How many of you drive with the city mode on (i.e. lighter steering) and how many off?


Mine is always on, unless I feel like zooming off at traffic lights then it's off cos it makes the car go quicker!!

Never Use it I find the power steering light enough for me tried it once it was way too light

off its only for girls, tis why its called the girly button

dave said:

off its only for girls, tis why its called the girly button

Click to expand...

Doesn't it also reduce the number of turns to lock?

Where I live it's lots of twists and turns so I like the button on!!

no it doesn't shorten it it just makes it lighter and to b honest its v light as standard so its really just a gimmick

It's off cos it's broken again !!

Damn dodgy fiat electricals !!!

Its just a gimmick imo- the steering's light enough

PandaPerson said:

no it doesn't shorten it it just makes it lighter and to b honest its v light as standard so its really just a gimmick

Click to expand...

Yeah .. you're right I checked 2.5 turns to lock whatever the mode .. but I like having the option and gives us me something to hold over the head of my the other members of my family who all have fiestas with Hydraylic power steering :yuck: - I had a very boring 55s Mk1 before my sporting and when I got my sporting 5 years ago I made use of every little extra it had.

I would say the biggest failing of the city button is near total lack of feeling for what's happening on the road. There's no feeling coming through the steering.

BTW at what speed does the effect of city button switch off? I've heard 20 MPH, 30 MPH, 40MPH, etc

thought i went off about 6omph
ohh mine is always off, its only on when im parking or turning around in the road etc....

wozza1 said:

thought i went off about 6omph
ohh mine is always off, its only on when im parking or turning around in the road etc....

Click to expand...

Definetly not that high a speed, I reckon it's about 40 mph when I notice the heavier steering.

yeah its about 30-40 i thikn you will find i trid it out when i first got it. but normally i never use its just to light the only time i have used was when trying to get out of really tight parking space on side of road.

Never use it. Can't see the point in it to be honest. Even with a nice, heavy diesel engine over the front wheels the 'normal' power steering provides more than enough assistance for parking

never use it, there is no point! even if a girl can't use the regular power steering, then they are pretty week....
Do any other cars come with this option, i've never seen it on another car??

It makes me smile to read so many replies making out like you mustn't be a real man if the steering is set to light, I've driven my car with the normal power steering, with extra assistance and with non at all when it failed at 2,500 miles ... I know which I prefer .. and as we all know the thing turns it'self off anyway when you reach higher speeds.

That's the good thing about the system - you have a choice and each to their own. And don't forget that button doesn't just control the steering it also changes the way the car accelerates, so some might prefer that aspect too. .. Anyway I just think it was a great move by Fiat to make that standard on every Punto from the MK2 onwards..

BTW anyone ever drive a MK2 onwards without any power assisted steering at all (i.e. when it's failed)? ... Boy is it heavy!!!

There's only one place I have it switched on, if anyone heere lives in north staffs , they will understand............. at the A500 roadworks in stoke, they are doing allsorts, and the roundabouts have some really twsity, bumpy bits with narrow lanes, if you are at the front, the ability to turn the car quickly, and the bottom end grunt of the jtd engine means you can get out of the way of everything , ppl tend to race away from the ligts if they are at the front, then if they dont know the roadworks, they get tied in knots as the road goes exactly where you dont expect it to go , so the ability to get out of the way before they get in a position that you can get crunched is useful, otherwise it stays off. BTW, do punto's have any real steering feel at all (I dont mean weight of steering, that is different), mine has a nice weight to the steering, so it always feels solid to drive, but there is no real feedback to it, it certainly doesnt 'talk to you'

benparkes said:

Do any other cars come with this option, i've never seen it on another car??

Click to expand...

The Stilo has a City button, but I never use it [I don't live in a City ].

I think the Ulysse has adaptive PAS.

johnstoke said:

BTW, do punto's have any real steering feel at all (I dont mean weight of steering, that is different), mine has a nice weight to the steering, so it always feels solid to drive, but there is no real feedback to it, it certainly doesnt 'talk to you'

Click to expand...

Certainly the electric power steering system kills feedback from the road

Reckon it has its uses(steering progressively gets 'tighter' faster you go)& the punto seems a popular car for disability drivers no doubt because of its price but also the city button which could be useful for people with certain disabilities(back/arm pain etc?)does seems bit too light thought at times.
On your stilo Stuart.......I hardly notice the difference or is it just me? Punto yeah you can really feel it but the stilo hardly no difference at all.

T14086 said:

On your stilo Stuart.......I hardly notice the difference or is it just me? Punto yeah you can really feel it but the stilo hardly no difference at all.

Click to expand...

I never even switch it on, don't feel the need tbh.

I have been driving cars with PAS since about 1994 *random fact, there was a reason for me typing this, but now forgotten *

Clio. Does that jog your memory?