Highway driving

Success!!!

Well I want to thank those of you who got this right. I went back again, with more information this time, to have the dealer check the alignment. It was in fact 'in spec', at just about 0 toe-in. The spec is -.100 to +.100. I asked them to set it at +.025 on ea side, +.05 total (per recommendation of a couple of the folks on this site). BIG improvement, I'd say 80% of perfect. I then installed a BTplate, which got me to within 1 or 2% of perfect (this being subjective of course). The BTplate seems to help mostly in 'dynamic' situations, like when you hit bumps, pass trucks, etc. It just makes the whole frame feel more solid - I highly recommend it. (to all naysayers who haven't tried it - you don't know what you're talking about, but on the other hand, if you don't think you need it...then you probably don't).

Anyway, I'm enjoying the car on the freeway much more now. I still think the car is kind of skittish though, and I think Toyota blew it with the toe-in spec allowing negative, and even zero, toe-in. Changing tires, etc., to solve this is ridiculous. I think the basic problem is that the track is too narrow to be a really stable car on the freeway, they really should take more care about this issue. For instance, having no EZ way to adjust the back wheel angle is also lame (mine has some + toe-in at the back, within the spec which allows A LOT of toe-in...shimming this to zero, I was told, might also help but I haven't done that yet) . At least I was able to get it quite driveable with a little knowledge, educating the dealer, and $180 for the BTplate (a great investment). Thanks everyone who offered good advice (especially Brian at BT).