Couldn't keep up with a 407's handling

[Blue406]

One of the things I like about the 6 is the way it talks to you.

You can feel the level of grip through the steering and the vibrations in the driver seat. I can tell when I'm on ice or any kid of slippery surface.

It all helps to keep you on the road and out of the ditches and trees.

[Davva2004]

Davvy, I had the missus and the tea pot lids in the car, they would have been screaming like hostages on a suicide mission.

See you can kill two birds with one stone here... lob the family in the boot, simultaneously increasing rear end grip and improving the silence in the car!

[Welly]

Hehe......

Actually when I first got the 6 I was able to raise my speed quite a lot with 'her indoors' in toe because she did not have the same impression of speed as with my previous car

[STALLED]

Iv'e driven a 407 SV V6 Auto...

The steering in it was shite compared to the 406, the electric steering didn't load up "naturally" through corners and the V6 up front felt like it wanted to run wide alot quicker than the 406. I havent driven a 4cyl 407 though but I've heard they are a waste of time....being even slower than a 2.0 16v 406? They probably handle a tad better though - also, the 407 I drove was on 17's...it sure did have alot of grip!

Anyone else here find the ride really firm compared to the 406 - I drove it with both settings???

The 407 is based on the Citroen C5 platform...its quite an old platform now considering the C5 was first released in 2001!

Also I love the passive rear steering of the 406 - its a bloody nimble car to throw into corners considering its size!

Joel

[Welly]

Also I love the passive rear steering of the 406

[STALLED]

Also I love the passive rear steering of the 406

Huh?

[Welly]

Also I love the passive rear steering of the 406

Huh?

Just as I said........

[GeordieBoy]

He means WTF is Passive Rear Steering?

[Davva2004]

Passive rear steering is where side loads on the rear suspension allow the wheels to angle in or out depending on the direction of the force, makes the back end more responsive.

[Welly]

I can 'feel' the back end on my 406 but didn't know what it was really upto back there

So, err, which way do the wheels move then ? the only rear wheel steer I understand is the Honda Prelude type.

[STALLED]

I can 'feel' the back end on my 406 but didn't know what it was really upto back there

So, err, which way do the wheels move then ? the only rear wheel steer I understand is the Honda Prelude type.

The Honda Prelude uses a different system in which there are "rods" which run down the side of the car which are connected to the front steering. So basically when the driver turns the front wheels...the rear wheels will turn as well as the rods which run down the side of the car move along with the front wheels. There is alot of debate as to if it makes any difference. I read in an Aussie car mag once that 4WS only makes sense in a carpark or at lane changes above 160kph - this is what the engineer from Honda said in the mag!

There is a biiiiiiiig difference between the "passive rear steering" of the 406 and the more "Active 4WS" of the Prelude and Nissan S13 Silvia. Passive rear steer works as quoted off Wikipedia...

"when the bushings by which the rear suspension attaches to the automobile are designed to compress in a precise direction under the forces of steering, thus slightly altering the rear suspension geometry in such a manner as to enhance stability."

The 306 platform also has it eg the ZX (Australia didnt get it - I havent driven one) and the Xsara (I have driven) also have passive rear steer!

Hope that sorts some stuff out - its pretty cool when you know it works!

Joel

[Foxy]

The 406 doesnt have passive rear steering, it was a torsion bar trick so its prominent on the 306/205/405 etc. The 406 does NOT have a torsion bar.

I thought the Prelude 4WS only worked below 20kph ie when parking.....


The 406 doesnt handle all that great tbh, the suspension setup is dated. Its built to be a cruiser. Ill admit its certainly much better than the Vectra's etc of its time but thats nothing to shout about, the 90's Vectra's and Mondeos were god awful things! But modern cars are much, much better and it doesnt suprise me that a 407 out handled a 406.

[Welly]

The 406 doesnt have passive rear steering, it was a torsion bar trick so its prominent on the 306/205/405 etc. The 406 does NOT have a torsion bar.

I thought the Prelude 4WS only worked below 20kph ie when parking.....


The 406 doesnt handle all that great tbh, the suspension setup is dated. Its built to be a cruiser. Ill admit its certainly much better than the Vectra's etc of its time but thats nothing to shout about, the 90's Vectra's and Mondeos were god awful things! But modern cars are much, much better and it doesnt suprise me that a 407 out handled a 406.

Thankyou, EXACTLY what I was trying to say

[STALLED]

Ok my bad......

*runs and hides*

I've allways been told it does though - Suppose what I've been told is wrong!

[muffindell]

I've always understood that the 406 had passive rear steering, I'm sure it was even in the sales spec.