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On paper, it's a tie between Moza R9 V2 and Fanatec Podium DD2. Both boast 9Nm and 25Nm of torque respectively, which is an overkill for most sim racers. Direct Drive is the only way to go, so that's a draw. They're both PC compatible, but the Fanatec also supports Xbox - not a deal-breaker for me.
I've seen users struggling with firmware upgrades on Moza R9 V2. The base will sometimes remain in upgrade mode after a beta update, requiring a manual reset. I've heard horror stories of people trying to troubleshoot the issue only to be met with unhelpful support responses. Users are reporting no overheating issues with their R9 V2s, which is suspiciously good considering some early units had this problem. The big problem here is that Moza's reliability is inconsistent - it's not a guarantee you won't experience any issues at all. I've heard of people having to return and replace their R5 only to upgrade to the R9 V2, which is just a waste of time. On the other hand, Fanatec users are reporting support problems that sound like a nightmare. Users have to send detailed emails explaining what they did, and then wait for days to get an RMA request or shipping address. I've heard it's a bureaucratic mess.
I'd say Moza R9 V2 is the better choice for casual sim racers who want something budget-friendly but still decent. It's more affordable, and users are generally happy with its performance. However, if you're a serious enthusiast looking for precision and durability, Fanatec Podium DD2 is worth considering. Its premium price point comes with top-notch build quality and rock-solid reliability. But let me tell you - it's not worth the headaches you'll get from dealing with their support team.