Power steering... Worth $700???

[msjohnson1974]

Originally Posted by Calab

I'm only referring to the power steering...

$700 here vs $450 there. The dollar is almost the same. The steering parts are identical between the two countries. How can an extra $250 be justified for JUST the power steering?

(...and how can even $450 be justified??? )

So, the prices were probably set when the US dollar was better compared to the Canadian dollar or based on some historical pricing measure - gotta love it when those accountants get involved.

Anyway, I don't have power steering and I don't miss it - the car is so light it isn't needed.

[Kermit]

My parent's Smart has power steering while mine does not. I like the ease of use it provides and it does seem to tighten up the steering when at speed (60+mph) while my non-power steering car is a bit looser.

My father seems to prefer the way my car drives without power steering , I like the power steering though I don't think I like it enough to justify the price if you were going to just get the PS itself. In package form - it's well worth it (like our convenience group here in the US - auto lights, wipers, leather, heated seats and PS). Not sure how much extra your Passion is compared to the Pure but that would be a decided factor for me - I like bells and whistles though.

[rollingtones]

Originally Posted by Calab

Is power steering a necessity on the Smart 451? Or is it one of those "nice to have" things, like heated seats?

Electric Power Steering adds $700 to the price of the car.

The smart electric power steering has a very subtle but useful function at straight-ahead angles (like on the highway) called "self-centering". It helps reduce fatigue and makes long highway slogs less stressful. It's a very subtle effect.

[rawlus®]

i find the electric motor in the power steering to be effective as a sort of steering damper.

[Orphan-Beggar]

TEST DRIVE both-make a few U-turns

[a2jack]

RS. Good post on "self centering". I have felt the effect at around 70mph but have never seen it mentioned before.
Got any more on this?

Our PS equipped Passion (13.5k on ode) has a tendency to "dart" at high speeds, 80-90 Mph (common on our freeways).

At first we attributed "darting" to slight wind turbulence or small road ridges. Now I'm beginning suspect the PS. No problem with truck vortex which may be a plus for PS. A2Jack

[saronian]

I have power steering and it does not seem to be necessary, but have not yet compared it to one without the option.

On US models the Power Steering option is available two ways:

$450 for just Power Steering.
$850 for the Comfort Package (Power steering, Leather seats, Rain sensing wipers, Light sensor, Auto-off headlamps with exit delay)

The comfort package seems like a bargain unless you don't want leather.

[evilbean42]

had PS on first smart, other than color the only difference with our replacement car is going to be that we ordered it w/o ps. just didn't seem to matter much, the non ps cars drive just as nice

[MB DNA]

Have driven both and own Cabrio with PS.

This light weight vehicle really has little need for PS but at highway speeds seems to track better with this option.

As for value:

$450 for just Power Steering not so smart?
$850 for the Comfort Package (Leather seats, Heated seats, ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, Rain sensing wipers, Auto headlamps with delay) IMHO, a smart buy!

Sometimes the vehicle model moves you to do options to best match that model and in this case I felt the Cabrio needed the Comfort Package.

I would likely equip a Passion model differently.

Have a smart day!

[Calab]

Thanks for all the feedback.

I think this is going to push me over to the Passion. I do a fair bit of highway driving, and there are several useful options included in the package.