Cars with best steering wheel feedback

[vrsmxtb]

For everyday hatchbacks, I loved my Focus Mk1 steering. When I got my Fabia I really missed the Ford's steering and handling, although the extra power was reasonable consolation.

[Futuramic]

Everyone keeps stating "it's almost like a go-kart" - in fact the best steering setups I have ever used have been fitted to go-karts!

In the world of road the unassisted rack on my old Orion was pretty good; but for some reason the Fiesta work car I drove was terrible, although similarly unpowered. I think one of the problems was that it had a "power steering steering wheel" and no assistance on the rack. By my previous, odd statement I mean that the wheel was small with a fat rim and an airbag. Fine in a PAS car but one wants something a bit bigger, and thinner rimmed, for application of effort to manual steering gear.

In addition the unpowered steering on my old Corsa was rubbish.

The best, by far, was my old Ginetta G26 (sadly gone now). This had a Cortina rack bolted in to the chassis and was as heavy as a traction engine at low speeds. This was compensated by the fact that inputs could be as precise as a dressmaker's scissors and the tyres happily conversed with the driver through the straight steering column. It may not even have had a collapsible steering column. This is good for feedback and bad for living if it goes wrong.

[Leins]

DanielJames said:

BMW E46 in my opinion.

Mine was a sport if that makes a difference

Can only imagine what the M3 would be like.

Not only excellent feedback, but the wheel was lovely soft touch leather too

I love the E46, being on my third one, but while the steering is quick, I wouldn't rave about the feedback. Try an older model, like an E30, and you'll find a difference

[SomeMinorTrouble]

Any other car ive driven cant touch the feel I get from the minor, even with only 6 months driving experience i can tell exactly when the grip is going (which if often with the skinny tyres)

I agree on the derv fiesta (latest model), I learnt in one, was awful to drive when he let me hoon

[DubZeus]

Mk1 Golf has great ffeel, I just sold my 1.3 which was cheap to insure, there's also the 1.1 engines. Also worth considering mk2f Polo 1.0 or 1.3 spi ideal first car, dont handle aswell as the frenchies but you still know where you are on the road. Very easy to maintain.

[jackal]

Best of all time: lotus elise (closely followed by caterham)

Best assisted setup: esprit s4s

Best AWD: Lancia integrale evo2

Best 4 seater: 964 or a 996RS

Best hot hatch: 205 GTi

Most overrated: MX5 (sorry, its just not that great at all, 968cs isnt as good as it cracked up to be either)

Edited by jackal on Saturday 15th September 01:35

[Urban Sports]

Slink said:

wow at the couple of people saying that I shouldnt be on the road if i failed a couple of times.
Ill give one reason why I failed, basically forgot that a road went from 50 to 40 an the 40 sign was round a corner, so by the time I had slowed I was past the sign.

you obviously have never ever broken the speedlimit or made a mistake in your driving.

[Simes205]

Slightly biased but for cheap thrills a 205GTI provides an amazing amount of steering wheel feedback. You feel every bump, stone and leaf!!
It makes many other cars seem quite boring and lifeless.
You will always be busy at the wheel!

[Gilhooligan]

Like what a few people are saying. Avoid electric power steering. I had a mk2 clio and my sister had the face lifted version with an electric system compared to my hydraulic one. The difference was huge and hers felt terrible. So little feel that I genuinely didn't realise I was under steering until I had applied a copious amount of steering lock, then the tyres gripped and the thing lurched around the corner. This was all at about 15-20 mph.

[kambites]

Breadvan72 said:

As an example of unassisted terrible steering, try an MGB. Another car for the list of those that have power assisted steering and good steering feel is a Lotus Excel.

You must have driven a bad one. The MGB certainly isn't great compared to other sports cars of its era, but it's still far, far better than 90% of modern "sports cars" and 99% of modern cars in general.

On steering feel alone, I'd take an MGB over a Cayman (obviously the Cayman is vastly superior in many other ways, though).

Of course there are very poor unassisted setups, but the MGB isn't one of them IMO.

Edited by kambites on Saturday 15th September 09:24

[deltashad]

jackal said:

Best of all time: lotus elise (closely followed by caterham)

Best assisted setup: esprit s4s

Best AWD: Lancia integrale evo2

Best 4 seater: 964 or a 996RS

Best hot hatch: 205 GTi

Most overrated: MX5 (sorry, its just not that great at all, 968cs isnt as good as it cracked up to be either)

Edited by jackal on Saturday 15th September 01:35

[kambites]

jackal said:

Best 4 seater: 964 or a 996RS

From everything I've read, surely that honour goes to the Evora?

[anonymous-user]

Caterham. Purest driving experience overall.

[anonymous-user]

P J O'Rourke is right about all such questions when he writes that the best car in the world is a rented car.

[jackal]

kambites said:

jackal said:

Best 4 seater: 964 or a 996RS

From everything I've read, surely that honour goes to the Evora?

Driven a number of evoras and yes, I would agree that its very very good but some of the 911's have more of a raw animalstic feel to their steering which I think is better, more honest and more 'alive'. Lotus have a knack of developing a very filtered silky sort of steering. Don't get me wrong, its very very good, very 'lotus' and extremely clever as its filters off perhaps some of the stuff that you don't wish to feel but it's almost a little contrived compared to the agricultural purity of some of the best 911's.

[RDMcG]

I would love to drive a Caterham but I can't fit comfortably into it. My 997 3.8RS has the best steering of anything I have tried personally,with superb feedback. I have not tried the 996RS which many think is better.

[kambites]

jackal said:

kambites said:

jackal said:

Best 4 seater: 964 or a 996RS

From everything I've read, surely that honour goes to the Evora?

Driven a number of evoras and yes, I would agree that its very very good but some of the 911's have more of a raw animalstic feel to their steering which I think is better, more honest and more 'alive'. Lotus have a knack of developing a very filtered silky sort of steering. Don't get me wrong, its very very good, very 'lotus' and extremely clever as its filters off perhaps some of the stuff that you don't wish to feel but it's almost a little contrived compared to the agricultural purity of some of the best 911's.

Hmm, fair enough. I've driven a 996 GT3 RS and didn't come away particularly impressed (although it's certainly the best "recent" 911 that I've driven. I haven't driven an Evora, though.

[jackal]

kambites said:

jackal said:

kambites said:

jackal said:

Best 4 seater: 964 or a 996RS

From everything I've read, surely that honour goes to the Evora?

Driven a number of evoras and yes, I would agree that its very very good but some of the 911's have more of a raw animalstic feel to their steering which I think is better, more honest and more 'alive'. Lotus have a knack of developing a very filtered silky sort of steering. Don't get me wrong, its very very good, very 'lotus' and extremely clever as its filters off perhaps some of the stuff that you don't wish to feel but it's almost a little contrived compared to the agricultural purity of some of the best 911's.

Hmm, fair enough. I've driven a 996 GT3 RS and didn't come away particularly impressed (although it's certainly the best "recent" 911 that I've driven. I haven't driven an Evora, though.

Really ? I am surprised. I find the 996RS is one of the most rewarding and feelsome cars to drive of the last decade. Has to be pedalled quick, at the limit and wielded in the right fashion for it all to make sense and extract the best from it though IMO. Its certainly not a car which will reveal all its depths and impresses on the first date.

[Mr Happy]

I can pretty much guarantee it'll have been said dozens of times - but a 205 GTI, the unassisted steering is just spot on perfect.

From my (very brief) drive in an assisted one, the feel is still there, but it just feels a bit dulled down. In the non-PAS cars, it's like the car isn't a car any more, it's more a mechanical extension of your senses!

I loved mine, I will get another one some day!

[anonymous-user]

Maybe the unassisted 205 has a better feel, but i'd trade that extra feel in a flash for the ability to get in a quick dab of oppo when required without needing look like this:




and the high rate rack means you don't need to spin the wheel like this:




;-)