Momo Monte Carlo -> Retro Steering Wheel
Thread Starter
Absolute Power is Awesome
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 5
From: Issaquah, WA
Momo Monte Carlo -> Retro Steering Wheel
I have had the Momo Monte Carlo on my S2 for more than 15 years. I love the looks, the shapes, and the thickness, but I was always annoyed by the fact that my view of the tach and speedo was obscured.
I finally decided to replace it with a little larger diameter wheel. The Retro is the only 380mm wheel that Momo currently offers. I liked the Momo Runner with the leather spokes, but that's no longer offered. The grip is a smaller constant diameter all the way around with finger detents instead of the varying thicknesses of the Monte Carlo. The grip diameter is a little smaller and the leather grain is much more pronounced on the Retro. It also has a natural aluminum finish instead of black anodize.
I very much like the Retro. I can now see the gauges for the most part. In addition, the wheel feels really nice. I actually like the smaller grip diameter and the grain a little better. I also think it looks great.
I haven't seen any pictures of a 1st gen with this wheel, so I thought I'd share.
I finally decided to replace it with a little larger diameter wheel. The Retro is the only 380mm wheel that Momo currently offers. I liked the Momo Runner with the leather spokes, but that's no longer offered. The grip is a smaller constant diameter all the way around with finger detents instead of the varying thicknesses of the Monte Carlo. The grip diameter is a little smaller and the leather grain is much more pronounced on the Retro. It also has a natural aluminum finish instead of black anodize.
I very much like the Retro. I can now see the gauges for the most part. In addition, the wheel feels really nice. I actually like the smaller grip diameter and the grain a little better. I also think it looks great.
I haven't seen any pictures of a 1st gen with this wheel, so I thought I'd share.
That's pretty damn nice either way but, I do like the retro (would be nice in black) the best, any issues with leg room? That was why I went after-market but, the retro looks great in an s2.
Thread Starter
Absolute Power is Awesome
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 5
From: Issaquah, WA
I'm 6'1" but haven't ever had leg room issues with this car. Even when I had the stock 2 spoke wheel, the car is an S model. It could have to do with the seats. Both the original base seats and the TII seats I've had in the car are lower than the 1st gen premium seats.
The manufacture date on the Monte Carlo wheel is stamped into a spoke, 1992, so I've had this wheel for probably closer to 20 years!
I have found a couple of issue with the Retro. The spoke positions are in a bad place for hands at 9 and 3. The position you want. You have to be a little between 9-and-3 and 10-and-2 to hook your thumbs over the spokes. The Mote Carlo is shaped to encourage 9 and 3 on the other hand as it gets thicker in any other position. The other is that the finish appears to be untreated aluminum, so we'll have to see if it picks up finger prints easily.
The manufacture date on the Monte Carlo wheel is stamped into a spoke, 1992, so I've had this wheel for probably closer to 20 years!
I have found a couple of issue with the Retro. The spoke positions are in a bad place for hands at 9 and 3. The position you want. You have to be a little between 9-and-3 and 10-and-2 to hook your thumbs over the spokes. The Mote Carlo is shaped to encourage 9 and 3 on the other hand as it gets thicker in any other position. The other is that the finish appears to be untreated aluminum, so we'll have to see if it picks up finger prints easily.
