[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by GTO

If you make one mildly strong flick of the steering at speed, you'll lose control of the Harrier. It's that bad at 120 kmph.

And (not) surprisingly, none of the popular media houses reported this as an issue in their reviews or numerous comparison videos

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Nostalgic3r

Why can’t car manufacturers simply give us back the good old hydraulic steering wheels?

Except for very heavy vehicles the world could (and did) live perfectly happily without power-assisted steering at all! And there would be a small reduction in tyre wear too, as, without it, there is a positive incentive not to move the steering when the car is stationary.

Enthusiastic drivers would have all the feedback they could possibly wish for at the small cost of a little hard work when parking.

[Nostalgic3r]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Except for very heavy vehicles the world could (and did) live perfectly happily without power-assisted steering at all! And there would be a small reduction in tyre wear too, as, without it, there is a positive incentive not to move the steering when the car is stationary.

Enthusiastic drivers would have all the feedback they could possibly wish for at the small cost of a little hard work when parking.

Exactly what my dad told the guys at cars24 when selling off our i10, sometime in the last fortnight. Power steering is only needed during low speed manoeuvres and once you pick up speed, it doesn’t matter. Had a guy hired from a driving company(biggest rip-off we’ve ever had) last year walk off, saying he couldn’t place his royal backside in a car without ps.

[padmrajravi]

Originally Posted by Nostalgic3r

Why can’t car manufacturers simply give us back the good old hydraulic steering wheels?

Because all the mainstream reviewers will then complain of a heavy steering. Most buyers will not consider a car with heavy steering - even if it is a big SUV. Only the enthusiasts want a hydraulic steering. A properly calibrated electric one is not bad either. In fact I would prefer one over the hydraulic any day.

[Nostalgic3r]

Originally Posted by padmrajravi

A properly calibrated electric one is not bad either. In fact I would prefer one over the hydraulic any day.

True, but few manufacturers do em properly. They’re just as important as abs and airbags.

[IshaanIan]

Originally Posted by padmrajravi

Because all the mainstream reviewers will then complain of a heavy steering. Most buyers will not consider a car with heavy steering - even if it is a big SUV. Only the enthusiasts want a hydraulic steering. A properly calibrated electric one is not bad either. In fact I would prefer one over the hydraulic any day.

This is so true. I remember even my Dad used to find the electric power steering on our Kizashi, to be too stiff at parking lot speeds when infact it was one of the best in terms of calibration. Aam junta doesn't care because for them driving is not a craft that must be mastered but more like a convenience taken for granted.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Nostalgic3r

Why can’t car manufacturers simply give us back the good old hydraulic steering wheels?

The Harrier does have a hydraulic power steering. Just that it's terribly tuned for highway speeds and is too darn sensitive to input. I liked it in the city though (refer to our review for full details).

[Thad E Ginathom]

OK, so it was only a Micra, but my mum drove a car without power steering until her death at 89. When I inherited it, at first I wondered how she managed, then, after a couple of days I stopped noticing. And I am a muscle-less wimp.

At anything over 5kph, non-ps steering is not heavy: it is the same.

[vamsi2390]

Originally Posted by GTO

The Harrier does have a hydraulic power steering. Just that it's terribly tuned for highway speeds and is too darn sensitive to input. I liked it in the city though (refer to our review for full details).

My Duster has the same hydraulic power assisted steering setup. It holds it line damn well on highways and light enough for city as well. I concur with GTO's view that it might just be bad calibration.

[McLaren Rulez]

Originally Posted by vb-san

And (not) surprisingly, none of the popular media houses reported this as an issue in their reviews or numerous comparison videos

Credit where it's due, ZigWheels did bring it up in their review. I don't follow too many other sources but it's not as biased as sometimes made out.

They report that it's very slow around the center and then suddenly speeds up when you're off center. This change in rack speed is what they complained about.

[for_cars1]

Originally Posted by GTO

The Harrier does have a hydraulic power steering. Just that it's terribly tuned for highway speeds and is too darn sensitive to input.

plus the large tender coconut sized ORVMs and their odd (higher) placement which creates a dangerous blindspot especially on the driver side. God help if the driver needs to make a right turn at junctions and unable to see huge obstacles on their front right. These are a safety hazard and needs a recall.

[Nalin1]

Tender coconut sized ORVMs !

After so much of negative feedback about the size of the ORVMs and their obstruction, I am even more curious to sit in the driver's seat and experience it.

Don't the manufacturers take the new cars out on the roads for a comprehensive test and check all the minute things before releasing the final version? Or they do it but overlook these kind of issues? Or they feel these are not issues at all??

[Turrrb0]

Originally Posted by Nalin1

Tender coconut sized ORVMs !

After so much of negative feedback about the size of the ORVMs and their obstruction, I am even more curious to sit in the driver's seat and experience it.

Don't the manufacturers take the new cars out on the roads for a comprehensive test and check all the minute things before releasing the final version? Or they do it but overlook these kind of issues? Or they feel these are not issues at all??

I don't want to ruffle any feathers and I'm just speculating, but I think in their hurry to dispatch and deliver cars Tata doesn't do much in the name of quality checking once the car has been assembled. You get your car literally fresh off the line

[ReluctantRebel]

Originally Posted by Turrrb0

I don't want to ruffle any feathers and I'm just speculating, but I think in their hurry to dispatch and deliver cars Tata doesn't do much in the name of quality checking once the car has been assembled. You get your car literally fresh off the line

If my understanding is right, cars are selected at random from batches and tested for quality. I am not sure on the checks that are carried out and i dont think driving the car is in that list. And, things such as steering wheel response has to come as a feedback from market. Best that TATA can do is to recall the cars and fix it at the earliest.

[svsantosh]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SOvGZgsrpU

Not a crash video, but taken about 5-10 seconds post the crash and witnessed typical mentality to become a ring-side spectator and block the entire traffic behind and create a bigger spectacle.

Truck Driver was fine and you can see him climb out (blurry image at 0:15 sec).