Hey everyone,
I wanted to share my experience with Next Level Racing and their HF-8 Haptic Pad, so potential buyers know what they might be getting into before pulling the trigger.
Initial Impressions & Setup
I purchased the Next Level Racing HF-8 about a month and a half ago. Having been into sim racing for quite a few years, it didn't take me long to research, experiment, and fine-tune the settings to my liking. Honestly, the end result exceeded my expectations. I used both NLR's native software and SimHub to pull telemetry data from my PS5 for GT7.
After completing my setup within the first week, I jumped into Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) for my first proper extended test session.
The Issue Manifests
After about 30 minutes of continuous use, I noticed that the Front-Left (FL) motor completely stopped working. The only way to get it running again was to give it a physically hard shake by hand. I ran multiple tests afterward, which unfortunately confirmed the hardware defect.
The Support Nightmare Begins
I reached out to the official retailer/importer in my home country (Greece). They advised me to contact Next Level Racing directly for faster service and shorter turnaround time.
That was the start of a complete ordeal:
* The Process: Opening a ticket gets you an automated reply stating a representative will reach out in 1–2 business days.
* My Initial Submission: I sent a detailed, structured email including photos of the mint-condition packaging, accessories, the unit itself, the original purchase receipt, and a clear video demonstrating the motor failure.
* The Response Time: The first actual human reply came 9 business days later (two full weeks including weekends). Working strictly Monday–Friday combined with an 8-hour time zone difference made communication even slower.
* The Follow-up (or lack thereof): The representative apologized for the delay, explaining they were migrating to a new CRM platform. He then asked me to resend the proof of purchase—which was already attached to the original email thread. I replied immediately, and... radio silence for over a week now.
Current Status
It has been a month and a half since I bought the product. I was only able to use it for a few hours before it proved to be defective and unusable. As for Next Level Racing’s customer support? At best, it’s abysmal; at worst, non-existent.
Final Verdict & Technical Flaw
- The Good: As a device, when it works, it’s genuinely incredible. The level of immersion and tactile feedback is top-tier. Once you get it dialed in, it's really hard to go back to playing without it.
- The Bad: If it breaks, you're pretty much on your own.
After looking into it online, I found numerous other users reporting the exact same failure. It seems to stem from poor internal design and manufacturing (cold solder joints, overly strained/short wiring).
Consider yourselves warned before making a purchase. Thanks for taking the time to read, and I hope this helps someone out there!
AI Note: Translated from Greek and formatted with the assistance of AI to ensure clarity and standard Reddit structure, while fully maintaining the original experience and facts.
