Regression of Steering Feel in Sports Sedans

[Rupunzell]

Electronic assist steering, bloated vehicles, the perception that drives want isolation from the driving experience, and more. This is the direction most up market car manufactures have decided their customer base wants in the cars they purchase. Drive most any current up market "sport sedan" most are quite similar in feel, options, power, grip and weight.

For comparison, drive a Lotus Elise/Exige and compare it to common up-market sedan.. then note the difference in driving experience. This driving experience once was what sport sedans offered, those days are long gone.

I have been test driving some sports sedans recently, and it seems like the steering has gotten worse in the last 10 years or so.It just doesn't give much back to the driver. The steering, though sharp enough, just feels artificial and uncommunicative. As a result the driving feels boring. Bigger Audi sedans don't quite have it. Even BMW 5 series has lost it.

Anyone know what's going on?

 

[caesar]

Electronic assist steering, bloated vehicles, the perception that drives want isolation from the driving experience, and more. This is the direction most up market car manufactures have decided their customer base wants in the cars they purchase. Drive most any current up market "sport sedan" most are quite similar in feel, options, power, grip and weight.

For comparison, drive a Lotus Elise/Exige and compare it to common up-market sedan.. then note the difference in driving experience. This driving experience once was what sport sedans offered, those days are long gone.

Rupunzell, great point! At the same time, what 2-ton sports sedans ever offered the driving experience that emulated that of a sports car half its weight?

 

[kach22i]

.For comparison, drive a Lotus Elise/Exige and compare it to common up-market sedan.. then note the difference in driving experience. This driving experience once was what sport sedans offered, those days are long gone.

Or drive a +30 year old Porsche 911 like I do.

 

[danielk141]

Rupunzell,

You are right on re: Electronic Power Steering. I believe most premium performance cars have it, now.
My 06 Honda S2000 has it, but it is executed very well in this car, it still has a good "feel" at varying speeds.
My friend Lan's Lexus IS 250 also does very well, IMO.
Being 56 years old, I still remember driving American muscle cars that would have the hydraulic power steering lock up or decrease significantly when the drive belt slipped on a rainy day, especially doing donuts in parking lots...

 

[caesar]

Just read that even the latest generation of the Porsche Boxster has numbed up their steering!