Budget Cockpits for Sim Racing. How to choose? Which is great?

Finding the BEST COCKPIT

    Already bought a new sim racing wheel set right? Your cost doesn't stop there if you are really into sim racing. Cockpits are the second important part of sim racing. They have very few types, but the problem is what is right for you. What is the best cockpit for your needs? Let's find out below!

source: Techinfluencer

What is Sim Racing COCKPIT ?

    Sim Racing COCKPIT is the whole seating and mounting place for the wheel and their peripherals. It includes the seat, wheel mount stand, gear mount stand, handbrake mount stand, screen mount stand and other extras. The availabilities of mountings depend on types of cockpits and prices.

source: Next Level Racing

Types of Sim Racing COCKPIT and Differences

    There are mainly 2 types of cockpits available for car sim racing. Both have their own perks and range of availabilities. You check them out below.

Full cockpit

    Full sim racing cockpits are the ones with full capabilities for sim racing where you can attach almost everything including the extras. The main thing for it is to have a seat or a seat mount. With this type of cockpit, you can almost experience being in a real car by having the right seat positions. Depending on the abilities and supports of each full cockpit, you can upgrade it to the level that you feel so immersive and forget the real world. (kind of scary, but safer than racing with real cars). 😁 It is capable for the peripherals as follows:

Main Capabilities needed:

• Wheel mount
• Pedal mount
• Seat mount (mostly include seat)
• Gear or Handbrake mount (1-2 mounts)

Extra Capabilities:

• Screen mount
• Buttkicker mount
• Motion Simulator mount
• Keyboard mount
• Camera mount (rare - very extra)

Just so you get the view, here are some examples.

source: motion-sim.cz

source: simcraft

Types of Full cockpits

    Full cockpits are further separated into 2 more types based on the seat positions which are Formula and Grand Tourer. Most cockpits are made for only one type, but some are hybrid cockpits where you can have both seat positioning. The differences are as follows:

Formula Cockpit (F)

    As the name states, the seats are same as reality which is lower inclined like you are almost lying down. Formulas don't need gear and handbrake mounts because everything is on the wheel, so they only have seat, wheel and pedals.

source: rseat

Grand Tourer Cockpit (GT)

    For the GT, the seats are upright similar to how you drive normal everyday cars. The cockpit has all the necessary mounts needed for racing, depending on each how much extra they give.

source: jscockpit

Hybrid Cockpit

    The last type is a hybrid where you can adjust the seat to have both the positions for each use. Hybrids are great in having everything necessary available for both F and GT. Sometimes, it might be less comfortable, but you have to admit that it does the job. You can see the Next Level Racing F-GT below where the cockpit is the same, but the seating is different. On the left is Formula position and on the right is GT.

source: next level racing

Half cockpit

    Half sim racing cockpits, also known as wheel stands, are the ones with only the very main capabilities for sim racing where you can attach only what you really need held in place without any extra peripherals. Half cockpits don't even have seats to cut cost and save space. With this cockpit, you can use gaming chairs or sofas with it for seating, but you won't get the real feel of course. It is only available in one type, but quite a few different forms which are similar to each other. It is capable for the peripherals as follows:

Main Capabilities (only):

• Wheel mount
• Pedal mount
• Gear or Handbrake mount (1-2 mounts)

source: gump

source: jscockpit

How to choose? Which is great?

    After knowing all the types of cockpits and their differences, we finally reach at the choosing step. To be honest, this step depends solely on you or the buyer. You might buy something that provides extra, but what you really need is what you buy. Steps are listed below.

1. Check your BUDGET (Money is needed in every step).
2. Find out the type of racing you will drive.
3. Choose your Wheel, Pedals, Gear, Handbrake, and other appliances that needs to be mounted. (For this step, I suggest to choose what you really want. Starters don't need expensive motion sims or buttkickers.)
4. Find the preferred cockpit that supports your wheel set and appliances.

*Note: You might have to keep jumping back to previous steps depending on your budget and preferences.

source: race department

Budget Cockpits

    There are many budget cockpits available in the market. Each person have different budget and perceptions on the prices, so there is nothing fixed. I can say one thing though, that high priced cockpits are mostly useless. The cheaper ones may look not that wonderful and come in just matte black metals, but they are capable of doing the same thing.

source: home theater shack

Nothing is Perfect - all DEPENDS ON YOU