Bought a car.. made a really stupid blunder!

GreenSheep

I don't think you've been stupid.
I used to have a Corsa (years ago); pedals were stiff, no power steering, 3 cylinder engine, lovely car.

They'll get used to it.

TrickyWicky

Hi all

Yeah the power steering isn't so much of an issue, I was just shocked to find that I'd basically bought an 'older tech' car. The pedals and gear stick are really the main concerns.. the clutch is a pain and so is the stick! When I found there was no PS I suddenly realised why it was all such hard work - No power assistance on anything and no hydraullic clutch to make it easier hence it being such hard work.

Gotta be honest, I think its a great little car. No rust under it, no rust on the body, chain driven.. seems like a good little car if I'm honest but its hard work it has to be said.

I think it'll get readvertised shortly lol.

Gloomendoom

Not many hydraulic clutches have any form of power assistance so they give no benefit over cable or mechanically linked ones. Their main advantage is that they are self adjusting.

Strider590

It'll sell no problem, you might even make a profit..... Plenty of people willing to pay a premium for small engined cars.

Dukesy

Many years ago, my grandad bought my grandma a Rambler Rogue convertible. It was about three tons of car and to go from lock to lock took around twenty turns of the wheel, with no power steering. She was built like me - five foot nothing and very lightly built... Now that was a mistake!

I currently drive a 1980s Golf, a 1930s Austin 7 (which used to be my daily driver) and a 1950s Austin. None of those have power steering - the 7 doesn't even have a properly synchromeshed gearbox but seriously, because they're all small and light enough, it really doesn't matter - your partner will get used to it

On another note, my mum has a V reg Saxo - no power assistance anywhere and all the pedals are quite stiff, so probably something normal there.

On the plus side, there's less to go wrong with a car that lacks power assistance!

Norman_Castle

The pedals and gear stick are really the main concerns.. the clutch is a pain and so is the stick!

Might be worth greasing or replacing the clutch cable and checking the pedal and gear linkage. I drove a 306 recently. Both the clutch and throttle were very stiff. It made the car difficult to drive and very unlikeable.

jimbo_the_jetset

Sounds like a free arm and leg workout to me. Think of the money you'll save on gym membership!!

Honestly though, all my previous cars were non-PAS and all small petrol engine 205's. It really isn't a problem. Make sure the tyres are the correct pressure and when they get worn it is also harder work. Always felt like I had PAS once I put new tyres on the front

WobblyDog

As others have said, a small car without power steering is not necessarily a bad thing:
- It's one less thing to go wrong.
- It leaves more space under the bonnet for getting at other things that do go wrong.
- It's good exercise.
- You get good feedback through the steering wheel.
- Fuel consumption will be slightly better.
- If the front tyres are properly inflated, the forces involved are within the capabilities of most people.

Bowling_4_Gold

Not having PAS is easy to get used to- just remember to keep the car rolling when performing maneuvers.

I can't even tell my car doesn't have PAS on certain surfaces- Gravel, for example.

mysk_girl

I loved my old Corsa's without power steering. I actually cried when one of them was written of by an eejit in a Subaru Imprezza going too fast on ice :-(

If I didn't have 3 growing children I'd buy another in a heartbeat.