Poor Handling at 65mph plus

[LinuxGuy]

Originally Posted by RussBarnes

I installed nine on mine. About $2.50 each so not a big cost factor. I put 6 on the rear spoiler and three under the front pan. Did it help - who knows since the wind conditions aren't the same unless in a controlled wind tunnel? Did it feel like it made any difference - I think so, but not a black and white difference. On a 1-10 scale I think it felt a little less twichy, but still was buffeted, so I give it a 2-3. Would I do it again, YES in a heartbeat because with the gloss black paint I applied they look factory and the feeling that it worked. But I expect the wider front rims and four new Michelins I'll be putting on next week will make much more of a difference.....let you know.

Tell us more about the rims and tires. Who are you buying from, rim details and tire sizes.

[Springlering]

The wombliness decreased significantly after we corrected our tire pressure ourselves. Don't assume even taking it back to the dealer that they got it right, since that was supposed to have been on the pre-sale checklist in the first place (or so I thought I read somewhere.....)

I agree with Ms Johnson, seems to depend on road surface around Atlanta. I've noticed on the white concrete parts of I285, I feel like I'm being buffeted around, don't notice it nearly as bad on black asphalt.

IMHO, it's a city car, and if you're taking over 65, you've got a death wish anyway.

It is an absolute joy to drive under 65, but over that, and it's white knuckles for moi.

This from someone who regularly cruised I285 at 80+ in a four cyl Caravan, lol! But, this is the newer, chillin' me, who is enjoying the more relaxed mosey to work these days.

[jefferios]

Is this factor dependent if you have power steering or not?

[jwight]

Springlering, when you said "wombliness" that reminded me of the Wombles of Wimbledon Common, from the book and UK TV series in the 70s.

[RUSMART]

Well, I have had my car for almost one month. I have a 28-mile daily commute (all but 2 miles are freeway). I travel at least the speed limit at 75 mph. We have had some pretty strong winds and up to 45 mph gusts. It gets a little "ping-pongy" at that point. The tractor-truck ruts effect the small wheel base. However, I still feel safe. The car is responsive. It does not feel much different that my 2003 Beetle or my 1977 MGB. I guess I am a small car person. I am having a great time driving this little car and regularly forgo the "big" vehicle for the opportunity to drive the smart. I cannot get enough of it.

[mmmeat]

Originally Posted by canon1753

Before the great attack on the site, I remember someone was putting vortex generators on the roof. Did that do anything?

Vortex generators will do very little for the Smart; they're designed to decrease drag and improve the drag coefficient (they've been shown to do this by measurements of between .00001 and .006 ... oooOOOooh. Impressive, if you're driving an F1 car, but not so much if you're driving a Smart), which results in better gas mileage.

As this thread is about poor handling at 65+, I'll go ahead and say that you'll improve the handling of your Smart with vortex generators exactly the same amount as turning your hot dog a quarter turn to the left in the microwave halfway through cooking.

In other words, vortex generators won't do a thing to improve the handling of your Smart. You may see a significant (.00001 to .006!) improvement in gas mileage, but if you're that @nal about gas mileage ... well, you're going to die a virgin in your parent's basement. There. I said it.

I liken vortex generators to the 'stick on' performance mods that I see many of the Honda Boyz do; they buy stickers and put them on their cars. The more stickers you have, the faster your car goes and the better it performs under the harsh racing conditions experienced by these high performance race car drivers when they drive to Blockbuster to rent the latest video game.

Your pal,
Meat.

[xcrew229x]

What Meat said........ amen

[sato7]

Im new to this site but apparently my rambling on another site (*********) has preseded me. I go by SATO not soto as quoted.. but let get to the nitty gritty.

I took my Smarty to the MB dealer so that they would check the alignment. I like you all have said felt the car wonders or reads the road too much. after a trip from Jacksonville to Melbourne FL and back I was white knukled and dead tired of fighting the car. I know the short wheel base argument and the aerodinamics stuff... but I honestly felt my car was doing soo to the extreme. After 3 days that they kept the car (apparently they did not have the software to check the alignment on smarts yet!) their conclusion in writing was that the car shows "a normal characteristic of the vehicle".... and they did nothing to it.

I feel it is an issue that has been ignored by Smart on the release of the car with softer suspention in addition to skinnier and softer sidewall tires for the american market. this to give a plush ride and to get the highest MPG possible. well they have sacrificed its highway manners in the process.

[SmartDE]

Originally Posted by RussBarnes

I installed nine on mine. About $2.50 each so not a big cost factor. I put 6 on the rear spoiler and three under the front pan. Did it help - who knows since the wind conditions aren't the same unless in a controlled wind tunnel? Did it feel like it made any difference - I think so, but not a black and white difference. On a 1-10 scale I think it felt a little less twichy, but still was buffeted, so I give it a 2-3. Would I do it again, YES in a heartbeat because with the gloss black paint I applied they look factory and the feeling that it worked. But I expect the wider front rims and four new Michelins I'll be putting on next week will make much more of a difference.....let you know.

I've been driving my passion daily to work, only since Monday, 2/3rds of my commute is highway and in a constuction area where they have ground out the white lane stripes that use to be, the car does wonder and in these shallow ruts, feels like what my Bike does when going over a steel metal grate bridge, I just let the car drive itself with very little correction.

I'm very courious what difference it will make with the same width/wheels all around.

Hope to hear from Russ soon.

[jwight]

More seat time seems to make a difference; every day I drive the car I have more confidence in it and am impressed by its performance and handling. Came back on a short stretch of Interstate yesterday after visiting Wright Patt AFB; 70 -75 mph, taking curves at those speeds with the rest of traffic and changing lanes with 18 wheelers - all no sweat. It's too tall to handle like a Cooper S but it ain't bad. Also impressed with the brakes - the car will really stop if you jump on them.