Flat bottomed Steering wheels ?

[J4CKO]

Do they serve any purpose (i.e. other than turning the front wheels) ?

Is it the latest must have feature in the company car park ?

[PurpleMoonlight]

Makes getting in and out a tiny bit easier I guess.

[PositronicRay]

It indicates the owner is, or has aspirations to be a fatty.

[AshBurrows]

It always made me assume less than one turn lock to lock. Otherwise how do you catch it?

[JagerT]

I much prefer the square ones.

[Dannbodge]

I hate them personally

[J4CKO]

Having had a 944 with a steering wheel angled to cut blood flow off to your knees if over 5 ft, compounded by a bus sized wheel and managed fine, not sure how an Audi A1/3/4/5/6/7/8 Q whatever needs a cut out for your legs, perhaps they got the ergonomics wrong and it was a quick fix when they were concentrating on ECU shennanagins ?

I ask this as I found myself wanting a flat bottomed wheel and then I thought why, Austin were ridiculed when they tried to redesign the steering wheel, but people seem to be secretly coveting what seems to be a fairly strange, but somehow compelling feature ?

[J4CKO]

Perhaps Audi owners are more at risk of Lipedema ?

[ambuletz]

i think they look hideous and are ridiculously stupid in any normal car. much prefer a normal wheel that's got some quality trim/stitching on it.

[Coolbanana]

J4CKO said:

Do they serve any purpose (i.e. other than turning the front wheels) ?

Is it the latest must have feature in the company car park ?

Latest?

VAG have had them in many of their cars for a long time now! So hardly 'latest'.

The only purpose a flat-bottomed steering wheel provides is ease of getting in and out - a carry over from Formula racing cars. A style item on regular road-going cars.

Some people like 'em some don't. Same as with everything. A choice.

[Otter Smacker]

[chevy55]

Nothing new

[TheTechnician]

[Revisitph]

"...you make the rocking world go round.."

May, B. CBE PhD 1978

[williamp]

TheTechnician said:

Hey porsche, look! A centrally mounted stopwatch. Years before the 997S

[TooMany2cvs]

If the steering wheel's got a flat bottom to help fit the driver's legs under, what happens when they turn it? It's not an F1 car with about 60deg lock-to-lock...

[kambites]

J4CKO said:

Do they serve any purpose (i.e. other than turning the front wheels) ?

Is it the latest must have feature in the company car park ?

In cars where the cabin is very tight, they make it easier (ie possible) to get in and out. In anything which is also available with a round wheel, they're a fashion vanity. A stupid one too; cars that actually needed them typically have very fast racks so you aren't moving your hands on the wheel; on a road car with three turns lock-to-lock they're a pain in the arse, IMO.

[J4CKO]

Coolbanana said:

J4CKO said:

Do they serve any purpose (i.e. other than turning the front wheels) ?

Is it the latest must have feature in the company car park ?

Latest?

VAG have had them in many of their cars for a long time now! So hardly 'latest'.

The only purpose a flat-bottomed steering wheel provides is ease of getting in and out - a carry over from Formula racing cars. A style item on regular road-going cars.

Some people like 'em some don't. Same as with everything. A choice.

It isnt that long in the scheme of things, 7 years or so, then the migration down the ranges.

[SteBrown91]

My GTD has one, looks great, pain in the ass to use. It wouldn't put me off a car if it had one now, but I'd prefer if it didn't have one

[vikingaero]

It's an interior reiteration of the Chav Sport badge.