[bayjorix]

The important difference is that those cars were designed for you to steer and brake it without assistance. Different gear ratios and such.

I had to drive a modern car home once with the power brakes malfunctioning and I couldn't exert enough force (grabbing the steering wheel to give me leverage) to have safe braking power. I ended up going very slow in the emergency lane of the highway in second speed so that motor braking could help me stop. It was not fun.

[mirimir]

No, this was a modern car, with power assisted steering and brakes. Steering required more force, but wasn't that hard. Braking was iffy, I admit, so I also used engine braking and the hand brake.

And yes, standard transmission. I was coasting downhill in neutral, with the engine etc off. Testing the running start protocol, for dealing with battery failure.