The worst cars for torque steer?

Super Tigers

Super Tigers

Super Tigers

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Joined
22 Oct 2002
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2,059
Location
Hull, UK
My vote goes to the MG Montego 2.0 turbo. The fwd Montego Chassis could not handle the power. The monty had a fair bit of lag and then when the turbine finally got enough exhaust gas to spin it up to full speed, you got a big shove in the back and the steering took on a life of it's own and would happily snap from left to right as each front wheel in turn would grip, lose grip and then grip the road again!!
It was even better in the wet. The only car that I have ever driven with a spare pair of under-crackers in the glovebox in case of emergencies :eek:

Rob H
 
I thought Montegos were made by Austin? My parents had one years back, awesome car

edit: MG/Rover/Austin.. ok :o
 
The higher powered Alfa 164s are bad for torque steer, especially early ones.
 
Dogbreath said:
Civic VTi....oh hang on, torque steer, wrong thread :)
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:D

Thought of another one - any of the Dodge Omni-based Charger turbos once you start winding the boost up a few notches. They can start turning into real handfuls.
 
Is that when you step on the accelerator, the front wheels decide to go off on a wee journey in a random direction?

If so, my mum has a Renault Kangoo, and its a pig for it. Does it in first, second and third....and then it just runs out of steam apparently. Bounces along the road like a funfair ride too, its absolutely dire.

I had the misfortune of driving the damn thing all day today. :( Just sitting in it makes you feel like you should have at least a colostomy bag.
 
PMKeates said:
I can't imagine a Kangoo suffering from torque steer :p

Probably some other issue causing that!
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All I know is that accelerator down = "amusing" directional control for a few seconds. I dunno what it is, its not as if I've driven anything that has much more than a lawnmower engine in it. :p
 
Super Tigers said:
My vote goes to the MG Montego 2.0 turbo. The fwd Montego Chassis could not handle the power. The monty had a fair bit of lag and then when the turbine finally got enough exhaust gas to spin it up to full speed, you got a big shove in the back and the steering took on a life of it's own and would happily snap from left to right as each front wheel in turn would grip, lose grip and then grip the road again!!
It was even better in the wet. The only car that I have ever driven with a spare pair of under-crackers in the glovebox in case of emergencies :eek:

Rob H
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haha, sounds like my car!

No boost, no boost, lots of boost, woooaaahhhh!! Can be quite a handful if you're not expecting it.

Fun though, and the LSD helps to control it through the bends. In fact, if you plant it mid-bend, the car just grips even harder. Awesome stuff!
 
The_Dark_Side said:
Series 2 Escort RSTurbo.
not so bad in standard trim..but have you driven a modified example???
jeebus.
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I had a Series 1 RS Turbo back in the day, tuned to the nuts. Dropped with low profiles, strut braces the works. The chassis had welded seams and was very stiff. The torque steer at full boost was quite frankly, terrifying.

God, I loved that car.

 
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The worst torque-steering vehicle I've ever driven was a 2003 Cadillac Seville STS. It had a 300 HP 300 ft-lb aluminum V8 driving the front wheels. If, say, on an onramp you decided to mash the skinny pedal and you weren't holding the wheel firmly with both hands you'd quickly find yourself in a ditch. It was so bad it bordered on dangerous.
 
my works renault kangoo van torque steers like crazy as well, i dunno why cos it barely breaks 100mph down a hill without the steering wheel shaking and 0 - 60 takes a good 14+ seconds
 
Super Tigers said:
My vote goes to the MG Montego 2.0 turbo. The fwd Montego Chassis could not handle the power. The monty had a fair bit of lag and then when the turbine finally got enough exhaust gas to spin it up to full speed, you got a big shove in the back and the steering took on a life of it's own and would happily snap from left to right as each front wheel in turn would grip, lose grip and then grip the road again!!
It was even better in the wet. The only car that I have ever driven with a spare pair of under-crackers in the glovebox in case of emergencies :eek:

Rob H
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Totally agree, I drove a friends and it would torque steer as soon even breath on the throttle at any RPM, then torque steer again twice as hard when it came on boost. Didn't they only have something like 150bhp too?

And I totally agree on the Escort RST comments in this thread too, having driven a 180bhp S1 it was utterly frightening, you were literally fighting with the wheel.
 
degen said:
my works renault kangoo van torque steers like crazy as well, i dunno why cos it barely breaks 100mph down a hill without the steering wheel shaking and 0 - 60 takes a good 14+ seconds
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heavy loads in the back could make the front end "light"
 
agw_01 said:
haha, sounds like my car!

No boost, no boost, lots of boost, woooaaahhhh!! Can be quite a handful if you're not expecting it.

Fun though, and the LSD helps to control it through the bends. In fact, if you plant it mid-bend, the car just grips even harder. Awesome stuff!
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Wimp, need to spend more time on your own with your right arm ;)

I suffer from no such troubles when driving my car, must have had enough practice as a teenager :p :o
 
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