It's amazing how on the ball General Motors was with steering wheel design back in 2002 (compared to, say, 2010). The wheel in our long-term 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 isn't much to look at and even looks dowdy compared to today's 3-spoke designs, but is it ever functional.
The spokes are nice and low to allow a 9-and-3 grip if you so choose. And the rim of the wheel is nice and round, neither too thick nor thin, and devoid of the decorative stitching that rubs on the fingers.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 50,405 miles
phewop118 says:
02:54 PM, 08/19/10
same wheel thats in my Olds Intrigue (but a little thicker rim in the vette). what the hell were they thinkin? actually, it is quite a functional and comfortable wheel for performance and long distance driving.
exnevadan says:
03:29 PM, 08/19/10
it's hideous, air bags have done that. but maybe GM was onto something Audi new a long time ago - "form follows function".
the C6 wheel isn't much better to look at but the rest of the car is a vast improvement
kevm14 says:
06:32 PM, 08/19/10
I think I might prefer 4-spoke wheels to 3-spoke. The 3 spokes look racy, but sometimes I want to put my hand at the 6 o'clock position if I am in a lazy driving mood and the 4 spokes allow this.
yamahr1 says:
07:40 PM, 08/19/10
Yes, it has a big airbag module since its development dates from the mid-90's, but at least it was not shared with any other vehicle. Plus I think it looks better in tan:
http://tinyurl.com/25qcpez
The corporate steering wheel STILL being used in the 2011 Corvette, and shared with vehicles like Cobalt, Malibu, G6, Sky, and Solstice, is just a ridiculous state of affairs. Corvette certainly deserves better.
travelingman79 says:
08:49 PM, 08/19/10
But no radio/cruise/climate/phone controls on the steering wheel's spokes? Maybe not so functional after all.
sodiezl350 says:
07:01 AM, 08/20/10
Are you still talking about the shitty interior? Put some tires on that car!
jeepsrt says:
08:54 AM, 08/20/10
I always felt the C5 steering wheel was too big, I like the wheel in my '92 Corvette, small and thick 4 spoke.
cardesigner82 says:
09:57 AM, 08/20/10
kevm14 says:
"I think I might prefer 4-spoke wheels to 3-spoke. The 3 spokes look racy, but sometimes I want to put my hand at the 6 o'clock position if I am in a lazy driving mood and the 4 spokes allow this."
AMEN! I'd prefer a 4 spoke for that very reason. I live in LA and traffic is the pits...so more than likely around rush hour, its 6 o'clock driving for me!
stingray454 says:
06:59 AM, 08/22/10
I always thought of the steering wheel as just 'OK', not good. The diameter is a bit too large, the rim isn't thick enough, and there's no controls on the wheel. However, I do like the look of the C5 wheel much better than the C6 wheel. At least the C5 wheel wasn't parts shared with any other car like the C6 is (Malibu, Cobalt, etc.).
I like my '10 CTS-V's wheel MUCH better - it's close to perfect, except for the look and shape of the airbag cover, which I don't care for.
I think the best steering wheels in the business currently are found in the BMW M3 and the Audi R8. JMO.
zoomzoomn says:
07:48 AM, 08/23/10
And yet all of you guys dinged the Vette for its cheap interior back then. Go figure!