Hello
Most cars these days have power steering but few have effective PS at manouvering speed. My 4 yr old BMW 318 falls into this category. This wasn\'t an issue when I bought the car but thanks to the progress of my arthritis, it is now. I should mention that I regularly check tyre pressures etc so I\'m confident that this is not the cause.
I understand that the new Avensis has electric assistance at manouvering speed. However, while the car may be perfect in this respect, IMO, the Avensis is not so strong in the looks department. So I\'m looking around.
Any advice/comments from back roomers, deeply appreciated, grovel, grovel..
Many thanks
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I would guess that unless a car has some very sophisticated form of differential steering assistance, there is bound to be a trade-off between lightness at manoeuvring speed and insensitivity at driving speed.
My 10 year old Volvo has extremely light steering at slow speed - I can turn the wheel with my little finger. But they are not famous for precise steering at any kind of speed.
There is of course the kind of clamp-on knob that buses have, but you might not fancy the image.
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Have you had the suspension geometry checked on the beemer? This can affect the heaviness of the steering feel. I can\'t remember which way you change it (either more or less toe-in) makes the steering feel a bit lighter. It does have the cost of the car being slightly more \'twitchy\' at speed as the steering responds more quickly. It may also be down to a worn power steering pump or other fault so it might pay you to have it checked (if you haven\'t already) as if you otherwise like the car then it is a shame to get rid of it.
I know the fiat punto has electric power assist with it\'s superlight city mode but I don\'t know whether there more substantial cars like their stilo have this too. From what I remember the alfa romeo 156 had fairly light steering and I think that would be more you than a punto. Any car reviews where they have complained about over assisted steering are probably the models you should be looking at :-)
teabelly
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From what I remember the alfa romeo 156 had fairly light steering and I think that would be more you than a punto.
The 156 isn't overly light, but it is a doddle to twirl from lock to lock. Unfortunately said lock comes with a truly enormous turning circle, making some U-turns into involuntary 3-point turns and making 3-pointers into a mass of arm waving and embarrassment. Not recommended for parking manouveres if you are starting to find mobility a problem.
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With PS being the norm on cars these days, too many people apply lock whilst stationary. This not only makes it heavier, but also places a lot of strain on all the steering components.
I was always taught to only apply lock whilst moving...
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I was always taught to only apply lock whilst moving...
Of course the danger there is that having reached lock, you can only turn the wheel one way if it all goes pear-shaped. I've rarely applied full lock whilst moving and usually then it's only at speeds of up to 15mph. Things break on cars eventually. I'd rather the steering rack went through too many lock-to-lock parking manouveres than meet a hedge at 50.
Ok, over-egging the pudding with that analogy, but I'm tired and crotchety, so there. :oP
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I've always wondered why I get so intimate with hedges...
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Thanks teabelly! I had the suspension and steering geometry checked by Micheldever soon after I bought the car. Problem then was that the car seemed very willing to change direction without any input from me! In the event, 4 new tyres rectified the problem.
About the possibility of a worn PS pump, the car has only covered 29k miles. Other than being heavy at manouvering speed, I have no other complaint about the steering.
Yes, I have enjoyed owning and driving the car. It\'s been a good experience.
I am grateful for your help.
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Thanks teabelly! I had the suspension and steering geometry checked by Micheldever soon after I bought the car. Problem then was that the car seemed very willing to change direction without any input from me! In the event, 4 new tyres rectified the problem. About the possibility of a worn PS pump, the car has only covered 29k miles. Other than being heavy at manouvering speed, I have no other complaint about the steering. Yes, I have enjoyed owning and driving the car. It\'s been a good experience. I am grateful for your help.
It might be a stiff ball joint or track rod end on the steering. Best way to check is to jack the whole of the front end up (as near to the ends of the bottom arms as possible if possible) and see if the steering is still stiff.
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Yes, the Stilo has Electric Power Steering (EPS) as does their new Idea. The Megane also has EPS if you fancy their cars.
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audi have servo-tronic steering as an option on most of there range. this applies more power when the vehicle is stationary and less when travelling at higher speeds.
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Hello
Just want to thank all those who responded to my query.
I appreciate it.
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Many VAG (i.e. VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi) now have variable electric steering. The clever thing is that the steering can be made lighter or heavier just by re-programming it via the VAG diagnostic system; its only a matter of plugging the car into the workshop computer.
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Good luck to you Geffers, hope the valuable advice you have received here is helpful to you.
I don't wish to take the thread too far away from your original question, but I really am wondering if I am the only person who has not been at all impressed by power steering? My own car doesn't have it but I have driven a few that do - and to be perfectly honest I do not notice a difference. I am rubbish at parking et al anyway, so maybe this is why.
Maybe I just have disproportionally huge biceps or something, but for me it's never made a difference.
Good luck with your search,
HF
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I really am wondering if I am the only person who has not been at all impressed by power steering? My own car doesn't have it but I have driven a few that do - and to be perfectly honest I do not notice a difference.
HF, you're fortunate that the Astra steering is quite light anyway. I never had PS on any of my Vauxhalls until I got my Mk3 Cavalier. To be honest, PS is only a parking aid anyway.
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To be honest, PS is only a parking aid anyway.
True but its a very useful parking aid. There are plenty of daft gadgets on cars these days, but the advent of PAS on almost all new cars (even small ones) makes alot of sense to me.
Splodgeface
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My experience of Madzas, 1996 626, 1999 626 and 1996 Xedos 9 has shown them to have EXTREMELY light steering, to the extent that they can take a little getting used to at speed (particularly when swapping from my Omega). Might be worth seeing if the Mazda6 is in the same league, as they seem to be very well-regarded cars in all other respects.
V
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Just thought I'd mention the Civic (since I have one!).
Steering is VERY light at parking speeds - fairly light at any speed, really, but feels safe and reassuring when you get used to it.
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