Which cars have very light power steering? Fiat Punto?
Which cars have very light power steering? Fiat Punto?
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Toed64

Original Poster:

299 posts

141 months

Thursday 25th January 2018
quotequote all
Hello All

A friend of mine has slightly compromised health and as a consequence drives an automatic Fiat Panda with a 'CITY' button on the dash that makes the steering almost laughably light... she needs this to avoid having painful arms and hands.

She has just moved from London to the country. Consequently, she is now driving a lot on major roads and motorways and she would like a slightly larger, quieter and more comfortable car. She has asked for my help and has a budget of about £3000.

I learn that the 'CITY' button may well have been patented by Fiat, so I've scanned the classified ads for a Grande Punto automatic, but they seem to be semi-automatic and I don't know if they have a full-auto mode. I have also seen a few Fiats with this box listed as spares or repair with transmission faults. If they do have a full-automatic mode, then one of these would seem to be a solution. Can anyone offer any insight? Are they any good, or will I get lots of 'I've broken down' calls?

Can anyone suggest any alternative cars that might fit the bill? The extra-light PAS is essential.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.


Integroo

11,589 posts

106 months

Thursday 25th January 2018
quotequote all
See here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Chrysler Delta was suggested as having a super light steering button.

Toed64

Original Poster:

299 posts

141 months

Thursday 25th January 2018
quotequote all
Integroo said:
See here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Chrysler Delta was suggested as having a super light steering button.
Interesting - I've never noticed one...it's a Lancia/Fiat thing, and the little Chrysler Ypsilon is a Lancia too. I think she'd be happier with a Lancia badge...

Thanks

ZX10R NIN

29,891 posts

146 months

Thursday 25th January 2018
quotequote all
I think th Alfa Romeo Mito has the same steering,

Ransoman

884 posts

111 months

Thursday 25th January 2018
quotequote all
Alfa Giulietta has pretty light steering in N and A modes but no City mode. The faster steering rack means you can go from lock to lock with less than 2 turns of the wheel which may help.

Toed64

Original Poster:

299 posts

141 months

Friday 26th January 2018
quotequote all
Thank you all, I'm looking at Alfas and other Fiat derived things - as Chrysler/Lancia has gone from UK market, they are quite cheap...

It does seem odd to me that they should have chosen to put a lardy American brand badge on Lancias to be sold here. Surely the Lancia brand would have recovered from its rusty reputation by now!

I shall take her to see some Alfas and Fiat Grande Puntos too. Skimmng the adverts on ebay, the Bravo looks cheap too, perhaps they have a CITY button too...