brake force setting on your Fanatec wheel with these pedals, you must do it in the software, but that is a small price to pay since once dialed in you won’t be changing it again.
Build Quality
Put side by side with a set of V2’s or V3’s these pedals appear very robust and high quality. I can’t speak to long term durability since I have only had them for a few weeks, but I see no reasons why they wouldn’t last very well. One of my students told me he experienced a problem with the mounting bolts being too soft. I did not personally experience this issue but its worth mentioning. Just be careful tightening things up or source some alternative bolts from your local hardware store. The heel support particularly impressed me because I had to raise it up and tilt it down to get my preferred ergonomics and I wondered if it would flex. I am happy to report it does not.
Value for Money
I paid £255 (Uk Sterling) delivered for the two-pedal set without haptics, which compares extremely well to anything else you can use on console without an adaptor. If Fanatec ever do release a Podium tier pedal set (the Corsair CEO did say it will be addressed) its going to have to be very comparable price wise to the V3’s in order to compete with the Simnets. Comparing directly to all the pedal sets listed above, the Simnet SP Pros offer considerably more value for money.
Performance
The sheer amount of adjustability will no doubt put some people off. Considering there is more involved in dialling in these pedals than there is in good FFB settings, and knowing that most people don’t bother to understand Fanatec FFB settings in detail, I can see that these pedals are not for everyone. But I would urge you to read on even if you think you are in that category.
One of the issues I have had with all the aforementioned console compatible pedal sets, is adjustability. And if you’re honest with yourself you probably have this issue too. The V3’s were too close together for my feet with racing boots on. The V2’s ideally needed to be taller for me, but all you can do is cope with it / adapt to it. The T-LCM’s didn’t have enough sideways adjustability for me. The list of things you just adapt to or put up with on other consoles compatible pedals its endless. Even down to feel. Of all the load cells listed above they all had their own inherent feel which you can tinker with but ultimately must just adapt to something close to what you want. With every pedal set I have used I always wished I could do this or that with them. Not so on the Simnet SP Pros. It can be a drawn-out tedious process getting them dialed in, but there is no excuse with these for not achieving your ideal ergonomics / feel. If you want a hard brake with very little throw you can do it. If you want springy spongey brake with more throw you can do it. And anything in between.
Speaking personally, I did not like the feel of the stock elastomers provided with these pedals. I couldn’t quite get it where I wanted. This is probably very personal because one thing I have learned is that load cell elastomers are not all the same in feel. One brand can feel very different from another. So, you may not have the same feelings I did about the stock elastomers. RTR HakanPower a driver in GT7 whom is active on the Digit Racing discord server told me that the optional spring set dramatically changes the feel of the stock elastomers. I ordered the spring set and I can confirm that he was right. It was an immediate and instant difference and I was then able to set about fine tuning. It’s also worth noting that due to the pedal design you can use elastomers from any other brand. I tried my V2 elastomers in the Simnet pedals, and RTR Hakanpower tried the Heusinkveld sprint elastomers in the Simnet’s which it turned out he didn’t like. Hakan is a quick driver so it therefore proves that elastomer feel is a very personal thing. That said with the optional spring set I would be surprised if you cannot find a feel you like.
In terms of performance, I am extremely happy with them and will not be removing them from my rig, until if Fanatec release a Podium pedal set. And even then, we’ll see what they bring to the table. Its always a bit unnerving changing to new pedals. I am not the most adaptable person so I have to get things just how I like them to maximise my pace. There are so many perimeters of adjustment with the Simnets this process takes a while and you constantly second guess yourself wondering if the lack of pace is you or the new pedals. However, once you get them dialled in, they are the best pedals I have used. For the record, I have set them up to feel a lot like my V2’s felt, since they were my benchmark pedals and the ones I was using when I found my current pace. In fact, I would go as far as to say the V2’s played a not insignificant role in helping me unlock my current pace. So why spend £255 to replicate the feel I had on my V2’s? Doesn’t that make this whole venture pointless? No. Those minor issues you have with those other pedal sets that you just deal with and don’t really think about? That is where these pedals come in. Yes, I have replicated the fundamental feel of the V2’s, but the pedals are taller, which I wished the V2’s were, and I also wished I could so something to make the V2’s fight back a bit more below 50% pressure. The return force if you will. These were minor issues. I was very happy with my V2’s. But I still wished I could correct these things and spent a good amount of time trying to correct the latter one to no avail, due directly to the limited number of things you can do with the V2’s. The Simnets have basically allowed me to have that fundamental V2 feel with a taller pedal and a bit more return force, incidentally the latter was achieved with the brake response curve mapping. With the 1.55 physics patch in GT7 I even decided to soften up the brake a little and make it a bit more spongey to reduce the time taken to get to 100% pressure, since in the new physics you can spend more time at 100% and trail braking is less nuanced now. Essentially, I have sacrificed a little trail braking precision since trail braking is not so important now as it was in 1.49 physics. This would not have been an easy tweak to make on any of the above listed pedal sets. On the Simnets it was a quick tweak in the software.
A quick word on the throttle. Until now I had only used throttles that in varying build quality were nothing but a pedal and a spring. And that is fine. That is all you need. Anything more is unnecessary. So, the adjustable spring rate, preload, and damper on the throttle took some getting used to. But I have to say I love it and would not want to go back to a basic sprung throttle with little to no feel. Having some resistance and rebound in the throttle has been a game changer for me. If you think about the principle of not putting 100% throttle down until the car is straight enough, I find this a bit more intuitive since the throttle has some resistance to it which helps me coordinate with the steering resistance. Again, probably a very personal thing and doubtful it’s made me faster. but still nice to have. One of those things you don’t want to give up once you’ve tried it.
Conclusions
I definitely recommend them. For the money these seem like a no brainer and its hard to see anything else directly competing with these pedals for consoles right now. What you are getting here usually costs three times as much elsewhere. Have these pedals made me quicker? That’s very hard to say. I’ve been very pleased with my pace recently and the names I’ve been able to race against, but it’s too early to say the brake is making a difference. It just feels nicer and more intuitive and it does what I want and I have no small compromises like all the other pedals. That’s got to be worth it.
Anecdotally as a coach for Digit Racing, brake pedal set up is one of the most overlooked issues in the game. Most people give little thought to how their brake feels and how well they can brake with it, which leaves huge time on the table. I am always helping people set up their brake pedals because they are unable to apply the techniques on their existing brake set up. So, while these pedals may not have made me faster, the chances are they will make you faster if you’re low A+ or below. Provided of course you are practicing the correct techniques and spend time getting a good set up. The brake pedal is the most important thing in being fast. I did want to try some CSL’s without the load cell since that’s what all the World Tour drivers are using due to the restrictions at live events, but with these Simnet’s I feel I would rather stick with these for now and maybe try the CSL’s later on down the line.
