All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay?
1 - 20 of 36 Posts
Joined
·
35,288 Posts
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (some9one)
in my friend's Porsche 356 roadster... yes!
in any other car...
no
obin
in my friend's Porsche 356 roadster... yes!
in any other car...
no
obin
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (some9one)
I prefer no wood in a sporty car. In a luxo car on the other hand, it's good. I like this:
![]()
I prefer no wood in a sporty car. In a luxo car on the other hand, it's good. I like this:
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (CanuckPal)
I had one in my MGA. I had one in my 912 (a 14" Personal 3 spoke with a fat rim). That one was so nice to autocross with compared to the stocker in my '69 911 that I put one in my '74 911S. SO much more communicative than the leather, and looked very good. My MGB has a big one, so I'm thinking it needs to be a smaller version.
Wood is a traditional sports car wheel material, and done right it can look and feel excellent.
I had one in my MGA. I had one in my 912 (a 14" Personal 3 spoke with a fat rim). That one was so nice to autocross with compared to the stocker in my '69 911 that I put one in my '74 911S. SO much more communicative than the leather, and looked very good. My MGB has a big one, so I'm thinking it needs to be a smaller version.
Wood is a traditional sports car wheel material, and done right it can look and feel excellent.
Joined
·
15,474 Posts
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (Chris V)
Burl walnut, rosewood or maple do it for me; depends on the type of car...
not sure about an all-wood steering wheel though...
Burl walnut, rosewood or maple do it for me; depends on the type of car...
not sure about an all-wood steering wheel though...
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (some9one)
As looks go, a partial wood wheel can look very nice, however, it would seem to me that a fully polished wooden wheel would at times be slippery making it potentially dangerous...especially with the cell phone / lunch while driving crowd.
As looks go, a partial wood wheel can look very nice, however, it would seem to me that a fully polished wooden wheel would at times be slippery making it potentially dangerous...especially with the cell phone / lunch while driving crowd.
Joined
·
15,474 Posts
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (JayB)
True, a nice leather steering wheel is much preferred in most cases. Grip tight!
![]()
True, a nice leather steering wheel is much preferred in most cases. Grip tight!
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (JayB)
The fully polished Personal thick rim wood one in my 912 was not even slightly slippery. Interestingly enough, your skin grips the wheel better on the polished wood than on leather. Even more so in track conditions.
This is like the one in my MGA:
![]()
The one in the 912 was smaller, fatter, and didn't have the rivets, but was similar in concept. Absolutely the best feeling steering wheel in any car I've ever driven on the autocross course.
The fully polished Personal thick rim wood one in my 912 was not even slightly slippery. Interestingly enough, your skin grips the wheel better on the polished wood than on leather. Even more so in track conditions.
This is like the one in my MGA:
The one in the 912 was smaller, fatter, and didn't have the rivets, but was similar in concept. Absolutely the best feeling steering wheel in any car I've ever driven on the autocross course.
Joined
·
2,622 Posts
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (Chris V)
Chris,
Though I agree with the dry principles of polished wood being grippy...I think the subject at hand would be the safety of such a polished wood steering wheel when a person has a sweaty palm, or maybe just took a sip of that perspiring big gulp 44ozer, and reaches up to the wheel with their wet hand to make an emergency maneuver. Ever dragged a wet hand across that same piece of glass? Wet that eraser before putting it to the wood, and it will go like Kristi Yamaguchi.
The same goes for those all metal pedals...fine grip when dry, but jump in your car on a rainy day and hit those pedals...you can't keep your foot on it. Even with rubber-coated pedals, if you get in your car after a car wash, and you have rubber soled shoes, you can't hit the pedals.
So I think that is the primary reason the all-wood steering wheels fell out of favor in most vehicles. Newer luxury cars bagan introducing partial wood and leather wheels...and the people who are not properly trained at driving may still put their hands on the wood portion of those wheels when driving - however the partial wood wheels were specifically designed with leather in the proper hand positions for driving, and the wood merely decorating the mostly unused portion of the wheel rim.
Now - I would think a company as advanced as Audi would take driving control in into consideration, and make an all-wood wheel which had some form of grippy surface at the rear of the rim, so a wand wrapped around the rim could still grip in wet or dry conditions. It would not be hard to put a coating or clear applique over the driving positions and all around the back of the rim which would have a rough surface for grip.
Anyway, I do like the look of the rim, having come from a sports-car backround in which most cars in our garage had all wood steering wheels. And I personally think wood looks both rich and sporting if done tastefully - since wood and sports cars go back to the 20s together. I have wood in my car, and I like it...and I would not mind a half wood wheel in my car now, Iif I could find one with the factory VW center airbag.
Chris,
Though I agree with the dry principles of polished wood being grippy...I think the subject at hand would be the safety of such a polished wood steering wheel when a person has a sweaty palm, or maybe just took a sip of that perspiring big gulp 44ozer, and reaches up to the wheel with their wet hand to make an emergency maneuver. Ever dragged a wet hand across that same piece of glass? Wet that eraser before putting it to the wood, and it will go like Kristi Yamaguchi.
The same goes for those all metal pedals...fine grip when dry, but jump in your car on a rainy day and hit those pedals...you can't keep your foot on it. Even with rubber-coated pedals, if you get in your car after a car wash, and you have rubber soled shoes, you can't hit the pedals.
So I think that is the primary reason the all-wood steering wheels fell out of favor in most vehicles. Newer luxury cars bagan introducing partial wood and leather wheels...and the people who are not properly trained at driving may still put their hands on the wood portion of those wheels when driving - however the partial wood wheels were specifically designed with leather in the proper hand positions for driving, and the wood merely decorating the mostly unused portion of the wheel rim.
Now - I would think a company as advanced as Audi would take driving control in into consideration, and make an all-wood wheel which had some form of grippy surface at the rear of the rim, so a wand wrapped around the rim could still grip in wet or dry conditions. It would not be hard to put a coating or clear applique over the driving positions and all around the back of the rim which would have a rough surface for grip.
Anyway, I do like the look of the rim, having come from a sports-car backround in which most cars in our garage had all wood steering wheels. And I personally think wood looks both rich and sporting if done tastefully - since wood and sports cars go back to the 20s together. I have wood in my car, and I like it...and I would not mind a half wood wheel in my car now, Iif I could find one with the factory VW center airbag.
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (zackiedawg)
The only time I had issues with the wood wheels was in the MGA, but with no side windows the wheel could get cold. That's why driving gloves were invented, however.
![]()
Sweaty palms? Never had an issue.
The main reason they fell out of favor was impact issues: splintering, hard surfaces (notice that polished plastic wheels have also vanished, even though they had molded gripping surfaces).
![]()
The only time I had issues with the wood wheels was in the MGA, but with no side windows the wheel could get cold. That's why driving gloves were invented, however.
The main reason they fell out of favor was impact issues: splintering, hard surfaces (notice that polished plastic wheels have also vanished, even though they had molded gripping surfaces).
Joined
·
765 Posts
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (jervwgti)
If I were keeping the 2002 as a cruiser, I'd think about putting a nice wood wheel on. I've seen some with Nardi's, and they really look nice!
However, since the 2002's primary purpose is racing, I've decided to go with a nice grippy Momo leather wrapper wheel.
If I were keeping the 2002 as a cruiser, I'd think about putting a nice wood wheel on. I've seen some with Nardi's, and they really look nice!
However, since the 2002's primary purpose is racing, I've decided to go with a nice grippy Momo leather wrapper wheel.
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (pallison14)
That color wood looks crappy with a gray interior IMHO.
Gray/black look better with light gray wood or aluminum.
Beige/tan/burgundy looks good with that color wood.
This just clashes, looks tacky... http://****************.com/smile/emthdown.gif
All wood steering wheel is cool though, if it's done right in the right car.
Not in a Civic or a Jetta... something suitably upmarket <$35-40,000
That color wood looks crappy with a gray interior IMHO.
Gray/black look better with light gray wood or aluminum.
Beige/tan/burgundy looks good with that color wood.
This just clashes, looks tacky... http://****************.com/smile/emthdown.gif
All wood steering wheel is cool though, if it's done right in the right car.
Not in a Civic or a Jetta... something suitably upmarket <$35-40,000
2022 BMW X5 xDrive45e; 2015.5 Volvo V60 T5 Drive-e; 2013 Ford Focus ST3; 2004 BMW R1150R
Joined
·
4,328 Posts
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (Malathion)
nah, I like the soft feel of leather much better than hard wood.
But I like the interior design of the upcoming Audi Cabriolet much more than the new A4!
nah, I like the soft feel of leather much better than hard wood.
But I like the interior design of the upcoming Audi Cabriolet much more than the new A4!
Joined
·
32,928 Posts
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (some9one)
Doesn't look that good together with black plastic spokes anymore. At least THAT specific wood type on that Audi doesn't look good. My friend's Alfa 156 has a wooden stirring wheel and it looks much better already. A silver stripe goes round the wheel and the wood type is much more suitable (design wise) for a steering wheel.
Doesn't look that good together with black plastic spokes anymore. At least THAT specific wood type on that Audi doesn't look good. My friend's Alfa 156 has a wooden stirring wheel and it looks much better already. A silver stripe goes round the wheel and the wood type is much more suitable (design wise) for a steering wheel.
Re: All-wood steering wheel - yay or nay? (some9one)
I hate wooden steering wheel, its slippery and lack of feel. Give me a standard leather steering that provides nice grip. The only wooden steering that doesn't feel slippery is Alfa 156, however, still give me back the leather please.
BTW, A4 cabriolet's interior is
![]()
![]()
![]()
.
I hate wooden steering wheel, its slippery and lack of feel. Give me a standard leather steering that provides nice grip. The only wooden steering that doesn't feel slippery is Alfa 156, however, still give me back the leather please.
BTW, A4 cabriolet's interior is
1 - 20 of 36 Posts
