How hard is it to turn the front wheels in a parked car?

1. Easy, but not for a 5 year old.
2. Too hard for a 5 year old.
3. 5 year old could do it.

^^ Seconded.

Note: If the car is equipped with a column steering lock you will need the key turned in the ignition to disengage the lock before turning the wheel.

If the power steering is off and car is off it can be done and takes about the same amount of energy as chin-ups.

No power steering – same as above.

Power steering with car on- my dog could do it.

Thirdeded. (PS, people usually turn their wheels to the curb while the car is still running. I think that turning the wheels when it’s off may be a bit hard on the tires. Seems like it would be, anyway.)

1. Pretty hard.
2. Impossible on most cars nowadays.
3. Pretty easy.

I agree with @J0E… having owned both kinds.

1a. No power steering and stationary… takes both arms and some effort.
1b. No power steering and moving even just slightly… one arm only.

2. Next to impossible… feels like you’re gonna break something.

3. Easy, but varies from car to car. The amount of boost is programmed to vary with speed… most when stationary, little when underway. Depends on the engineering/driving perspective of the company/brand/model.

Really sucks if your car quits running and you don’t know it, and your first clue comes when you try to turn!

@johnpowell: I’m interested to know what’s going on with you and the five year olds. Have you stolen one, perhaps? Are you wondering if he can take you down? Are you worried he’ll try and get away?

I’m just sayin’.....

It was just a metric I could use. I’m a wimp with toothpick arms. Kimbo Slice could look at a steering wheel and make it turn. I figure most five year olds are about the same strength so that makes it easier to judge.

@johnpowell This Bud’s for you…that was a good judgment call. Most five year old’s are about the same strength, male and female. The differences don’t show up until puberty. (WHO is “Kimbo Slice”?)

http://www.fluther.com/disc/60570/how-many-kids-that-are-five-years-old-would-it-take/

@johnpowell: Sounds like we’re at about the same strength level. I support @J0E‘s and @robmandu‘s answers. No power steering is a bitch.

@MacBean Tue that. But you DO need to experience what it is. Just in case what I said happens to you: “Really sucks if your car quits running and you don’t know it, and your first clue comes when you try to turn!” Damn near crashed my father’s brand new Buick into a curb (read possibly into: “house, yard, kids playing in yard”, etc but…I got myself emergency stopped before all that (let’s call it an atheltic event) because it ran so quiet, and didn’t realize when I started it that it pretty much died right away again (but not before the engine pumped gas, electricity, etc. into whatever and I went to “GO” mode’...OK, I was just 16.) The sucker died and I didn’t know it. In that event you count on your adrenalin to replace the power steering.

As for five year olds, I’d say…..a five year old would have to REALLY WANT to turn the wheel, and then stand on the seat, then jump down to the floorboard while hanging on the steering wheel, and and use his or her weight to drag the wheel down…..just my thoughts.

Scenario #1 would not be as easy as some are making it out to be sorry..

@OutOfTheBlue Some are stronger than others, therefore it would be easier for them. I just know I have to give it a ton of muscle to turn the wheel without power steering. My husband, on the other hand, wouldn’t find it nearly as difficult. He’d only have to give it a quarter-ton of muscle.

@Val123 I know it would be easier for others, but still not “easy”, your are still going to have to put some umpphh in to it… Easy would be Power Steering, No power Steering would be more like moderate IMHO.