Steering Wheel Position

Aloha,

Another silly question for you Mini owners.

The steering wheel position of the Mini looks a little...school bus-ish. I don't mean any offense, but I'm wondering if this angle of the wheel affects the way you drive. I'm used to wheels being more-or-less pointed towards the driver's seat.

Is there a modification that is done to redirect the angle of the steering wheel? Is it just chance that every photo of a Mini's interior I've ever seen just had the tilt all the way up?

That's the stock position in a classic Mini, and it's not adjustable by any standard means. New MINIs are more "normal" and have some adjustment.

This design allowed the driver to sit more forward, allowing more space inside...it was done for practical space-saving reasons.

The non-standard wheel position is part of the personality and appeal of the Mini. After a while you get used to "wheeling around" the steering, like a fork lift driver gone mad.

I own a Chevy Stepvan (as a race car transporter) and it's steeering wheel position always reminds me of my old 850 Mini...but on a giant scale!

Van Here: --> https://www.ccm.edu/engtech/stepvan.jpg

I think that the size of the wheel may also have to do with the lack of power steering. Without PS, you need a larger diameter wheel to work your slow speed turns.

One common after market modification is to put
a 'spacer bracket' ( not sure of the correct term)
between the lower dash rail and the steering column. This tilts the steering wheel slightly
forward/down. Still busslike but a bit better.

Alohas,

"After a while you get used to "wheeling around" the steering, like a fork lift driver gone mad."



Sounds like fun! I was just wondering if that was the proper position for the wheel and it appears so. In my mind, it just seemed to make more sense if you want to race the car that you would have the wheel angled downwards.

I've seen some Minis with nice Cobra, Sparco, Corbeau, etc. seats in them. How does the more "reclined" seating position feel when the original intent was to make the driver more "upright?" As in: you're reclined, but the steering wheel is still schoolbus-like. ?? Am I just being too nitpicky here?

I know the new MINI is more 'normal' in this respect, but I just don't know if I dig the new MINI like the old one. However, for the price of some specimens of the classic Mini, you could get a nice new MINI.

Lowering brackets are very common. They cost less than $10 and take 5 minutes to install...much nicer driving position.

Hi Joel

Column adjusters are very common in the UK, the link below will take you the section of the Minisport site which shows an adjuster.


https://www.minisportshop.com/MinisportShop_com_Snap_Off_Anti_Theft_Boss_Kit___Column_Adjuster_148.html

Decent seats help at lot as well to get rid of the rather agricultural driving position.

Don't be worried about fitting a smaller diameter steering wheel, the steering is not that heavy! 13" dia. is about right.

Cheers

Aftermarket seats allow a lower seating position and are frequently mounted farther back allowing more legroom for the driver and a "dropped" steering column and thus a less bus-like steering position.

Of course, this decreases what little legroom there was behind the driver's seat, but not many of us Mini drivers haul a carfull of people, anyway.

[ 06-23-2003: Message edited by: Xrace ]</p>