Scary driving Prius on a windy day

Tom is right on with his comments, especially with the one to "not over control". I was going to put down almost the exact same comment in my post above, then thought that it might sound kind of smug, so I removed it prior to posting. Thanks, Tom!

I have found this to be exactly the case, most likely due the the combination of the the alignment characteristics, side profile, weight, tires, and electric steering assist. If you "loosen up" a little on the wheel, and don't try to "compensate" for every movement that you notice, it actually becomes easier to control the car in gusty conditions. Just hold the wheel steady, but not in a death grip, and try to not over compensate. See if this helps.

Best wishes,

 

Here's scary:
my college roomates drove across the midwest driving a Jeep towing a boxy trailer - they said it was like being on 2 wheels sometimes, especially when 18-wheelers blew by them. lol

 

my old 99 DeVille was a handful in the heavy, heavy winds at highway speed. It was like driving a billboard, a 4,000 pound billboard.

 

I agree with codybigdog123. My 2010 actually seems to handle a little better in high winds than other hatchbacks I've driven.

 

I will second... or third that thought! When I first got the car I could hardly keep the car going straight (over correcting) but now it feels perfectly normal and everything else I drive feels sluggish.

 

I crossed the Verrazano Narrows Bridge with 50mph winds and my Prius did much better than my 2002 Lincoln TownCar ever did. I was surprised at how little the wind effected me.

 

any car or truck or moving vehicle will get blown around in 40mph winds...

 

you can always take sledge hammer to the roof to lower the profile....










otherwise...it is what it is

 

Try it in a light plane.

Tom

 

check your tire pressure.... I have a V with 17" low profile tires and I do not have any issues. 30-50 mph wind a few days ago and it was just fine.My x2010 Insight was totally exhausting to keep on the highway with cross winds. GLAD I now drive the Prius.

 

Make it a tail dragger too
As a former owner of a VW Camper, I can tell you the Prius cuts through the wind compared to it, so I guess it's what your used to is all.

 

I too was surprised the first time I experienced strong cross winds in my 2010. My last (and only) car was a 1991 Nissan Maxima.

 

My most 'exciting' wind experience in my IIIBlueII was on highway 95 (two lanes w/ very little shoulder space) north of Las Vegas last summer as I drove through a dust devil: very sharp movenents left and right. Of course I could see the devil coming so I was somewhat prepared but will definately avoid such situations in the future. So far I have not found the strong turblance when passed by trucks going the opposite direction during strong winds that I remember experiencing in former vehicles.

 

I find my 2010 Prius better handling in the wind than my 2002 Subaru Outback was on the same roads. Rain puddles in the ruts kind of throws me around....

 

I've been pleasantly surprised by mine (a IV--15" tires--the 17"s should do better). It's not as unflappable in crosswinds as my old RSX was, but that was to be expected. I've crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge during wind restrictions (40+ sustained crosswinds, no trucks allowed) and, though I felt it, it wasn't unmanageable. Expectations, I guess. I think it was built more to slice the wind from the front, though. Bottom line, big winds will affect pretty much anything.
Cheers
T

 

Broken record time again,,, Nokian WRg2 tires!

 

My 2010 Prius replaced my 2000 Camry and I haven't noticed much difference when it comes to driving in gusty winds. Coming back to LA from a trip to AZ in mid-October, we experienced really awful winds and dust storms for basically the entire length from Sedona to near Palm Springs. I calculated my mpg was around 39.9 for that portion, but that the general mpg going to Sedona was around 46. I am almost sure that my Camry would have also had a drop in mpg, but has anyone else noticed this as well?

 

I have to drive to Palm Desert tomorrow and the weather says Santa Ana's with 60 MPH wind gusts. Should be OK but perhaps unnerving at times

 

I'm surprised that there's no programming in the electric steering for crosswinds. Other cars do have it.

 

Do you have the rear swaybar? That will help in crosswinds. I suspect the Prius chassis flex is the issue creating a rear steer effect. The car needs big swaybar's and some serious chassis bracing to tighten things up

Mike