Is the Logitech Shifter Still Worth it in 2024? (REVIEW)
This is the Logitech Driving Force shifter for the G29, G920, and G923 - released way back in 2015 and still being Logitech’s only available sim racing shifter nearly 10 years later. I purchased this unit myself, and today, I’ll be taking a look back at it, putting it through my review process, and determining whether the Logitech Driving Force shifter is still worth it in 2024.
If you’re interested in purchasing, below is a link to the lowest priced one on Amazon:
Entry-Level Pricing, Unmatched Popularity
Designed from its inception to cater to the entry-level sim racing enthusiast, the Driving Force shifter's widespread acclaim can largely be attributed to its unbeatable price point. Retailing consistently around $60, it has long stood unchallenged as the most budget-friendly H-pattern sim racing shifter on the market. This was the case until the recent entrance of competitors like the Thrustmaster TH8S and various offerings from emerging brands.
Despite these new options, none have managed to undercut the Logitech shifter’s price, making it a perennial favorite among budget-conscious racers.
Build Quality for the Price
From a build quality perspective, I do have to admit this shifter is of pretty solid quality. Its housing is made primarily of injection-molded plastic with a full leather boot and hand-stitched knob accenting its sleek and realistic look.
I do have to admit that, performance aside, this is one thing this shifter does better than even much higher-end ones in the market. The minimalistic design and leather components not only look but feel great, and compared to its competitors at this price tag, it is without a doubt one of the best looking from a design perspective alone.
Worth noting, however, is that this shifter is very small in size, great for those racing on a desk or without a lot of space, but it will be impacting its in-game performance, something I’ll touch upon soon.
Mounting Solutions
Designed with beginners in mind, the Logitech Driving Force shifter does an excellent job at accommodating all types of mounting situations. If you’re racing on a desk, two small table clamps can be easily adjusted up and down with the two knobs visible on the top. By turning these either left or right, you will see the clamps open and close, and once you have it perfectly set on your desk, you can lock in the knobs by pushing them down.
If you have a dedicated sim racing cockpit or wheel stand, this entire table clamp can easily be unattached by removing its four small screws. Once the table clamp is off, you will see the two M6 mounting holes for you to hard mount this shifter to your rig.
Worth noting is that both mounting options work perfectly fine. Since this shifter doesn’t require much force to use, even on a desk slamming through gears, you won’t find any problems with it moving around.
Third Party Modifications
Made from hand-stitched leather, the knob is also of nice quality, albeit I’m not a fan of the little plastic tab they placed here, which does take away from its feel. The knob is smaller in size but does the job and feels comfortable in hand.
If you don’t like the knob, it can easily be replaced by removing the plastic tab and the small screw located inside. From there, the knob will slide right out, and you’re left with the metallic shaft where you can add a third-party knob of your own.
On this subject, the third-party mods available for this shifter are a huge bonus and one thing many people don’t talk much about. You see, with the vast popularity of this shifter, there are literally hundreds of third-party modifications designed to increase its in-game performance, its looks, or even its full function as ways to convert this to a handbrake or sequential shifter also exist.
So now I’ve talked about the build quality, its features, third-party modifications, and its styling. Before moving onto its in-game performance though, there is one major drawback of this shifter that I must first cover, and that will be its compatibility.
Compatibility Issues
You see, what I believe is single-handedly the Logitech Driving Force Shifter's biggest drawback is that it is only designed to be used alongside a Logitech G920, G29, or G923 wheelbase. That’s because, instead of including a USB cord like every other mainstream shifter, this one comes with a special DB9 cable that can only plug into a Logitech wheelbase, meaning that if you ever upgrade your wheelbase or don’t have a Logitech wheelbase to begin with, you won’t be able to actually use it.
The reason they did this is likely to maintain this shifter's console compatibility. Meaning that if you have a G29 and plan on using it on PlayStation, plugging this shifter into the wheelbase will allow you to use it on PlayStation as well, and vice-versa with Xbox on the G920. Now at this point, you may be completely disappointed as you’ve realized this shifter won’t work with your current setup. The good news, however, is that there are a few workarounds if you’re in this situation.
Solution #1: Adapter
The first is to purchase a third-party adapter on Amazon. I found this one, for example, for $32, and I’ve linked it in the video description as well. This adapter will create a USB output for you to plug into your PC, although you will lose console compatibility.
Third-Party Logitech Shifter Adapter
Solution #2: Logitech G Racing Adapter
If you don’t want to lose console compatibility, Logitech now offers the Logitech G Racing Adapter for $40. It does a few things but notably with regards to this shifter, will allow you to gain that compatibility on PC or consoles even when using different wheels or pedals.
Logitech G Racing Adapter
Solution #3: Using a Logitech Wheelbase
The third and worst option, and the way I’m using a Simagic wheelbase alongside this shifter on PC, is by... and please don’t roast me in the comments, is by having this shifter plugged into your Logitech wheelbase, and having two wheelbases connected to your PC, and only using the Logitech wheelbase to provide the shifter compatibility, and nothing else. This is a super niche solution which, unless you’re very desperate, I wouldn’t recommend as it just makes no sense.
Anyways, compatibility aside, let’s talk about this shifter's in-game performance.
In-Game Performance
In previous years, I’ve been fairly critical of the underwhelming shifting feel of this product, and coming back to it a long time later, it’s actually not as bad as I remember it being.
Now, the shifting feel here is very light; simply put, there is very little force needed to actuate the gears, and you won’t be getting that mechanical shifting feel or tactile sensation you would expect to feel in a real car. However, in terms of mimicking the physical action of driving with a manual transmission, it does do that. At the end of the day, despite the light resistance here, you still get the sensation of flowing through the gears, so in terms of adding that level of immersion, it does do the job.
It’s very much worth noting that with the small size of this shifter, the travel between gears is very minimal. On one hand, this gives the feeling of a short shifter, but on the other, it can make miss-shifts a more common occurrence. I found myself on rare occasions slipping up the gears, but it’s always hard to tell whether that’s a fault of this product or just a skill issue. On track, this shifter's 6-speed mechanism will be enough for 99% of manual cars out there, and apart from just having 6 individual gears, it also has a completely separate one for reverse which can be accessed by pushing down on the shift knob and slotting it into the 6th gear position.
But yes, all in all, this shifter won’t be perfectly mimicking the feel or performance of a real H-pattern mechanism and is nowhere close to as good as much higher-end sim racing shifters. As opposed to its main competitor, the $70 Thrustmaster TH8S, this shifter can also not have its resistance adjusted, meaning that unless you modify it yourself, the resistance you feel is the resistance you get.
However, in my personal opinion, for the $60 price tag of this product, I would say that the shifting feel is acceptable. At the end of the day, you're getting what you pay for, and when it comes to an entry-level product at an entry-level price tag, I can’t be expecting anything other than entry-level performance, which is exactly what I’m getting here.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Logitech Driving Force shifter, despite its age and the emergence of new competitors in the market, remains a viable option for sim racers, especially those just beginning their journey into the world of sim racing or those on a tight budget.
Its standout features—such as the solid build quality, aesthetic appeal with leather components, and the extensive third-party mod support—combine to offer an impressive package for its price point. While its compatibility limitations and the somewhat underwhelming shifting feel compared to higher-end models are notable drawbacks, the overall value proposition is hard to ignore.
For those who can work around its limitations or are willing to invest in adapters for wider compatibility, the Logitech Driving Force shifter continues to offer a cost-effective way to enhance the sim racing experience. Whether it's for adding immersion to your racing setup or experimenting with manual gear shifting, this shifter, even nearly a decade after its release, proves that it can still hold its own in the ever-evolving sim racing gear market.
OC SCORE: Total 5.3
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