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The lightness of electronic power steering feels completely wrong after driving in the e46.
Makes me sad knowing that this will probably be the last car I have that has a nice driving feel (it’s no race car, but still).
Nef-
The lightness of electronic power steering feels completely wrong
I feel this.
I actually found I was driving our car too quickly because it was far too easy to steer in the bends etc. I've recently switched to 'dynamic' mode which is a speed responsive steering, i.e heavier the quicker you go. It's slowed me down, certainly with the family in the car, as I'm aware through the steering alone my speed through corners. Slower cornering = happier passengers!
What's annoying mind, is in a Volvo you cannot set the drive mode permanently. So despite having keys with 'profiles' I need to move the little wheel every time to set it. Urgh.
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Yup. Even on modern cars with a “sport” mode that synthetically makes the steering heavier, it still feels fly-by-wire.
yeahdext
Well_is_it
Went to look at a W124 (or the one after, late 80's early 90s) Merc 300D (e class size) locally last week, was an old slushy 4s auto, but with the epic OM606 in original condition. Slow by modern standards, floaty handling, barge like, had 250k+ on it, drove extremely solidly and had good feedback.
The heavy controls and solid feedback makes you feel like you are operating heavy machinary. Modern (2005>) cars feel like a mid priced playstation force feedback gaming wheel, only its not configured quite right. Think it likely does have a lot to do with the way domestic car drivers behave and interact, they feel very safe and very removed from the reality of operating heavy machinary.