How can I get used to a car without power steering?

I recently passed my test and am insured on my dad's car which I may be using when he gets a new one. But it's quite old and doesn't have power steering and it's driving me up the wall (no pun intended). General driving is ok but it took me about 10 minutes to pull out of a car park yesterday and it kind of shatters my confidence to drive on my own. Is it just a case of practice, practice and more practice? I don't want to hold up half of the car park everytime I go shopping or something :rolleyes:

Reply 1

saiyamanadingdongbanana

just keep practicing.

Reply 2

SamTheMan

17

Just turn the steering wheel more.

Maybe work on your biceps.

Reply 3

bohogirlie

3

kpg

I recently passed my test and am insured on my dad's car which I may be using when he gets a new one. But it's quite old and doesn't have power steering and it's driving me up the wall (no pun intended). General driving is ok but it took me about 10 minutes to pull out of a car park yesterday and it kind of shatters my confidence to drive on my own. Is it just a case of practice, practice and more practice? I don't want to hold up half of the car park everytime I go shopping or something :rolleyes:

I feel for you :redface:

My friends car doesn't have power steering, i tried turning the wheel once and could barely do it! :redface:

I guess you just have to keep practicing!

Reply 4

taran

1

power steering helps alot but you should just get used to it. best thing to do is roll the car a lil bit. makes it easier to turn the wheel. but if you aint got the space to roll your just going to have to struggle a lil.

Reply 5

AT82

I've never really had this problem, I have driven a few cars without PAS but it was never a problem, PAS just makes it a bit easier. You will soon get used to it.

Reply 6

dazmanultra

1

PAS helps, but i got new tyres for my car and it was like a different machine.

Reply 7

Flicker

13

yes, check the tyres regularly, can make a big difference.

it's a pain in the bum not having it when you're trying to do a turn in the road or whatever but apart from that i don't find not having power steering that noticeable, you do just get used to it. you just have to turn while you're rolling slowly, it's easier then.

It's safer at higher speeds too, you get more feedback from the steering wheel so are less likely to over steer!

Reply 8

dazmanultra

1

allisandro

you just have to turn while you're rolling slowly, it's easier then.

Dry steering (turning the wheels whilst the car is stationary) is a big no-no in any car, with or without power steering. You're putting unnecessary wear on your tyres...

Reply 9

Flicker

13

dazmanultra

Dry steering (turning the wheels whilst the car is stationary) is a big no-no in any car, with or without power steering. You're putting unnecessary wear on your tyres...

no i'm not, i said i DON'T do that. :rolleyes:

Reply 10

jonas123

1

when you're on a straight road, do what formula 1 drivers do on their warm up laps to warm their tyres up (ie zigzag). That'll build up some strength!

Or just drive faster, the faster you go, the easier it is to turn.

Reply 11

HearTheThunder

17

Noo not another car thread, we need a driving forum. But yeah you can get used to anything as long as you keep practicing, I don't see why not.

Reply 12

Geordie_in_HK

get some muscles. non-power steering cars have better feel, think yourself lucky you're not driving something artificial!

Reply 13

F170

My car does not have PAS either, and it's the most fun car I've ever driven. Could I perhaps ask what car it is you have this problem with?

I've found that if (as already stated) you are rolling whilst turning and have good tyre pressure then there shouldn't be much of a problem.

My mate has a car like mine but with bigger tyres (mine are 155's and his are 185's I think), and that is certainly difficult to steer at low speeds.

I think as someone has mentioned, once you're moving at good speed you get a much more responsive feel from the steering, which makes it so much fun I guess. (Well it does in my case) I love to give my car a good pasting, I know it's wrong but it's just a car that I come alive in. (Unlike the Almera I used for my lessons, not even the car was alive!)

Anyway I'll shut up rambling now. :biggrin:

Reply 14

olddeblasio

9

I hate power steering - it makes it feel like you're piloting a marshmallow over a cotton wool track!

The current car I drive has it and it's really annoying. I learned in a car with no power steering and I think it's a advantage to get used to it - once you can drive a car without power steering you can drive anything!

Reply 15

saz_1989

2

Get him to buy a new car quickly! I couldn't drive without power steering. My car is pretty old (V reg - is that 99?) and it has power steering. Most important thing for weaklings like me!

Edit: I did try to park a car without PAS once...note the word "try" :redface:

Reply 16

F170

Lauren

Get him to buy a new car quickly! I couldn't drive without power steering. My car is pretty old (V reg - is that 99?) and it has power steering. Most important thing for weaklings like me!

Edit: I did try to park a car without PAS once...note the word "try" :redface:

Best cars to drive are those without PAS! Providing the tyres aren't too wide, that is... I'm not incredibly strong either but I find even my car has fairly light steering and don't see PAS necessary.

LOL at '99 V reg being old! My car is over 16 years old on an F plate without power steering - I wouldn't change it for any of this modern stuff at all. :biggrin:

Reply 17

jamieuk20

1

jonas123

when you're on a straight road, do what formula 1 drivers do on their warm up laps to warm their tyres up (ie zigzag). That'll build up some strength!

Or just drive faster, the faster you go, the easier it is to turn.

F1 drivers turn manically from side to side on the warmup lap, but it doesn't really generate much heat at all. If anything the tyres degrade quicker in that situation, because wear rate is directly related to how much pressure the tyre is exposed to under cornering.

Reply 18

Né Stig

15

Lauren

Get him to buy a new car quickly! I couldn't drive without power steering. My car is pretty old (V reg - is that 99?) and it has power steering. Most important thing for weaklings like me!

Edit: I did try to park a car without PAS once...note the word "try" :redface:

V reg = early 2000 as well (like mine) to March the 1st.

No power assisted steering should not be a problem if driven correctly.
Like some posts above, you are not supposed to turn the wheels whilst the car is stationary.
For Parking, yes it can become a problem and is the only time you have to do just what you shouldn't be doing. Practice and more practice is definietly the answer.

Oh by the way, EPS (Electronic Power Steering) is stupidly light, so even a normal PAS car will seem slightly heavier. EPS unfortunately exists on all test driving cars like Vauxhalls.

Reply 19

olddeblasio

9

jamieuk20

F1 drivers turn manically from side to side on the warmup lap, but it doesn't really generate much heat at all. If anything the tyres degrade quicker in that situation, because wear rate is directly related to how much pressure the tyre is exposed to under cornering.

If it isn't beneficial then why do all the F1 drivers do it then? I should imagine that if they all do it, it does make a difference! They don't just do it for fun!

How can I get used to a car without power steering?

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