I used to prefer manual steering over power steering. Better for driving though sucked when parallel parking. Most cars with variable power still felt to loose for me. No road feel.

New cars now seem to be getting it right. Finally. Haven’t really bought a car since 2000.

Remember it? One of my trucks has it. I love it! The 80's and early 90's Ford Crown Vic's and trucks had absolutely no road feel, kind of like driving a plum.

One of my first trucks was a Ford F-150, straight 6 with 3 on the tree and manual steering!

Long ago I worked at a store with a very small parking lot, and a short loading dock. One of the tractor-trailer drivers in particular was REALLY good at getting a short rig right up to the dock. I mean, within an inch or two and without bumping it, and as centered as could be. She was awesome.

One particular afternoon we saw her roll into the lot and got ready to go unload. That day was different... she was struggling with it. Once she got parked and came into the shop we asked what in the world had happened. She smiled a big smile and said simply, "They took away my damned power steering!"

I had a 1991 Honda CRX Si and 1992 Mazda Miata, both had manual steering. God bless

Big block Mustang with power assist that was of no assistance whatsoever and later on a White Road Boss semi tractor. Fun times.

Two of the most powerful cars I owned had no PS.

A 1966 Shelby GT350, nothing added to that car that didn't make it faster. No Power brakes either. Kelsy Hayes disc fronts and Ford station wagon drums in the back. You got a good work out driving around town in that car.

A 1972 DeTomaso Pantera. With the engine midship I guess they figured it would be easy to turn at low speed, It was NOT!
Especially when wider tires were installed.
A modified 450+HP, 351 Cleveland engine required a heavy clutch, a 4000# Hays 3 finger was installed, another good work out when changing gears.

I've only owned three cars ever with power steering. I remember it just fine.

The trick to parking them is to always do your turning while moving.

See my avatar. Enough said.

Before I became a Policeman I drove a twin screw tractor trailer with manual steering to match the 12 speed manual transmission. Talk about hard to park.

I learned to drive in my mom's 1967 Impala...manual steering and a Powerglide

A 1969 Nova SS big block...manual steering 4 speed (that's one I wish I had today ) ...

But the worst was a 1959 Chevy Apache pickup that was almost impossible to steer until you were moving at a good clip (don't even get me started on the manual brakes)...

I love me some power steering (I still like a manual transmission though).

The reason these were so popular

Armstrong steering!

Manual steering + Manual drum brakes + 3 Finger pressure plate = Full body workout

Remember manual steering? Sure, along with manual brakes and three on the tree. In a small light car manual steering is OK, in a full-sized (half-ton) pickup truck, it was a chore but manageable as long as it was rolling a little bit, in a 26-foot U-Haul truck I once had the misfortune to drive, it was an outright bitch trying to back the thing into the driveway.

For a long time (around the time of Adam-12), LAPD ordered their cars with manual steering because the power steering of the day had poor to no "road feel." Having owned or driven power steering cars of that vintage, there is some truth to that. A 1968 Ford Custom 500 like this one …



… was the car I learned to drive on. This one had power steering (an option then), but used the same steering box ratio as a manual - four turns lock to lock. (Most p/s cars are 3 to 3¼ turns.) No road feel at all.

Nowadays, I don't think you can get any car with manual steering; even the smallest, lightest and cheapest cars have electric power steering as standard. Mine (2009 Toyota Corolla) has it, and it is actually pretty slick. It is speed sensitive, i.e., one-finger light at a standstill and low speed, but stiffens up at higher speeds. With the improvements in power steering, I don't miss manual one bit. As long as I don't need a steering motor.

I had a 75 F100 super cab long bed with manual steering. While moving at speed it was great. Pull in and out of a parking spot or driveway, it was power to turn. More recently I had a 78 F100 long bed with a 4 speed manual transmission on the floor and manual steering. That one was crazy to park!

The car I learned to drive on:
1961 Chevrolet Biscayne Coupe.
Manual steering. No power brakes.
3 on the tree. Big straight 6.
I could not move it until I learned what every component on it was and its function. Jacked it up manually and rotated tires. My initial driving course of instruction was to drive into our large backyard, reverse turn around and drive back up front. Rinse and repeat. It was exhausting, boring and the best education on cars I ever had.
Thanks, Dad!

My 1966 Mustang has non-power steering and a large steering wheel. Although I can handle it OK, it is a bear when parking or attempting to maneuver while stopped. I have been considering adding an aftermarket power steering system . . . .

flashguy

I had a 1973 3/4 ton 4x4 Ford pickup up till 1994. It had power Nothing. I had it for 17 years. I was so glad to get rid of it.

Did you ever drive a medium size truck through rough, or rutted ground? Need to take care with the thumbs!