- REALISTIC FERRARI DRIVING EXPERIENCE – Drive like a real race driver with this officially licensed sim racing wheel, ins…
- SMOOTH, PRECISE CONTROL FOR BETTER LAPS – This gaming steering wheel uses bungee cord technology for smooth resistance a…
- ADAPTS TO EVERY DRIVER – The Ferrari-inspired Manettino selector lets you switch between three driving profiles, making …
Thrustmaster T98 Ferrari 296 GTB Review
A few clarifications first, because several things about this listing are easy to get wrong.
It’s a complete wheel-and-pedals set, not a Ferrari F1 add-on. Searches for “Thrustmaster Ferrari” bring up many different products, including expensive Formula 1 replica rims that only work if you already own a Thrustmaster wheel base. This listing (ASIN B0F2ND5WVF) is the T98 Ferrari 296 GTB, a beginner wheel with a built-in base, a clamp for your desk, and a two-pedal set.
It works with PS5, PS4 and PC (Windows), not Xbox. The search that led here was for wheels for “PS5/Xbox/PC,” but Thrustmaster splits this product by platform. The Xbox and PC version is a separate model, the T98 Ferrari 296 GTS, with the same design. If you play on Xbox, this listing is the wrong one.
It does not have force feedback. One retailer’s listing text claims “responsive force feedback,” but that conflicts with the hands-on reviews and with Thrustmaster’s own description of the wheel, which all say there is no force feedback. Treat that retailer text as an error and trust the reviews below.
What it is
The T98 is Thrustmaster’s most basic wheel and is officially licensed by both Ferrari and PlayStation. The wheel is a roughly 10-inch (about 25.5 cm) design inspired by the Ferrari 296, with carbon-look buttons and paddle shifters, a dial inspired by Ferrari’s Manettino that switches between three driving profiles, and magnetic paddles. The pedals use Hall effect sensors. Instead of a motor, the wheel uses what Thrustmaster calls a “bungee cord” system: a light, linear resistance that always pulls the wheel back to center. Rotation is limited to 240 degrees. The retail price has been around $110 to $120 (about €100 in Europe).
What reviewers say
TechRadar called the T98 about as budget as a wheel-and-pedal set gets, and said that’s by design. The reviewer noted there’s no force feedback and not even basic vibration, only the light bungee resistance and auto-centering. Setup was easy, it worked as soon as the game launched, and the reviewer said the missing force feedback is easy to forgive at roughly $110. TechRadar tested the T98 line, and the GTB and GTS look like the same design split by platform, but check this against the review if you rely on it.
Nördliv, a Swedish gaming site, described it as an affordable wheel for beginners and a “good buy” for people on a tight budget. It liked that the plastic body feels solid and durable, noted the lack of force feedback as the main drawback, and found the wheel worked in several games that aren’t on the official support list, including Wreckfest and Assetto Corsa Competizione.
OC Racing was blunt that it isn’t a serious sim wheel and doesn’t pretend to be. It described a small, affordable starter bundle aimed at kids and first-time players, with a bungee-cord return and a compact two-pedal set, and said Thrustmaster is clear about that positioning.
Buyer feedback on retailer sites, around 4.3 out of 5 on a Sam’s Club page with reviews collected from Walmart, is mostly positive for beginners and kids: quick setup on a PS5, good for learning, and good value for an entry-level wheel. One buyer felt the build quality wasn’t as good as an older, more expensive Thrustmaster wheel. A 1-star review said the wheel is small, doesn’t turn very far, and the bungee resistance feels cheap. A deal-site commenter went further, arguing that a cheap wheel with force feedback is far better than one without, and a no-force-feedback wheel is little more than a round controller. That’s one person’s opinion, but it’s the real trade-off.
The limits to understand before buying
- No force feedback. You won’t feel the road, the tires losing grip, or curbs. This is the biggest difference between this wheel and more expensive models, such as Thrustmaster’s own T128 and T248, which add force feedback.
- 240 degrees of rotation. This is far less than many racing games use for road cars, so it limits how realistic steering feels. Some games let you scale steering, but it won’t feel like a real car, and one buyer’s complaint about the wheel not turning far points at this.
- Small and plastic. Reviewers describe it as solid for the price, but it’s a compact, plastic starter wheel.
- Two pedals only. There’s no clutch.
- Limited official game list. The wheel is plug and play in many racing games and worked in some unlisted ones in one review, but check support for the games you care about on Thrustmaster’s site.
- Not the best fit for serious sim racers. If you already know you want to take sim racing seriously, the force feedback in a wheel like the Logitech G29 (see our G29 review) or Thrustmaster’s own T248 matters more than the Ferrari branding.
Who it’s for
Kids, first-time wheel buyers, and casual players who want a more immersive way to play games like Forza Horizon 5 on a budget. It’s easy to set up and quiet, and the Ferrari styling is a nice touch for fans.
Pros
- Very affordable entry into wheel-and-pedal racing
- Plug and play on PS5 and PS4, and works on PC
- Solid-feeling plastic build for the price, according to reviewers
- Auto-centering bungee resistance, three driving profiles, and magnetic paddle shifters
- Hall effect pedal sensors
- Official Ferrari and PlayStation licensing
- Compact, easy to store, and clamps to a desk
- Generally positive buyer feedback among beginners
Cons
- No force feedback and no vibration
- Only 240 degrees of rotation
- Small plastic wheel, and some buyers find the bungee resistance cheap
- No clutch pedal
- Not for Xbox (the Xbox version is a separate model)
- Official game support list is limited
- One retailer’s listing text wrongly mentions force feedback, which can confuse comparison shopping
Verdict
The T98 Ferrari 296 GTB does what it says: it’s a simple, inexpensive wheel and pedal set that makes racing games more fun than a controller for a young or first-time player, and the independent reviews we found agree it’s a decent beginner buy at around $110. It is not a force-feedback wheel and it isn’t meant for serious sim racing, so the lack of road feel and the short 240-degree rotation are real limits, not minor details. Buy it if you want a cheap, easy starter wheel for PS5 or PC, you value the Ferrari styling, and you won’t be disappointed by the missing force feedback. If you play on Xbox, get the T98 Ferrari 296 GTS instead. If you want realism, or you’ll outgrow it quickly, save for a wheel with force feedback.
- REALISTIC FERRARI DRIVING EXPERIENCE – Drive like a real race driver with this officially licensed sim racing wheel, ins…
- SMOOTH, PRECISE CONTROL FOR BETTER LAPS – This gaming steering wheel uses bungee cord technology for smooth resistance a…
- ADAPTS TO EVERY DRIVER – The Ferrari-inspired Manettino selector lets you switch between three driving profiles, making …
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