Team-BHP - In terms of design & function, what's your kind of steering wheel?

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- - In terms of design & function, what's your kind of steering wheel? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/278203-terms-design-function-whats-your-kind-steering-wheel-3.html)

The W211 holds a very special place in my heart. It was the first Mercedes I ever sat in, and the experience of that new leather with those wooden inserts is still fresh in my mind even though I was just 7 years old. One day, I hope to add a car like that to my collection and relive that feeling.

A nice meaty, smallish flat bottomed three spoke steering wheel for me, e.g. the one on the Octavia VRS or the Seltos. If not a flat bottomed one, definitely a standard three spoke wheel. Hate the 2 spoke wheels that seem to have become the fashion in some cars nowadays. They are neither here nor there in terms of functionality or looks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamborghini (Post 5738180)

So a lot of this stems from the cars we were first introduced to with these respective steerings...

So true. To me 2 spokes were those seen on the Ambassador Nova, Omni and basic trucks and pickups. 3 spoke was the weird droopy ones seen in old Mahindras, Santro, Ambassador Grand. Nope, sporty was not what I expected from 3 spokes. 4 spokes. Aah. Perfection. Everything I was in. Cars from the 80s and 90s had full four spoke steering wheels. That was until the 2000s, when BMW started giving 3 spoke steering wheels with airbags and buttons and it suddenly became the sporty one.

Have the same opinion as the one given in recent thread about 2 spoke steering wheels.https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...ml#post5045972

Quote:

Originally Posted by DicKy (Post 5045972)

Didn't vote, for the simple reason am kinda indifferent to it now.

As a teenager who loved fat 4 spoke steering wheels, it was plain horror to see everything from an economy car to the biggest sedans and SUVs getting 3 spoke steering wheels to project sportiness in the last 10-15 years. Maybe, the hatred for 3 spoke steering wheels started from seeing those old Mahindra steering wheels, also the ones on the old Santro, initial Swifts, lower variants of the Innova.

But then grew wiser and found that the steering rim thickness and contours played a far bigger role than the steering boss. Not to say, the steering feel was much important. Just a beautifully designed steering wheel doesn't mean it is good. Best example, our Etios steering wheel. Have to admit though, bought the Etios VXD over the sensible GD just for the steering wheel design.:p

Well designed, possibly deep dish designs get brownie points from me.

At the same time, atleast in pics. Am still batting for a fat ass 4 spoke steering wheel, especially comfy luxury models.:D

It would also be great if the volume controls in the steering wheel are the scroller type like in Skodas instead of buttons.

Voted for 4 spokes, though truth be told am kinda indifferent to any design right now. As long as it feels great to hold and the upper spokes are in a straight line instead of droopy/waterfall shapes.

Edit: Seeing sportier BMWs, Mercs, sporty Toyotas and the new Hyundai N line steering wheels, am good for the 3 spokes with thinner spokes, meaty rim and a chunky steering boss with the brand logo in sharp 3D chrome. Hate the matt finish brand logo that is in trend, and the cheap feeling illuminated logos(ahem TATA).

Personally, I like the 3 spoke flat bottomed steering wheel. In my previous I10 it is a round steering wheel, in my new Creta it is flat bottomed steering wheel, I find its easy to ingress and egress with flat bottomed steering wheel. And, when it comes to yoke design, I think, on straight roads most comfortable position is 2'o clock & 10'o clock position which is not possible in the yoke design so I will not vote for it.

Personally love the 2 spoke and 4 spoke designs, and a flat bottom. I find the uniqueness of the 2 spoke Skoda steering without any compromise in function very likeable.
Coming to the steering itself: a decently weighed EPS steer by wire with variable steering input ratio seems like the best of both worlds. But I'm very happy with the Skoda EPS for now.
There are a few more things that make a steering great for me like:
- Leather wrapped: an absolute must.
- General controls and ergonomics: No touch buttons, horn in a usable position (not a fan of horn at centre only designs), ease of use (the rotary knob in Skodas) etc.
- Thickness: I somehow don't feel the thin steering design in older luxury cars were any fun. A somewhat chunky steering would be nicer.