Heavy stearing could be worn bushes or mountings or whatever the term is, or you're just not used to non-power assisted. Having learnt to drive in a 340 it feels perfectly light, and I can't stand Power steering. You can just turn the wheels on the spot with 1 finger, wearing out the tyres and not feeling it.

As for second gear it can be difficult to get sometimes, particularly when cold and down shifting. To improve down changes dramatically, try double clutching if you don't already.

With double clutching on a down shift you press the clutch in, move the gear lever to neutral and let the clutch up again (this can be done fairly swiftly). Then you increase the revs with the throttle to match up speeds at both sides of the gearbox. Then press the clutch in, shift into second, which should be a lot easier, and let the clutch up again.

Although it sounds a lot, it's quite easy to get into the habit of using after a few tries, and soon becomes as natural as normal gear changes.


And rememeber, 300's are fun to drive cause they arn't too easy

Pupukarhu wrote:

I'm certain that after a couple of hundred kms sitting on comfortable seats using that 2.0 litre engine with rear wheel drive and a quirky transaxle layout you'll never want to go back to Golfs again

I wrote that still hating this car, especially after the company's Audi I've been driving while having nothing else to drive. But now I'm slowly starting to like it. Though it's really hard to steer and the second gear is awful to shift to.

I have one advice for you don't try to steer it when it is stationary. Always steer it on the move. And when you are reversing and you know which way you are going to go then turn tires pointing to that direction before you start moving forward again.
And as MJ said cause for heavy steering is worn parts in steering system and chassis.

... don't forget, Pupukarhu has a 360. There's a big difference in steering "heaviness" between a 1.4 engined model on 165 tyres and a 2.0 engined car on 185's ... Much as I like it, the steering on mine is the heaviest I've ever experienced on any car. Cheaper than the admission fee for a gym though!

Actually, I've been amazed by how light the steering is on the mk2 360 GLT I have. It's barely any heavier than Nessy's.

cheers

James

trabitom99 wrote:... don't forget, Pupukarhu has a 360. There's a big difference in steering "heaviness" between a 1.4 engined model on 165 tyres and a 2.0 engined car on 185's ... Much as I like it, the steering on mine is the heaviest I've ever experienced on any car. Cheaper than the admission fee for a gym though!

Steering is quite "light" when on move but try to turn wheel when car is stationary especially on tarmac it is "heavy" to turn but not impossible. I haven't ever driven 340 so i don't know how heavy or light steering is. But i have two 360 other 175 tires and another with 195 tires. But that with 195 tires has PAS. And driving in a small carpark with car with 175 tires is as nice as with the another car if you know the technique.

I'm talking from experience of a 1.7 340 on 175 tyres, with the steering parts probably being in very good condition.

As Tourinki says, you shouldn't turn the wheels when stationary, as not only is it hard work, but it strains parts of the steering system. In fact as part of the driving test you're not supposed to turn when stationary when doing maouvers. Dead easy in the 340, but with power steering, you can't feel if your moving or not.

foggyjames wrote:Actually, I've been amazed by how light the steering is on the mk2 360 GLT I have. It's barely any heavier than Nessy's.

That's my experience too, compared to my previous Mk3 GLT's - the Mk2 has skinnier tyres though doesn't it?

I haven't looked at what tyres this GLT has on it.

I'd expect the condition of the strut top mounts, etc, has as much to do with it as anything.

cheers

James

Ronnie wrote:the Mk2 has skinnier tyres though doesn't it?

AFAIK the Mk2 GLT came with 185's as standard (maybe not UK market?), along with the same turning circle & no. of turns lock to lock as later Mk3's. Total weight doesn't differ that much either ...

Maybe different tyre pressure? Volvo recommends 27psi, but I tend to pump 'em up higher, even if it means increased tyre wear ...

My old 343 Junior (0 equipment & 155's) was a doddle to park compared with my current car with a newish steering rack & 175's.

mines like 100x's easyer with 185 55 14 than it was with 175 70 13's

Odd but i dont mind

Out of the non PAS 300's I've driven, the one with 185k is the lightest , being a 1.7. Andy's GLEi SE 360 is heavier than my 1.7, but doesn't compare to my 1.4, I reckon that something is knackered in that.

Tyres are 175 or 185s on each, depending on my mood!

I'm now the proud owner of a second 360 in OAP green metallic! I've been searching for LHD parts to convert the manual steering of my GLi to a PAS system for months & haven't been very successful. So I've gone & bought the car we'd looked at in East Germany on the way back from our Romania / Moldova trip.

Up at 4:30 this morning, plane to Dresden, train to Freiberg (near Czech border), bought car & 6 hour drive to my gran's this afternoon where I'll be storing it for a while.





Unfortunately, I've now got a bit of a "foggy problem". I only really wanted the steering parts, and then the seller went & put 2 years' TÜV (MOT) on it and it's a bit better than I expected rust-wise. Apart from the usual GLT stuff it's laden with (mostly non-working) goodies which LHD Euro-spec cars never usually got a whiff of.

Apart from usual GLT stuff it's got:
PAS
E-windows (only driver's side works)
E-mirrors (RHS needs a bit of coaxing)
central locking (one of the rear doors doesn't open)
Heated seats (don't work, at least the driver's side doesn't)
Ambient temp gauge (doesn't work)
Sunroof (works fine!)

aaaaaand

cat
snowcap
extra gauge panel (oil pressure / oil temp)
rare late-style cavity covers
a 2nd set of winter wheels & a box of parts which I haven't got round to sifting through yet.

There're a couple of mechanical things I'm not too sure about though, it's running a little warm on the autobahn (water temp just right of the warning light), the gearbox is really stiff compared to my other car and the exhaust is blowing somewhere.

Tom

I must be getting toooo near to being an OAP , I love the green, keep it

That looks tidy, and if it's the colour I'm thinking of, it's a great colour too!

cheers

James

Thats Snowey coloured... keep it! It looks a great car, and has a lot of the toys! Minty fresh