Fanatec Podium Pedals Review: Premium, Impressive, and Slightly Underwhelming
Quick summary· AI-generated
The Fanatec Podium Pedals represent the company's most premium pedal offering, debuting in a two-pedal Formula Edition with real carbon pedal faces and integrated carbon heel cups. The reviewer praises the presentation, build quality, material finish, and ecosystem compatibility (USB or direct wheelbase connection), positioning it at the top of Fanatec's lineup. However, the review notes frustrating compromises, including an expensive optional $200 aluminum mounting plate sold separately. The piece provides detailed commentary on justification for the $700 price point relative to competitors and discusses mechanical adjustment features, though the body text provided doesn't cover on-track performance in depth.
Excerpt from OC Racing
The Fanatec Podium Pedals are finally here, and after years of waiting, they arrive with a lot of pressure on them. These are Fanatec’s newest and most premium pedals to date, first shown off at Sim Racing Expo and now landing as the company’s long-awaited flagship set. At launch, Fanatec is offering two versions. The one available right now is the Formula Edition, while the three-pedal GT version is coming later. Interestingly, both retail for the same $700 price.
And that immediately raises the obvious question. How does a two-pedal Formula set cost the same as the three-pedal GT version. The answer mainly comes down to the materials and the presentation. These Formula pedals are absolutely massive in person, and they use real carbon pedal faces with integrated carbon heel cups that make them feel far more special than most pedal sets the moment you pull them out of the box. So yes, they have a lot going for them. At the same time, at this kind of money, they also have a lot to prove.
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Presentation and compatibility are undeniably premium
Starting with the overall experience, Fanatec still knows how to make a product feel expensive. The box itself is huge, and once opened, the pedals immediately give off that premium first impression. The build quality, overall finish, and use of materials all tell you this is meant to sit at the very top of Fanatec’s lineup. At least visually, they absolutely succeed in doing that.
In terms of compatibility, things are also handled well. Using the included control box, the pedals can connect via USB directly to your PC, or they can connect straight to a Fanatec wheel base. That also means they can work on console when paired with the right compatible Fanatec hardware, which remains one of Fanatec’s biggest strengths. For anyone already inside that ecosystem, this part makes a lot of sense.
The optional pedal plate is expensive and hard to justify
One thing that is not included, and will definitely be controversial, is the optional mounting plate. Sold separately for a frankly outrageous $200, this plate is made from a single piece of extruded aluminum and does include a few smart touches. You get integrated sliding T-nuts and position markings to help with setup, so there is at least some thought behind it.
That said, I personally would not recommend buying it, especially for the…
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