Avensis 1.8gs Vvt-i 5 Door Steering Wheel Is Too Smooth

[EastLondonGuy]

I have a 03/52 last of the old shape 1.8GS VVT-i 5 Door GS.

The steering wheel is plastic all the way around, and due to the "hands on" experience the sides of the steering wheel are very worn indeed. I wish it was leather stitched, since it is looking not like a 55,000 mile car but more like a 155,000 mile car!!

How do I get this sorted? Does everyone agree that the steering wheels in this model are very low quality?

Thanks,

Sachin

[shroud]

I have a 03/52 last of the old shape 1.8GS VVT-i 5 Door GS.

The steering wheel is plastic all the way around, and due to the "hands on" experience the sides of the steering wheel are very worn indeed. I wish it was leather stitched, since it is looking not like a 55,000 mile car but more like a 155,000 mile car!!

How do I get this sorted? Does everyone agree that the steering wheels in this model are very low quality?

Thanks,

Sachin

Yes, i have a 2001 1.8 vvti and it has a very marked area on the steering wheel that makes it look a bit rough, like it's been a taxi for 10 years. However on the whole i am happy with the car.

Only solution is probably a new steering wheel or a cover, but i think a cover would look pretty rubbish.

[Rene]

Did the leathe come off or is the steering wheel original plastic?

My 2000 Avensis (2.0 VVTi Sol version in Holland) has an original leather steering wheel. Never had a better steering wheel in my hands. Plenty of grip even with wet hands.

[EastLondonGuy]

original plastic - and it looks rubbish!

[Boro Sera]

best option I could come up with was to try and source a Leather one from a breakers

[peterc.lewis@blueyonder.co.uk]

May not help as golf club grips are rubber, worth a try.

Clean the wheel with neat washing up liquid. Wipe in it, leave it a while then toroughly clean it off. Make sure you get it all off or it'll act like a lubricant.

What this does with golf clubs is remove and oil and dirt and can extend the life of the grip a little.

May be as much use as aircraft speed humps, have a go.

[Parva]

Just to add to the washing-up liquid thing, rub neat washing-up liquid on interior windscreen and rear screen then clean it off with a dry cloth. Damned hard work but if done correctly you'll have a crystal clear view out of the car and the windows will not steam up even in the wettest of weathers for at least a few months! Save's the air-con bill. :)