It's a surprisingly noticeable difference. Recline seats feel more like those on a traditional car, bucket seats feel more sporty and "race car" like but usually are slightly less comfortable though less prone to flex.
You’re on a solid upgrade path, and the GT Omega Prime Lite is absolutely strong enough for an R9-level setup. On the seat side, I’ll say this: I really like the Trak Racer Rally seat. It’s comfortable for long sessions, supportive enough for serious driving, and works well for sim racing without feeling overly aggressive. It should be compatible with the Prime Lite using either Trak Racer or GT Omega seat brackets, since these aluminum profile rigs generally share the same mounting standards. Overall, it’s a safe, well-rounded seat choice that won’t hold the rest of your setup back.
Good question. I have not personally owned it, but I have seen it in-person and it looks pretty solid for the money. It'll easily do the job holding up a 32" display without breaking the bank so I would go with it. There is also a 5% off discount code in my "discount codes" tab ;)
Depends a ton on your specific needs. The cheapest options for PlayStation will be Logitech with the G29 or G923, or Thrustmaster with the T150, T128, T248. You can find all of these for $50-100 on the used market.
If you want the most “full-on sim” experience under $60 without iRacing, I’d personally point you straight to Le Mans Ultimate first. It’s one of the few games right now that actually nails that modern endurance vibe, with a super focused package (WEC cars and tracks), great sense of weight through the wheel, and racing that feels intense without needing a massive online ecosystem to be worth it. AMS2 is the safer “best value overall” pick if you want variety, tons of cars/classes, and a great single player experience, but the driving feel can vary a bit depending on the combo. ACC is still a no-brainer if you specifically want GT3 and you’re seeing it cheap, but it’s a narrower lane and can feel a bit same-y if you’re not obsessed with GT racing. Since you already play BeamNG, LMU gives you that proper race weekend structure and serious motorsport atmosphere you’re missing, without the iRacing price tag.
If I’m being honest, the upgrade that will matter most long term is moving to a PC, even though it’s the most expensive and least exciting step upfront. A PC unlocks iRacing and the wider sim ecosystem, which gives you far more realistic physics, structured online racing, better peripheral support, and room to grow without constantly hitting platform limits. That said, you don’t need to rush everything at once. On your current setup, the single biggest driving improvement you can make is a load cell brake, because it directly affects consistency and braking technique even on a G29. A full rig is important too, but only once you have pedals that actually need solid mounting, otherwise it becomes a comfort upgrade more than a performance one. My advice would be load cell pedals first if you can mount them securely, then plan the PC upgrade when budget allows, and only invest in a rig once you’re ready to support those pedals properly. It’s slower, but it avoids wasting money and sets you up far better in the long run.
If all of these are genuinely the same price, I’d personally go Simagic across the board. Between the Moza R9 + GS V2P, Simagic Alpha Evo Sport + GT Neo, and an equivalent Fanatec option around €800, the Simagic combo offers the best balance of build quality, wheel ergonomics, and long-term ecosystem value, while avoiding some of the platform and reliability baggage people increasingly complain about. For the shifter, I’d take the Moza HGP over the TH8A without hesitation, as the TH8A is reliable but very dated, whereas the HGP feels more modern and mechanically solid. And for pedals, assuming load cell capability, the Simagic P500 would be my pick over the Moza SRP and T-LCM, simply because brake consistency matters most and the P500 gives you that in a cleaner, more upgrade-friendly package.
If you’re looking for mainstream budget wheels for PS5 in 2026, the most solid picks are the Logitech G29, Logitech G923, Thrustmaster T128, and Thrustmaster T248 — all of these give you real force feedback, good build quality for the price, and PS5 support. The G29 is a classic reliable choice, the G923 adds improved feedback tech, the T128 is a great entry-level force feedback step up from basic wheels, and the T248 gives a bit more features and stronger feedback without jumping into high-end pricing, making them the best budget paths if you want something that will feel good and last as you progress.
Yes, the Sim-Lab Speed 1 is a good seat. I find it really comfortable even for long sessions, with good support and solid build quality. The padding is firm enough to stay supportive without getting uncomfortable, and overall it feels well made and durable. I can easily recommend it if you’re looking for a comfortable, quality sim racing seat.
It's a surprisingly noticeable difference. Recline seats feel more like those on a traditional car, bucket seats feel more sporty and "race car" like but usually are slightly less comfortable though less prone to flex.
You’re on a solid upgrade path, and the GT Omega Prime Lite is absolutely strong enough for an R9-level setup. On the seat side, I’ll say this: I really like the Trak Racer Rally seat. It’s comfortable for long sessions, supportive enough for serious driving, and works well for sim racing without feeling overly aggressive. It should be compatible with the Prime Lite using either Trak Racer or GT Omega seat brackets, since these aluminum profile rigs generally share the same mounting standards. Overall, it’s a safe, well-rounded seat choice that won’t hold the rest of your setup back.
Good question. I have not personally owned it, but I have seen it in-person and it looks pretty solid for the money. It'll easily do the job holding up a 32" display without breaking the bank so I would go with it. There is also a 5% off discount code in my "discount codes" tab ;)
Depends a ton on your specific needs. The cheapest options for PlayStation will be Logitech with the G29 or G923, or Thrustmaster with the T150, T128, T248. You can find all of these for $50-100 on the used market.
Thanks for this! I think it's a great idea as well and I'll look into it =)
If you want the most “full-on sim” experience under $60 without iRacing, I’d personally point you straight to Le Mans Ultimate first. It’s one of the few games right now that actually nails that modern endurance vibe, with a super focused package (WEC cars and tracks), great sense of weight through the wheel, and racing that feels intense without needing a massive online ecosystem to be worth it. AMS2 is the safer “best value overall” pick if you want variety, tons of cars/classes, and a great single player experience, but the driving feel can vary a bit depending on the combo. ACC is still a no-brainer if you specifically want GT3 and you’re seeing it cheap, but it’s a narrower lane and can feel a bit same-y if you’re not obsessed with GT racing. Since you already play BeamNG, LMU gives you that proper race weekend structure and serious motorsport atmosphere you’re missing, without the iRacing price tag.
If all of these are genuinely the same price, I’d personally go Simagic across the board. Between the Moza R9 + GS V2P, Simagic Alpha Evo Sport + GT Neo, and an equivalent Fanatec option around €800, the Simagic combo offers the best balance of build quality, wheel ergonomics, and long-term ecosystem value, while avoiding some of the platform and reliability baggage people increasingly complain about. For the shifter, I’d take the Moza HGP over the TH8A without hesitation, as the TH8A is reliable but very dated, whereas the HGP feels more modern and mechanically solid. And for pedals, assuming load cell capability, the Simagic P500 would be my pick over the Moza SRP and T-LCM, simply because brake consistency matters most and the P500 gives you that in a cleaner, more upgrade-friendly package.
If you’re looking for mainstream budget wheels for PS5 in 2026, the most solid picks are the Logitech G29, Logitech G923, Thrustmaster T128, and Thrustmaster T248 — all of these give you real force feedback, good build quality for the price, and PS5 support. The G29 is a classic reliable choice, the G923 adds improved feedback tech, the T128 is a great entry-level force feedback step up from basic wheels, and the T248 gives a bit more features and stronger feedback without jumping into high-end pricing, making them the best budget paths if you want something that will feel good and last as you progress.
Yes, the Sim-Lab Speed 1 is a good seat. I find it really comfortable even for long sessions, with good support and solid build quality. The padding is firm enough to stay supportive without getting uncomfortable, and overall it feels well made and durable. I can easily recommend it if you’re looking for a comfortable, quality sim racing seat.