Non PAS Chimaera question

[JPW231]

Hi everyone.
I'm looking at a non PAS Chimaera tomorrow and wondered what peoples opinions were as to how easy they are to live with?

I have had two MX5s (stop sniggering) both with PAS and I just tried my Golf on the drive without the engine running (225x40x18 tyres, but it is 300kg heavier than the TVR) and it felt heavy.

What is the general consensus from those of you who own a non-PAS TVR?

[black and green]

It is heavy and tyre pressure dependant. I lived with non PAS for a few months, then bit the bullet and fitted EPAS. Huge improvement IMO.

[Nosh]

I have non PAS.

I live with it ok, good for arm muscle tone and once the car is moving, it is ok.

I have stock tyres / sizes and wheels (15 on the front).

If I were to buy another Chim, I might look for a PAS version but it wouldn't be the be main factor for deciding which car I bought....

Best of luck with the hunt.

[Jonny cobra]

My 1995 chim is non PAS with 17 inch fronts and when you are sitting still then yes its heavy . But soon as you are moving its fine .. My cobra was a lot heavier with 15 inch wheels .

JC..

[Mark.]

No problems with not having PAS OK so it's a bit heavier especially if stationary but even at a couple mph it's fine.

We tried both version when test driving and both preferred the Non-PAS.

[Mossyboy1978]

I also have non PAS with 17 inters. It's bought for low speed parking but you get fabulous feel at speed. I also used to have an MX-5 and the power steering on that is the best I've ever had so don't try and compare them.

[Mossyboy1978]

black and green said:

It is heavy and tyre pressure dependant. I lived with non PAS for a few months, then bit the bullet and fitted EPAS. Huge improvement IMO.

Where did you get that sorted? I am interested in it as an upgrade. Also - could you let me know how much?

[Simon says]

Not that bad really, just like driving an eighties saloon before everthing went PAS, comparing a PAS car without the engine running is not a good bench as PAS systems & non PAS cars have different rack and pinion ratio's.

[JPW231]

Thanks for the tips - I guess the general consensus is that if it's a good car (and I'll find out tomorrow :-) ) then don't be put off by the lack of PAS.

I did try a 4.3 Griffith a few years back and I remember that being very heavy though!

[BIGMIKE1]

My first chim was PAS and thats what I wanted when I bought my second but the one I found didn't have it, its not really noticeable once moving unless your a complete wimp! Plus the PAS cars have lots more problems anyway, if its a good car I wouldn't worry.

[grayze]

I have a non PAS 500, no problem when you're moving.

Heavy when stationary but plan your manouvre ahead and turn the wheel when the car is moving and reversing and its fine.

[ChimpanLucky]

I have driven Chims with & without PAS.

The big difference is at parking speeds where you really notice it if you don't have PAS.

Steering feel is more or less exactly the same once on the move.

The killer punch is that the PAS rack is a quicker ratio.

I have it on good authority that if you use your Chim on the track & you want to be competitive, the PAS rack is essential to catch a slide.

So to my way of thinking that's two advantages to PAS over the Non-PAS cars.

Of cause the Non-PAS rack does have one clear advantage over a PAS equipped car.

A Non-PAS rack won't leak.

My advice would be, at this stage if you still have the choice you would do well to seek out a PAS car, just make 100% sure the rack doesn't leak.

However, what you will most likely find is the guys with PAS will tell you it's better, and the guys without it will tell you don't need PAS.

With my pragmatic & impartial head on, I can honestly say having driven both, I'm very glad I've got PAS on mine.

[BIGMIKE1]

ChimpanLucky said:

However, what you will most likely find is the guys with PAS will tell you it's better, and the guys without it will tell you don't need PAS.

This is exactly what I found when I was unsure about my 2nd chim when it didn't have it. Try both but buy the best condition car.
Mike

[JPW231]

Thanks for the tips guys. I agree with ChimpanLucky's comments and so far I have only tried one car which had PAS, so will need to see what the non-PAS one is like!

[haircutmike]

My car has had both and I would never go back to none PAS.

Try them both!

[Bassfiend]

Have to say that my mates Mk2 Golf GTi that has no PAS is heavier than my Chim (which has no PAS) ... I don't notice the steering weight particularly until I get into something modern and then wonder if the steering column has broken.

Phil

[Andy chimaera]

my non PAS was a pain to live with every day, very heavy, so much so i ended up buying a re-con power rack from a link from here believe it or not and the power rack is heavier than normal cars but much better, the power rack is much sharper too, i love it 2.2 turns to lock as opposed to 2.5 and it makes all the difference

[ChimpanLucky]

So three people on here have gone from non-assisted steering to a power rack.

All seem happy with the change and none of them want to return to their old unassisted steering.

Racing Green offer an unassisted steering to EPAS mod, so they must have seen a market for it.

But nobody has ripped out their power rack & gone unassisted.



Does that tell us something?

[Bassfiend]

ChimpanLucky said:

Does that tell us something?

There are some big girly wusses driving TVRs?

Phil

[ChimpanLucky]

Bassfiend said:

ChimpanLucky said:

Does that tell us something?

There are some big girly wusses driving TVRs?

Phil

Good one Phil

That puts me in the big girly wuss camp.

Camp

Chase me, Chase me....