I test drove a 2017. Not impressed. Is it just me?

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

I decided I needed a vehicle which is higher off the ground for remote roads around here.

At that point I had been driving daily my FRS for two years.

So drove a new Subaru Crosstrek, couple of months ago. It felt like I was driving a bus compared to the FRS.

A laugh on me it was. Way Way too spoiled by the FRS I am. Gonna have to continue to drive those roads, with the FRS, sometimes hitting bottom, scraping things..oh well.


And as Tcoat states...It's when the steering wheel is turned on curves, just anywhere, that the fun begins.


Other choice: http://arielatom.com/

That's funny you mention that because I am driving a Mustang while my car is in the shop. And I just scraped for the first time in the year that I've been back. But it was on a terrible parking lot transition that any car would scrape. Windy days I can scoop redwood debree off of highway 36. Caltrans does a good job keeping the highway clear but I've had to drive over a few twigs. A couple inches isn't going to make any difference out here. If the highway ever floods or a redwood falls I have to drive a lifted diesel to get out if anything. I haven't had that happen, knock on wood. But it did make me think about a WRX for a moment.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by driggity

The visibility does suck but I was surprised at how quickly I got used to it in the rental cars that I had. I had no issues with visibility in Dallas and LA traffic once I got all the mirrors adjusted correctly.

There are options for those in warmer locations that will totally correct the visibility issues.

[86Boyz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

There are options for those in warmer locations that will totally correct the visibility issues.

I read from reviews that the visibility still sucked in the convertible for the previous model. How is that possible with a convertible?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by 86Boyz

I read from reviews that the visibility still sucked in the convertible. How is that possible? haha

I guess they meant the corners of the car? You sit down so far that you are just guessing where the rear end is.

[chaoskaze]

When the stock tireare new they mask some stuff, drive the stock for 10k miles and you feel lots things on the road the moment front tires touchs them.


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[Braces]

Light weight car. RWD meaning power separated from steering front wheels. Skinny front tires. This all adds up to better than average steering feel in the 86.

Any car with FWD, AWD and more weight over the front wheels is not going to have great steering feel.

Not going to get better steering feel unless you consider a rear engined 911.

[why?]

Originally Posted by Braces

Light weight car. RWD meaning power separated from steering front wheels. Skinny front tires. This all adds up to better than average steering feel in the 86.

Any car with FWD, AWD and more weight over the front wheels is not going to have great steering feel.

Not going to get better steering feel unless you consider a rear engined 911.

Or a first gen MR2.

[JD001]

Originally Posted by Braces

Light weight car. RWD meaning power separated from steering front wheels. Skinny front tires. This all adds up to better than average steering feel in the 86.

Any car with FWD, AWD and more weight over the front wheels is not going to have great steering feel.

Not going to get better steering feel unless you consider a rear engined 911.

I've owned some nice cars, FWD, RWD, Front engined and mid-engined all with nice steering feel. I don't think you have to go to a 911 to find it.. oh and not all 911s are equal in steering feel.

[zberz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

At lower speeds and normal driving the steering just feels like, well, steering. I don't think I would call it "numb" but it is no big deal one way or the other. Take a few quick corners or hit an on ramp at 60+ and it comes alive.
The track/sport mode has no impact on steering but you could probably not have driven to any advantage with them if the salesperson was with you anyway.

I politely disagree. I scared the crap out of my salesman and the traction light only came on once...

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[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by zberz

I politely disagree. I scared the crap out of my salesman and the traction light only came on once...

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Well so did I but my test drive was in a beat to crap already trade in car. If somebody is driving a brand new one they tend to take it a bit more easy. Of course neither of us knows how hard he pushed the car but from what he said I don't think it was hard enough to really get the feel of the steering.

[Msanti]

zenki vs kouki. tomato tomahto

[revaholic]

Originally Posted by curiosul

My DD for the past 8 years is an old Infiniti G20. I either got used to it too much (imagine a pair of old shoes, enough said) or the steering is the best I tried. I can literally feel everything in the steering wheel. From slight loss of grip when turning too fast to road banking to grooves in the pavement.
The salesperson was really disappointed when I told him my impression after half a mile. He kept pushing me to "feel the engine", "hit it", "open it up" and he couldn't understand why I'm not interested in doing that (he was probably used to kids coming just for joyrides). The rest of the drive back (another mile or so) wasn't better.

I actually do understand where you're coming from. When I first test drove my 2016 FR-S I also felt the steering was kind of numb - not what I expected after reading all the reviews. However what I have learned is that the car's steering does come alive at higher speeds, it's as if it trades off low speed feel for high speed feel. My previous car was a 2001 Civic and at lower speeds the steering was very telepathic (but went loosey goosey at higher speeds) I think it's just hard to compare steering feel with cars nowadays with even average cars of old, at least at certain speeds.

[zberz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Well so did I but my test drive was in a beat to crap already trade in car. If somebody is driving a brand new one they tend to take it a bit more easy. Of course neither of us knows how hard he pushed the car but from what he said I don't think it was hard enough to really get the feel of the steering.

Agreed. My test drive was in the one I bought. May as well start abusing her at another's expense. ;-) Last car was a 986 Boxster (who I miss very much) and what sold me on the BRZ was the steering, suspension and LSD. Does the steering and suspension match the Boxster, no. But it's close, and much less expensive than a new Boxster (hey, I've got two kids and a racecar to feed).

I've thrown my BRZ around corners faster than I would've ever dared to do in the Boxster because it feels so stable and even if I push it a bit too far, the stability/traction control comes to the rescue. Not a luxury I had in the Porsche. While feeling like your car wants to kill you can be a benefit in some ways, knowing it won't if you make the smallest mistake on your favorite off-ramp, is more important to me. The electric steering is less responsive, but it is still responsive. The suspension differences are negligible considering the difference between MR and FR layouts.

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[Keenercarguy]

Between my BRZ (the way I have it set up) and my friends Cayman... I much prefer the BRZ. Get some better springs (or coils) and blast the front camber with some camber bolts you'll get just 2* tops if you're lucky but it'll make a world of difference for your front end grip... You're probably spoiled by cars of a bygone age, but hell the BRZ is the best steering for the money new? I also hear the Grimmspeed strut tower brace helps with steering feel, and grimmspeed makes damn good products, so maybe try that too? I might myself honestly lol.