Power Steering
Discussion
Anyone else prefer cars without ?
I am always shocked now when I drive a non PAS car, not only by how heavy it is but how much feel you get and ok, not all non PAS cars have wonderful steering and not all PAS cars are crap but does anyone else enjoy driving a car without PAS ?
Appreciate most modern stuff wouldn't work without it, due to being heavy, having massive heavy diesel lumps and the gargantuan tyres we have nowadays, plus as a population we have got a bit lazy.
I just hark back to my Golf GTI's, specifically the MK2, on its original steel wheels shod with Yokohama tyres, on slightly enhanced suspension and that feeling of rubber on concrete that you just dont get nowadays, some cars do a good job of it but it always feels like its been contrived, a bit artificial ?
I am always shocked now when I drive a non PAS car, not only by how heavy it is but how much feel you get and ok, not all non PAS cars have wonderful steering and not all PAS cars are crap but does anyone else enjoy driving a car without PAS ?
Appreciate most modern stuff wouldn't work without it, due to being heavy, having massive heavy diesel lumps and the gargantuan tyres we have nowadays, plus as a population we have got a bit lazy.
I just hark back to my Golf GTI's, specifically the MK2, on its original steel wheels shod with Yokohama tyres, on slightly enhanced suspension and that feeling of rubber on concrete that you just dont get nowadays, some cars do a good job of it but it always feels like its been contrived, a bit artificial ?
The only thing I don't like about my Honda S2000 is it's steering, which is too light & too direct for high speed motoring. I believe most of the "snap back" oversteer crashes with modern sports cars are because the steering made it too easy to apply excessive opposite lock, when the tail slid just a little.
I love the "arms strong" steering in my Triumph TR7 & TR8. They save gym subscriptions by giving you a workout around parking lots, but are perfect in weight & feel, for a quick 1000Km run interstate here in Oz, or a Sunday country drive.
I love the "arms strong" steering in my Triumph TR7 & TR8. They save gym subscriptions by giving you a workout around parking lots, but are perfect in weight & feel, for a quick 1000Km run interstate here in Oz, or a Sunday country drive.
Power steering in the M3 is pretty decent, makes it easy to turn the wheel when you're crawling but also very taut when making progress. The Mini doesn't have power steering (or servo-assisted brakes, for that matter), quite fun although 3 point turns can be a pain and I always feel like I'm going to lock up if I push too hard, even though I'm stamping on the pedal anyway.
Hydraulic power steering is great, all race cars have it. The reason modern road cars have no feel through the wheel is because manufacturers design them this way. They do this because your average Joe would reckon something is broken if they felt any feel through the steering wheel.
Electric power steering is a different problem though, it's preferred these days for emissions reasons and there doesn't appear to be a good electric system that I know of. A slight concern when Porsche announced the new 991 911 will use it.
Electric power steering is a different problem though, it's preferred these days for emissions reasons and there doesn't appear to be a good electric system that I know of. A slight concern when Porsche announced the new 991 911 will use it.
Neither of my cars have any form of PAS (both just shopping trolleys of the day). To be honest, I prefer the steering feel by a million times (even if the actual cornering ability is a bit crap 
) when compared to their modern equivalents - I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Focus was a massive disappointment.
) when compared to their modern equivalents - I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Focus was a massive disappointment. I might be chased by petrol heads with pitchforks for saying this but I think the electronic power steering in the bmw (not the hydraulic that comes as standard) has a fantastic feel to it. Really light at low speeds but when you put the hammer down then it gets all tight and feels really responsive.
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