Buy it at: Playseat.com (official)
Buy it at Amazon.ca: Playseat Evolution Racing Seat
Buy it at Amazon.com: Playseat Evolution Gaming Seat
Playing a racing game/simulator with a controller is just plain wrong. Unless you don’t have the space or cash then stick with a controller (check out the PS3 HKS Racing controller). In my quest for racing sim nirvana, I had to justify a racing seat. I looked at it many ways. Will it be out of sight when I’m done playing? Can I use it for something else like hanging my clothes? If I can use this setup for other things besides playing racing sims, I’ll have more reasons to get one. And I found enough reasons!
I have to warn you. This racing setup is not really wife/girlfriend approved. Some girls will bitch about how much room it takes. I’ve been wanting to get a racing seat for a very long time. When GT5 finally got released for the Sony PS3 last year I wanted a full racing setup to pair up with my Logitech G25. I previously used a Wheel Stand Pro and my AK 100 Rocker chair. While it was decent, it still didn’t have the racing feel to it. This really makes you feel like you’re in the game and I wouldn’t play F1 2010 or GT5 any other way.
My old setup with AK 100 Rocker chair and Wheel Stand Pro
I bought mine from amazon.ca but get yours anywhere you want to avoid expensive shipping and duty charges. Amazon.ca had free shipping and it shipped within my country so no duties. I got the shifter mount as well as the rails to make my seat adjustable. These accessories are about $50 each. For it’s size I couldn’t believe it fit in the box it was shipped in. I had to haul it down to my car when I shipped it to my work place and boy was it heavy. I’m guessing at least 60lbs.
Putting it together was a breeze. I timed myself and it took 90mins. And that’s cause I’m anal about wiring and I even put some felt stickies on the bottom of the Playseat so it wouldn’t scratch my floor. Like I mentioned, I bought the shifter mount and seat slider but I didn’t receive them yet when these pictures were taken. I’m using the Playseat with my trusty Logitech G25.
I routed all the wires through the Playseat’s steering column. I used a 6ft DB9 serial extension cable (straight male/female) for the shifter so I could easily unplug the shifter from the steering wheel when I need to take the seat apart from the front.
Optional accessories like seat glider for easy adjustment and shifter mount really should’ve been included. They’re a must have if you have a G25/G27 racing wheel. The seat glider lets you move the seat back and forth like a real car. For Playseat to charge for these essentials is almost criminal but I’ll bite the bullet and just shut up.
As you can see, I didn’t plug the shifter directly to the wheel, I used a DB9 serial cable to extend it.
The frame of the Playseat is made of steel and powder coated. It comes in black/silver. The frame itself is quite sturdy and has little wobble. If you’re a perfectionist then you might hate seeing how the knobs mar the center struts. Try to ignore the fact every time you adjust the seat you’re scaring it a little at a time 
If you have hardwood flooring I would suggest putting some felt protectors on the bottom of the metal frame of the Playseat. You can drag it around the floor without fear of scratching your floor. I got a few sheets of this felt at the hardware store and cut them to size and stuck them all underneath the frame. Makes it easier to glide around too.
I put felt protectors on the bottom to prevent it from scratching the floor.
The chairs come in black or white and there are also Nascar/F1 branded seats that will cost you a premium. It’s not real leather so it won’t smell like a dead cow. However, it’s still quite comfy. I played GT5 and F1 2010 in it for about 2 hours and found it as comfortable as a real car.
So here are some pros if you’re looking to get one. What is really neat about the Playseat is that you can detach the front portion and just use it as a “gaming” chair. It can also fold over to take up less space. So when it’s not being used for racing games, you can still use it as a chair or fold it over and push it together to make it more compact. Just a few more approval points for the woman in your life if this is gonna take up valuable real estate in the living room. So if you’re looking for a gaming chair any way, getting a Playseat literally isn’t half a bad idea.
I’m starting to get into drift racing with Gran Turismo 5 so I added an e-brake/hand brake to my Playseat setup. I got this Honda S2000 handbrake at a scrap yard and wired it to the circle (O) button on the G25 shifter. I got a piece of wood and bolted it to the shifter mount and attached the handbrake. The handbrake has a switch that was used to turn on the light on the dashboard when the handbrake was pulled on. I used this very switch to trigger the circle button (which is mapped to e-brake in GT5). I got this idea from Chilicoke so you can find a very detailed videos and photos on how to do it there.
Should you get this? Hmmm… I had the same dilemma about 4 years ago when I had to choose between the Wheel Stand Pro and a Playseat. At the time, I thought the WSP would be a better choice. I also thought it would take up less space. Even though the WSP folded up, it still took up space in my living room. It also was a hassle to setup. I wished I had gotten the Playseat back then. Also the exchange rate/shipping/duties at the time was just too expensive to buy a Playseat. Now in 2011, I made the right decision. Having owned the WSP, I should’ve gotten the Playseat years ago, but I don’t think my GF at the time would’ve approved 
Video:
Coming soon…
