Has any one compaired power steering vs NO power steering?

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Permalink Reply by Hatem Nassrat on January 26, 2008 at 10:49am

What is Electronic power steering (eps)? Is it different from power steering in general? Can you still get a car today without power steering? Wouldn't that be a workout to drive?

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Permalink Reply by Rick Masters on January 26, 2008 at 11:14am

Everybody these days thinks you have to have power steering but I can't imagine a little car like the Smart placing much demand on steering force. I ordered mine, which is waiting for me to pick up, without power steering for two reasons. I love the feedback from manual steering. And I don't want the drag from the power steering pump compromising my extreme high mileage attempts. I'll get back to you on the steering after I put a few windy road miles on it. I'm really looking forward to it.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Diehl on January 26, 2008 at 11:47am

Those are my thoughts exactly. The simpler the better. In fact, if it's available at the time, I want my license plate to read: LVSMPLY I'm really looking forward to this too! (yellow/black/black)

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on January 26, 2008 at 10:40pm

i was thinking, originally, for "BB BENZ 1" or "SLIMZ 42" for plates, but seeing how quick and small and black my car is, i'm gonna try for "NINJA 42"

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on January 26, 2008 at 10:37pm

the smart power steering is not a pump off the engine, it's an electric motor, it sucks a little current. i got mine without power steering, it drives just fine, you'd have to be 80 and an invalid to need power steering in a smart! it's 1600 pounds, and light in the front end. i drove a metro for 9 years, wi9th 15" mags, and it was front heavy, didn't have power steering in that either!

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Permalink Reply by Tim Cowan on July 6, 2008 at 11:57am

The smart has no power steering pump. It's electronic. It weighs 2.7 pounds.

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Permalink Reply by lynne on February 7, 2008 at 12:15am

have driven the 2008 smart with and without power steering, the power steering is electric motor not a pump. I really didnt think it made much of a difference with out it.

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Permalink Reply by NS320 on February 7, 2008 at 3:31pm

I have driven a non assisted 71 bhp car and non assisted 84bhp car.
I am awaiting delivery of my 84 bhp power assisted car.

Whilst the steering is certainly not heavy I opted for the power assistance on the basis of a CAR magazine review of the new 451. I too found it a little lacking in directness and hope that EPS solves this.
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Sma...

"And the steering is transformed; there’s little feel from the electric system but it’s far quicker and more direct. The non-assisted system isn’t excessively heavy, but the lack of help exposes its still slightly rubbery responses."

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Permalink Reply by Johnny Acree on February 7, 2008 at 4:00pm

Thanks for the update and the magazine review

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Permalink Reply by G KAK on July 5, 2008 at 8:48pm

No Big Different.

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on July 5, 2008 at 9:07pm

if you are physically fit, or can amble into a smart, you can steer the damned thing. i've owned over a dozen cars, most without power steering. the smart has the lightest manual steering, bar none! you can steer it with one finger when driving, 2 fingers parking.

I drove a smaller car. my brother had a subaru 360 28 years ago, that weighed 925 pounds or so. it would never be found where he parked it! school joke! everyday classmates would go out and move his littlte car. no harm was done, it was always just "somewhere else". high school and a 900 pound car... go figger!

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Permalink Reply by Rick Masters on July 6, 2008 at 1:16am

Follow-up at 7000 miles: I have confirmed that, for me, the electric assist and added complexity would be an unnecessary, ridiculous expense. The Smart is pretty nimble without it. I have no idea what the electric sterring assist could possibly add. I don't miss it. I don't want it. Someone thought the steering felt better with it. This may be a dampening effect that could be added to the non-assisted steering with a stabilizer. Not that I've given it much thought. If it's not broken, don't fix it. I have always hated power steering. I hate power steering fluid. I hate power steering pumps. I hate power steering belts. I know, I know, Smart doesn't offer that stuff. But I jumped at the chance to buy a little, simple car without unnecessary frills. I hate frills. I already have cars with frills. I hate them. I love my Smart. It's simple and Pure! I'm going to drive it through Death Valley in the middle of the afternoon to see if it melts.

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