'Nervous' at highway speed?

[artificial]

smart

[randyzimmer]

try here:

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...ph-plus-7.html

see if you can get some toe numbers off your car and report.

Thanks!

[Turbo42]

if you get behind a semi and draft it hold on your going for a wild ride

[smartSparky]

The only problem I've had at 65 is that Charlie wants to go 70, then 75 then 80, then hello CHiPs! Seriously, I drive in the California home of the famed Santa Ana winds. I DO NOT get anymore whipsawed by these winds than I ever did in our Honda Element or Hyundai Santa Fe.

[Bacoes]

whalepirot,

Does your car have power steering? I'm experiencing a bit more movement than I remembered on my test drive. I know the car I test drove had power steering and it was much more stable feeling at speed than my car. I'm planning to have my car in this weekend to get tach install done and I think I'll ask them to check the toe/camber.

[artificial]

enough flaming on that thread to get me to quit

[Springlering]

I was a white-knuckle freeway driver. But I noticed that either the car or I got better. I can't explain it, but it feels "stronger" on the freeway now than it did at first. It started feeling steadier at about 1,500 miles, and now I find myself often doing 70, when before, I was afraid to hit 60.

Maybe it's just familiarity, but honest to goodness, I would absolutely swear the car is a LOT steadier now, seems to hunker down and stick to the pavement better.

I know it's been said umpteen times here, but check your tire inflation. The tires were badly overinflated on all our Smarts, and we all agreed the ride improved vastly when we corrected the inflation.

[randyzimmer]

Originally Posted by whalepirot

...maybe it is time to learn...

minus the boards, you can just get an accomplice and have them stick the tape into an agreed tire tread at an agreed height and repeat at the rear for a quick look-see.
If you and your helper are consistent front to back, you'll get a good idea where you stand.
I wouldn't make changes based on the tread method until you get three readings the same with this routine - that'd show you're working well together and have the method down.

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by Springlering

But I noticed that either the car or I got better.

I believe that there's a 'relaxation curve' (like a learning curve) to driving a smart. It's a unique experience, but once we get re-oriented to driving, the smart is a stellar performer.

I drive 50 miles a day at high speeds on the California freeways, with NO issues due to stability, stress, or safety. However, the other day when I had to take my mom's Cadillac out for a spin, it was a WHITE-KNUCKLE experience which I hope never to repeat!

[Dunerunner]

whalepirot -I would change the tires and wheels to 16" or 17" adding a performance low profile tire, lessen the understeer; and think about some new suspension parts as mentioned in the lowering thread by Eibach or other manufacturers to stiffen the suspension a bit. This won't get rid of the wind effect completely, I had the same issues with the wife's GLX turbo beetle where my sport turbo was lowered and had 17" wheels the effect was less noticible...Good Luck!!