homepage Forums Technology Hardware & Software - PC Cougar vs X52 Pro

Hi guys, I know joysticks have been discussed here many times, but I have a couple specific questions about these two sticks. Keep in mind I am a casual sim pilot who will be dabbling in Falcon 4.0 AF/Free Falcon, Jane's F/A-18, Jane's USAF and maybe MS Flight Sim X.

First. Overall value. The prices I have are $185 for the Cougar and $155 for the X52 Pro. Out of the box, which will be the better value.

Second. Where does one find out more about Cougar mods and their costs?

Third. Anyone used the new Logitech G940 flight system? Maybe worth the wait? How well does force feedback work on a joystick? It will be almost double the cost of these two options, but have peddles with it...

Thanks, for your help guys.
Cawgee.

Well...

As a Cougar user myself (since 7 years, same stick), I love it. But it has no real rudder control (you can use one of the rotaries...) and the one I used to assign rudder at is now off-center and likely I'd have to replace the pot. I had a spiking X pot on the stick six months ago and bought the FSSB Force Pressure kit instead of simple replacing the pot, since I wanted to save myself further hassles and the "center play" was becoming notable too. The Force Mod cost me 400EUR.

And I had to replace the throttle pot once, about 4 years after I bought it.

Moral of the story? It's not perfectly maintenance free. But on the other hand, I got 4 years really good use from it before anything went wrong, and with the replacements I did I could now use it for another 7 I guess. Replacing throttle pot or X/Y stick pots is easy and shouldn't scare you.

Even if you never modify it, it will be very satisfactory for at least three to four years - by which time you might get some wear on some parts like the gimbals. I admit that I'm doing a lot of flying currently on a Saitek AV8R - simple because the force-modded Cougar doesn't quite suit turn/burn flying (WW1, WW2) or helo flying. I used it successfully for a while in IL-2, but also mostly for energy fighters (FW190) where the stiffness of the Cougar definitly helped me shoot better and fly more energy-aware - wouldn't try it in a Spitfire however. Cougar shines in LOMAC and FS2004 Combat Jets however, nothing else comes close (LOMAC even supports the analogue microstick for moving the radar cursor and Maverick Seeker, I think F-18 has been modded for the same, and neither CH nor Saitek have such a thing to my knowledge).

Now, the X52 has rudder control right out of the box - and comes without the "cast iron" gimbal problems, and is likely much better suited to a broader range of sims. But it's never going to feel as tight as the Cougar, and also you can program the Cougar with more special tricks if that is your thing.

I think the Logitech is going to be a good all-round solution for casual flyers like you (and me today), baring any reliability problems (pots) and if I had to rebuy my flight controls, I might end up with that one. But my Cougar is going to last another 5 years at least, yet I will keep a "cheap stick" around for more twitchy flying which you could avoid with the X52.

I own both a modded Cougar and the Saitek.

RSColonel said it all quite well, I think.

If you are casual, the X52 Pro is the best overall value in sticks today. It has no pots to go wrong, its programmable, ergonomic, lots of buttons, plenty of analog axes (including twist rudder), and a good feel (to me). It adjusts to one's hand size.

The Cougar is there for the serious enthusiast.It costs a lot when modded -- but, then it lasts 10 years so is cheap for an enthusiast. Has the best feel (I think). BUT, you have to use it a lot before a "force mod" becomes "second nature". Actually, the force mod is not the problem. The problem is that we all have so much time on "spring" sticks -- and controlling a stick with "no movement" takes getting used to. Then its very precise -- maybe partly why they use it in the actual F16.

Wait for the logitech stick, and save your money.

P.S. I use an unmodded Cougar, and have replaced all three pots once since I've had it for 6 years. Also I have replaced one of the gimbals. Love the feel, love the metal, love the stiffness. Doesn't have FFB though...

Thanks for the great replies guys! I really do appreciate them. One is not able to 'test drive' all the options available, so input from real people who have used the devices is a huge help.

My original thinking was that at the price of the X52 Pro I would get a decent HOTAS for my use. From what you guys have said, sounds like you agree with me. Only entertained the Cougar as I thought it was at a decent price. As for the G940, I am not sold on FFB for a joystick, do not really NEED peddles and do not see any thumb rest buttons on the stick. Also the prices I listed are in Canadian dollars, so the Saitek option is also half price of the G940 (and available now). Also with the Saitek, I can upgrade to peddles later with their Pro Peddles, which are wider, and more appealing to me.

Thanks again!