Prius Handling Problems at Highway Speeds

For back problems on long trips try this back support -

http://www.magellans.com/store/Auto_Travel...temsAA654?Args=

The price is right and makes the Prius seat very comfortable.

For stability improvement I definitely recommend the BT stiffening plate. Very noticeable difference.

Prius 2004 / 35000 miles, Michelin Hydroedge (44/42 psi), BT Stiffening Plate

 

Goodyear Tripletred + BT Stiffening brace = a nice smooth controlled ride. Love it!!

 

I had that fishy feel on my new 06.
I took a chance on the BT stiffening plate and it wame all the differance.
Last week I drove the Bely parkway In Brooklyn and if felt great.
The Jursey Turnpyke @ 80 was just fine.

 

My original impression was that this is the worst handling car I have owned, coming from BMW's, MB's and a couple of SUV's. I have gotten somewhat used to the squirming on the Southern Cal freeways. However, the Diamond Lanes seem better. So, if you get your stickers, you have something to look forward to. I agree about keeping a firm grip. I will look into some of the suspension adjustments, if the local dealer will go along with doing them. Also, I am considering a BT plate. The wind and rain we recently experienced made me extremely uncomfortable driving, trying to keep up with traffic, avoid hydroplaning, and the usual squirming on the rain grooves, while trying to see where I was going in the opaque mist that was coming up from the freeway.

Mike Tichon

 

I had the same problem of tracking on my 04 #6 and solved the problem by changing the toe-in to 0.1 degrees (twice the Toyota recommended toe-in) and reduced the air pressure 2 lbs in all the tires. Both of these reduced my MPG slightly. I now have a 06 #8 and it tracked better until I ran it into a curb. I felt like I was driving the 04 when it was new. After having the front end re-alighted to 0.05 degrees it tracks correctly.

Adding weight to the front end or changing the tires does not help the 04. Others have tried this and failed. Toyota is aware of the problems in some of the cars and if you push them they will respond but not offer any extended help past the specks.

 

I blew past a Prius the other day on the Inerstate (in my Escalade)...he was probably doing about 70-75 and I was rollin with the cruise control set on 100 ..when I glanced in the passenger side outside mirror I could easily see the Prius was blasted by the wind, it was correcting noticably within its lane, but it sure looked like a handfull ! granted it was a windy day as well, but I hate to think what a full blown Semi-Tractor Trailer Rig rolling past a Prius would be like ! !

 

I blew past an Escalade the other day on Route 9 (in my Prius)...he was probably doing about 30-35 gal and I was rollin on EV with the battery givin me 20A ..when I glanced in the passenger side outside mirror I could easily see the Escalade owner's wallet was blasted by the pump, money was escaping noticably from his hands, but it sure looked like a handfull o' cash ! granted it was a price-peak day as well, but I hate to think what a full blown Hummer Rig rolling up to that pump would be like ! !
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pocketpenguin @ Apr 5 2006, 06:51 PM) [snapback]235614[/snapback]</div>

Same here with previous car being a Legacy. Tracked like it was on rails. The Prius is squirmy. I've invested in ComfortTreads and the BT plate. Both help, especially on country roads. But there are still issues once I get it on the freeway at higher speeds.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Apr 6 2006, 11:40 PM) [snapback]236152[/snapback]</div>

ROFLMAO!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Priceless

 

Hobbit--nice!

As far as experiencing problems with wind in my 2006, today was the day! Sustained winds of 40-45 mph with gusts to 50-55 from the NW (not the normal direction), driving NE to Albuquerque. Not only did I need to control the car with two hands (the BT plate will be at home tomorrow, I'm going to get it installed on Sat AM I hope) at times, but I wasn't the only one being bounced around. A huge Expedition was shoved into the right lane by a huge gust right in front of me. He slowed down to 70 while I passed by at 75.

I have to say that the experience I had driving the Prius in these strong crosswinds today was akin to experiences driving my GMC Jimmy in strong crosswinds. Strong crosswinds are just that...strong crosswinds...and they are a b**** to drive in.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gilahiker @ Apr 7 2006, 01:07 AM) [snapback]236195[/snapback]</div>

All you guys don't know what strong wind can do to your driving If you drive an RV then you will know what cross wind does to your driving. I once rented a class-A 34 ft Bounder. Being so long and high and riding on such a short wheelbase, dang it WAS BAD in strong cross wind. I was pee'ing my pants. Compared to that, Prius is rock steady. Wish I had 45 ft RV, you know Provost conversion :angry:

Now we are talking about different things here; cross wind, tracking, and tramlining. Following groove on freeway is tramlining. Since Prius is riding on a high aspect ratio tires, tramlining is minimal and I have not experienced tramlining. If you ever drove a car with bald Pirelli Rosso with 40 aspect ratio, you would know what tramlining is. Even with no cross wind over smooth pavement, Prius does not track as straight as my previous car did. It darts quite a bit. I think alignment will help quite a bit here. Cross wind, when you pass a semi, you experience the effect. It is not good, but then again, it is not that bad either. I will ask for slight toe-in when I bring it in for 5k service. The tires might wear out quicker and the mileage might suffer a bit, but it might be worth it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Garlic Capital @ Apr 6 2006, 11:36 PM) [snapback]236211[/snapback]</div>

When an RV or a big rig does happen to pass me in a strong crosswind I almost pee in my pants thinking they might slam into me. Today everyone was driving pretty good...the RVs and big rigs that were on the highway were crawling today. Many had pulled off along the highway, but they will have a long wait...winds are not supposed to die down until 3AM Friday.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Apr 6 2006, 11:40 PM) [snapback]236152[/snapback]</div>

Hilarious!! :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ARiddle @ Apr 5 2006, 04:31 PM) [snapback]235547[/snapback]</div>

I also drive in Orange county...we probably have passed each other at some time. I have had my Prius for a month now, and I have noticed that when being passed at a substantially higher speed, the Prius does move around in the lane, just like a van would. However, this is not much of an issue. I also have experienced the difficulty with the grooves cut into the freeways, but that has been more of a noise issue rather than a handling issue as I keep a firm grip on the wheel.

 

Regarding higher tire pressures, I pumped mine up not because I think the Prius is "Jittery", but because it is a cheap fix to improve cornering ability. I haven't noticed any appreciable damage to ride quality with the higher pressures, no mpg gain either. My ONLY handling complaint is the tippy feeling on cornering, and excessive understeer. With all the lawyer inspired "nannys", skid control, etc, there's no way the rear will be loose enough to cancel the understeer, but I would like to try a rear sway bar. I heard there is a Euro-available sway bar, but never see it advertised. I'm used to my modded Impreza suspension with adjustable KYB shocks, and larger rear bar, so the handling of the Prius is a little disappointing, but absolutely NO problem with freeway tracking, grooves or not. It's still fun to drive, and the more Prius miles, the more Prius smiles

 

Actually, Im only getting 11.6 mpg currently in the Escalade, and 41.6 in the Prius. ^-^

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RichBoy @ Apr 6 2006, 07:53 PM) [snapback]236122[/snapback]</div>

Is probably similar to a trolley? My dictionary does not list that word. Oh, I get it, you meant to write probably.

 

ya ! thats what I menat ! lol