With a purchase price of €200, the new Thrustmaster T128 is aimed at beginners. We show you what the steering wheel does well and where there is potential for improvement.
If you fall in love with racing games or simulations on console or PC, you eventually can’t avoid buying a set of steering wheel and pedals. When looking for products, the selection is vast. In the price range of less than €50 to about €400, you get “common” models.
With the new Thrustmaster T128 for €200, the French manufacturer wants to target beginners. To keep the price low, compromises must be made. I received a test unit from Thrustmaster so I can share my impression with you here on MeinMMO.
This is now the 3rd steering wheel-pedal combo I am using. I am comparing it with the Logitech G920 and the Thrustmaster T248.
How did I test? I play racing games like Project Cars II or Forza Horizon 5 and simulators like Euro Truck Simulator 2. In the games, I have tested the steering wheel and compare how the G920 and the T248 perform.
Look and Processing
Right upon unpacking, it stands out: Compared to my other two steering wheels, the processing has been compromised. Everywhere I look, there’s plastic. Here and there a shiny part, but otherwise plastic.
The steering wheel feels small and so does the pedal base. When measuring, it is noticeable: They are smaller.
| Model | Steering Wheel Dimensions | Pedal Dimensions |
| Logitech G920 | Height: 270 mm Width: 280 mm Depth: 278 mm | Height: 167 mm Width: 428.5 mm Depth: 311 mm |
| Thrustmaster T248 | Height: 270 mm Width: 280 mm Depth: 300 mm | Height: 210 mm Width: 300 mm Depth: 370 mm |
| Thrustmaster T128 | Height: 250 mm Width: 250 mm Depth: 260 mm | Height: 136 mm Width: 220 mm Depth: 270 mm |
The Steering Wheel: The mostly black design of the steering wheel is okay. I miss fabric or leather accents that give the steering wheel more grip and a nicer “hold”. With the T128, everything on the rim of the steering wheel is uniform. A red mark in the upper center indicates when it is in the centered position.
When steering, it feels good and secure in hand. All buttons are easy to reach while hands are on the outer ring. You easily memorize their positions due to the ergonomic design.
The Pedals: “Very small” is the first thing that came to mind when unpacking the pedals. The pedal base feels underdimensioned. My feet barely find enough room side by side in shoes, which is why I prefer playing in socks here.
Additionally, the pedal base brings little weight and grip on the floor. If I don’t step very carefully on the gas pedal, the base lifts under my heel. This is even more pronounced with the brake, which is usually pressed harder. For home use “under the desk”, this is not ideal and I recommend getting extra mounts or using the set with a racing seat where you can screw the pedals and steering wheel firmly.
Driving Feel and Precision
The Steering Wheel: The design is only part of the whole, and so I wanted to hit the road right away. So I downloaded the latest driver for the T128 and started in Project Cars 2. I could not get the LED display to work with the game at the time of testing. In general, it works, though.
The force feedback and vibrations are pleasantly powerful and convey a good sense of the race. You can quickly notice when the car loses grip and skids on the front wheels when suddenly the force feedback weakens and steering becomes very light.
Vibrations from off-road sections of the track or excursions into the gravel feel “real” and add a great feeling to driving.
A big advantage: Thrustmaster has apparently listened to player feedback regarding the T248 and significantly reduced the noise of the paddles. The loud paddles were a negative point I addressed in my review of the T248.
The Pedals: While driving, the pedals feel very precise. You can input braking and accelerating quite accurately. It should be noted that the distances traveled from “idle” to “full” are short. Until full braking, it’s only a few centimeters. The right dosage is possible, but requires practice.
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The Software: The control panel from Thrustmaster is excellent for customizing steering wheels for use. With a slider, you can limit how far the wheel should turn in the program. If you drive a truck or bus, it’s good if the steering wheel can turn multiple times. For a Formula 1 car, you set the slider lower.
