Whats up with the steering....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 0
From: Catonsville MD
Whats up with the steering....
I have to admit my one big gripe from my vette is the steering. My dad just drove the car for the first time and he had the same complaint, the steering wheel is too f@##ing heavy. I came from a Ford Lightning, 5100lb truck, tires were wider, rims heavier, and I could steer it at 120mph around a turn with my pinky.
The vette you need to lift weights every day to be able to corner at 80. I hate driving with two hands. I'm 26, I lift most every day and I think I get a better work out trying to steer at any kind of speed in the car. I really do dislike this aspect of these cars, is there anything I can do?
Thanks,
Ed
The vette you need to lift weights every day to be able to corner at 80. I hate driving with two hands. I'm 26, I lift most every day and I think I get a better work out trying to steer at any kind of speed in the car. I really do dislike this aspect of these cars, is there anything I can do?
Thanks,
Ed
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,321
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From: Catonsville MD
Originally Posted by haljensen
Time to get the alignment checked. Sounds like a caster/toe problem.
Are they known to come out of alignment. It has 400 miles on it and has been this way since day 1.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 26
From: Austin Texas
I did an alignment at 1,000 miles, EVERY setting had to change. Some settings were way out of the generous + or - GM recomendations. I used an independant alignment shop that set to precise settings, no + or - for $99.95.
Unless your dealer has an outstanding alignment man you are wasting your time taking the car to a dealer since all they'll do is set it close to the Factory recomendations.
Unless your dealer has an outstanding alignment man you are wasting your time taking the car to a dealer since all they'll do is set it close to the Factory recomendations.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by Waveblaster785
I have to admit my one big gripe from my vette is the steering. My dad just drove the car for the first time and he had the same complaint, the steering wheel is too f@##ing heavy. I came from a Ford Lightning, 5100lb truck, tires were wider, rims heavier, and I could steer it at 120mph around a turn with my pinky.
The vette you need to lift weights every day to be able to corner at 80. I hate driving with two hands. I'm 26, I lift most every day and I think I get a better work out trying to steer at any kind of speed in the car. I really do dislike this aspect of these cars, is there anything I can do?
Thanks,
Ed
The vette you need to lift weights every day to be able to corner at 80. I hate driving with two hands. I'm 26, I lift most every day and I think I get a better work out trying to steer at any kind of speed in the car. I really do dislike this aspect of these cars, is there anything I can do?
Thanks,
Ed
Note that even in the 350Z I considered the steering to be effortless, and could easily steer it with one hand. The Corvette has even lighter steering. Fords, no way I want to drive one of those things, I'd be wandering all over the road when I wasn't throwing my passengers through the windshield with the touchy brakes.
Anyway, what I'm telling you is that different brands have different ideas of how the controls should feel, and design their cars accordingly. You pick the brand with the feel you like.
Go big or don't go...
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 1
From: Georgetown TX
Originally Posted by Waveblaster785
Are they known to come out of alignment. It has 400 miles on it and has been this way since day 1.
JK
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 967
Likes: 1
From: / California
Originally Posted by Waveblaster785
I have to admit my one big gripe from my vette is the steering. My dad just drove the car for the first time and he had the same complaint, the steering wheel is too f@##ing heavy. I came from a Ford Lightning, 5100lb truck, tires were wider, rims heavier, and I could steer it at 120mph around a turn with my pinky.
The vette you need to lift weights every day to be able to corner at 80. I hate driving with two hands. I'm 26, I lift most every day and I think I get a better work out trying to steer at any kind of speed in the car. I really do dislike this aspect of these cars, is there anything I can do?
Thanks,
Ed
The vette you need to lift weights every day to be able to corner at 80. I hate driving with two hands. I'm 26, I lift most every day and I think I get a better work out trying to steer at any kind of speed in the car. I really do dislike this aspect of these cars, is there anything I can do?
Thanks,
Ed
Personally I think the steering on the Corvette is great. It feels very solid and very responsive to me. Lastly, I always drive with both hands on the wheel whenever possible. I started racing Go-karts when I was nine. Using both hands was the way I was taught and it has stuck with me over the years.
Last edited by quickride; Jan 9, 2006 at 01:14 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 230
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According to Phil Berg in his book, "C6" the steering response is a computer-controlled wonder. It senses the position of the steering wheel, compares that to the speed of the car and the radius of the turn and adjusts to keep the driver out of trouble (I'm paraphrasing).
I don't know, but the steering feels precise and responsive to me. Zero-effort power steering has been an engineering choice for three decades. IMHO Dave Hill's design team got this one right.
I don't know, but the steering feels precise and responsive to me. Zero-effort power steering has been an engineering choice for three decades. IMHO Dave Hill's design team got this one right.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
Originally Posted by Waveblaster785
I have to admit my one big gripe from my vette is the steering. My dad just drove the car for the first time and he had the same complaint, the steering wheel is too f@##ing heavy. I came from a Ford Lightning, 5100lb truck, tires were wider, rims heavier, and I could steer it at 120mph around a turn with my pinky.
I simply LOVE how the steering gets more 'weighted' as the speeds increase, I find myself going faster now just to get rid of the Cadillac style overboosted power steering while pulling out of the garage or tooling around town at under 20mph. It is literally my ONLY possible annoyance with the car right now (had it a week) and even at that I really have no major gripe about it.
Anyone know of a way to increase that low speed effort so it feels more direct/more connected like my Z28 and Mustang GT do (again neither of which comes close to the C6 steering otherwise)?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
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From: Los Angeles
I find this humorous since there have already been so many threads here about how the Corvette does not have the "feel" of the Porsche. And now here's someone who thinks it's got "too much" "feel". But then comparing the "feel" of a Corvette to a truck is humorous in itself. Just goes to show you that you can't please everybody and it's all a matter of personal preference.
People who complain about "not enough" feel, are apparently just used to having "too much" feel and vice versa. If you get used to driving with "no" feel, even a little becomes plenty. Just a matter of what you're used to. For this reason I always laugh when the magazine reviewers start talking about this ambiguous, totally subjective trait to pass judgement on whether a car is good or not. jmho
People who complain about "not enough" feel, are apparently just used to having "too much" feel and vice versa. If you get used to driving with "no" feel, even a little becomes plenty. Just a matter of what you're used to. For this reason I always laugh when the magazine reviewers start talking about this ambiguous, totally subjective trait to pass judgement on whether a car is good or not. jmho
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 439
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From: TAMPA BAY FLORIDA
I'am glad to hear that the "feel" in turns is what I should expect from my new C6. Its hard not to compare with previous cars and trucks.
Its just different from what I expected but does not detract from my satisfaction. C6=
Its just different from what I expected but does not detract from my satisfaction. C6=
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,213
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From: Malibu California
Originally Posted by robvuk
I find this humorous since there have already been so many threads here about how the Corvette does not have the "feel" of the Porsche. And now here's someone who thinks it's got "too much" "feel". But then comparing the "feel" of a Corvette to a truck is humorous in itself. Just goes to show you that you can't please everybody and it's all a matter of personal preference.
People who complain about "not enough" feel, are apparently just used to having "too much" feel and vice versa. If you get used to driving with "no" feel, even a little becomes plenty. Just a matter of what you're used to. For this reason I always laugh when the magazine reviewers start talking about this ambiguous, totally subjective trait to pass judgement on whether a car is good or not. jmho
People who complain about "not enough" feel, are apparently just used to having "too much" feel and vice versa. If you get used to driving with "no" feel, even a little becomes plenty. Just a matter of what you're used to. For this reason I always laugh when the magazine reviewers start talking about this ambiguous, totally subjective trait to pass judgement on whether a car is good or not. jmho
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,531
Likes: 1,943
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by Waveblaster785
I hate driving with two hands.
The steering is a comprimise, and when you get deep into the tripple digit range of speed, you will be very happy, indeed, that the steering is as heavy as it is nearer 60 MPH. As speed increases, the steering weight goes down, so when you start seeing 150+ you need that feel. In addition, on a race track, you will find that the heaviness of the steering minimized the possibility of having simply bumps on the road deflect your elbow and cause steering movement. A little feel dramatically decreases this effect.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Originally Posted by d_bravo33
According to Phil Berg in his book, "C6" the steering response is a computer-controlled wonder. It senses the position of the steering wheel, compares that to the speed of the car and the radius of the turn and adjusts to keep the driver out of trouble (I'm paraphrasing).
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Longview WA
Originally Posted by Waveblaster785
Are they known to come out of alignment. It has 400 miles on it and has been this way since day 1.
It sounds like something might be wrong with your power assist. You should take it in. These cars may or may not have what I call a good feel, but they are not hard to steer.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 0
From: Catonsville MD
Originally Posted by robvuk
I find this humorous since there have already been so many threads here about how the Corvette does not have the "feel" of the Porsche. And now here's someone who thinks it's got "too much" "feel". But then comparing the "feel" of a Corvette to a truck is humorous in itself. Just goes to show you that you can't please everybody and it's all a matter of personal preference.
People who complain about "not enough" feel, are apparently just used to having "too much" feel and vice versa. If you get used to driving with "no" feel, even a little becomes plenty. Just a matter of what you're used to. For this reason I always laugh when the magazine reviewers start talking about this ambiguous, totally subjective trait to pass judgement on whether a car is good or not. jmho
People who complain about "not enough" feel, are apparently just used to having "too much" feel and vice versa. If you get used to driving with "no" feel, even a little becomes plenty. Just a matter of what you're used to. For this reason I always laugh when the magazine reviewers start talking about this ambiguous, totally subjective trait to pass judgement on whether a car is good or not. jmho
Too bad I don't still have my truck to call out your car, we coulda put some money up and see how humorous you thought it was when you saw my tail lights.
I'll tell you I'm sad I sold my lightning, it was faster, rode better, steered more easily and had low end torque.
Oh well, just time to mod the Vette I guess.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
Originally Posted by scrannel
It may be the tires (as it was on my 911 Speedster). We'll see as tiime goes by and people try different tires. But as most of the road test were with the Z51 suspension (stickier tires) it may be just the way the steering is.