Steering Wheel

dbsb3233

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I just looked closer at the Mach-e steering wheel. Disappointed in the design. I hate steering wheels that don't let you put your hand on the bottom-center of it because they put a spoke in the way. Especially a wide spoke (at least with a very narrow one you can spread your fingers a little and still grasp the wheel underhand).

When I'm cruising along without dense traffic, I like to drop my arm down into my lap and grip the wheel. Helps reduce fatigue on my arm and shoulder. If traffic risk is higher I hold the wheel up the sides, of course, but in a relaxed posture the bottom-grab is so much better. That's why I absolutely LOVE the steering wheel on my 2013 Escapes...

Ford Mustang Mach-E Steering Wheel 2013_ford_escape_steeringwheel


Best steering wheel design I've ever had the pleasure to drive with. That bottom-center opening is just perfect. The feel is great, and I love those bumps at 10 and 2 that give an even better overhand grip. While it looks like the Mach-e does have those bumps too (yay!), it puts that awful wide split-spoke down the center (boo!).

Ford Mustang Mach-E Steering Wheel mustang-mach-e-gt-2021-15-interior--steering-wheel


I just had a rental car in Las Vegas last week (Hyundai Elantra) that had the similar wide center spoke, and I forgot how much I hated it.

Maybe the lane assist feature will be able to displace the need for as much center-grabbing of the wheel as I'm use to now. I've never had a car with that feature before. Still though, that steering wheel design is disappointing to me.
 

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I just looked closer at the Mach-e steering wheel. Disappointed in the design. I hate steering wheels that don't let you put your hand on the bottom-center of it because they put a spoke in the way. Especially a wide spoke (at least with a very narrow one you can spread your fingers a little and still grasp the wheel underhand).

When I'm cruising along without dense traffic, I like to drop my arm down into my lap and grip the wheel. Helps reduce fatigue on my arm and shoulder. If traffic risk is higher I hold the wheel up the sides, of course, but in a relaxed posture the bottom-grab is so much better. That's why I absolutely LOVE the steering wheel on my 2013 Escapes...

Ford Mustang Mach-E Steering Wheel mustang-mach-e-gt-2021-15-interior--steering-wheel


Best steering wheel design I've ever had the pleasure to drive with. That bottom-center opening is just perfect. The feel is great, and I love those bumps at 10 and 2 that give an even better overhand grip. While it looks like the Mach-e does have those bumps too (yay!), it puts that awful wide split-spoke down the center (boo!).

Ford Mustang Mach-E Steering Wheel mustang-mach-e-gt-2021-15-interior--steering-wheel


I just had a rental car in Las Vegas last week (Hyundai Elantra) that had the similar wide center spoke, and I forgot how much I hated it.

Maybe the lane assist feature will be able to displace the need for as much center-grabbing of the wheel as I'm use to now. I've never had a car with that feature before. Still though, that steering wheel design is disappointing to me.
The Mach-E Wheel is similar to my Taurus SHO wheel. I drive all the time using the bottom. Just put a finger or two inside the "spoke" and the rest on the side depending on what hand i use. Not really that big of deal. The SHO is worse than the Mach-E because the spokes are bigger. I don't think you will have an issue driving how you want.
 

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Looks like the steering wheel in my C Max
 
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dbsb3233

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Does anyone have experience using Ford's Lane Keep System (or any other manufacturer's)? Did you find yourself using it much?
 


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I currently have a Hyundai and I just place my right hand by the padded controls and place my elbow on the center arm rest. That works best for me.
 

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I hate the lane keeping assist on the Hyundai it is way too sensitive, and makes a loud noise. It has no vibrate option. I turned it off. I like the one on my wife's 2018 Mustang. She has it on vibrate and is not as sensitive as the Hyundai.
 

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Does anyone have experience using Ford's Lane Keep System (or any other manufacturer's)? Did you find yourself using it much?
Yes, My Lincoln MKC has it and I always keep it on. I like the feature where it vibrates the steering wheel when you begin to cross the center line or shoulder line. (It feels like the sensation you get when you drive on the shoulder of a road that has those warning groves\ridges cut in the pavement. When conditions are right, it is very accurate and has never given me false warnings. If the lane lines are covered in snow or debris, the system doesn't provide the vibration alert and shows a notification on the dash. If the cameras on the car are obscured by snow or dirt it also disable itself and gives an alert. I am a bit curious as to where the camera is that looks at my eyes and sends a warning when it thinks I am getting sleepy or not paying attention. (that system doesn't seem particularly accurate. :))

By the way Ford, I really like the feature that uses cameras\gps and puts a little speed limit symbol on the car's speedometer. It is remarkably accurate and changes within seconds of entering a new speed zone (how do you do that). Please put that on the Mach Es speedometer (please stop calling it 'ground speed")
 
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dbsb3233

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I currently have a Hyundai and I just place my right hand by the padded controls and place my elbow on the center arm rest. That works best for me.
That might work OK on the Mach-e too, as it appears the center armrest sticks out quite a ways. On my Escape that's not comfortable because the armrest doesn't stick out (forward) enough to rest my elbow there and get my full palm on the wheel for a good grip. All I can get is is about half a hand (i.e. my fingers) and that's not very comfortable.
 

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That might work OK on the Mach-e too, as it appears the center armrest sticks out quite a ways. On my Escape that's not comfortable because the armrest doesn't stick out (forward) enough to rest my elbow there and get my full palm on the wheel for a good grip. All I can get is is about half a hand (i.e. my fingers) and that's not very comfortable.
I bought me wife (then girlfriend) an '87 fiero, and man was that the most comfortable car I've ever driven. The armrest was high and extended all the way to the console so you could rest half your forearm on it - it was like driving a lazboy recliner. Between the seats pushing my shoulder blades forward and the tiny low armrests my 2015 pony is not comfortable to drive for more than an hour. I have the seat and steering wheel set low so I can at least get my elbow supported, but for long drives it sucks after a while. I hope that armrest on the E is high and forward enough to give nice support, but if not I hope the lane centering feature works well enough for me to keep thumb and index finger on the wheel with my arm supported come way. I will be very sad if the lane centering feature requires 2 hands on the wheel at all times...
 

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I am a bit curious as to where the camera is that looks at my eyes and sends a warning when it thinks I am getting sleepy or not paying attention. (that system doesn't seem particularly accurate. :))
Here it is on the Mach-E.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Steering Wheel Eye Monitor
 

Billyk24

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I just looked closer at the Mach-e steering wheel. Disappointed in the design. I hate steering wheels that don't let you put your hand on the bottom-center of it because they put a spoke in the way. Especially a wide spoke (at least with a very narrow one you can spread your fingers a little and still grasp the wheel underhand).

When I'm cruising along without dense traffic, I like to drop my arm down into my lap and grip the wheel. Helps reduce fatigue on my arm and shoulder. If traffic risk is higher I hold the wheel up the sides, of course, but in a relaxed posture the bottom-grab is so much better. That's why I absolutely LOVE the steering wheel on my 2013 Escapes...

Ford Mustang Mach-E Steering Wheel Eye Monitor


Best steering wheel design I've ever had the pleasure to drive with. That bottom-center opening is just perfect. The feel is great, and I love those bumps at 10 and 2 that give an even better overhand grip. While it looks like the Mach-e does have those bumps too (yay!), it puts that awful wide split-spoke down the center (boo!).

Ford Mustang Mach-E Steering Wheel Eye Monitor


I just had a rental car in Las Vegas last week (Hyundai Elantra) that had the similar wide center spoke, and I forgot how much I hated it.

Maybe the lane assist feature will be able to displace the need for as much center-grabbing of the wheel as I'm use to now. I've never had a car with that feature before. Still though, that steering wheel design is disappointing to me.
My 2016 RAV4 Hybrid has lane assist feature that operates in an auto mode feature when the cruise control is turned on. It will automatically steer the vehicle back into the center of the lane. There is a radar like sensor in the front center of the grille for this feature. When cruise control is not "on", the lane assist feature will send a noise warning of such misalignment. One has the ability to adjust the sensitivity of this system or even turn it off.
 

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As the steering wheel is pure c2 parts bin just with a mustang logo instead of the ford logo. For the GT it would be nice if ford uses the flat bottom variant that is used in the mk4 focus ST (and will end up in the mk4 RS) just replace ST with GT badge.

I also like that the ST has the mode button to toggle through so would be nice to hook that up to the various drive mode for the mach-e instead of people having to poke around on the screen. Of course as it is ford we are talking about what they should do and actually do can be miles from each other :( for 60k+ at least have it as an option.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Steering Wheel st_wheel
 

Stang68

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As the steering wheel is pure c2 parts bin just with a mustang logo instead of the ford logo. For the GT it would be nice if ford uses the flat bottom variant that is used in the mk4 focus ST (and will end up in the mk4 RS) just replace ST with GT badge.

I also like that the ST has the mode button to toggle through so would be nice to hook that up to the various drive mode for the mach-e instead of people having to poke around on the screen. Of course as it is ford we are talking about what they should do and actually do can be miles from each other :( for 60k+ at least have it as an option.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Steering Wheel st_wheel
Resurrecting this old thread just to say I, too, wish the GT steering wheel was a bit more “special”. Even a flat bottom would have been nice!
 
 




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