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Which Sparco wheel? Need some advice...

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Old Jun 6, 2008 | 03:09 PM
  #1  
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Default Which Sparco wheel? Need some advice...

The time has come for me to finally change out this ******* stocker. I've always had wet dreams of a suede Sparco wheel, and after seeing doppelbager's awesome interior shots, its made it to the top of the list.

I cant decide 100% on what I want. The only thing for sure that I'd need to have is suede. The 383 and 323 are very similar looking, and the third one looks more of a competition wheel.

I'm looking for some input from you guys. This is my daily, so I'm really just looking for a nice clean look and comfort. My only worry is sometimes when my work day is over, my hands can be quite the ******* mess. I don't know how well suede holds up to dirt/grim and how easy it is to clean, but I'll deal with it.

Sparco 383



Sparco 323



And this one I just found on ebay



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Old Jun 6, 2008 | 03:12 PM
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D-cut FTL.... you'll hate it.

I have the 383 and LOVE it. I also had a MOMO Competition that was VERY comfy too.

I guess the only thing about seude wheels are that they wear. The areas i used on mine have pretty much turned to leather.. but it doesn't bother me at all.
Old Jun 6, 2008 | 03:25 PM
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Momo Team ! I like it!
Old Jun 6, 2008 | 04:16 PM
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I'm in the market for a sparco wheel too, it'll match my sparco seat and harness and tool bag lol
Old Jun 6, 2008 | 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Doppelgänger
D-cut FTL.... you'll hate it.

I have the 383 and LOVE it. I also had a MOMO Competition that was VERY comfy too.

I guess the only thing about seude wheels are that they wear. The areas i used on mine have pretty much turned to leather.. but it doesn't bother me at all.
The D-cut wheel was an after thought really. I found it on ebay for a pretty good price and figured I'd throw it in for consideration. Is it cause of the shorter flat bottom that you say they are no good? That's the one thing I was thinking about. That when taking full size turns, moving the wheel in a circle might feel awkward.

Would you say the suede wears super fast, or over an extended period of time?

Originally Posted by Dark Wanderer
Momo Team ! I like it!
I was looking at Momo's too, but the suede sparco wheels look so sexy.

Originally Posted by disturbedfan121
I'm in the market for a sparco wheel too, it'll match my sparco seat and harness and tool bag lol
What wheels have you been considering?


Vash-
Old Jun 6, 2008 | 04:30 PM
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Leather for daily driver.

Suede for track time and gloved driver.

The suede will just wear too fast, fairly quickly it'll compress/wear into normal leather in the contact areas.. Also leather grips better with skin contact, where as suede is somewhat slippery/smooth without a suede glove.

If I wasn't cheaping out and not just picking up deals on wheels. I'd do suede with nice suede palmed gloves for mine. But... I like cheap local deals... so my little leather momo is what I have.
Ebay adapter and ball bearing quick release from some random seller on honda-tech... and I was in business. (no QR in pic)
Old Jun 6, 2008 | 04:35 PM
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My favorite "cheap" new wheel was the Momo Tuner... basically the Competition wheel with a cheaper price tag.
Old Jun 6, 2008 | 04:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Dark Wanderer
Momo Team ! I like it!
Same here! I love my MOMO Team.

Vash,I had a suede steering wheel at one time,I will never buy/use one as a daily driver again.The suede will wear down in a few months and after you finish driving the car,your hands are black from the suede wearing off.
Old Jun 7, 2008 | 12:20 AM
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I've recently been looking at a bunch of steering wheels, and those suede Sparcos are really nice, but they lose their appeal when the suede gets dirty & worn IMO. If your hands are dirty after work, you'll have to make sure to wash them before driving or the wheel will get scuzzy quickly.

Also being fairly long-legged, I had to consider the size of the wheel. My new kirkey has me sitting closer to the floor so that gives me more leg clearance, but I decided I still need a smaller than stock wheel to facilitate heel & toe. However, too small a wheel will obscure the gauge cluster. I wound up ordering the Sparco Ring (a 330mm D-cut wheel) in leather. The hub & quick release I'll install it with will position it slightly closer to me, and combined with the D-cut that should give my knees a bit more clearance. I agree the D-cut wheels generally don't look as good, but I felt forced to make a bit of a trade for better function. If I was to get a circle wheel and could live with the suede, I believe the Sparco 323 would be near the top of my list.
Old Jun 7, 2008 | 01:18 AM
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I absolutely Love my Sparco 215..


To match the level of explanation for the above.

I have it in leather so I don't need to worry about suede wearing out or getting dirty. it is a 350mm and it's deep. It brings the wheel closer to me, allows full view of the gauges. I think the larger size is nice, but because it's so deep (90 mm) my legs don't get in the way. In fact, if my seat isn't set right my knees hit the plastic on the steering shaft as it goes to the kick plate, meanwhile my legs still don't rub the wheel. No one who is "larger" who has used my car has ever had a problem with the wheel being too big either.

Plus..it's a 2 spoke.

I'd recommend it, I've enjoyed it a lot. But if you don't end up getting it, that's cool it'll just be more unique for me to have one.
Old Jun 7, 2008 | 01:45 AM
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this is the one i have, and i love it. although i usually don't care about looks only function, i have a habit of being careful where i touch the wheel because of the suede. it's been about a year and it's just now turned to leather in a few spots. my friend had one and wasn't careful and likes to eat chicken and drive and his was leather'ed out in a month! obviously, i use gloves at the track. oh, and i grab the spokes when i go for a long drive or highway cruising. i used to have a momo leather but sold it to get this one, i couldn't resist the allure of the suede.

http://www.sparcousa.com/psteering_comp.asp?id=277
Old Jun 7, 2008 | 01:57 AM
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I'm looking for a wheel too, specifically sparco because like everyone said, they just look badass.

I was thinking of the sparco ring, but I have never driven a "D-cut" wheel. I want something with a slight dish too, just not as big as the 350mm 215, although I plan on getting a quick release along with the hub to push it closer to me.

Whatever I go with will probably be leather because I can already imagine how fucked up a suede wheel would get after a few months.

Oh and other than the ring, I was thinking about the Champion Limited Edition, because it looks badass. Do all of the wheels come in multiple sizes though? I really want a small wheel.
Old Jun 9, 2008 | 01:30 PM
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Well after alot of thinking about WTF I was going to get I placed my order.

I got the Momo competition wheel:



The plug and play adapter:



And a new smooth black Voodoo **** (to replace my polished one):



I really thought long about the suede and my line of work....and decided it would be a waste of money. And after driving my friends Legacy around on Saturday some more, I really like the Momo wheel she has. Alot of people here seem to love their Momo wheels as well, so that helped me make the right choice I think.

I will say this though, it was pretty ******* expensive once you get the wheel and the hub adapter together. I figure its just one less area on the car I need to think about now.......its done.

Thanks guys!

Vash-
Old Jun 9, 2008 | 02:02 PM
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I've got a sparco ring and love it. D-Cut FTW!
Old Jun 9, 2008 | 06:00 PM
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i'll get a wheel eventually, what size is it, 350mm? oh and that shift **** looks like it's gonna burn your hand bad, even my voodoo can get pretty damn not
Old Jun 9, 2008 | 06:35 PM
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Suede would suck, matted down dirty fairly quick. I put a momo trek r dring in and have loved it. Makes getting in and out a bit easier as well which I didnt think about at the time when I ordered it.
It was kinda pricey though and that sucked a bit. I got a different adapter that was way cheaper but required a bit of modification.

Wait til that shift **** has been sitting in the sun though for a bit, quickshifting , lol. I Had a polished voodoo one for a bit but went with something else after setting in the sun for awhile it felt like it had reached the temperature of a supenova.
Old Aug 27, 2008 | 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by MX_Eva
I absolutely Love my Sparco 215..


To match the level of explanation for the above.

I have it in leather so I don't need to worry about suede wearing out or getting dirty. it is a 350mm and it's deep. It brings the wheel closer to me, allows full view of the gauges. I think the larger size is nice, but because it's so deep (90 mm) my legs don't get in the way. In fact, if my seat isn't set right my knees hit the plastic on the steering shaft as it goes to the kick plate, meanwhile my legs still don't rub the wheel. No one who is "larger" who has used my car has ever had a problem with the wheel being too big either.
Any pics of said 90mm deep wheel in car? How close is it? Problems with wiper/turn signal?
Old Aug 27, 2008 | 04:54 PM
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I have a D-cut Sparco and love it....Leather
Old Aug 27, 2008 | 04:56 PM
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Angry

Old Aug 27, 2008 | 05:03 PM
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Sorry spooky, my car is at BEGi at the moment so I can't snap a pic



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