How Did We Cope...

[mrs_overall]

Before cars had power steering?
A while back I went for a drive in a friend's landrover. I couldn't move my arms for days.

[bookbinder]

We didn't have anything better, so we just coped with it.

[Kiki-frog]

We didn't have to pay for gym membership. Just fired up the Cortina - voila, beautifully sculpted arms

[mrs_overall]

It made me realise how we take it for granted

[boxtops]

I don't have power steering, some of us are used to not having it.

[mrs_overall]

Boxy, what do you drive?

[boxtops]

Well, now, and not very often, a Sirion - but my not long ago Micra didn't have it, I drove that for 15 years.

[rockyracoon]

I couldn't drive without power steering now, it'd be like driving a tank.

What about ABS brakes, I'd be lost without them too, ooh and air con. Not that I'm spoilt or anything ;)

[bookbinder]

Electric mirrors. I could get dewy-eyed over electric mirrors. My next car has just got to have them.

[Tilly2]

Heated seats come in handy in this weather too.

[Psybbo]

Screw caps? sorry meant electric windows.

[mrs_overall]

I vaguely remember my grandfather had a really, really old car that had to be started by one of those crank thingies. He was always hopping around on one leg clutching his shin

[Kiki-frog]

I know what you mean, Mrs O. My dad had a Ford Prefect that needed the cranky thing to start. I was very tiny at the time and thought that the car was clockwork

[boxtops]

My sister's first car was a Ford Popular with a crank handle

[FredPuli43]

Cranks ? Even Bentleys in the 1960s had one, for use in emergencies. The trick was not to have your thumb wrapped round the handle. If a big engine started, there was a heck of a kick through the crank handle, which wouldn't do your thumb any good.

Power steering? Never noticed the lack, unless trying to steer a power assisted car without the power on. The gearing was designed for power, not human effort . But front wheel drive cars of the old type, of which the Citroen Light 15 was a star example, required arms like Frank Bruno's, because of all the weight of the power train on the front. Clutches on old high powered cars were another test of strength.

[RATTER15]

Dont you just love them Land Rovers, we hope to be buying an old series 3 in the next few months, Ive had a few, I love them.

[ChillDoubt]

What's so special about leccy mirrors, bookbinder? Waste of time.
Once you've got them positioned, how often do you adjust them?

Pretty much never!

[RATTER15]

Chilldoubt //What's so special about leccy mirrors//

We live in a narrow country lane, when we lock the car up the mirrors automatically fold back, when we unlock the doors they automatically open out again, so very very useful.

[2sp_]

My friend's 14 year old son was totally confused the first time he got into a car that didn't have electric windows or central locking!

Bless!

[DJHawkes]

the car i've enticed home with me has power steering and i am not used to it and it's threatened to throw my shoulder out a few times but i can get used to it

[BRIGHT SPARK]

...speed limit indicator....heated steering wheel...top view cameras...blind spot radar...