Steering Wheel Position

[Ted]

Many years ago I had a boxer BMW
They are also great for keeping the feet warm with the warm air that comes off them.

 

[Beetnik]

Great thing about an auto box is that it leaves your left leg free for steering on undemanding roads such as motorways or dual carriageways thus keeping both hands free for multi-tasking...

 

[Rashman]

It's funny,

If I drive an auto, I hold the wheel at twenty past four with my right hand. My left hand rests on my lap.

If I drive a manual, I hold the steering wheel at ten past two with my right hand. My left hand hoovers over the gear stick, poised for gear changes.

But when I drive my 63, I drive holding the steering wheel at quarter to three...always!

I think the paddles dictate this really as I always use "M" mode.

The design of the Black Series steering wheel also dictates this, as holding the steering wheel in any other way would be uncomfortable.

That's one of the things I like about this steering wheel. It encourages me to keep both hands on the steering wheel, where I wouldn't normally

 

[MOCAŠ]

A couple of people have stated that they use the quarter-to-three position as dictated by the position of the thumb rests and/or for optimal access to the paddles.

Surely no modern MB steering wheel has the thumb rests located this far down? Taking the CLK63 wheel as an example (below), you'd have to be holding the wheel immediately below the upper two spokes to achieve quarter-to-three, which would make the paddles all-but inaccessible.

The indentations are generally set to encourage use of the ten-to-two position, as indicated by the blue lines (ie: not literally as the hands would appear on a clock at ten-to-two, but a few degrees below 10 on the left and 2 on the right respectively).

 

[Cabe]

The comfortable thumb grip indicated position with my right hand and the left on the armrest, where some thoughtful MB engineer put an arm rest and a convenient coffee holder.

Side note, whilst we are on the subject of bad habits. Anyone else here let the wheel slip though their fingers coming out of a corner? Not let go (duh!) just let it naturally straighten.

 

[p1nny]

I drive at quarter to 3. Was taught this on track days in cars with flappy paddles. For fast driving it gives full range of movement without ever moving your hands from that spot. I always use this when I'm hoofing it.

 

[camerafodder]

Usually 13:50, but when pressing on I shift to 14:45.

In traffic, often right hand at 15:00, left hand by gear lever, which then comes up onto the wheel when it starts rolling again.

I must admit I struggled with this answer. Then I realised I don't have a 24hr steering wheel!

 

[Rashman]

A couple of people have stated that they use the quarter-to-three position as dictated by the position of the thumb rests and/or for optimal access to the paddles.

Surely no modern MB steering wheel has the thumb rests located this far down? Taking the CLK63 wheel as an example (below), you'd have to be holding the wheel immediately below the upper two spokes to achieve quarter-to-three, which would make the paddles all-but inaccessible.

The indentations are generally set to encourage use of the ten-to-two position, as indicated by the blue lines (ie: not literally as the hands would appear on a clock at ten-to-two, but a few degrees below 10 on the left and 2 on the right respectively).

You know what we mean.

We'll call it 11 minutes and 24 seconds to 3 then shall we?

lol

 

[MOCAŠ]

You know what we mean.

Yep, you mean ten-to-two.

But as ten-to-two and quarter-to-three are both available as options in the survey, I felt it was important to make the distinction.

It's virtually impossible to drive a car with a modern steering wheel in the quarter-to-three position, although it remains my default choice when driving various classic cars where the steering wheel has two near-horizontal spokes.

 

[whitenemesis]

Yep, you mean ten-to-two.

But as ten-to-two and quarter-to-three are both available as options in the survey, I felt it was important to make the distinction.

It's virtually impossible to drive a car with a modern steering wheel in the quarter-to-three position, although it remains my default choice when driving various classic cars where the steering wheel has two near-horizontal spokes.

Seems very possible to me!?

 

[mika]

It's funny,

If I drive an auto, I hold the wheel at twenty past four with my right hand. My left hand rests on my lap.

If I drive a manual, I hold the steering wheel at ten past two with my right hand. My left hand hoovers over the gear stick, poised for gear changes.

But when I drive my 63, I drive holding the steering wheel at quarter to three...always!

I think the paddles dictate this really as I always use "M" mode.

The design of the Black Series steering wheel also dictates this, as holding the steering wheel in any other way would be uncomfortable.

That's one of the things I like about this steering wheel. It encourages me to keep both hands on the steering wheel, where I wouldn't normally

Rash - we actually know that you drive with a duster in your left hand !

 

[Rashman]

Rash - we actually know that you drive with a duster in your left hand !

LOL!

You again.... with the jokes!

... and it's not a duster..... it's a little, soft bristled brush actually.


LOL!

 

[MOCAŠ]

Seems very possible to me!?

It's possible, but you'd have very limited room for movement before your elbows started to dig into your thighs. You would also need to move your hands to reach the steering wheel buttons.

The thumb indentations have been placed above the spokes for a reason: to encourage use of the ten-to-two position. The positioning of the buttons also reflects this, so while quarter-to-three may work best for competition driving, it would be quite awkward with a standard MB steering wheel. (I'll put this to the test next time I drive the SLK, as I have to admit I've never yet found myself holding the wheel in that position.)

 

[johnpidge]

Ten to two usually - yes I have fallen into the bad habit of driving one handed on occasions!!

 

[G.O'Rilla]

I would have said quarter to three, but having seen the photos above, it is ten to two as the maker intended. Thanks Flanaia for the bit about the airbags - that was very useful information.

I will own up to the elbow on the doorsill and one handed on occasions, though. As above, it is the motorway curse of the autobox driver.

 

[whitenemesis]

It's possible, but you'd have very limited room for movement before your elbows started to dig into your thighs. You would also need to move your hands to reach the steering wheel buttons.

The thumb indentations have been placed above the spokes for a reason: to encourage use of the ten-to-two position. The positioning of the buttons also reflects this, so while quarter-to-three may work best for competition driving, it would be quite awkward with a standard MB steering wheel. (I'll put this to the test next time I drive the SLK, as I have to admit I've never yet found myself holding the wheel in that position.)

Not sure how you see quarter-to-three but I drive holding the wheel so my thumbs rest in the leather indent above the horizontal 'spoke' I keep them outside , not wrapped as I've dislocated one before when the wheel was wrenched round during an 'off' (not this car and some years back but the memory remains). I can operate the buttons without moving my hands and my elbows are nowhere near my thighs or my stomach (so far at least!)

I must admit I do tend to change position a fair bit during a drive but when 'pushing on' 14:45 is preferred

 

[wemorgan]

2:45 or 1:50. When you're in a 40-60g frontal crash with airbags deploying your hands are going to fly. Whether you wrists break or not is pure luck.

It's best not to worry to much about it and just enjoy your driving, safely.

 

[MOCAŠ]

Not sure how you see quarter-to-three but I drive holding the wheel so my thumbs rest in the leather indent above the horizontal 'spoke'

See post 44. You are actually using the ten-to-two position. This is how Roadcraft describes it:

The hands should be placed naturally with the palms of the rim of the wheel just above the half way position. The hands on the wheel will be in the same position as the hands on a clock when the time is ten minutes to two. Fingers should fold around the rim, resting lightly but ready to grip when necessary. Minor variations in course calling for up to an inch or so of steering wheel movement will not normally require the hands to be moved from their basic positions on the wheel.

The quarter-to-three position would require you to hold your left thumb where the 9 would be and your right thumb where the 3 would be (that is, below the upper 'spokes' rather than above).

 

[whitenemesis]

See post 44. You are actually using the ten-to-two position. This is how Roadcraft describes it:



The quarter-to-three position would require you to hold your left thumb where the 9 would be and your right thumb where the 3 would be (that is, below the upper 'spokes' rather than above).

Mmm. I would still say I hold it at 14:45, my palms are below the centre line of the wheel. Never mind 13:50 or 14:45 it's a comfortable grip and should I wish I can rest my elbows on the door armrest and on the centre arm rest. Relaxed and ready for the drive

 

[Deker]

The comfortable thumb grip indicated position with my right hand and the left on the armrest, where some thoughtful MB engineer put an arm rest and a convenient coffee holder.

Side note, whilst we are on the subject of bad habits. Anyone else here let the wheel slip though their fingers coming out of a corner? Not let go (duh!) just let it naturally straighten.

Yep, I don't see it as a bad habit though (as long as you don't remove your hand completely) as you can re-apply grip at any point to aid, stop or change the control