Change To Power Steering Or Stay Standard?

[will_lliw 4]

I am at the start of my resteration project and i am making a list of TO DO, the list is pritty dam long at the moment but i was wondering if it is worth the extra hassle of putting in the power steering now. The car isnt going to be a daily runner but i have been told the steering is heavy on the front, should i shouldnt i ? HELP!

[2-Pugs 57]

I suspect you'll get both answers from people on here. I retro-fitted it to a 1.9 GTI I had a few years back, that was a daily driver though and it was a really good mod as it makes parking and slow speed maneovering easier without loosing too much feel, unlike modern systems.

 

Theres no denying though that at speed the lack of power steering adds to what makes the 205 GTI so special.

 

In terms of fitting, its pretty easy and anyone with intermediate skill should be able to do it. If you can't find a donor 205 GTI system, all 309 GTIs had power steering as standard and you can get the system off there, its essentially the same setup.

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

http://www.205gtidrivers.com/articles.html/_/articles-guides/brakes-suspension-steering/retro-fitting-power-assisted-steering-r37

[Matt205 14]

As it isn't going to be a daily driver I would say leave it without PAS

[farmer 328 1 Cars]

fit it in my opnion i have had both and power steering is far better

[Karl 15 1 Cars]

i wouldnt bother with PAS its not needed and tbh my 205 gti6 doesnt have it and its easy to turn the wheel on a stand still and at low speeds. imo i would say its an extra thing to go wrong and you deffanatley loose the 'feel' which if your using it for track days etc you definatley want to keep.

[Projectuno 7]

Another vote for power steering

[Karl 15 1 Cars]

lol this could turn out to be another gti6 or mi16 topic

[welshpug 1,655]

2.4 turn non PAS

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

I think it's useful to discuss this sort of thing in order to make decisions.

 

I'm currently in the process of assembling a VTS rack and I was initially in 2 minds as to whether to go for electric PAS with it or run it without. My initial thought was that I was running with 3.9 turns or whatever it was so a de PAS'd VTS rack would be an improvement as it is.

 

After reading this and coming across a couple of threads on electric power steering I'm now uncertain myself.

 

What I really need to do is hear about how a VTS rack with the PAS removed feels. Is it a 2.4 lock version of my 3.9 non PAS standard setup? I drove the Xsara for a year and loved the turn in of it with PAS so perhaps I would love that the same in my 205.

 

If I can do it once - right then I can get on with using the vehicle through the summer rather than be wishing I'd done other things to it at the same time.

 

At least if I fit an electric setup I can turn it off. Or would prolonged use with the pump not operating be a bad idea?

Edited January 9, 2013 by chipstick

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

PAS is a must I'd say, One of those things you get used to and having a car without it is a pain. Easy to fit and going off topic I'm looking into a MGF system which fits better than the corsa one, I'm yet to look into this thou

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

I've had non PAS then

I've had a PAS rack without assistance

Now I have non PAS.

 

I prefer the feel of non.

 

I rarely use my 205.

[Karl 15 1 Cars]

Tbh its all about preference if you can live with heavier steering then dont bother but if you prefer to be able to steer with 'one finger' then do it

[farmer 328 1 Cars]

i think the car is worth more with the PAS fitted

[Karl 15 1 Cars]

i think the car is worth more with the PAS fitted

well it probably would be as it would make it more desirable to drive for modern day drivers like miles said previously (sort of) but i dont think car value is the issue i believe he is asking whether fitting PAS would be worth the diffrence it would make

Edited January 9, 2013 by Karl

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

Thing is out of all the cars I've owned, the 205 was my first one without PAS. When going along the turn in was fine and I was happy with the feedback. OK - 3 point turns can be annoying and parking can become tiresome, but my car will only be used for Sunday drives and the odd trackday. Perhaps it will make it feel like a different car and easier to live with for manoeuvring when required. I'll add it to my list.

Edited January 9, 2013 by chipstick

[farmer 328 1 Cars]

well it probably would be as it would make it more desirable to drive for modern day drivers like miles said previously (sort of) but i dont think car value is the issue i believe he is asking whether fitting PAS would be worth the diffrence it would make

and i still think its better to have than not everybody will have there thoughts has to be personal preference

[toodumbtosmile 1]

I'm aiming to add pas on mine, mainly because i find the steering too slow on tight bends for the grip levels of modern tyres. Didn't bother me when i had my last one in the mid nineties though at that time didn't know what i was missing.

[Karl 15 1 Cars]

well like i said its down to personal preference i supose i prefer without others prefer it with

[2-Pugs 57]

if you prefer to be able to steer with 'one finger' then do it

Pretty sure you can't steer a 205 GTI with PAS with 1 finger! Well, one very very strong finger, maybe. But it is nothing like the light, lifeless systems you get on modern cars, it is much heavier than that.

[Karl 15 1 Cars]

yes i know haha was just puttin it inton context for the gain it aint worth ther hastle of puttin it in or the risk of it breakin fot what you will get might as well leave it non pas

[eddie bullit 37]

I was brought up driving non PAS cars and imo the pug is better without it. I've owned both and the PAS does rob a fair amount of feel. If its a daily driver and you do a lot of tight turns then fit it. TBH it's you car do what you like

Edd

[allye 530 3 Cars]

i think the car is worth more with the PAS fitted

 

This is a incredibly invalid point that has nothing to do with the question!

 

I have only owned 205's without, thus not the best person to comment. However 205GTI6 without is very heavy at low speeds, very involved with good feedback at any other time though!

[farmer 328 1 Cars]

I gave him my opinion on PAS that IMO its better and added that I think it adds value,, I think this is valid point as people who are new to this forum might be buying these cars as an investment ( certainly iam ) so its a valid point as if somebody said to me an extra that would or could possibly add money to my car I would be all ears. Tbh your comment is invalid if you havnt owned both type of 205s how are you in a place to male a judgement call? Or was it just for a cheap jibe at another forum member

Edited January 12, 2013 by farmer

[allye 530 3 Cars]

might be buying these cars as an investment ( certainly I am )

 

Or was it just for a cheap jibe at another forum member

 

Absolutely was not a 'cheap jibe', I am a very laid back person and never get involved in forum politics etc - just slightly irrelevant point to add to this topic.

 

Even more irrelevant point I might add is to buy a 205 as an investment? Must be a long term one!