New cars and power steering

The biggest problem is electric power steering which everyone is moving to for economy purposes
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This, I like the power steering on my 2001 reg car but drove a new 'town car' the other week and it felt horrible, no feedback in the steering wheel at all.
 
markweatherill said:
'Feedback' is something provided by other aspects of suspension design than simply the steering gear, isn't it?
Only an aficionado could tell, but I'd guess that two models of the same car, one with PAS and one without, would have similar lack of 'feedback'.
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Not really, especially when EPAS it concerned when you dont have a nice hydraulic pressure to measure for steering effort.

We are really struggling here to get the same suspension setup working with EPAS as the Vehicle Attribute Team considering the 'steering feedback' to be worse than current car.

The only change is the steering rack.

Self centring isnt the same as steering feel or feedback. Thats simply camber than means the car lifts as you steer, hence the reaction of its weight self centres.
 
I remember getting into the 207 loaner we had and nearly careering off the road the steering was so light.
Slammed into the seat belt under braking too :(

Poxy little thing.
 
mjt said:
I remember getting into the 207 loaner we had and nearly careering off the road the steering was so light.
Slammed into the seat belt under braking too :(

Poxy little thing.
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You'd of probably done the same in a an Enzo.

In fact the lightest car I've ever driven was a Range Rover.
 
Bug One said:
You'd of probably done the same in a an Enzo.

In fact the lightest car I've ever driven was a Range Rover.
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Everything was so over-assisted it just caught me off guard.

A modern Range Rover? I find that hard to believe, the tyres are pretty wide..
 
I learnt to drive in a car with no power steering and never had a problem.

The Swift was assisted and felt too light. Same with the clutch.

The 200 is ok but not exactly great for steering feel. Not the best but not the worst either and still gives ok feedback and at least the clutch is nicely weighted.

The MR2 has no assist and feels fantastic when cornering quickly and even around town it's a breeze. Exactly the way I like it :)
 
I hate power steering and power brakes. It's one thing I can't get used to in newer motors.

What I don't quite understand is why it needs so much assist. I have a car with a steering box and 2 turns lock to lock, pretty normal for that setup. Steering is heavy when stopped. Similar weight car, rack, 3.5 turns lock to lock, slightly smaller steering wheel, except it's got loads of power assist that it shouldn't even need. With the engine off you can't even turn the wheel. How have they even managed to set it up like this? I don't get it.

Steering box, big wheel and some leg work ***
 
mjt said:
Slammed into the seat belt under braking too :(
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I find this really wears me down after a while. Constantly trying to hold yourself in the seat because you're not pressing the pedal as hard as you're braking. Results in really jerky braking with less experienced drivers as well.
 
Hate over assisted steering, Got a hire car few years back (little polo) and that has speed sensitive steering found it annoying, 70 towards round about down the gears and braking it would change mid corner. So annoying until you got used to it.
 
If i could choose i would go for a car that does not have power steering i prefer to have heavy steering with 100% feedback than light easy to park steering.
 
mjt said:
Everything was so over-assisted it just caught me off guard.

A modern Range Rover? I find that hard to believe, the tyres are pretty wide..
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I would imagine its got a massively over specced power assitance, because its made to be good off road where you actively use the steering to help you get through deep mud.

It was as if the wheels were off the ground light. Fantastic.

Feedback. I dont get it. What do you want feedback for when you're parking?
 
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