"Steering setting" in Base GT PP???

[eleanor5oh]

I heard right from one of my good friends on the engineering team that the steering wheel adjustment setting is nothing more than just making the wheel stiffer/harder to turn. Some people think that makes it feel more sporty. In reality he recommended leaving it on comfort as there is really no actual change in the car's responsiveness; again it is just a placebo affect.

The thing I did find interesting were the different calibrations for snow or race or whatever. On the auto it is supposed to increase shift speed or something like that. On the manual I don't think it would get that benefit. I wonder how beneficial these settings actually are. I've already read there is no adjustable suspension, rather it is all computer tuning differences.

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[williamwally]

Gotta say, that's a nice feature for a 'base' model!

 

[williamwally]

I heard right from one of my good friends on the engineering team that the steering wheel adjustment setting is nothing more than just making the wheel stiffer/harder to turn. Some people think that makes it feel more sporty. In reality he recommended leaving it on comfort as there is really no actual change in the car's responsiveness; again it is just a placebo affect.

The thing I did find interesting were the different calibrations for snow or race or whatever. On the auto it is supposed to increase shift speed or something like that. On the manual I don't think it would get that benefit. I wonder how beneficial these settings actually are. I've already read there is no adjustable suspension, rather it is all computer tuning differences.

It also seems to me that this system only alters the steering effort, and nothing else. Basically just set it to what feels best to you, some like light steering others don't.
On a manual (and auto) it should also alter the throttle behavior, ie more responsive or slower to respond, which should have a large effect in just driving feel.

 

[Chameleon]

Gotta say, that's a nice feature for a 'base' model!

I am impressed with what is offered this time around. Hopefully I can swing the FR leather recaro's down the road.

 

[billy the k]

Oh my, I have made a huge mistake. That was my post in the other thread citing the lack of a button for steering weight adjustment. I just found a decent res shot of the base IP. This might be a good surprise for you, OP.

Many thanks for posting that photo—I was really hoping to be able to firm up the steering response on my base GT/PP manually without scrolling through a stupid menu on a screen!

Seeing this made my morning!

 

[OppoLock]

It also seems to me that this system only alters the steering effort, and nothing else. Basically just set it to what feels best to you, some like light steering others don't.
On a manual (and auto) it should also alter the throttle behavior, ie more responsive or slower to respond, which should have a large effect in just driving feel.

Yeah, I never understood why people would think otherwise. Adjusting power steering assistance isn't going to change the suspension geometry, steering rack, or any other mechanical bits and bushings between the tiller and tires. It's almost cliche for auto journalists to review a car's steering modes and say "well this mode feels heavier/lighter, but there's no appreciable difference in feel." Oh wow, really? I never would have guessed!

I would imagine that base models get a three mode traction threshold setup: TCS/STM on, STM or TCS off, and fully disabled. That seems to be the usual for a car operating traction nets with a single switch.

Many thanks for posting that photo—I was really hoping to be able to firm up the steering response on my base GT/PP manually without scrolling through a stupid menu on a screen!

Seeing this made my morning!

 

[Sal JC]

I heard right from one of my good friends on the engineering team that the steering wheel adjustment setting is nothing more than just making the wheel stiffer/harder to turn. Some people think that makes it feel more sporty. In reality he recommended leaving it on comfort as there is really no actual change in the car's responsiveness; again it is just a placebo affect.

Yeah, I never understood why people would think otherwise. Adjusting power steering assistance isn't going to change the suspension geometry, steering rack, or any other mechanical bits and bushings between the tiller and tires. It's almost cliche for auto journalists to review a car's steering modes and say "well this mode feels heavier/lighter, but there's no appreciable difference in feel." Oh wow, really? I never would have guessed!

^ All of this. The steering setting is nothing more than electronically increasing or decreasing the power assistance level. It doesn't change the ratio or geometry. It's kind of gimmicky.
Usually when you buy a performance model over a standard model, of any car, the performance one will have a quicker ratio rack, the side effect of that makes the steering wheel a little harder to turn because of the gearing. All they're doing here is making the power steering weaker in sport mode & stronger in comfort mode to give the illusion of a higher/lower ratio.

 

[Firepath]

^ All of this. The steering setting is nothing more than electronically increasing or decreasing the power assistance level. It doesn't change the ratio or geometry. It's kind of gimmicky.
Usually when you buy a performance model over a standard model, of any car, the performance one will have a quicker ratio rack, the side effect of that makes the steering wheel a little harder to turn because of the gearing. All they're doing here is making the power steering weaker in sport mode & stronger in comfort mode to give the illusion of a higher/lower ratio.

I am of the same mind, all the reports say it increases resistance but does not change road feel.

What I don't get is, if you're just reducing the amount of electric assistance (making the steering close to manual / non-powered) why doesn't feel / feedback increase? Either what the steering mode does is not that simple, or the steering without assistance isn't set up to give good feedback / feel?

It isn't necessarily a bad thing to have less feedback (more luxury / easy VS sport / tiring).

 

[Grimace427]

The alignment has a greater effect on steering feel than the power assist system, in my opinion. Having adjustable steering effort isn't the end-all but nice to suit different tastes. Add some more negative camber, positive caster, and toe-out just a smidge and your steering will feel very responsive.

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