Can anyone comment on the rear active steer feature offered on the '06 coupe? Its a $ 750 option and I'm not sure of it's tangible effect on handling and conversely its complexity and potential for problems.

Is it worth including?

 

I dont have any experience with it, but I would imagine it wouldnt help that much and just give the potential for something more to break. Also, the added weight might counteract the benefits of it.

 

it's been posted here with a reference that it is only active at higher speeds (forgot, but is it 40mph?).

 

I also read it works at high speeds. But the RAS should work at all speeds. I test drove the G w/ the active steer and did not notice anything different during normal driving, although i do not know if it was a psychological affect but, it did seem to turn slightly better under normal street driving conditions. I guess that means they did it right.

I found some other differences for the two:

Steering ratio (:1)
Power-assisted engine-speed sensitive - 15.9
Power-assisted vehicle-speed-sensitive - 15.1 (RAS)

Notice that power assist is also speed sensitive not engine speed sensitive.

also "New for 2006 is optional Rear Active Steer for the G35 coupe, which quickens the steering ratio and uses a computer and electric motor to continuously adjust rear suspension geometry." (source)

I chose not to get the option... why do you really need it? Just like others have said... more thing to go wrong, more maintenance, more costs. But if someone said, hey, its work can one day save your life or avoid a serious accident, I would have jumped on it.

 

Thanks for the feedback folks.. decided to order mine with out it.. (more money for the NAV I dont need)

 

^hahaha...

Hey, my first G was without a nav. I thought i would never need it (i'm like a human google earth, my friends call me for directions anywhere in socal) or thought it was too expensive (with the aftermarket options available for navi/mobile video). But, now that i have it, i like it. Clean factory look, ties in w/ the ECU for more info, and the new navi features are great. I almost bought the avic n3. My friend ended up getting it. I like the screen better on the stock, it's actually bigger and better images. Only thing I'll miss is the XM live traffic.

You'll get more use out of it than you expect, i think. That fuel economy feature has me mesmerized. (its a challenge to get the best fuel economy then blow it to nothing driving through the canyons).

 

[QUOTE=WYSIWYG]^hahaha...

Hey, my first G was without a nav. I thought i would never need it (i'm like a human google earth, my friends call me for directions anywhere in socal) or thought it was too expensive (with the aftermarket options available for navi/mobile video).

OK, quick.. its Friday at 4:30 pm. You are in Thousand Oaks and need to get to Dana Point in 2 hours or less or your wife/partner will not be happy with you. Whats your route (I use to live in socal.. and know every short cut)

 

I Just got my coupe about 2 weeks ago, You will notice the RAS the more you push the car even passing peeps on the freeway you barley move the wheel and it moves. At lower speeds not so much I would say. Take a test drive with RAS on a good hard coner and you will feel it kick in this is what I did test drove one with and one without big diffrence canyon driving it's awsome.

The Navi how can you go wrong with having it I thought I would never use it. Wrong I find ways around I didn't even know they were there. As someone else posted you can watch your Gas mileage go up and down, I almost hate that feature cause you can see how poor our miles per gallon are.

Both great features in my book.

GTOYZ