Billet's aluminum Wii steering wheel hits the road

Two things come to mind whilst perusing the website for the Billet Aluminum Steering Wheel (which is both constructed from billet aluminum, and manufactured by the Billet company) accessory for the Wii. The first, of course, is that this is really nothing new. The second is that this is a pretty classy version of nothing new (especially compared to some of the other, um... models). The concept is simple: you strap your Wiimote onto the blue, anodized aluminum frame, and bam, you're driving a lightweight, blue, virtual car. The wheel is made from aircraft quality metal, which the company claims can "literally smash the competition to pieces" -- and while we don't condone violence, we would like to see a video of the aforementioned event. Available now for the low, low price of $44.95.

[Gavin @ Jul 12th 2007 9:57AM]

That is sweet!

[ken @ Jul 12th 2007 10:01AM]

I'll just throw this in with the recycled cans after I'm taunted endlessly for being stupid enough to buy it in the first place.

[Rob @ Jul 12th 2007 10:02AM]

This is one fugly looking thing.
It looks like one of those abs things I've seen on tv.
Plus, $45 is too much money for something that fugly.

[alexhrose71 @ Jul 12th 2007 10:04AM]

After all the "incidents" with flying wiimotes they had to make this out of aircraft grade metal. The irony is exquisite.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jul 12th 2007 5:58PM]

From the Official Website:

"As a matter of fact our Steering Wheel for the Wii can literally smash the competition to pieces."


http://www.billetmechanical.com/content/view/16/2/

[Comacozi @ Jul 12th 2007 10:05AM]

but can it play doom?

[Slvrgun @ Jul 12th 2007 10:09AM]

The Wii will go down in gaming history as the console with the most useless accessories.

[Dahk @ Jul 12th 2007 10:09AM]

... here we go again.

But can you strap an iPhone to it?

[Comacozi @ Jul 12th 2007 10:11AM]

good one....ohhh man that gets me everytime

[Dahk @ Jul 12th 2007 12:04PM]

Haha sorry. I meant that as in "here we go again with the 'but can it do this'" comments as a response to the doom one =).

[TheChaz @ Jul 12th 2007 10:14AM]

Wait... It's aircraft grade, yet you have to strap the wiimote into it with a velcro strip? I hope that's not how all planes work.

"Here's our new 787. Aircraft grade construction throughout. See how we velcro'd the avionics into the cockpit?"

[Michael I @ Jul 12th 2007 10:15AM]

as a wii owner this seems like another pointless accessory, why spend 45 dollars on something to hold

[jps @ Jul 12th 2007 10:39AM]

but will it blend?

[h8rain @ Jul 12th 2007 10:52AM]

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

But seriously......Will it Blend?

On topic: Hmmm why pay what the dang WiiMote costs for something that basically does nothing.

[FermitTheKrog @ Jul 12th 2007 10:50AM]

I bought a "real" steering wheel and pedals for my xbox for 30 bucks, and that actually had parts and everything. Who the hell is going to pay 40 bucks for a piece of aluminum?

[movies4axe @ Jul 12th 2007 10:58AM]

I believe their target audience is parents that can't say no to their spoiled children.

In for 4.

[andrew harrison @ Jul 12th 2007 10:58AM]

surely a paper plate with a hole cut in the middle would do the same thing?

[movies4axe @ Jul 12th 2007 11:12AM]

Absolutely not. The torsional properties of paper-plate paper differ vastly from aircraft-grade aluminum.

While it is true you can make planes out of both materials, there are fundamental inequities which cannot be overlooked.

And just look at it. That anodized aluminum will conduct heat away from your sweaty-grip long after your opponents have flung their scratch-and-dent wheels aside in a slippery fit. The zen-minimalist design offers significant weight-reduction for unhindered play. You want an edge in Wii racing games? This is the answer. Be the racing God that you were destined to be and don't let your equipment get in your way.

In for 4 more.

[John B @ Jul 12th 2007 12:08PM]

A wire coat hanger would be much sturdier.

[Comacozi @ Jul 12th 2007 11:02AM]

im sure they can make the same thing out of plastic for 5 dollars

[Matt NL @ Jul 12th 2007 11:10AM]

Two words: frisbee and ducttape...

[Comacozi @ Jul 12th 2007 11:25AM]

duct tape is two words

[MrFuNKy @ Jul 12th 2007 11:44AM]

If only it were made from lightweight carbon fiber!!

[John B @ Jul 12th 2007 12:06PM]

Sorry, but that's ugly. It looks more like some deformed TIE fighter prototype. I could see someone in second place on some racing game saying "I'll take the leader!" If you want to make a steering wheel of that kind of design, why not make the airplane-style wheel like KITT's?

[Slvrgun @ Jul 12th 2007 12:15PM]

You know if this is the future of gaming that Nintendo keeps talking about I think all of us should be very scared. Just look at all of these useless peripherals that 3rd party manufacturers (Cooking attachments for the Wii mote, Baseball and Tennis attachments, etc) and even Nintendo themselves are making (the Wii Blaster looks like an alien shotgun, the official Wii steering wheel is pointless trash, and the Wii Fitboard- give me a break)for lack of a better word, JUNK. Talk about revolutionary. When are we going to see some real AAA titles other than the ones from Nintendo?

[Hardcore @ Jul 12th 2007 12:18PM]

They should have a database of all the people that buy this thing and then they should be taken out and shot.

[ouj @ Jul 12th 2007 1:24PM]

"can anyone please tell me the point of selling something as simple and useless for almost 50 bucks?"

Making money?

There are lots of gullible Wii owners out there. In fact, you are gullible if you've bought one in the first place.

Seriously, this is perhaps the most ridiculous accessory I've ever seen, especially when you consider that there isn't a single racing game worth playing on the Wii.

[logyk @ Jul 12th 2007 2:51PM]

I could go to the junk yard with some tools and get a real steering wheel for free, little bit of duct tape and we got the most authentic Wiil attachment ever..

[Nick K. @ Jul 12th 2007 6:50PM]

Billet aluminum parts for R/C cars is usually around $15 for a part 1/3 the size of your pinky. This isn

[Arthur Nonamiss @ Jul 12th 2007 7:16PM]

Sweet idea, but the price point is too high. This looks nice, and I'd love to use it in a racing game, but most people wouldn't pay $45 for it. I think the price point they are looking for is around $15 - $20. At that price, this would fly off shelves. Unfortunately, the laws of economics dictate that if they sell them for (substantially) more that what they cost to produce, it doesn't matter how many they sell, they can't make a profit. I don't doubt that this probably costs them more than $15 - $20 to produce and distribute, but sadly, there are many really cool products out there that simply can't meet the required price point to justify their existence.

[drtekger @ Jul 12th 2007 9:10PM]

Meh, I will wait for the MarioKart Wii steering wheel. 40 Bucks for a piece of Aluminium sounds like a 400% profit range für the manufacturer.

[Comacozi @ Jul 13th 2007 1:28AM]

can anyone please tell me the point of selling something as simple and useless for almost 50 bucks?

[lopez.dennis @ Jul 13th 2007 10:05AM]

I made a cool wheel for my Wii all by myself. I took the steering wheel out of my car using a crowbar and duct taped the Wiimote to it. Its the wave of the future. Soon everyone will be doing this!!!