So my students and I are going to build a driving simulator. 

We have a complete cockpit out of a 2013 VW Passat. We can use a PC or a gaming console. The goal is to have and use the factory steering wheel and as many others as possible.  It would be hard but I would like to get the dash pod to work with the game. Maybe using Arduino's stuff. 

 

We have a few thousand to play with and also a full machine shop. 

We need the game to play with VW cars. 

Lets hear your ideas please. 

VW's suck. 

TBH... depending ong how realistic it's gonna be a bitch. I'd be tempted to use one of the high end pedal and steering wheel jobs which provide impact, and mount your own pedals and wheel etc to it. 

Use a series of overlapping projectors on a bent white wall to get your screen. 

 

Burn your big bucks on getting a system to lightly simulate g-forces.

The screen most likely will be a single Hd tv. G forces and such will not be needed. But I am looking to have force feedback on the steering wheel. 

I would use a computer not a console, it would be easier to upgrade, future proof and you have a larger selection to driving simulators. In Japan they have a arcade game setup kinda like what you are wanting to do, here is a link to a video of people playing them. Warning the audio is loud. If you were to emulate it I would suggest modifying a car lift for turning, though it would be easily out of the price range you have. Here is another example of people using actual cars for their game. 

I forgot to add you can get racing wheel controllers that have force feedback. Second example

pull the guts out of a g27 and get plans for a serial port connector or usb to send info to the gauges there should be a few freeware programs on the net along with plans on how to make it all work

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Edited October 8, 20179 yr by DeathMerchant
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