How can I know how a car will drive?
Discussion
So I've got a strange one I'm hoping for help with and I know nothing about cars so please bear with me! I really don't like cars with a particular driving style, which to me seems like you're driving a boat, I can't describe it but somehow you're a bit disconnected from the wheels. Before I've always test driven cars and either they've got it (and so I pass) or they drive how I like. But this time I'm getting a company car and so have to choose from a spreadsheet (I can go test drive if I narrow it down but will be different than showing up at a car showroom and trying different ones).
Cars I know I like and don't feel this bad 'boat like' steering
+ Vauxhall Mokka
Cars that I hate driving and have this feeling
+ Nissan Juke
+ Mini clubman
I'm really hoping someone can tell me it's something easy I can look out for and so can pick my next car with some peace of mind!
Cars I know I like and don't feel this bad 'boat like' steering
- Old school ford fiesta
+ Vauxhall Mokka
Cars that I hate driving and have this feeling
+ Nissan Juke
+ Mini clubman
I'm really hoping someone can tell me it's something easy I can look out for and so can pick my next car with some peace of mind!
Might be modern electric power steering systems which can feel a bit vague, possibly coupled with a model thats not set up to be sporty.
Answer is to drive them really, I had a BMW one series and that had poor steering, that feeling of disconnection, current Fiesta is better but something old school like a Golf GTI MK2 had really good steering.
A lot of folk like the vagueness and disconnection, maybe find some cars a bit hyperactive.
Answer is to drive them really, I had a BMW one series and that had poor steering, that feeling of disconnection, current Fiesta is better but something old school like a Golf GTI MK2 had really good steering.
A lot of folk like the vagueness and disconnection, maybe find some cars a bit hyperactive.
Millschievous said:
So I've got a strange one I'm hoping for help with and I know nothing about cars so please bear with me! I really don't like cars with a particular driving style, which to me seems like you're driving a boat, I can't describe it but somehow you're a bit disconnected from the wheels. Before I've always test driven cars and either they've got it (and so I pass) or they drive how I like. But this time I'm getting a company car and so have to choose from a spreadsheet (I can go test drive if I narrow it down but will be different than showing up at a car showroom and trying different ones).
Cars I know I like and don't feel this bad 'boat like' steering
+ Vauxhall Mokka
Cars that I hate driving and have this feeling
+ Nissan Juke
+ Mini clubman
I'm really hoping someone can tell me it's something easy I can look out for and so can pick my next car with some peace of mind!
Decide what you like the look of and then go to a dealer and test drive a nearly new example. Don't feel guilty about it; it's car dealer, not a real person. Cars I know I like and don't feel this bad 'boat like' steering
- Old school ford fiesta
+ Vauxhall Mokka
Cars that I hate driving and have this feeling
+ Nissan Juke
+ Mini clubman
I'm really hoping someone can tell me it's something easy I can look out for and so can pick my next car with some peace of mind!
I don't think you'll get a lot of direction beyond that, the examples are a bit all over the place (e.g. most journos rate the Juke over the Mokka, and Minis are quite sharp drives) and whatever it is you don't like is probably a quite personal thing.
IMO it's got nothing to do with electric power steering. The main gripe about that is "lack of feedback" rather then the whole car "feels like a boat".
What you are talking about is, I think, the combination of chassis stiffness and tyre type/profile. Typically there's a trade-off between "feel" and "ride". Different people will have different levels at which they're happy.
The problem in UK is the shocking state of the roads, leading the majority of owners to prefer "ride" over "feel". Personally I wouldn't buy a German car with Sport suspension and skinny tyres. At least, not until the roads have been fixed - and don't hold your breath for that.
What you are talking about is, I think, the combination of chassis stiffness and tyre type/profile. Typically there's a trade-off between "feel" and "ride". Different people will have different levels at which they're happy.
The problem in UK is the shocking state of the roads, leading the majority of owners to prefer "ride" over "feel". Personally I wouldn't buy a German car with Sport suspension and skinny tyres. At least, not until the roads have been fixed - and don't hold your breath for that.
Just go to some car dealers that have the model(s) you are interested in and bulls
t them about being interested in buying one. Hopefully you can find a chilled out one that lets you test drive without applying for finanace or any of that crap.
If there’s one type of person I’d have no qualms about lying to and screwing over, it’s a car salesman.
t them about being interested in buying one. Hopefully you can find a chilled out one that lets you test drive without applying for finanace or any of that crap. If there’s one type of person I’d have no qualms about lying to and screwing over, it’s a car salesman.
Could also follow a single car journalist who does detailed reviews. Watch some of their reviews for cars you have driven and extrapolate for cars on your spreadsheet short list.
So a youtube channel like Autogefuel, the full length videos do go into quite some depth.
Even then its not as good as taking it for an extended test drive and won’t necessarily give an indication for when your mood changes. You need to own the car over several months for that.
So I got a Peugeot 3008 on a lease. It felt decent on a short test drive. Didn’t realise when I’m tired, I’d hate the ride quality (head swaying is less tolerable the more tired you are, hardly notice if well rested) and find the car a bit vague. Or after a heavy gym session, I’d find the steering wheel being a touch too far away tiring on the shoulders.
So a youtube channel like Autogefuel, the full length videos do go into quite some depth.
Even then its not as good as taking it for an extended test drive and won’t necessarily give an indication for when your mood changes. You need to own the car over several months for that.
So I got a Peugeot 3008 on a lease. It felt decent on a short test drive. Didn’t realise when I’m tired, I’d hate the ride quality (head swaying is less tolerable the more tired you are, hardly notice if well rested) and find the car a bit vague. Or after a heavy gym session, I’d find the steering wheel being a touch too far away tiring on the shoulders.
Edited by wyson on Wednesday 3rd January 06:52
Post up what you have on your list of options. Real world experience from owners is very useful.
Read reviews and check YouTube videos.
Once you narrow it down go for some test drives.
For me it depends on what you use the car for. I like a firm, sporty ride and sharp steering for my own car. But 99% of the time it's just me in it. Potholes are a pain though! My wife's MPV which we use as our family car drives like a boat with very soft, rolypoly suspension. It's better for pootling around urban areas or out on the motorway.
Read reviews and check YouTube videos.
Once you narrow it down go for some test drives.
For me it depends on what you use the car for. I like a firm, sporty ride and sharp steering for my own car. But 99% of the time it's just me in it. Potholes are a pain though! My wife's MPV which we use as our family car drives like a boat with very soft, rolypoly suspension. It's better for pootling around urban areas or out on the motorway.
I agree with the advice to test drive those you are interested in, but also the note that a short test drive when you're full of energy is not the same as a long drive home when you are tired. Trust your instincts e.g. if your initial impression on the test drive is to think "I don't know what the front wheels are doing", then if this is important to you, don't order that car, rather than try to excuse its behaviour.
Reviews can help too, but try and find a reviewer who has the same priorities as you. You could do this by finding one of their reviews of a car you have driven and see whether what they say aligns with your views. As someone who, like you, puts a lot of emphasis on steering, I am amazed that some reviews make little mention of it - it probably isn't all that important to that particular reviewer.
Reviews can help too, but try and find a reviewer who has the same priorities as you. You could do this by finding one of their reviews of a car you have driven and see whether what they say aligns with your views. As someone who, like you, puts a lot of emphasis on steering, I am amazed that some reviews make little mention of it - it probably isn't all that important to that particular reviewer.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff