New CU2 Lux Auto

[bk212]

Hi all, I have just picked up a new CU2 Luxury (no sat nav) Auto. I have been reading with interest the comments on this forum for a few months, and was pretty much sold on the car as long as it drove half decent. Have found this an excellent resource so thanks to everyone that has provided info on this car! I know very little technically about cars, but just love the features in this car - it has a very luxurious feel to it.

One little quibble I have: I live in the hills of Perth and when driving up a steep hill and accelerating around a bend, the steering is feeling very odd. It feels like it is fighting my attempts to turn into the bend and accelerate through it. It's like the wheels want to keep going straight rather than turning in. I'm not sure if this is something to do with the VSA, or whether it's something to do with the 18" wheels on the luxury, or something else. I read somewhere that the steering wheel will prompt you if it senses you are under or over steering, but thought that feature was part of the safety systems which were omitted for the Oz version.

Any ideas?

[aaronng]

Bend + heavy throttle = wheelspin = ploughs straight ahead.

Solution = stickier tyres/go slower/install an LSD

[akina]

umm just slow down?

or get sum fully sick handling mods!

[bk212]

I'm not driving aggressively at all - the wheels aren't spinning. I had a Holden Commodore previously and didn't have this problem, have also driven a Honda Legend and even a Chrysler Voyager up the hill with no dramas. The steering is really pulling back against me - hard to describe but it feels like there is something going on other than just simple physics.

[aaronng]

I'm not driving aggressively at all - the wheels aren't spinning. I had a Holden Commodore previously and didn't have this problem, have also driven a Honda Legend and even a Chrysler Voyager up the hill with no dramas. The steering is really pulling back against me - hard to describe but it feels like there is something going on other than just simple physics.

What happens when you hold the steering wheel firmly? Does the car follow the bend or still wants to go straight?

[bk212]

What happens when you hold the steering wheel firmly? Does the car follow the bend or still wants to go straight?

It feels like it still wants to go straight. If I tug on the steering wheel it momentarily goes where I want but as soon as I let any sort of pressure off it feels very heavy and wants to go straight. I end up tugging the wheel several times through a bend rather than going smoothly around it. I'm only doing 70kmh and the hill is steep but the bends aren't too dramatic.

[Type R Positive]

Congrats mate, those auto's are nice.
I got a base manual, and it is sweet. Where in the hills are you?
My parents are in Stoneville now, moved from Mt Helena. It's bloody nice up there.

I haven't had the steering problem you talk about, but I haven't gone up any hills like those in Perth yet. I like the steering in my car. I'm going to Albany to get the car's first check up, there's hills around there that I'll have fun with...

I think because the steering is electronic, they will be able to tune it. Other cars like the civic type R use this same system. If and when the time comes, I'll be leaving mine alone.

[Type R Positive]

The steering seems to be a complaint from the Yanks, but I can honestly tell you that I like it, and I don't think there it anything wrong with it. I had a '04 euro, and that was good.

I have had the feeling that the steering was firm when attacking some corners at speed. I liked it. I think this is how Honda set it up. At low speed, the steering should be really light. The Yanks hate this too?

Just attack them corners mate. I'm sure you will grow to really like it.

[aaronng]

It feels like it still wants to go straight. If I tug on the steering wheel it momentarily goes where I want but as soon as I let any sort of pressure off it feels very heavy and wants to go straight. I end up tugging the wheel several times through a bend rather than going smoothly around it. I'm only doing 70kmh and the hill is steep but the bends aren't too dramatic.

You're not meant to grip the steering wheel loosely when you are using throttle through a bend. Hold the steering wheel firmly! The Euro tends to kick back the steering wheel when you have a combination of torque, corner and uneven surface.

[bk212]

You're not meant to grip the steering wheel loosely when you are using throttle through a bend. Hold the steering wheel firmly! The Euro tends to kick back the steering wheel when you have a combination of torque, corner and uneven surface.

Thanks aaronng. Will drive it some more over the weekend and see how it goes - probably just need to get accustomed to steering characteristics by the sound of it. Appreciate you taking the time to help.

[aaronng]

Thanks aaronng. Will drive it some more over the weekend and see how it goes - probably just need to get accustomed to steering characteristics by the sound of it. Appreciate you taking the time to help.

I notice with other cars like Camrys, that you can keep 1 finger on the wheel and power through a corner without the steering wheel fighting back at you. But with other cars like BMW 3-series and the Euro, they tend to do that. It could be because of the larger castor angle in the suspension.

[ACE888]

Congrats on the purchase.

However I drove the Euro Lux last weekend and IMO wasn't too impressed with it. My main complaints were really 1) the steering feel, and 2) the interior plastics.

The steering feel felt really hollow....felt like nothing, was a bit light, maybe the electric power steering has got something to do with it? But anyway, it might be a bit unfair to compare that as I jumped straight from my father's E class into the Euro.

Also the interior plastics looks cheap.... I still think the CL9 plastics were MUCH better.


But anyway, I persuaded a friend to purchase a Euro Lux over a Mazda6, and he signed on the dotted line today. $43.5K driveaway for the Euro Lux Auto with free tints and H floor mats.