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Author Topic: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode  (Read 7373 times)

Offline Aviator

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The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
« on: October 02, 2012, 07:01:24 pm »
Firstly I agree with everyone, Sport mode on all the time! I almost feel a Clarkson comment of "why the hell do they bother trying to ruin what should always be on".

However am I the only one who thinks the artificially stiffened steering is unnecessary?

I get the whole let's make a little car feel bigger and butcher (flex those pretentious muscles boll@cks!) but for me it really takes away feel of the road handling...

One of previous motors was an air-cooled 911, it had slightly assisted very heavy steering but moved with the camber of the road... In normal mode the A500 is like a real sports car, you feel connected to what's going on, with sport mode you get the throttle response but loose road feel.

It irritates me as its the only fault of this truly remarkable brilliant hot hatch!

If only you could switch the heavy naf steering off and the power on.. Then you'd have a "Elise" like chassis with Italian flair!! ::)
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    Offline Trooper

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #1 on: October 02, 2012, 07:05:52 pm »
    Everyone who has mentioned this exact problem has then realised (after suggestions on here) that their front tyre pressure were  a little low  ;)

    Give them a check when they are cold, even a few psi can make a world of difference  :thumb:

    If its not the case maybe some hours in the gym pumping iron  ;D
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    Offline Aviator

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #2 on: October 02, 2012, 07:38:36 pm »
     :D ha ha! I knew that comment was coming!

    Don't get me wrong, my previous car directly before the Abarth was a 350Z, my mussels are still throbing but at least I could feel the road in that car. The A500 is like the Airbus A320 I fly, artificial and a bit of a (rap because of it... Clever but still (rap!


    I check tire Px everytime I clean it! Thanks for the tip, might help others  :thumb:

    A few years ago I did a driver instruction day at carlimits dot com with a chap called Andy (an ex F1 Benetton driver).. He taught me a thing or two about how to drive a car... FAST. One of the key essentials is to let the car steer itself and only make light small inputs. By the end of the day I was driving with one finger on the steering wheel round bends at 85mph... If I tried doing that in an Abarth in Sport mode I'd be dead!!

    I'm am now however going to do some sit ups as i am desperate to my A500 feel and steer better!

    Cheers,
     :thumb:

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    Offline Scorpion

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #3 on: October 02, 2012, 10:51:10 pm »
    Not sit ups Aviator!

    You need to do press ups .... Unless you steer with your abs! ......  :whistle:

    I like the steering feel in sports mode - find it too soft out of sport ....  but I do take it off when parking ...  :thumb:
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    Offline Trooper

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #4 on: October 03, 2012, 05:47:07 pm »
    Strange as I've never thought the steering in the 500 to be too heavy  ???
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    Offline Aviator

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #5 on: October 03, 2012, 06:38:54 pm »
    Well I guess it's just me then!

    It's a character of the car I'll try to get use to, I fear however that my driving style is suited to cars with a more tradition feel.

    In other words when your mid-corner and you feel the car slide and want to make a correction you don't feel so disconnected from what's going on... It's almost like the steering doesn't want to tell you whats going on and simply self center itself. I feel totally disconnected, it's like driving an 80 arcade game!

    Jokes aside, do you all seriously think there is nothing wrong with the feedback of the steering in this car?

    Really?
    « Last Edit: October 03, 2012, 06:54:16 pm by Aviator »
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    Offline Lisa1626

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #6 on: October 03, 2012, 07:19:13 pm »
    I have to stick my neck out here and agree.

    We've always had RenaultSports (our current one is a toy for track days) and they certainly set the benchmark.

    Sadly in the chassis and steering department the 500 cant compete. The steering feel in Sport mode is too heavy with not enough feel, but the car has bags of character to make up for it. In my opinion the 500 is more of a Golf GTi, ok its less practical but it has the same attributes.
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    Offline Aviator

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #7 on: October 03, 2012, 10:42:10 pm »
    Thanks for all your comments.

    I just want to add that I started this thread for fun/discussion/ideas for improvement, my intention is not to negatively criticise all of our cars!!

    Trooper - I don't find it too heavy, I find it lacking feel. It's so heavily synthetic in Sport mode that I loose connectivity with the road.

    Lisa1626 - I do trackdays too, that sort of driving exposes every weakness in car (and driver!) your comment of the Abarth being a GTI type of car hit the nail on the head. Wonderful ownership prospect but maybe not the ultimate driving machine (Clio RS springs to mind, A500 isn't even close).

    When you chip these cars, is it possible to specify that you want the extra bhp all the time instead of when you push the "stupid" button?!

    Cheers,
    A






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    Offline Wheels72

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #8 on: October 04, 2012, 08:31:21 am »
    Quote from: Aviator on October 03, 2012, 10:42:10 pm

    Trooper - I don't find it too heavy, I find it lacking feel. It's so heavily synthetic in Sport mode that I loose connectivity with the road.


    A, for what it's worth,I agree with you there.
    The steering's strong self-centring pull makes it feel as if I'm resisting unnatural forces!  I find it particularly odd on long, relatively gentle curves.
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    Offline hot_fiat

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #9 on: October 04, 2012, 10:42:41 am »
    It's certainly a car that takes an age to learn properly. I can blast around any corner in the cinq about 10mph faster and feel totally at ease. There's actually one big roundabout up here which is good for about <ahem> in the cinq, 60 makes me soil myself in the 500 as I can't tell if it's going to wash out or pirouette off backwards.

    It would be interesting to just disable the steering assistance completely and see what is actually going on.
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    Offline Scorpion

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #10 on: October 04, 2012, 11:23:23 pm »
    Quote from: hot_fiat on October 04, 2012, 10:42:41 am
    It's certainly a car that takes an age to learn properly. I can blast around any corner in the cinq about 10mph faster and feel totally at ease. There's actually one big roundabout up here which is good for about <ahem> in the cinq, 60 makes me soil myself in the 500 as I can't tell if it's going to wash out or pirouette off backwards.

    It would be interesting to just disable the steering assistance completely and see what is actually going on.

    Are you serious? 60 on a roundabout? ....
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    Offline Aviator

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #11 on: October 05, 2012, 12:30:32 am »
    hot_fiat did say big roundabout...

    If you live anywhere near the M25, try the M25 turn off onto the M40/A40 London bound! It's a looong left hooker... Essentially a big roundabout, I went round it at +-70mph in the A500 a couple of days ago and whilst my very fresh P zero's did a sterling job I may as well have done it on my IPad!! As he said I don't know if I'm going to wash out or pirouette out backwards. I've been doing that exit for +15 years and I could have done it quicker and safer in a bog standard Ford Focus. This is the point, over assistance or resistance in my opinion ruins the steering/handling of this otherwise sublime car.

    I am learning (albeit gingerly) the A500's steering limitations! Like the Airbus, I'm treating it with respect and as a challenge!

    I haven't tried the M25 test pad in non "Sport" (aka Stupid mode ;-) ) yet! I will when I get the opportunity! ::)

    Cheers,
    A

    (p.s BTW I'm seriously not egging anyone to take a chance and trash their car as I really don't want to catalyst an Abarth carnage on the M25!!) :thumb:

    « Last Edit: October 05, 2012, 12:48:57 am by Aviator »
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    Offline Scorpion

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #12 on: October 05, 2012, 11:03:19 am »
    Quote from: Aviator on October 05, 2012, 12:30:32 am
    hot_fiat did say big roundabout...

    If you live anywhere near the M25, try the M25 turn off onto the M40/A40 London bound! It's a looong left hooker... Essentially a big roundabout, .....

    A long left or right ....is not the same as a big roundabout .... You don't normally have cars waiting to join you from the left ... often from a standstill....

     :thumb:
    « Last Edit: October 05, 2012, 11:11:41 am by Scorpion »
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    Offline hot_fiat

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #13 on: October 05, 2012, 11:35:34 am »
    Quote from: Scorpion on October 05, 2012, 11:03:19 am
    A long left or right ....is not the same as a big roundabout .... You don't normally have cars waiting to join you from the left ... often from a standstill....

     :thumb:

    This is totally true and is actually one of my own personal gripes. I reckon busy roundabouts should have speed bumps on them to ease flow. The particular roundabout where I've been known to "play" has good visibility all round and is usually deserted. Still, my bad I know.
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    Andy
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    Offline Scorpion

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    Re: The A500 Steering in "Sport" mode
    « Reply #14 on: October 05, 2012, 06:03:37 pm »
    Quote from: hot_fiat on October 05, 2012, 11:35:34 am
    Quote from: Scorpion on October 05, 2012, 11:03:19 am
    A long left or right ....is not the same as a big roundabout .... You don't normally have cars waiting to join you from the left ... often from a standstill....

     :thumb:

    This is totally true and is actually one of my own personal gripes. I reckon busy roundabouts should have speed bumps on them to ease flow. The particular roundabout where I've been known to "play" has good visibility all round and is usually deserted. Still, my bad I know.

     8) Hey, I didn't mean to be harsh and on reflection I have probably done something similar, although I was too busy looking where I was going or not...  ::)  to notice the speedo  :whistle:........ I have and still do drive quick on the road, sometimes too quick- I didn't end up getting a six month driving ban for nothing  >:(  ........ So no to speed bumps ... especially in a 500 ....  ;D
    back on topic now
    Do you honestly feel more through the steering when not in sport mode?
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