Has speed-sensitive assisted steering killed handling?

[Mr. M]

I had this thought on my head, after seeing how difficult it is for my dad to park his Phaeton with speed-sensitive steering. At low speeds, the steering's light and less precise, making parking more difficult actually, going against the point of making the steering speed sensitive in the first place. For example, when he wants to straighten the steering wheel after parking, it doesn't turn in tandem with the wheels on the ground. I don't know if this is a problem or not but I doubt it is, I think it's just how the way its built.

At high speeds, you then again have to change your expectations on how the car will respond to your input in your steering wheel as it stiffens up. I know you'd get used to it after time, but isn't easier just to leave it as a proportional, conventional power steering setup?

Now many German cars also have speed-sensitive steering. BMW, Mercedes and Audi now all have it on their most expensive cars. The question is, does it affect the directness of steering the car, in essence making it more difficult to steer the car, thus 'numbing' handling?

 

[PanterroR]

I have active steering in my car and honestly, when i 1st got it it took me several days to get used to and i thought i've made a mistake by ordering that option.

I wouldn't say that anything is more difficult, it's just that there's no more of that hard steering, everything is so smooth now... And precize, at both high and low speeds. Afaic of course.

My answer is no.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

I supose it depends of on good driver orientated it is, if any.

I remember F1 drivers complaining at one point about the lack of feeling and softness, so the teams replied with more advanced feedback driver orientated versions.

 

[Monster]

Both me and my mum can't really feel the difference of the speed-sensitive assisted steering in our E. It is light all the time, so in a way yes it does kill the handling because you can't feel what the hell is going on with the front wheels.

 

[Mr. M]

I have active steering in my car and honestly, when i 1st got it it took me several days to get used to and i thought i've made a mistake by ordering that option.

I wouldn't say that anything is more difficult, it's just that there's no more of that hard steering, everything is so smooth now... And precize, at both high and low speeds. Afaic of course.

My answer is no.

That's interesting Tyc, because I've heard lots of complaints about Active Steering and many people choose not to have that option to keep handling 'pure' and direct. It's good to hear that you like it and that its precise, I think what's most important for a speed-sensitive steering setup is to be precise before it can even think of stepping its stiffness.

I supose it depends of on good driver orientated it is, if any.

I remember F1 drivers complaining at one point about the lack of feeling and softness, so the teams replied with more advanced feedback driver orientated versions.

Which do you think, IE, is the most driver-oriented steering? BMW's?

Both me and my mum can't really feel the difference of the speed-sensitive assisted steering in our E. It is light all the time, so in a way yes it does kill the handling because you can't feel what the hell is going on with the front wheels.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[siko]

Having driven a set of active and non-active steering BMW back-to-back on a mini track (on 3 occasions now! ), I can serious vouch that it has an effect on how the driver perceives the handling of a car.

IMO the driver feedback is seriously handicapped by active steering… but does that really change the handling capabilities of a car of just the perception of handling? That’s a question I cannot answer since I didn’t drive an active-steering car for an extended time.

Perhaps it’s only a matter of getting used to the feel!?

 

[Poverty]

My car has speed sensitive assisted steering. Its great for long journeys and driving about in town but I suppose on the track I would prefer not to have it. But then again I dont drive fast (much ) on public roads

 

[PanterroR]

Perhaps it’s only a matter of getting used to the feel!?

...and nothing else.

 

[Mr. M]

...and nothing else.

But why should we "get used" to active steering, when the standard setup is perfectly fine? I feel that this is one gadget that is quite pointless, but it's there anyway because third party suppliers supply these new technologies for cars, and manufacturers feel they need to have it in their car to match up with the competition.

Do you guys, given a choice, rather take a car with active steering or one without?

 

[PanterroR]

James, nobody forces you to take the car with AS. It's your own choice.

And why do you have to get used? Well, it's advanced technology that noone got the chance to know it before. It takes some time to get familiar with it.

Plus, that option doesn't kill the handling of the car at all. Ask yourself, BMW, the Ultimate Driving Machine, known for it's superb handling and sharp and precize steering, balance and driving pleasure; do you think they'd produce something that would kill all those things for which they're known? Absolutely not!

 

[Mr. M]

James, nobody forces you to take the car with AS. It's your own choice.

And why do you have to get used? Well, it's advanced technology that noone got the chance to know it before. It takes some time to get familiar with it.

Plus, that option doesn't kill the handling of the car at all. Ask yourself, BMW, the Ultimate Driving Machine, known for it's superb handling and sharp and precize steering, balance and driving pleasure; do you think they'd produce something that would kill all those things for which they're known? Absolutely not!

Gotcha Tyc...

 

[Zafiro]

A funny thing is that I dont know if I have testdriven a BMW with active steering so I cant say if I like it or not

 

[Giannis]

Almost the same for me too! I drive a Volvo which means complete lack of feedback from the steering wheel, so i don't have an opinion on this...

Great topic, James!

 

[PanterroR]

I drive a Volvo which means complete lack of feedback from the steering wheel

Well, change the car then! j/k...

Giannis, does your car have any sort of active steering?

 

[Giannis]

Well, change the car then! j/k...

Probably in two or three years with an E92 320i! No kidding! I can sell the S60 with loosing only 4k from what i paid 2.5 years ago! Impressive for Greece.. If i get married in October then i will have one or two children in two years time. I will be 30 then. So i could live with a coupe for 5-6 years before i need a 4-door car again! What do you think? I'd love to change the car now, but i am getting engaged in August and i have to pay for many things, plus i still need to get some things for the house....

Giannis, does your car have any sort of active steering?

No, but i am curious to see how those active steering systems work/feel, and not only BMW's. My S60's steering feedback is very disappointing (sad to say that), but it is the truth. It's ok for in-the-city use, but in highway, it can get you into trouble... Could be waaay better... Oh, so do the pedals...

 

[PanterroR]

If i get married in October...

R.I.P. Giannis.

j/k man, Congrats!

No, but i am curious to see how those active steering systems work/feel, and not only BMW's. My S60's steering feedback is very disappointing (sad to say that), but it is the truth. It's ok for in-the-city use, but in highway, it can get you into trouble... Could be waaay better... Oh, so do the pedals...

Well, then it's definitely the time to change your car i guess.

With BMW's active steering it takes some time to get used to it, but later you'll find it great, just like i did. But i suggest you to try it, if you have possibility, several times, not only once. If it suits you go for it, if not, take the car without it and you'll be satisfied.

 

[Giannis]

With BMW's active steering it takes some time to get used to it, but later you'll find it great, just like i did. But i suggest you to try it, if you have possibility, several times, not only once. If it suits you go for it, if not, take the car without it and you'll be satisfied.

This is the case! I'll dig on the system in summer. I don't have any freetime these days, so i'll have to wait a month...