Went from Thrustmaster to Fanatec a while ago, but I'm still using the good ol' TH8A. I love that thing. The form, the haptics, the metal build - it's unbeatable for the price.
@@Gamez4eveR Yep, still not strong enough, plus there needs to be a clunk feeling like a real shifter. It's not a bad shifter by all means, I was just looking for more realism.
For a TM console only racer, it's all we have lol. Loving this TM content though, a welcome change from logi and fanatec gear reviews. Your sim rig reviews are nice also but you've basically covered all the most popular ones already
Yeah it's hard once all the mainstream stuff is covered, tend to end up with the more niche and usually expensive gear as entry and mid level doesn't seem to change much.
@@KarlGosling There are some 3D printed add ons you can get for that shifter, Sim Racing Corner did a review on one and said it gives you much better tactile feedback when shifting, and feels like the gear is properly clunking into place, might be worth looking into if you ever intend to use it
Had one of these back in 2016. Solid as a rock. Felt pretty good too. Then had two different Fanatec CS shifters. Felt like a step up from the TM. Typical Fanatec both failed. Finally I got a ProSim. I mostly drive H pattern cars these days so it makes sense as far as an investment.
I don’t bother changing to the sequential shifter. I just use 3rd for down and 4th for up when I need sequential mode . You have to manually leave it centered but it gets the job done.
As good as i thought this shifter from Thrustmaster is, it does feel very well made and would take some stick, i eventually settled on the 3D printed shifter from SHH as it swaps between Sequential and H pattern modes a lot quicker and easier.
@@vladpalienko1542 It's brilliant. Mainly made from metal. Sturdy and positive inputs. As my Son said (who's a sim racer) a stick shift makes you feel like a badass!!!
can you pls make a review for the shh shifter? its a 3d printed shifter for the price of 100€ and me and my friend want to buy a shifter but dont know if we should choose the th8a or the shh
WTF had one turn up yesterday and now I've seen you post this video that's crazy, just waiting on my shifter mount and I will be setting it up, BTW keep up the hard work love your videos
Completely agree. I picked one up recently for £68 which included an aftermarket Sparco knob, and it's really good value. If I was paying full price, i'd save that little bit more and go Fanatec.
Great review! One other thing that I may mention. Inside Sim Racing did a video on how to use this as an actual handbrake around 6 years ago. I do not have this shifter so I cannot verify, but it looks legitimate. To summarize: you rotate the H pattern plate so 1 and 2 gears are to the front. Download the TH8A driver on your PC. From there, you can switch it into analog mode. This will allow you to pull the stick down the neutral lane to use as a handbrake. Provides a bit of extra value if you only have one mounting location like on some of the tubular rigs. Really considering this strongly after discovering that. Cheers!
There is a so called "Mod Cambio" available for 'improved feel' and quite affordable. Also it can be uses as a handbrake, Darin Gangi from ISR made a video about it and there are dozens of mods on Thingiverse as well. I don't like the Fanatec shifter because it's not working as a normal USB-device even with this 20 € 'Clubsport USB-Adapter' and can't count how often I had to un- and replug it to get recognized and how often I had to calibrate it. One of the most annoying devices I bought. I also miss-shift very often with this thing and needed a new spring after using it as sequential very soon after. The new SSH seems to be even better than both for less than 100€ plus shipping and some Alibaba-solutions doesn't look too bad either. So at least there are options nowadays and I would buy the SSH, but still very happy with my Frex, that feels mechanical and miss-shifts almost never happen.
@@phillupson8561 3D-printers pay for themself or you even make profit with it for not buying other stuff. Just printed a wheel-spacer for example that would've cost me 30 € plus shipping if buying it online. Would be out of Aluminium, but my print get's the job done just fine without any flex. I designed and printed dozens of parts for my rig and most I could not even buy. I've bought the Anycubic Vyper because it's almost idiot-proof and decent quality out of the box. An Ender 3 Pro does the same for half the price, just without auto-bed-leveling and two z-axis motors. Today I would buy the Prusa i3 MK2S+, basically the SimuCube 2 of the 3D-printer-market and most common printer in print-farms, but the new Ender 3 S1 Pro looks also awesome and more price-friendly.
There’s mixed reviews whether you can use it within Xbox and with a Logitech g920 apparently it works on pc but not together on Xbox if this is the case my shifter is arriving tomorrow I will need to return it
@@shahrukhaftab7498 I use it on PC. I would have a look on the box for you but it is up in the attic now and would be hard to dig out. I hope it does work for you.
@@shahrukhaftab7498 I also have a th8a, and it works with everything, but it depends on the cables, with the cable going from the shifter to the wheel, it'll work on console but not PC, and with the shifter to PC cable it'll work on PC but not Console. At least that's my experience
@@johnxina2140 this is correct, its not just you, thats how theyre designed. Th8 shifters work with the console when connected to a thrustmaster base, but not through usb or other company's base. Then they work on pc only through usb, not connected to a base
It's a great shifter. But, I've changed to the Fanatec one and the exact reason was the switching mechanism. Thrustmaster really should update the TH8 for now, because other than that it's a good shifter.
I think you forgot that you can turn it 90 degrees and use it as a handbrake. It has a fully recognized y-axis in the software if you switch into handbrake mode.
I have tried over and over to get the adapter plate from LowDownShifter to get this on my play seat. Coming up on two years and they have yet to reply to any of my purchase requests or contact emails to them. Any insight as to what the heck is going on? Unfortunately close to forsaking LowDown all together.
@KG, just me thinking, that the possible reason for the Thrustmaster wheel plugged with the TH8A direct would only have sequential gear pattern is that it over rides or utilities the same software program for gear up gear down pathway as the paddle shifters on the WB and as there are no button mapping pathway on the wheel for multiple gear choices programed on the WB this could explain why you had to connect the USB option of the TH8A to the PC or console direct to allow that function as that's what most of the games do any way. ??
It works either way perfectly with Thrustmaster based n pc- but I just upgraded just days ago to a dirrect drive 2 from fanatec and am trying to see if you have any advice why it’s not working with my base I’m using the adapter that came with the base and a c-type malefrom usb female to plug from the sun on the shifter to fanctec either port connector for the shifter
if you are trying to plug the TH8A into a Fanatec base it will not work, no adapter exists for this mate, you will need a Fanatec shifter or run the TH8A USB direct into your PC.
H pattern rally boys, let's go ! : ) I love this shifter. I'll buy a better one when this one brakes... 2 years strong under my aggressive shifts and never a problem... good product 💯
just looked it up it was arround 200 euros thats quite alot. fanatech one is 260 euros so i would say got for fanatech . and logitec is arround 60 euros so that one is probably good for beginer to test if you like using them.
It comes with both cables, but it would not work plugged into my TS-PC. So I have to use USB to PC. At least not in H-pattern, which is all I care about.
hi can anyone help ? i have a tgt wheel base with the thrustmaster load cell pedals plugged into pin port on rear as well as my thrustmaster sparco handbrake / sequential plugged in to the rear as well im using the latter as handbrake for my rally games and just use paddles behind wheel to change gear now because in the real world wrc they have gone back to using sequential gears tihs season with the new hybrid cars i thought i would do the same for more immersion when the new rally game wrc generations is released on nov 3rd i didnt want to outlay another £250.00 pound for another sparco shifter so ive ordered the thrustmaster TH8A shifter at £160 to set up and use as a sequential gear shifter , however, heres my problem there is no 3rd port on back of tgt hub so would it work if i used the pin/usb lead and plug into ps5 console usb port ? mty tgt is plugged into ps5 usb and works so will the TH8A shifter work using the usb port on ps5 console if not ill have to return ?? thanks in advance for any help cheers terry
I know Gosling is a major hardware guy. I would love to see him address the software side of things. The software for for Logitech g920 is a train wreck on windows 10. I had such a hard time with it, i finally had to uninstall the garbage software, just to get my wheel and pedals to work like they should on the games that I play. I would think that would factor in on people buying the hardware, and think he could save some people some hassles if he would warn them, hey for now, the software side of this or that wheel is garbage.
For me most software just seems to work mate (why I don't usually show it), G Hub just sits there in the background and I never have to touch it for example.
I actually prefer the logitech because of how you can move diagonally to the gears. And the fact that it only has six positions , makes it way easier not to mis-shift. I absolutely hate the 7 and R gear on the TH8A. I bought a gate blocker for 7 but it's too easy to accidently find your self in that slot when moving across to 5th and 6th
You pretty much just put me off my T248 completely, no point upgrading to a shifter after hearing that last part, would be gross going hard right to shift into 5th or 6th and you end up in fucking 7th or reverse
I mainly use my TH8A as a 5 speed or truck shifter. I solved this issue by making a stopper out of an old plastic pen. Just pull it apart and cut the tube to size so it slides over the adjacent metal teeth between the 5/6 & 7/R slots. When I want to use it as a 6 speed I just take it out and put a regular blocker in the 7th slot.
Hello there Karl, would you please do some reviews on LCD screens as thiers so many with so many different prices, Ive not a clue. ive already purchased afew items on your reviews. No beating around the bush and your opinion is not bought by these companies.
Yes the manual tells you if you plug it into the wheel base, it becomes a sequential. It will replace your paddle shifters... meaning you can only use one or the other in games. Been using mine for about 7 years or more... $150 new.
2 cables out of the box and yes, it work only in sequential mode if connected to a thrustmaster base I switch back to the Logitech one though, because to me it has a more "realistic" feel and I prefered it Oh and if you buy the Leo Bodnar adaptor you can also use it as a standalone device on pc :)
I used to run this shifter but I switched it out for the Chinese H pattern shifter from Aliexpress. The Chinese shifter is surprisingly better in every way imo. I'm absolutely shocked at how good it is for only $70
@@AVGELO that would probably be the only downside that I can think of. It has an all metal construction, feels solid, and takes some effort to get into each gear. But it is a bit loud when banging through the gears
amazon has the chinese metal shifters for $112 USD, they are far superior to the logitech and i believe better than the th8a at a better cost, they are all made in china anyways.
Went from Thrustmaster to Fanatec a while ago, but I'm still using the good ol' TH8A. I love that thing. The form, the haptics, the metal build - it's unbeatable for the price.
While the TH8A is a great shifter, I always felt it was too weak when going through the gears. I like a stiff one.
@@jamestaylor8577 Even after adjusting its resistance to max?
@@Gamez4eveR Yep, still not strong enough, plus there needs to be a clunk feeling like a real shifter. It's not a bad shifter by all means, I was just looking for more realism.
@@jamestaylor8577 did you eventually find a shifter you like?
For a TM console only racer, it's all we have lol. Loving this TM content though, a welcome change from logi and fanatec gear reviews. Your sim rig reviews are nice also but you've basically covered all the most popular ones already
Yeah it's hard once all the mainstream stuff is covered, tend to end up with the more niche and usually expensive gear as entry and mid level doesn't seem to change much.
@@KarlGosling There are some 3D printed add ons you can get for that shifter, Sim Racing Corner did a review on one and said it gives you much better tactile feedback when shifting, and feels like the gear is properly clunking into place, might be worth looking into if you ever intend to use it
Had one of these back in 2016. Solid as a rock. Felt pretty good too. Then had two different Fanatec CS shifters. Felt like a step up from the TM. Typical Fanatec both failed. Finally I got a ProSim. I mostly drive H pattern cars these days so it makes sense as far as an investment.
Can't go wrong with the ProSim shifter, just very expensive! I'm also mostly H pattern.
Got one with my T248! Thanks for the review
I don’t bother changing to the sequential shifter. I just use 3rd for down and 4th for up when I need sequential mode . You have to manually leave it centered but it gets the job done.
As good as i thought this shifter from Thrustmaster is, it does feel very well made and would take some stick, i eventually settled on the 3D printed shifter from SHH as it swaps between Sequential and H pattern modes a lot quicker and easier.
I have the SHH shifter too and am very happy with it.
Got one on Ebay for a hundred, hardly used. Can't wait to get into Gran Turismo 7 on PSVR2 next week, with my Thrustmaster
And how is it?)
@@vladpalienko1542 It's brilliant. Mainly made from metal. Sturdy and positive inputs. As my Son said (who's a sim racer) a stick shift makes you feel like a badass!!!
Woa your new setup looks sick mate! Loving it!
Would happily recommend you try the nox3d mod for this shifter, massively improved !!!
can you pls make a review for the shh shifter? its a 3d printed shifter for the price of 100€ and me and my friend want to buy a shifter but dont know if we should choose the th8a or the shh
That SHH is an awesome shifter - The wait for their products tells you a lot . . . . . . . . .
WTF had one turn up yesterday and now I've seen you post this video that's crazy, just waiting on my shifter mount and I will be setting it up, BTW keep up the hard work love your videos
Great timing! lol Thanks mate :)
Completely agree. I picked one up recently for £68 which included an aftermarket Sparco knob, and it's really good value. If I was paying full price, i'd save that little bit more and go Fanatec.
Great review!
One other thing that I may mention. Inside Sim Racing did a video on how to use this as an actual handbrake around 6 years ago. I do not have this shifter so I cannot verify, but it looks legitimate.
To summarize: you rotate the H pattern plate so 1 and 2 gears are to the front. Download the TH8A driver on your PC. From there, you can switch it into analog mode. This will allow you to pull the stick down the neutral lane to use as a handbrake.
Provides a bit of extra value if you only have one mounting location like on some of the tubular rigs. Really considering this strongly after discovering that. Cheers!
Yes someone else mentioned that, it's not a feature TM list but it does seem to work! :)
Excellent review my friend!!! Thank you very much!!!!🙂
No problem!
There is also an analogue mode. Maybe for use as a handbrake
There is a so called "Mod Cambio" available for 'improved feel' and quite affordable. Also it can be uses as a handbrake, Darin Gangi from ISR made a video about it and there are dozens of mods on Thingiverse as well. I don't like the Fanatec shifter because it's not working as a normal USB-device even with this 20 € 'Clubsport USB-Adapter' and can't count how often I had to un- and replug it to get recognized and how often I had to calibrate it. One of the most annoying devices I bought. I also miss-shift very often with this thing and needed a new spring after using it as sequential very soon after. The new SSH seems to be even better than both for less than 100€ plus shipping and some Alibaba-solutions doesn't look too bad either. So at least there are options nowadays and I would buy the SSH, but still very happy with my Frex, that feels mechanical and miss-shifts almost never happen.
definitely a good shout out to thingiverse there, great little mods if you have or can find a friend with a 3d printer.
@@phillupson8561 3D-printers pay for themself or you even make profit with it for not buying other stuff. Just printed a wheel-spacer for example that would've cost me 30 € plus shipping if buying it online. Would be out of Aluminium, but my print get's the job done just fine without any flex. I designed and printed dozens of parts for my rig and most I could not even buy. I've bought the Anycubic Vyper because it's almost idiot-proof and decent quality out of the box. An Ender 3 Pro does the same for half the price, just without auto-bed-leveling and two z-axis motors. Today I would buy the Prusa i3 MK2S+, basically the SimuCube 2 of the 3D-printer-market and most common printer in print-farms, but the new Ender 3 S1 Pro looks also awesome and more price-friendly.
@@Leynad778 If you're also a 3d printing addict, check out the E3D Toolchanger and then change your underwear, it's insane!
3d print a quick shift H pattern &a shorter rod
I actually bought one about a week or two ago. For me it's fine, it's a gear shifter. Yes it comes with both cables
There’s mixed reviews whether you can use it within Xbox and with a Logitech g920 apparently it works on pc but not together on Xbox if this is the case my shifter is arriving tomorrow I will need to return it
@@shahrukhaftab7498 I use it on PC. I would have a look on the box for you but it is up in the attic now and would be hard to dig out. I hope it does work for you.
@@shahrukhaftab7498 I also have a th8a, and it works with everything, but it depends on the cables, with the cable going from the shifter to the wheel, it'll work on console but not PC, and with the shifter to PC cable it'll work on PC but not Console. At least that's my experience
@@johnxina2140 this is correct, its not just you, thats how theyre designed. Th8 shifters work with the console when connected to a thrustmaster base, but not through usb or other company's base. Then they work on pc only through usb, not connected to a base
It's a great shifter. But, I've changed to the Fanatec one and the exact reason was the switching mechanism. Thrustmaster really should update the TH8 for now, because other than that it's a good shifter.
Agreed mate!
Would be interesting to see a comparison between this shifter and those cheap eBay h-shifters 👍👍
I think you forgot that you can turn it 90 degrees and use it as a handbrake. It has a fully recognized y-axis in the software if you switch into handbrake mode.
I didn't even know about it mate! It's not a feature TM list but you're correct it does seem to work :)
I have tried over and over to get the adapter plate from LowDownShifter to get this on my play seat. Coming up on two years and they have yet to reply to any of my purchase requests or contact emails to them. Any insight as to what the heck is going on? Unfortunately close to forsaking LowDown all together.
Last I heard from him he had a terminal illness so thats probably something to do with it mate.
@KG, just me thinking, that the possible reason for the Thrustmaster wheel plugged with the TH8A direct would only have sequential gear pattern is that it over rides or utilities the same software program for gear up gear down pathway as the paddle shifters on the WB and as there are no button mapping pathway on the wheel for multiple gear choices programed on the WB this could explain why you had to connect the USB option of the TH8A to the PC or console direct to allow that function as that's what most of the games do any way. ??
You didn't mention that it can be used as an analog hand brake. I use it for dirt rally 2 works well.
Yeah that's not an advertised feature and I had no idea you could do it until another viewer commented as you have too! :)
For a minute then I thought there was a new model - The 2020 review threw me.
However sadly not. Good review K.
Sadly not mate!
On PS4 we can use the din in the T300RS base and it has H shifter. Only using usb from the base to the PS4.
Am after one of these for my son's setup. So expensive for what it is. Are they robust? my son is on his 3rd Logitech one.
Pretty robust yes.
@@KarlGosling cheers :)
It works either way perfectly with Thrustmaster based n pc- but I just upgraded just days ago to a dirrect drive 2 from fanatec and am trying to see if you have any advice why it’s not working with my base I’m using the adapter that came with the base and a c-type malefrom usb female to plug from the sun on the shifter to fanctec either port connector for the shifter
if you are trying to plug the TH8A into a Fanatec base it will not work, no adapter exists for this mate, you will need a Fanatec shifter or run the TH8A USB direct into your PC.
Thanx for the help Karl👍 Have a great day Live the channel
H pattern rally boys, let's go ! : ) I love this shifter. I'll buy a better one when this one brakes... 2 years strong under my aggressive shifts and never a problem... good product 💯
Hi mate does this work with Xbox one with a Logitech g920 racing wheel?
No mate, you would need the Logitech shifter.
Damn I have the Logitech one now not the best one, thanks for the reply love the videos
just looked it up it was arround 200 euros thats quite alot. fanatech one is 260 euros so i would say got for fanatech . and logitec is arround 60 euros so that one is probably good for beginer to test if you like using them.
Fanatec shifter is much better ignoring the occasional mis-shifting issue that needs attention from time to time.
Thats weird, just bought one and this video showed up 😅
I have a question... Does this shifter work without clutch pedals?
All shifters do mate yes, they are just an input.
@KarlGosling thank you for the fast reply! That's all I need to know!🙂
Have the T300 RS, does the shifter need the 3 pedals base?
it wouldnt need a clutch but id reccomend one for immersion
can you do a review on the sf1000 pls
Can you use the TH8A Shifter with Logitech g920 on Xbox Series X?
Hmm I don't have one to check but I'm guessing not.
It comes with both cables, but it would not work plugged into my TS-PC. So I have to use USB to PC. At least not in H-pattern, which is all I care about.
Yeah I think thats what my experience was too, had to go USB.
hi can anyone help ? i have a tgt wheel base with the thrustmaster load cell pedals plugged into pin port on rear as well as my thrustmaster sparco handbrake / sequential plugged in to the rear as well im using the latter as handbrake for my rally games and just use paddles behind wheel to change gear now because in the real world wrc they have gone back to using sequential gears tihs season with the new hybrid cars i thought i would do the same for more immersion when the new rally game wrc generations is released on nov 3rd i didnt want to outlay another £250.00 pound for another sparco shifter so ive ordered the thrustmaster TH8A shifter at £160 to set up and use as a sequential gear shifter , however, heres my problem there is no 3rd port on back of tgt hub so would it work if i used the pin/usb lead and plug into ps5 console usb port ? mty tgt is plugged into ps5 usb and works so will the TH8A shifter work using the usb port on ps5 console if not ill have to return ?? thanks in advance for any help cheers terry
Does the TH8A work with the logitech G920 with my xbox series s?
No mate.
@@KarlGosling oh ok
@@KarlGosling do you know any place sells the Xbox one's?
I know Gosling is a major hardware guy. I would love to see him address the software side of things. The software for for Logitech g920 is a train wreck on windows 10. I had such a hard time with it, i finally had to uninstall the garbage software, just to get my wheel and pedals to work like they should on the games that I play. I would think that would factor in on people buying the hardware, and think he could save some people some hassles if he would warn them, hey for now, the software side of this or that wheel is garbage.
For me most software just seems to work mate (why I don't usually show it), G Hub just sits there in the background and I never have to touch it for example.
With a cheap mod its a lot better, improves the force needed to change gears.
is it realistic or not?
No.
I actually prefer the logitech because of how you can move diagonally to the gears.
And the fact that it only has six positions , makes it way easier not to mis-shift.
I absolutely hate the 7 and R gear on the TH8A. I bought a gate blocker for 7 but it's too easy to accidently find your self in that slot when moving across to 5th and 6th
You pretty much just put me off my T248 completely, no point upgrading to a shifter after hearing that last part, would be gross going hard right to shift into 5th or 6th and you end up in fucking 7th or reverse
@@yoza7359 just remap them 😭😭
I mainly use my TH8A as a 5 speed or truck shifter. I solved this issue by making a stopper out of an old plastic pen. Just pull it apart and cut the tube to size so it slides over the adjacent metal teeth between the 5/6 & 7/R slots. When I want to use it as a 6 speed I just take it out and put a regular blocker in the 7th slot.
Hello there Karl, would you please do some reviews on LCD screens as thiers so many with so many different prices, Ive not a clue.
ive already purchased afew items on your reviews.
No beating around the bush and your opinion is not bought by these companies.
Yes the manual tells you if you plug it into the wheel base, it becomes a sequential. It will replace your paddle shifters... meaning you can only use one or the other in games.
Been using mine for about 7 years or more... $150 new.
Yeah such a weird implementation.
2 cables out of the box and yes, it work only in sequential mode if connected to a thrustmaster base
I switch back to the Logitech one though, because to me it has a more "realistic" feel and I prefered it
Oh and if you buy the Leo Bodnar adaptor you can also use it as a standalone device on pc :)
I just checked out the manual for PS users, looks like we can use H-pattern when plugged into wheel base, too. Phew!
Hi Karl. I have developed a mod for the th8a sequential shifting attachment, if you can give me a message I'd love for you to try it out 😉
I used to run this shifter but I switched it out for the Chinese H pattern shifter from Aliexpress. The Chinese shifter is surprisingly better in every way imo. I'm absolutely shocked at how good it is for only $70
Ive been thinking about getting one from Aliexpress but not sure how good it is.. is it loud?
@@AVGELO that would probably be the only downside that I can think of. It has an all metal construction, feels solid, and takes some effort to get into each gear. But it is a bit loud when banging through the gears
amazon has the chinese metal shifters for $112 USD, they are far superior to the logitech and i believe better than the th8a at a better cost, they are all made in china anyways.