Is the steering wheel supposed to tighten up at high speed?

[njchen24]

Greetings:

 

Am I misleading? I feel the 2005 Legacy 2.5GT speed-proportional power steering is too light at high speed or when cornering and too tight when performing a parallel park (compare to an 1986 Honda Accord). Does it suppose to be the other way around?

[TheBrian]

Yes, we have vehicle speed sensitive power assist. It's supposed to provide less power assist at highway speed, and more assist at parking lot speeds.

 

Perhaps you're misfeeling? It takes a much smaller turn of the wheel to change lanes on the highway than to turn into a parking space.

 

Off topic, but I'm not impessed with Honda's power steering. An '01 Accord that I've driven loses its assist after one quick turn of the wheel, at idle. Then you have manual steering until it recovers.

[njchen24]

May be I misfeel the steering. However, it seems that it's as light as my 99 Camry LE.

 

For instance, when I get out of an Exit with a C turn at 40mph, the steering seems to be very responsive even to a light touch of a finger. However, when I parallel park, I have to use both hand to turn the wheel.

 

Anyway, I will double check at 3000 miles service at the dealer.

 

Thanks for your input.

[trxeslr66]

I know my car is much older (99 Legacy) but the steering, especially during parking lot driving, is alot stiffer than my camry. I've driven Subaru of similar years and they feel the same as far as stiffness.