Hey, I have a question regarding the steering wheel tightness of my vehicle.

I have a '14 IS250 RWD F-Sport model, and on normal mode, the steering wheel doesn't take effort to turn. When in sport mode, it's tighter.

I test drove a '16 IS300 AWD Non F-Sport model, and it seems like the steering wheel is tighter in normal mode than my car is in sports mode? When the car is in sports mode, the steering wheel is even tighter.

Is this normal?

Thanks.

 

I suspect it's just Lexus making different decisions about what is "normal" and "sport". If they got feedback from the 2014 that normal steering was too light and sport was what an average driver preferred, makes sense they would calibrate the steering of future cars accordingly.

Also keep in mind Lexus is really on a mission to establish itself as a performance luxury brand, so it stands to reason that they will continue to sport-tune their cars so that even the "normal" setup is very sporty.

 

Do you think it's possible for Lexus to calibrate my steering to heavier?

 

In my 2016 IS350 (non F-sport) the steering gets heavier when speed increase so it very much depends on the speed. While at slow speeds - the steering is light.
I was trying to determine if there is any difference in steering feel between different modes (Eco, Normal, Sport) but I couldn't feel a difference. It seems the speed
is the only distinguishing factor and not the mode you are in but it is entirely possible the Sport mode is a bit heavier if you measured it somehow.

I doubt Lexus dealer can adjust steering to be heavier.

 

Interesting. When the car is fast around 40mph+ the sport mode steering feels the same.
At low speed, my normal mode definitely feels a lot lighter compared to normal mode '15 '16 IS300 AWD non f-sport.

I

 

I've looked through the "dealer modifiable" options for my 2016 and nothing was in that category. My guess is you are stuck with how the modes are implemented by Lexus for your car. Also, I strongly suspect steering control would be a safety issue and they would not want it modifiable. Too little assist at low speeds and too much at high speeds could be hazardous. You could as the dealer the next time you are in, but I'd be surprised if you could.

 

please take note of AWD and RWD, width of the front wheels. little things adds up

 

I am not fond of the "Sport" steering in my IS200t f sport. Way too artificially heavy. Does nothing. This is coming from a BMW E46 sport driver too (way heavier--but better feeling steering)

I prefer the normal steering in my 200t. I wish I could have normal steering with sport throttle response and gear changes. sadly you can't decouple them.

 

On the IS350 F-sport with AVS, Sport has the sport throttle with normal steering. Sport+ has the heavier steering and stiffer suspension. I wish there was a heavier steering with stiffer suspension and normal throttle I guess no one is truly happy.

 

my IS350 F-sport steering and handling just perfect enough, too stiff is just stupid, im glad i went with Lexus instead of Infiniti and BMW

 

My 2014 is350 f sport also gets heavier as speed goes up. At its heaviest, its lighter than my Boxster.