FR-S vs S2000

[iLuveKetchup]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

I think prior to this car manufacturers had a lot of trouble tuning the EPS, but hydraulic steering can be numb too. A lot of modern cars do have hydraulic steering, despite the power sapping pump, because it's easier to tune good feel in a hydraulic steering rack apparently.

The FRS/BRZ electric power steering is the first electric system that's gotten praise for its tight responsive feel IIRC.

The s2k's steering is very tight & responsive. It's one of the best I've driven (escpecially the shorter steering ratio AP1 & CR). No issues here. The problem is the feedback or lack there of, not the reponsiveness.

[SUB-FT86]

I love the type of steering feedback where if you go over rough patches in the road you can feel them through the steering wheel and it twitches the steering wheel to make you more alert. My RSX and a couple other cars I drove is like this.

[iLuveKetchup]

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

I love the type of steering feedback where if you go over rough patches in the road you can feel them through the steering wheel and it twitches the steering wheel to make you more alert. My RSX and a couple other cars I drove is like this.

I don't remember the RSX having an exceptional feedback & responsiveness? What were the other vehicles?

[SUB-FT86]

Originally Posted by iLuveKetchup

I don't remember the RSX having an exceptional feedback & responsiveness? What were the other vehicles?

I guess it all boils down to each individual. But I can feel everything through the steering in my RSX and I thought that was the best part of my car personally as everything else about it felt average. The other vehicles was a 06 G35 coupe Sport pkg, 03 350Z, and a 3.8 Track GC. But these vehicles might not feel the same way to you and I have never driven a purpose built track car to gauge a difference against these cars.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by iLuveKetchup

The s2k's steering is very tight & responsive. It's one of the best I've driven (escpecially the shorter steering ratio AP1 & CR). No issues here. The problem is the feedback or lack there of, not the reponsiveness.

This. The steering is completely responsive, but numb, when compared to, for example, a miata or nsx with no power steering.

However, you shouldn't ever be driving a s2k based on steering feel... cuz the rear is what breaks loose, not the front, and you'll only feel the front through the steering. You learn to drive based on what the chassis communicate to you.

[86fanatic]

It's a night and day difference with any hydraulic power steering Porsche as well. To drive an S2000 well you need to learn to predict the chassis dynamics because that's pretty much all the information you have unfortunately. In my opinion if you want a truly involving driving experience, steering feel is critical.

[Marrk]

My experience with the s2k was that it had great steering responsiveness and great turn-in. But I have driven the Elise and the Evora, and nothing else has the steering feel of the Lotus cars. Maybe the superior steering feel of the Lotus cars has something to do with not having the engine in front, but I can't say with any expertise.

[Mike]

Given Subaru/Toyota's history, I'm not expecting much steering feel at all in the BRZ/FT86/FRS/GT86.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Mike

Given Subaru/Toyota's history, I'm not expecting much steering feel at all in the BRZ/FT86/FRS/GT86.

They put a lot of emphasis on the fact that the steering feel was very important...magazines are saying they did a good job. We'll see.

[neveronlinefrs]

From my experience, euros usually let the driver feel more of the road, American cars typically are very numb, and the Japanese cars are somewhere in the middle. I removed PS from my old civic and it helped a lot (car was gutted and light so no PS was not a major issue).

With the S2K I used an aftermarket steering wheel and it felt much better than the OEM one and provided more feedback. Though I liked the steering on the S2K

[slusoccer00]

Still love my S2K, Can't wait to drive the BRZ!

[86fanatic]

Originally Posted by neveronlinefrs

From my experience, euros usually let the driver feel more of the road, American cars typically are very numb, and the Japanese cars are somewhere in the middle. I removed PS from my old civic and it helped a lot (car was gutted and light so no PS was not a major issue).

With the S2K I used an aftermarket steering wheel and it felt much better than the OEM one and provided more feedback. Though I liked the steering on the S2K

Where the car is from doesn't matter, different cars put emphasis on it and some just don't. Porsche, Lotus, Lancer Evolutions, Corvettes all tend to have better then average steering feel.

I have no doubt the BRZ/FRS will have much better steering feel then the S2000 - I believe Chris Harris says it compares favorably to the latest electric assisted 911s.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

I love the type of steering feedback where if you go over rough patches in the road you can feel them through the steering wheel and it twitches the steering wheel to make you more alert. My RSX and a couple other cars I drove is like this.

a lot of fwd cars have more feedback through the wheel, i love my celica, i can feel the exact angle where the tire slips on every surface i drive on, over 20 mph my celicas power steering turns completely off

[iLuveKetchup]

Originally Posted by 86fanatic

Where the car is from doesn't matter, different cars put emphasis on it and some just don't. Porsche, Lotus, Lancer Evolutions, Corvettes all tend to have better then average steering feel.

The Corvette steering is very numb and the Evo is just as electronic feeling as the s2k. At least for the Evo X, it's been a while since I drove an 8 & 9.

But I don't want to beat a dead horse about the steering feel. We will have to wait until we drive the BRZ until we can comment if it's going to be better (or worse).