Prius Handling Problems at Highway Speeds

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

I also drive in So.Cal. Those grooves can make even the most stable car move around. It is not a lot of fun...but I am used to them...and just let the car self correct (over-correcting is what gets you in trouble).

From your post I can not tell if you did upgrade the tires, or have just read about doing it. I did install the BT plate and it did seem to help some. However, I rarely go above 65...to obtain my MPG goals mostly. I have not received my HOV sticker yet, and although I really want it, I am a little scared about how fast everyone seems to drive in that HOV lane.

Have you also adjusted your tire pressure to 42/40?

Today with huge winds, I could feel them a little, but not bad. Maybe taking the wheel rings off actually helped reduce the side to side push on the wheels from the wind (wishful thinking!)

 

I'm running standard everything on a 2004. I do a lot of interstate driving. The car cruises nicely at 79 mph. It moves a little in high wind, but otherwise no problems. certainly nothing like what you've described.

 

I normally drive 70-80 MPH on hignway without any problem. I have not thought that high speed was a problem for Prius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JeffG @ Apr 5 2006, 07:13 PM) [snapback]235572[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(coolfire74 @ Apr 5 2006, 07:28 PM) [snapback]235580[/snapback]</div>

I'll third that. I routinely cruise at 60-80 and this car isn't any different than my old Acura. Maybe it's a road thing, or something specific with certain cars. The other day I got up to 90 and it felt surprisingly stable.

 

Perhaps you should ask the dealer to test another Prius on the same road. It may be something amiss with that particular car.

I drive on the 405 sometimes around Santa Monica and have actually been very impressed by the ride of the Prius. Maybe because I expected so much worse (had never even been in one until I bought it

I have been trying to be good about breaking in the engine, so have not really gone over 75mph, but it seems fine to me (I have installed the BT plate, but while I believe it tightened the car a bit, I didn't think the effect was so significant.)

 

just curious, what was your previous vehicle?

 

A week after I got my Prius I went to the dealership and made them put 1/8th inch of toe-in on my alignment. That helped a lot.

They will tell you zero toe-in is spec but you really want a little bit of toe-in, it really helps the car go straight down the road.

 

We've driven across Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah (straight through form Omaha to Ogden in 13 hrs.) in a completely stock 05 with no trouble. It does get pushed around by the wind a bit and the seat can get a bit uncomfortable after a few hours (reclining does help the my lower back pain), but otherwise its been a good cruiser for us.

 

Drove from San Diego, CA to Tempe AZ and back at an average of 70-75 MPH, the wind at times made me think I was going to get pulled off the road. Could not walk the day after the trip and am still trying to walk pain free (now on my 7th day), the seats are the pits on a long trip.

 

With stock tires at stock pressure at 50 mph my 2006 Pruis wiggles like a fish, especially when it is windy.

I've been driving a Subaru Outback for 5 years. It was the straightest, smoothest car I've ever driven.

I really expected better from Toyota. Given the number of people who've reported handling issues, I'd say we're not alone.

 

Wandering, darting, handling unpredictably, etc. were very common complaints about the '01 Priuses. The consensus fix then was a realignment, and it did seem to clear many people's problems up. How so many cars arrived here misaligned was an unanswered question. Hope that works for you. It should have been checked FIRST, before buying different tires or a
stiffening plate.

I remember the grooves from when I lived down there for 10 years. They gave me fits, especially up by Los Alamitos. My Corolla used to dart all over the place.

 

I drive around socal hgihways all the time, 65mph-80mph . . . I know what you are talking about, but its really not a big deal. I think the wind affect is more a matter of the car being so light, but the handling is fine, occasionally it will dart but i found the best way to counter this is to keep a firm grip on the wheel and not try to overcompensate for it. I normally drive with one hand and I kep it firm on the six oclock position. The wind doesn't really affect the handling, imo. Its just a matter of getting used the occasional blast from the wind.

oh, btw, i'm using stock everything

 

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

I'm curious why it matters if they've heard a similar complaint before. If the tech thinks it is a problem, should it not be fixed? I'm the MASTER at reporting problems for the first time. My tech loves me dearly.

 

This problem is well known here and on PriusOnline. Some suggestions:

Get it aligned (for free if you report handling problems). This includes all four wheels, including camber, caster, and toe.

Ask for a little front toe-IN (not zero toe) which will help a lot. The spec allows zero, but that's not good for you.

Add some tire pressure as described above (38-40 should do it, keep the fronts 2 psi higher).

Grab the wheel loosely, and don't over-react if it darts a little. Ther eis no dead zone, so a little goes a long way.

 

Honestly...I drive a Lexus, outside of something like a BMW one of the more stable vehicles at highway speeds. Feels like its standing still at 70.

Coming from that, I have absolutely no problem driving the Prius at highway speeds up to ~ 80 MPH, and this is on stock tires, no BT plate etc. Yes it gets buffeted by the wind somewhat but I've never felt out of control with it and the roads here in DC aren't exctley smooth. The MXV4s we put made an already stable ride moreso.

 

If you read through my link in my signature, you'll see I added two suspension braces to the front, and both helped the handling very, very much. No more tracking grooves for me at all. I think the discussion on them starts on page 5 and goes to page 7.

I wasn't really bothered by it though. The Prius is a light car; it'll do that. The best long distance cruiser was an old Mercedes 420SEL I used to have. That thing was a tank, and would cruise down the interstate at 105 and feel like 60. Smooth as butter. It was much, much heavier, and had a wheelbase about 6 feet longer than the Prius though.

Each car has it's own characteristics. That's just hte way a Prius handles. Yes, it can be improved, but it's not a design flaw or anything like that.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ARiddle @ Apr 5 2006, 09:05 PM) [snapback]235696[/snapback]</div>

The answer to that is that most folks I know didn't buy the stiffening plate (I assume that's what you mean by the "$160 fix") to fix anything. They bought it because most folks think the brace makes the car feel better - NOT that anything was broken to begin with. I've put sway bars on most of my previous cars. Not because there was anything "wrong" with them in stock form, but because I wanted better.