Brenton, at 23:45 on Thu, Mar 09 1995, you wrote to Bill Grimsley ...

BG> Was your HDT Commodore a VL ??

BV> Yes it was.  It started life as a VL Calais, then Mr Brock got his hands on 
BV> it.

Not with one of his little black box voodoo things, I trust?

BG> I love the VL's power steering,

BV> It was nice. You will know what I mean then when I say that the 
BV> VL power steering was not 100% linear. There is a small section 
BV> where it seems to become really sensitive and this it flattens out
BV> again. They have the "curve" for this just right and it takes 
BV> no-time at all to get used to.

Yeah, the VL has a rather interesting variable rack and pinion setup, very
responsive too, especially at speed (as you doubtless already know).  |-)

BV> As the VR is linear it means you have to work it a lot harder than a VL 
BV> which was a dream to steer.

Only ever drove a VN, which wasn't what I'd call confidence-inspiring, but
I believe they improved out of sight after that monstrosity.  I actually
had my eye on the ~$30k Acclaim, which I think is excellent value, but I
don't want to lose sight of my main objective, a nice new Mercedes 300E. 
Why not, I'm about the only bastard in my family who _doesn't_ bloody have
one!

BG> The Ford's trick suspension handled OK, but what's the point when the 
BG> steering is so spongy?).

BV> Yeah, I've never liked Fords power steering. My brother in-law 
BV> has always had Fords. From the XA 302 coupe through to a XC 351 
BV> Cobra, but they always felt like you were driving a wet sponge. 

Yeah, an excellent analogy IMO.

BV> Stuffed if I know why they even bothered with p/s in them. My little HQ GTS 
BV> didn't have power anything and it was a great little hoon-mobile.

My 253 HQ Premier had power steering, but I never knew if it worked or not,
as it was harder to steer than Lyn's Diesel Gemini.

BG> I could be wrong (and I'm not about to go downstairs and crawl under my car 
BG> to check) but I think the VLs used rack and pinion steering, which possibly 
BG> explains the excellent handling and response from the steering wheel.

BV> Don't worry.

I didn't.  I checked the manual instead.  |-)

BV> I know what you mean, the VL is a lovely car to drive. The VR is as well, 
BV> but in a way I wish it had the VL steering which I prefer.

Too late to interest you now, I know, but have you ever driven a Merc and
luxuriated in the incredibly precise feel of their power steering?  Talk
about sure-footed, those things stick to the road like shit to a blanket,
and they are also deceptively fast and extremely well-handling.  You
certainly wouldn't think so to look at them though.  If you thought the VL
felt good, you ain't felt nothing until you've had a hoon in a 300E.  But I
digress...

Regards, Bill
@EOT:

--- Msgedsq/2 2.3 alpha