Hi
I finally registered after a number of years - I saw the URL for the site on the back of an i30 soon after I got my i30cw, which was in 2010.
Currently it is in for work - so I have to 'put up' with a courtesy car... which happens to be a 2014 i30 Active GD2 auto. Such a hard life - LoL. It does seem to have more get up and go, and quicker response to demand for it (of course this can affect the perception of the former), than my i30cw - which I am assuming is down to the 6-speed gearbox (and likely better control algorithms).
Having said that if I want my i30cw to give me good acceleration without delay, I simply move the gear selector down from D to 2 (for standing-start/low speed).
The reason it is currently in for work is the EPS (Electronic Power Steering) started playing up about 2 or so months ago. A re-calibration seemed to fix it - then the problem returned :-( This time they are doing a warranty replacement - turns out to replace the EPS you replace the steering column (as noted in other posts), and the part needed to be shipped inter-state. They also fixed the leak in the A/C - which, annoyingly, become noticeable a week or so after the EPS re-calibration... it probably had been leaking over a number of weeks. They re-gassed it, adding dye, but couldn't see anything then so they noted it to be checked next time it was in.
As noted by others with the EPS off, the handling is significantly heavy - I found it still drivable, and steerable at parking speeds (just) - for me at least. But I would not want my mother trying to drive it (due to strength required), nor my friend's young adults (strength required combined with inexperience). I could feel my fore-arms a little having driven to and from work :-)
Oh BTW my nick isn't in reference to the car - rather that I design, and carry out, tests. I am often told: You broke it!
Cheers
ibrokeit
