I'm using the old mans 1.3 felly whilst my trucks off the road waiting for a new clutch. Its a V reg without power steering. I dare say I shall sport some 80s Arnie muscles by the end of the week! Te steering is about as heavy as I'd expect of Fred Dibnahs traction engine! Are they all really heavy? I doubt the missus would be able to turn the wheel.

Other than the heavy steering the 1.3 is ace, really revvy and surprisingly torquey not that different to driving the diesel truck. I want a 1.3 truck now, cheap tax insurance etc. Anyone got a spare one in Norfolk?

ANyone ever supercharged a 1.3? I guess a heafty remap would be in order?

I have this trouble the other way round. Where I'm so used to my basic Felicia if I parallel park my sisters car I'm into my turn far too early.

And yep the 1.3 is fantastic, have a look at what Tom's done with his

Never really bothered me when I had my felicia. I found the feedback from the wheel was very good and much better than the electric steering on mine.

It's just low speed parking that you really feel it!

The funny thing was that power steering was about the only thing my felicia didn't have. it had everything else like ABS, electric windows, electric mirrors, heated seats etc but they obviously left the power steering out! lol

And yes the 1.3 is a cracking little engine really. I owned mine for a few years and loved it. It was very nice to drive steady and smooth but would love to rev if you let it and it would fair shift too.

Phil

^^ +1. I really liked my old 1.3's and the absence of power steering didn't unduly bother me. As mentioned in another post, they're a good all round package in a time when the vice continues to tighten on all our wallets. Great little work horses as well as I covered a shed load of miles in mine.

Yeah second (or third everything said) mine had no power steering and I sometimes forget how heavy it was, but the feedback was great, although I nearly crashed my new fabia the first time I parked it, the wheel actually turned! Engine is great too, so simple to work on. My dad's has power steering, but think I preferred my old one without power steering despite the muscle pain!

Keeps the arms toned , no bingo wings here !!

I only found mine heavy when I had stupidly grippy tyres on - with yokohama 048Rs on there, it was hard work at low speed, but other than that no problem. The rally car still has no power steering on it, and it's never been a concern, plus it has good feel at speed, which is more than can be said for some assisted setups. I'd like a quicker rack in it, but don't want to have PS as it's more to go wrong (as borne out by it failing TWICE on my Ibiza in a one-day event, different failures too!)