Need help regarding new car, no PAS
Discussion
So i passed my test about a month ago, recently got a 1L polo from my bro which is P reg. Today i drove it around for the first time and found it pretty hard, it has a pretty weak engine and no power assisted steering. When i was learning to drive i was in a 1.7 vauhall astra diesel which is quite different from driving this car and i could just bring up the clutch to get the car going quickly and smoothly, in this car its a totally different story.
I have heard that if you increase the tire pressure on the front tires it steers slightly better, or is that not true?
Any other advice on what i can do to make driving easier in this car? (Apart from selling it)
I have heard that if you increase the tire pressure on the front tires it steers slightly better, or is that not true?
Any other advice on what i can do to make driving easier in this car? (Apart from selling it)
Just stick with it, you'll get used to it pretty soon. Same with the clutch, you'd been "trained" to deal with one particular type, so you'll soon swap from "how to work an astra clutch" to "how to work a clutch"
I wouldn't change tyre pressures too much, higher pressure is lighter steering, but that's because they pump up and decrease the contact patch, with means less grip.
I wouldn't change tyre pressures too much, higher pressure is lighter steering, but that's because they pump up and decrease the contact patch, with means less grip.
A 1 litre Polo with no PAS is a very, very good car to start driving in. It'll stop you picking up bad habits (like turning the steering when not moving) and mean that any "moments" you have as a result of inexperience will be at low speed. The lack of power will help you learn how to maximise the performance of any car.
But in answer to your question, upping the front tyre pressures will make it easier to turn the wheels, but only because the contact patch is reduced, meaning much less grip when driving.
But in answer to your question, upping the front tyre pressures will make it easier to turn the wheels, but only because the contact patch is reduced, meaning much less grip when driving.
OnTheOverrun said:
Just get used to it. Many of us old folks on here learnt to drive in big heavy cars with no PAS, let alone a little featherweight one like yours. You should've tried parking my old SIII LR V8 with no PAS on 31x10.50x15 tyres. No need to visit the gym a couple of U turns in that! 
This!PAS is for pussies...
Try a Unimog S404, 40" tyres and no pas.
Yeah diesels are much harder to stall. A petrol car needs a lighter touch on the clutch, you'll get used to it with time. Everything becomes automatic with practice, soon you won't be thinking about what you are doing when driving just doing it.
I assume you've checked the tyre pressure already because if it's lower than the VW recommeded pressure the steering will be harder to turn.
I assume you've checked the tyre pressure already because if it's lower than the VW recommeded pressure the steering will be harder to turn.
I wish you could still buy cars new without PAS, it's a revelation when you get into an older car without it. Even our tiny little Panda has it, and a CITY button that gives it even more assistance. A car as small as this on 155x13's would be so much better if it had none at all.
OP, why on earth do you think not having PAS is a bad thing? Apart from helping little old ladies to park, and people who can't drive to turn in lazily, there are almost no virtues to it.
OP, why on earth do you think not having PAS is a bad thing? Apart from helping little old ladies to park, and people who can't drive to turn in lazily, there are almost no virtues to it.
When I was learning to drive, the instructor turned up on the day of my test with a 1.0 Micra, having thus far been learning in a diesel 205 with PAS. The steering thing wasn't so bad, but the stalling was terrible - you just need to learn that petrol cars generally need a bit more gas when pulling away, and doing something like a three-point turn becomes that bit trickier because you won't get away with just using the clutch and footbrake.
Don't worry, gets easier with time, just a wee few centimetres more force on the accelerator and it'll be grand!
Don't worry, gets easier with time, just a wee few centimetres more force on the accelerator and it'll be grand!
Merry said:
Mafioso said:
Citman said:
...and doing something like a three-point turn becomes that bit trickier because you won't get away with just using the clutch and footbrake.
Who the hell taught you to do that!?My response was WTF too....
ive driven a p reg, 1 litre polo, and i can honestly say that the steering is way to heavy, admitidly ive only really parked it rather than driven it, as its my girlfriends car, and shall we say she has dificulty parking,
it will probably do you good haveing no PAS, as once your moving, you wont get into bad habits, but when your trying to park, you will hate it. definitly no one handed 8 point turns in your car
doug
it will probably do you good haveing no PAS, as once your moving, you wont get into bad habits, but when your trying to park, you will hate it. definitly no one handed 8 point turns in your car
doug
Mafioso said:
Citman said:
...and doing something like a three-point turn becomes that bit trickier because you won't get away with just using the clutch and footbrake.
Who the hell taught you to do that!?dugt said:
ive driven a p reg, 1 litre polo, and i can honestly say that the steering is way to heavy, admitidly ive only really parked it rather than driven it, as its my girlfriends car, and shall we say she has dificulty parking,
it will probably do you good haveing no PAS, as once your moving, you wont get into bad habits, but when your trying to park, you will hate it. definitly no one handed 8 point turns in your car
doug
I was shocked how heavy the steering is as well, My mother had one and asked me to park it for her and I struggled to move the thing and thought it was a) jammed against the kerb. b)flat tyres.it will probably do you good haveing no PAS, as once your moving, you wont get into bad habits, but when your trying to park, you will hate it. definitly no one handed 8 point turns in your car
doug
Mum was in her 70's.
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