Actually it's much easier to steer. I guess with the smaller radius my hands don't move as far now. It was really easy driving in the snow we had here this morning. Don't have to drive with arms and elbows, if that makes any sense.
driving with arms and elbows? dude i spend most of my driving in the snow (8 months a year) and i prettymuch keep my arms in the rests. i think. I'm not trying to ride ya tho.... did you run into legal issues with your steering wheel, like no-airbag insurance problems?
That's what health insurance is for. My ('01) won't have airbags, and I don't plan to crash... just because you race doesn't mean you crash! I haven't yet! (knock on wood!)
____________________ Project FocusFast
'06 ZX3- Intake, exhaust, mount
'01 ZX3- Salvaged, SOLD
'01 ZX3- Repo'd several years ago
'80 RX7- RB Intake, RB header. Loud, slow, fun.
just as a note, i understand that just cuz you race you don't crash. but lets be a little realistic foci are great cars but not very structurally sound, i work in a bodyshop i know from experience. If your health insurance company found out you removed a safety device from your vehicle i'm pretty sure they would have a pretty rock solid case to not give you your benefiets. I think it's a load of crap but i know that in Saskatchewan if you remove a safety device such as an airbag you will get no health coverage. But all in all i think that wheel is wicked nice...
I'm well aware of the airbag issue. It's the risk I'm taking. This comes up on any site I post the wheel on. I'm comfortable with that decision so leave it at that. As far as "arms and elbows" I was referring to daily driving, it just happen to snow that day and I threw that in the post. Silversedan, you certainly have more snow than I will ever see. That's for sure. Say hi to Santa for me next time you see him. LOL
Hey, if we get 6" in my state (RI) they shut it down. We had an afternoon storm on a Thursday a while back and it took people 4 hrs to get home for a usual 20 minute ride. School busses were unaccounted for, highways were going about 5mph if moving at all. Might get some snow tomorow, that means a made rush for milk and bread today. I'm totally serious about that too.
You guys shut down for snow? Milwaukee here, it has snowed over a foot overnight and everything was still open.
As for the safety issue, I still say if you don't crash you got nothing to worry about. My '01 survived the previous owner's crash without any damage to the cabin, even though the front of the car was pretty jacked. I know you can't just "not crash" but if you're a good driver, you can get away with a lot more.
____________________ Project FocusFast
'06 ZX3- Intake, exhaust, mount
'01 ZX3- Salvaged, SOLD
'01 ZX3- Repo'd several years ago
'80 RX7- RB Intake, RB header. Loud, slow, fun.
People in RI just forget how to drive everytime it snows out.
As for the Focus safety. I know silversedan said he works in a body shop. The focus is actually a real safe car. Ya I'm sure its safer with air bags but the car desinigrates around the passangers to take the brunt of the blow. I have seen 2 accidents personaly where the car(ZX3) was totaled and both times passangers came out unharmed (not counting mental wounds or crazyness associated with an accident) and both accidents the air bads did not deploy. I have heard of a few other accidents that were worse and still no harm done. But I have also heard of a couple deaths involving the focus as well.
Almost forgot. Some guy(Focus sedan) did about 30mph into the rear end of my brothers stopped Buick once. Air bags went off but before my brother could get out the driver was out of the focus and running into the woods. He couldn't have been to injured. The cops did end up catching him. Buick was fixed and than traded in.
I'm not doubting the safety of the car and i've seen the benefiets of cars that crumple so that you don't wind up being crumpled yourself. I also believe that the many enhusiasts out there be it foci or cavi or whatever are also the men and women out there who continually find ways to better their driving skills. I didn't want to make a mountain out of a molehill just saying that i've seen em go crunch and even though a person might wear a seatbelt man i'd sure like to have that "violent pillow" in front of me. AAAAAAAnnyway the aftermarket wheel looks mad nice, i'm jealous because my gov't controlled insurance won't help me out if i change my wheel. too bad i saw a mad cool 7 color neon wheel. I'm an aftermarket lighting nut. Probably the only guy you'll ever know of that has green strobes in his 89 dynasty.
Hey fx3, the snow has nothing to do with RI drivers. Believe me, they're horrible on a good day. It was all the municipalities that dropped the ball on the last storm.
Well, what a conversation over a steering wheel lol.
I think it looks nice - good job...but since i'm the one FX3 knows personally who has wrecked two foci (different circumstances both) and yes i am a good driver...anyway - The focus, even the ZX3 the lesser safe than the rest is a very well engineered design for not only comfort & control, but safety. I personally would not sacrifice my airbag but I'll tell ya...it's a nice wheel!
Hey Dan, what are you saying? I'm crazy? j/k Yes, it did make me a bit off the wall each time, but more due to the fact that a foci went to the graveyard. Its a sad, sad thing and I never wanna do it again. Now, after driving a focus for over 6 years I'm very in tune w/ my baby.
In fact just did the first of many engine mods - got her a CAI (waiting for the pwr train warranty to expire @ 100k before i do more).
Everyone, drive safe and enjoy your cars...and just a quick reminder...lets keep it civil this is a fun site and we don't restrict opinions etc, but 'percieved bickering' will be addressed. I know, I know...only mild misunderstanding happened, here, but we like to keep it 'warm and fuzzy'.
It's great to have all the newbies up in here - since iv'e been sooo bad at being actively posting. Keep it coming everyone - I'm liking seeing more discussions about the cars and the different ones that are cropping up now.
gimme more!
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
j/k Yes, it did make me a bit off the wall each time, but more due to the fact that a foci went to the graveyard. Its a sad, sad thing and I never wanna do it again. Now, after driving a focus for over 6 years I'm very in tune w/ my baby. 