Hi,

I just traded in my 06 MCS for a 13 coupe. I just realize the steering wheel is so light (much lighter than my old car) that I feel totally uncomfortable. I search the web and realize it is called the Electric Assisted Steering, similar to Adaptive Steering; however, I still feel it is too loose/light even when i am driving at a higher speed and/or cornering.

Anyone has similar experience?

Thanks!

 

They all have electric assist. The Gen 1 are a touch "heavier". I don't mind the steering on my '12.

Try pressing the sport button. That will add some "weight" to it and change a few other things too...try it - you'll like it.

 

you got that right, i haven't tried the sports button yet. however, i can't have it always on just to make the steering heavier. What are you referring to the "touch heavier" from the Gen 1?

 

Just that the steering on our '04 is a bit heavier than my '12 without the sport button on. There isn't a lot of difference, though. The steering on my '12 S is not uncomfortably light and it tracks really well. I have seen ~115 on the track without a concern about feel or wandering (this is fully stock and with street tires). I wonder if your alignment is off or your tire pressure is way too high.

 

Once we got the R56, I found the R53 had too heavy steering at parking speeds and to light at freeway speeds. I found the 08 MCS in sport mode to be more to my liking. Without the sport mode on the steering was much too light. The 12 JCW has even lighter steering, I'm not that fond of it.

I don't like driving an R56 without engaging sport mode.

 

I just picked up the car brand new from the dealer...so although I didn't check the tire pressure or the alignment, I am going to give credit to the dealer that it shouldn't be the issue. I did notice that on the highway is a bit heavier but still not close to my '06 steering feeling. I like that feeling.

 

I wonder if the steering stiffness can be adjusted.

Does anyone know?

 

To my knowledge, no it cannot.

When I received my new 2013 Cooper S, all 4 tires had different air pressure and by as much as 10lbs difference.
I imediately swaped to 17' wheels and tires and set the air pressure to 41lbs and reset the TPMS for that calibration.

 

I had that problem switching to the r53 from my old Cherokee. For a week or two, I constantly wobbled in my lane because the steering felt comparatively light and touchy and I kept over-correcting slightly. Maybe you should drive down some empty twisty roads to get more used to it or try out sport mode. I was completely underwhelmed with the '11 MCS I test drive a while back, but when the MA hit the sport button, it became a different animal.

I also heard you can program how sport mode affects your car and have certain settings set to be on all the time. You can probably get the dealer or a local club member to help you out with that.

 

You cannot program the sport button. You can buy the FES AutoSport module and have the sport button turned on ever time you start the car. It's easy to install, and should have come from the factory with sport button on by default.

Heck, I can't even drive my car in normal mode, I almost stall the thing every time taking off from a stop.

Or, just press the sport button when you start the car. You can have it on all the time and it effects nothing but throttle response and steering feel. It doesn't have any effect on mileage, gas usage, power, time warp, or anything else. Your right foot and how fast you go are the only things that effect gas mileage. In other words, the engine uses the exact same amount of gas to go any speed, whether the sport button is pressed or not.