What can you live without on your autos?
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Originally Posted By: Silk
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
I drove a 55 chev 210 , manual steering.
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
I drove a 55 chev 210 , manual steering.
I do without aircon, because its so long since I used it that I'm afraid turning it on will damage it) ,carpets (a stupid idea on a car), most of the interior trim (painted metal is tougher and less likely to rust unseen) and quite a lot of the exterior paint has worn off and been replaced with home-made "primer"
And wheel trims. I threw them away. What are they for anyway?
And wheel trims. I threw them away. What are they for anyway?
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Originally Posted By: Silk
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
My 280Z didn't have power steering. But it was so easy to steer that it didn't need it in my opinion.
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
My 280Z didn't have power steering. But it was so easy to steer that it didn't need it in my opinion.
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Originally Posted By: Silk
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
I drove a 55 chev 210 , manual steering.
Come to think of it, the porsche 914 i had in the 80's had no power steering either, and it handled reeeeally well.
Originally Posted By: Silk
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
I drove a 55 chev 210 , manual steering.
Come to think of it, the porsche 914 i had in the 80's had no power steering either, and it handled reeeeally well.
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Push button start.
Originally Posted By: Silk
Having owned a Lada or 2, it's annoying not having central locking and power windows, but not a big deal. What I couldn't live without in the modern world is power steering. I once had a non p/s '79 Falcon, it was such a pain to park that I converted it to p/s.
On Lada's (Mk I anyway) you got a starting handle. I'd find a starting handle much more useful than central locking or power windows.
I suppose power steering might be important for huge American stylee cars, but its probably more important for huge American stylee people. I had a big Renault Dodge commercial which didn't have PS, and it was OK, though it had a pretty big steering wheel. (It was a pain to park, but that was because it was big with a large rear blindspot).
Having owned a Lada or 2, it's annoying not having central locking and power windows, but not a big deal. What I couldn't live without in the modern world is power steering. I once had a non p/s '79 Falcon, it was such a pain to park that I converted it to p/s.
On Lada's (Mk I anyway) you got a starting handle. I'd find a starting handle much more useful than central locking or power windows.
I suppose power steering might be important for huge American stylee cars, but its probably more important for huge American stylee people. I had a big Renault Dodge commercial which didn't have PS, and it was OK, though it had a pretty big steering wheel. (It was a pain to park, but that was because it was big with a large rear blindspot).
Powersteering was unheard of in New Zealand until the '90's...an old mans option maybe, and not a womans option either. Now even tiny cars have it. Waiting for a power steering option for motorcycles next.
I actually like all the features except touch screens especially climate control.
Originally Posted By: Silk
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
Of course, but then I started driving in 1973. At that time power steering was standard in luxury cars and often found in average cars. Older average cars wouldn't typically have power steering.
I had a 1968 IH Scout, a small 4 wheel drive vehicle built by a farm equipment / truck company. For them, "power steering" was an over-sized steering wheel. It had a big steering wheel that gave you the mechanical advantage and wasn't too bad to steer.
I also had a 1983 Plymouth Scamp, a small pick-up truck based on an economy car, that lacked power steering. I guess somebody forgot to check off the power steering option when it was ordered. The steering was OK, except a bit heavy when parking, you had to use a little muscle.
Back to OP. I have a sunroof in my current car that I should not have bothered ordering. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but it gets little use, takes up a little head room, adds weight to the car, is something else that could fail and worries me it will develop a leak as the car get older.
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
Of course, but then I started driving in 1973. At that time power steering was standard in luxury cars and often found in average cars. Older average cars wouldn't typically have power steering.
I had a 1968 IH Scout, a small 4 wheel drive vehicle built by a farm equipment / truck company. For them, "power steering" was an over-sized steering wheel. It had a big steering wheel that gave you the mechanical advantage and wasn't too bad to steer.
I also had a 1983 Plymouth Scamp, a small pick-up truck based on an economy car, that lacked power steering. I guess somebody forgot to check off the power steering option when it was ordered. The steering was OK, except a bit heavy when parking, you had to use a little muscle.
Back to OP. I have a sunroof in my current car that I should not have bothered ordering. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but it gets little use, takes up a little head room, adds weight to the car, is something else that could fail and worries me it will develop a leak as the car get older.
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As a motorcyclist, all cars are comfortable.
Here in South Florida I only need:
1) AC
2) A seat that is comfortable (not luxury, but one that fits my shape)
3) A car that drives well (responsive)
Here in South Florida I only need:
1) AC
2) A seat that is comfortable (not luxury, but one that fits my shape)
3) A car that drives well (responsive)
All I need is air conditioning and a stereo with an input jack and sufficient leg room, which many cars now black conditionings nice but not necessary. Lived with roll up windows and manual locks for years. Had cars with no carpeting and vinyl seats which I loved. Even had no AC while living in St. Louis, although I wouldnt do that again. The problem is once you get some additional features, you get used to them. Touchscreens and complex infotainment and navigation systems I will never aappreciate.
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Originally Posted By: Silk
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
Yes, my '66 Nova did not have power steering.
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
Yes, my '66 Nova did not have power steering.
Originally Posted By: Silk
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
Many times...from my wife's tiny Festiva to a 35,000lb highway coach to an F-800 rollback.
UPS package trucks only got power steering recently (when everyone made it standard).
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
Many times...from my wife's tiny Festiva to a 35,000lb highway coach to an F-800 rollback.
UPS package trucks only got power steering recently (when everyone made it standard).
It's also easier for me to list things I cannot live without than can live without.
Things I must have:
fuel injection
A/C
power windows, locks, mirrors
cruise control
keyless entry much preferred, although I could (and do) live without it
A basic stereo with standard DIN or double DIN opening, so I can easily swap in an aftermarket stereo of my choice.
Anything else I can do without.
Things I must have:
fuel injection
A/C
power windows, locks, mirrors
cruise control
keyless entry much preferred, although I could (and do) live without it
A basic stereo with standard DIN or double DIN opening, so I can easily swap in an aftermarket stereo of my choice.
Anything else I can do without.
- Automatic climate control
- Cruise control
- Sunroof (electric or manual)
- Anything with a video display
- Heated seats (they can be nice, though)
- Electric seats
- Ashtray
- Cup Holders (which always seem to get broken)
One luxury item I absolutely love, though, is my heated steering wheel - IMO the best option ever when driving in sub 20 degree temps.
- Cruise control
- Sunroof (electric or manual)
- Anything with a video display
- Heated seats (they can be nice, though)
- Electric seats
- Ashtray
- Cup Holders (which always seem to get broken)
One luxury item I absolutely love, though, is my heated steering wheel - IMO the best option ever when driving in sub 20 degree temps.
I had a 2000 Saturn with manual steering, and I liked it. Actually thought it didn't need power brakes either--previous vehicle was an S10 that lacked power anything, so I had grown to like the non-power feeling of steering&brakes. Larger vehicles "need" it, smaller ones, not so much.
I've grown to like RKE, power windows and locks, leather, heated seats, etc. Cruise is something I don't use much of (although if given a choice I'll option a vehicle with it). The automatic transmission is probably the only thing I really dislike; that and a busy dashboard covered in LCD's and buttons. TPMS and VSC are things I don't have much love for, nor slow acting DBW, but those we're stuck with now.
Edit: sunroofs I don't want again.
I've grown to like RKE, power windows and locks, leather, heated seats, etc. Cruise is something I don't use much of (although if given a choice I'll option a vehicle with it). The automatic transmission is probably the only thing I really dislike; that and a busy dashboard covered in LCD's and buttons. TPMS and VSC are things I don't have much love for, nor slow acting DBW, but those we're stuck with now.
Edit: sunroofs I don't want again.
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Originally Posted By: Silk
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
For many years in several cars.
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
For many years in several cars.
Originally Posted By: javacontour
Originally Posted By: Silk
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
Yes, my '66 Nova did not have power steering.
I don't think my '81 VW Rabbit had PS either, IIRC.
Originally Posted By: Silk
Has anyone in the US ever driven without power steering ?
Yes, my '66 Nova did not have power steering.
I don't think my '81 VW Rabbit had PS either, IIRC.
My 1984 Tercel didn't have it, didn't need it.
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