Liquidice

My lease is up in October on my '14 Lexus GS350 F-Sport AWD, and I was seriously considering ordering a C43 AMG.

So yesterday I went to test drive a C450 AMG, figured the cars would be very similar other than the transmission.

The car was (for me) really impressive with regards to power, it felt great and even the transmission felt fine.

What I wasn't impressed with was the steering - it felt like there was hardly any difference in steering between Eco/Comfort and Sport+ especially with regard to steering resistance, the primary change I noticed was the steering was more sensitive - but without any added steering weight it didn't feel good - on my GS the steering goes from light and easy in Normal to heavy and very sensitive in Sport+.

Just curious if anyone else had noticed this on a C450 or C43? I don't know if there was something wrong with the C450 I drove.

Guilty

Yes, the steering sucks in the C63 as well. Electric Steering is pure garbage.

Liquidice

What is surprising is the GS350 also has electric steering, and I have an S2000 that also uses electric steering. I know the normal complaint about electric steering is that it is numb - you don't get a lot of feedback, but since the cars I normally drive are also electric, I don't think that is what I'm noticing. Ironically, quite a few reviews I've read said the feedback on the C450 is pretty good for electric steering too.

autopal

Hmmm, interesting. I've been driving my C450 since last November, and I don't have a problem with the steering, and this after driving a 2009 BMW 335i for 5 years. My 335i was the last 3 series with hydraulic steering, and it was brilliant, other than being a little too stiff in parking lot situation. I wouldn't say the C450 steering is as good, but I find it ok, especially at high speeds, definitely better than the BMW 340. I haven't driven the GS350, so I can't compare the two, but it's interesting how opinions can differ about the same car

Liquidice

Well, I'm actually wondering if the car I drove had a problem - it was very weird. The difference between Comfort/Eco and Sport+ was not very noticeable at all.

RDOCA

Many dealers pump up the tires to a very high pressure and that could effect the steering feel.
I got mine back from service a few days ago and it had 48 lbs.

hans007

weird. i test drove a loaded c450 to see approximately what my ordered coupe would be like. comfort to sport + was a pretty noticeable difference.

german electric steering is probably not quite to the point where honda has gotten theirs to after decades of work on it (the NSX had it 25 yeras ago) , but i think the C450 steering was quite a bit better than my F30 328i.

jeremyf0923

Sticker in door jamb and manual call for 45 and 48 lbs - can't remember if that is front/rear or vice versa. Regardless, if they r not close to that level the low pressure light comes on. Are u saying u don't keep urs filled to that level? Does ur tire pressure light just stay on?

Guilty

I know it's weird but check the back of the gas door. It's different from the door jamb. It's supposed to be 33 in the back and 37 in the front I believe.

callmiro

Electric Steering is technology for the sake of technology....especially on a performance car.....keep it on the commuter crap.

The numbness, especially mid corner is almost disturbing.

I've got an '06 911 and its night and day. Even my W204 C63 had way better feel.

jeremyf0923

Look at the back of the gas door closely - for a C63S that can reach speeds of 180 MPH and has R19 wheels - front should be 48 psi and rear should be 45 psi.

RDOCA

Yes its on the gas door and the everyday pressures should be 33 rear and 38 front.
Don't look at the door jam numbers as that is just for the EPA/CAFE.
But if in service the dealer will put it at those numbers and it will ride like a rock.

jeremyf0923

So do you just always ride with your low tire pressure light on? Mine came on when tire pressure dropped to 41 PSI a few days ago.

RDOCA

It is never on.
You can reset the reference value your self so that will not happen. First set proper tire pressure cold.
Go to the home button on the steering wheel and push and then go to service and push. go to tire pressure and it will say you need to drive a few min. to have pressure displayed. (Don't do that now)
Then use arrow to go down and it will say push to set current pressure as reference. push and your done.
Enjoy with no warning light.
I always set pressure at 33 rear and 38 front unless I am going to do some high speed driving (like canyon carving)or with 4 people at high speed for some distance.
I usually set my Individual mode to comfort suspension and S+ for other and loud exhaust --ESP. on-- and can modify all this for more fun.

Guilty

Hey bro!

PM me if you want to drag! I'm local

Liquidice

So I test drove a BMW 340xi and 435xi Gran Coupe today and with both cars the steering felt completely fine - so either I was having a really off day - the C450 AMG steering stinks or there was something wrong the that particular car (maybe tire pressure - but I don't think that would impact steering resistance or steering weight so much as it would impact the numbness of the steering) :shrug:

I might have to wait until the C43 AMGs come out and test drive one since there aren't many C450 AMGs left in my area.

RDOCA

Right Guilty
I know you have a tune.
I'm in the desert
Near Palm Springs

Guilty

Wanted to catch you off guard

Are you going to the Thermal Event?

And anywhere fun in the desert where I can come this week-end? I like to explore

RDOCA

At this time I'm not planning to do Thermal. I see 17 signed up.
Have you driven Hwy.74 its fun. and Hwy 2 also.
Hwy. 33 going north from Ojai is nice and I have to try the Palomar road soon.

Mr. J

True enough, but if you test drive a 340/435 or an M3 you will suddenly be much happier with your AMG/Mercedes steering.

Mr. J

You're fixated on the weight instead of the feedback or lack thereof. The c450 steering does not vary the weight at all, only the sensitivity. Feedback isn't great but it's much better than the 340/435. The 435 with the variable steering was all over the place. It was much more difficult to hit a precise line on the curves with the 435.

Liquidice

Thanks, I didn't know that the C450 doesn't vary the steering weight at all - this is useful to know!

Maybe I will give it another test drive when the C43 comes out and see.

jrcart

...it's a fake AMG, what did you expect?

alexasa

iTrader: (1)

It's a great car, regardless of its nomenclature, within this segment.

cenzo86

I just want to put this out there. How many people plan on tracking their c450, or for that matter, their c63? It isn't exactly a lightweight chassis. It wasn't designed as a track monster. I watched a review of the Infiniti G series with the 400hp ttV6 and they complained about the synthetic soft steering. That car has no physical rack at all.
It is a road vehicle first and foremost. I know the BMW guys swear by their M series, and Jeremy Clarkson used to get erect over steering feedback, but how many of these cars ever see off road use?
My c450 feels great through the Twisties. I don't plan on throwing it around a corner at triple digit speeds. If you want steering feel you MUST drive the Alfa 4C. No power steering, carbon fiber tub, non adjustable springs = feelings.
I had a 1976 Ferrari 308. The car weighed 2800lbs, mid engine, and no power steering. The steering wheel was pretty large (leverage helped from a standstill) and the wheels were 14". You felt EVERYTHING through that wheel. If you hit a ****ty road, the wheel would want to jump out of your hands.
In my experience Mercedes makes more road oriented cars with stupid HP to roast the tires. BMW makes uncomfortable, Bavarian compromise mobiles. Infiniti makes cars for guys who don't want to drive BMWs. Jaguars are pretty. Porsche is for for, well... I think we've all heard that saying before.