When was the last time you drove without power steering?

[Stargazer65]

1984? Manual steering is only more difficult when you are mostly stationary, like in maneuvering in a parking space.

 

[soccerdad72]

1984? Manual steering is only more difficult when you are mostly stationary, like in maneuvering in a parking space.

That was the toughest part - backing out and lining up the car behind the tow truck.

 

[Stargazer65]

That was the toughest part - backing out and lining up the car behind the tow truck.

Yeah, I had that happen on my Subaru Forester when the alternator belt snapped. I drove it 10 miles straight to the repair shop from work on the battery, getting there just before it completely died, but power steering was gone for the last mile. Maneuvering it into a parking spot was rough!

 

[firefly_ris]

2 different concepts as noted here.... I inherited my grandfather's 1980 Datsun 210b wagon that did not have power steering, we sold it in 2010. Briefly drove my dad's 1975 Triumph TR6 last summer so that's the last non-equip one I drove.

When I was in college in 2005 I was driving through the Ft McHenry tunnel on my way home from class and the serpentine belt on my 97 Taurus snapped and lost basically everything and immediately started overheating, with no active power steering. I didn't want to stop inside the tunnel and make zero new friends, so I made it out and off the first exit, it was very difficult to turn off the exit ramp and limp it into a parking spot.

 

[RedAngie]

Most likely the car I learned to drive with in 1978. A 1967 Plymouth Valiant that was the old family car, then my mother’s car, then mine. No PS, PB, AC, power windows etc.

 

[cabanafrau]

Back in days of olde when I was very young. No thank you, I'm good with my power steering.

 

[Kitty 34]

When I owned my '66 VW . Not only no power steering it was a stick and I learned to drive it in Poudre Canyon, CO.

 

[goofyernmost]

Oops, wrong quote.

 

[amcnj]

Most likely the car I learned to drive with in 1978. A 1967 Plymouth Valiant that was the old family car, then my mother’s car, then mine. No PS, PB, AC, power windows etc.

Did it have a bar you slid up to take it out of park, and then buttons to push to put it in gear? I forget the year of the vehicle, but the valiant was one of the first cars I ever drove.

 

[amcnj]

It’s been a while since I drove a vehicle without power steering. But it never seemed a hardship until cars all had power steering, and you got used to it and had to again drive a vehicle without it!

 

[tvguy]

It wasn't the same as you experienced. It was harder yes but back then, unlike your sons car, they weren't engineered to have assisted help with steering. The systems were a lot tighter on cars that had assist so it is much harder to turn the wheel without the assistance. To answer you question though, the last time I drove a car that did not come with power steering was my boss's Ford Torino. It was fairly new and I think it was in the early to mid 1970's. The only thing I can date it with was that ABBA was on the radio almost constantly. That Ford took a lot of exertion to turn the wheel. I had many other cars before that that didn't have PS but they never turned that hard.

My son? I didn't say anything about my son.
I CURRENTLY own a 1965 Mustang with manual steering. Not an issue when moving, but parking is a chore without power assistance.

 

[_19disnA]

I can recall driving a car with manual steering many years ago. It was most noticeable at slow speeds and you really had to put a LOT of effort into steering. At speed, it seemed less noticeable. I don't know if there are any cars currently being made without powering steering, just seems like something good to have for all driving situations.

 

[HopperFan]

Few weeks ago. Took my 1971 VW KG for a spin. Between that and stick shift, I appreciated my auto/power more.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Never?? I don't know if I've had a car without it.

 

[jimmymc]

Only once, when the power steering went out on my mom's Kia sedan.

 

[disneyseniors]

My last car without power steering was a l967 Chevy Impala in red. It had no power steering when we bought it. It was like driving a truck. My husband put power steering in and it was heaven! I had a 67 Beetle without power steering too but it wasn't that difficult to drive for some reason - maybe because it was so small and easy to drive? Since then they have all had PS!!!

 

[tvguy]

My last car without power steering was a l967 Chevy Impala in red. It had no power steering when we bought it. It was like driving a truck. My husband put power steering in and it was heaven! I had a 67 Beetle without power steering too but it wasn't that difficult to drive for some reason - maybe because it was so small and easy to drive? Since then they have all had PS!!!

The VW would be easy because the engine and weight are all on the rear wheels, not the front.

 

[disneyseniors]

The VW would be easy because the engine and weight are all on the rear wheels, not the front.

Yes, and I loved that car. I drove it right off the dealership's lot in l967. It would probably be worth a lot now

 

[tvguy]

Yes, and I loved that car. I drove it right off the dealership's lot in l967. It would probably be worth a lot now

More than you paid for it, for sure.

 

[RedAngie]

Did it have a bar you slid up to take it out of park, and then buttons to push to put it in gear? I forget the year of the vehicle, but the valiant was one of the first cars I ever drove.

No, my Valiant didn’t have that. The gear shift was a lever attached to the steering wheel column.