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If I sell my smart it will be due to its behavior on the highway at speeds over 60. I understand why PAG touts it as a "city" car and why they do not offer cruise control. I've owned some really light cars, Renault Dauphine, VW bug, 2 dr Corvair, bug eye sprite, etc. and never had a car so squirrely on the highways.
hmmm, can't say I mind mine at all on the highway at speeds up to 75 or 80 at least unless there is quite a lot of wind. When there has been a good bit of wind, I found slowing it down about 10 mph seemed to make it fine. Certainly prefer my smart on the highway in wind more than my motorcycle.
I'm probably with Steven on this one. After riding a Harley for years and being banged around by drafts and winds, I can't imagine the smart can be any worse.
smarts have a lot of sail area and a short wheel base. There are cars trucks and busses that do better in side wind conditions. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well the car did on a very blustery day here. Not Texas sized but gusts to 50mph+. Looking for a highway cruzer look elsewhere.
karl
Got to agree here. If ya ride a motorcycle ya know about wind. Might check tire pressure and maybe highway grooves. They are murder on bikes, might be the same for Carnut. My Corvair is a bit loose now, old 1965, but still drives pretty good on aslphalt. Doesnt like the rain grooves. I think I need to do the ball joints. Anyway even my 1 ton truck gets the wind routine and it weighs almost 3 tons empty.
We don't get a lot of heavy wind here in middle TN, but today I took mine on the Interstate and when large trucks went past I could feel the sensation you may have felt - I think. Part of what you may be feeling could be agrivated by the fast steering ratio. A cross wind makes many people rapidly turn the wheel against the force, thereby overcorrecting. Next time loosen your grip some, let the car settle when it moves - unless it is a force 5 hurricane. Then ease the wheel against the thrust and see if that doesn't help your feeling of confidence. Reminds me of when I started racing and coming from street cars at the time that had so many turns since it was before P.S. was so common.
I have made an interesting observation today. Here in Florida we have weather that makes it possible to drive with open windows or with closed windows and A/C on.
Let me tell you...I was surprised how the car settled down with the windows open. I thought that there was a significant difference in control.
I would like to hear from others about this phenomenon.
Picked up our vehicle yesterday, Wed. Mar. 5, in Round Rock.
Drove this afternoon, Thurs. March 6, on Hwy 281 from Johnson City to Marble Falls. Speed 60-65 mph. Winds NW 5-10 gusting 20+.
I fought the steering all the way North. I was all over the road - white knuckles. Coming back south, the wind impact was much less. Seemed OK driving in I-35 in Austin, but there was little wind.
I am wondering if the car is usable on Texas highways, or is this just a town car?
I have been all around the area with mine. It takes a bit of practice to drive it in the wind, but resisting the urge to grip the wheel too tightly helps. Most of my commute is highway driving. Weekends the wife and I spend more time in the city with it, but so far I don't mind the highway driving near as much as I did the first couple times I drove it in high wind.
I had the Smart out in heavy wind today in NC. I drove from Greensboro to Winston-Salem on Highway 311 and Interstate 40 (about 25 miles) in a 30 MPH cross-wind with gusts upwards of 50 MPH. While, I never felt the car would tip, we were definately all over the road and had to really concentrate to keep the car in lane without hitting cars in the other lanes. The problem was a little better if you could run a little slower at 45-50 MPH, but here in NASCAR country that is a great way to get yourself killed on I-40. The combination of high-crosswinds and 70-75 MPH on the interstate was tricky and reminded my wife of being in a small boat in rough waves
The situation seemed to worsen when you would get a heavy gust in conjunction with a passing big rig and swirling winds. The car would buffet heavily and bacame a little unpredictable, but never the less we made it over and back. I am not saying not to drive in high cross-winds, but in hind site I should driven the ML.
However, I would suggest if you have less than experienced drivers in this type of weather, you might want to reconsider allowing them to drive your Smart while opting for something a bit heavier.
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