Here are your setup choices:

​To elevate your sim racing experience, investing in the right additional equipment can make a significant difference in immersion, comfort and performance. Beyond the essential components like a wheelbase, steering wheel, and pedals, a thoughtful decision about your cockpit- and display-setup can bring you closer to the feel of real racing.​

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When buying sim racing equipment in this category, the beginner setup options (Desk Setup, Wheelstand, foldable Cockpit) are not sufficient anymore and i would not recommend those. To get the most out of your wheelbase and your pedals you need a very rigid mounting solution that doesn't yield under high braking or steering forces. This will give you on one hand a more immersive experience and on the other hand it is easier to get consistent lap times when racing since you can better understand the feedback of your equipment.

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Your best choice is a full cockpit with an integrated seat. These come in two distinct styles:

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Setup 1 is an aluminium profile rig. As the name suggests an Aluminium profile rig is made out of extruded aluminum profiles that are attached to each other with 90° angle mounts. With an aluminium profile rig you have a very rigid cockpit that does not bend or wobble when racing. You also get a seating position similar to real live racing cars. Since aluminium profile rigs are very customizable you can create yourself the setup you want. You can change seats and either get a formula style seating position or a GT style seating position. If you want to add additional equipment (e.g. shifters or handbrakes) to your setup you can easily mount them to your existing cockpit. Depending on your display choice you can integrate monitors directly to the rig or use a separate profile stand for mounting. 

A profile rig is also best if you want to upgrade your setup later with additional equipment that enhances your immersion. For example you can easily mount a motion system, active seatbelt tensioners or buttkickers.

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The alternative is setup 2, a tubular Cockpit. A tubular cockpit provides an all-in-one solution for sim racing. These cockpit are most of the time made out of welded steel tubes which are connected to each other. These cockpits provide a similar stability and immersion like the Aluminium Cockpit. Tubular cockpits come in various designs, which are lightweight yet strong.

The main reason a tubular Cockpit is picked over an aluminium profile rig is the design. These cockpits are aesthetically more pleasing and are easier to clean since there are not as many grooves were dust is gathering.

The drawback of tubular Cockpits is the customizability and the price. Tubular cockpits are in general more expensive and when you want to add additional equipment to your rig, you are limited to the provided mounting holes that are provided by the manufacturer you choose.

When you want to ad advanced equipment like buttkickers or active seatbelt tensioners later on, you either have to DIY yourself a solution or you cannot really you those.

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Below you can compare the two versions: