I just wanted to see what WE as a community come up with on the issue of the squirmyness the smart cars have at highway speeds.
I feel that its not just a size issue or a tire size issue, I ussed to experiense a similar issue driving a 90s jetta that obviously was much heavier.
Has anybody tackled the problem and found a solution worth mentioning?
I feel that its not just a size issue or a tire size issue, I ussed to experiense a similar issue driving a 90s jetta that obviously was much heavier.
Has anybody tackled the problem and found a solution worth mentioning?
Replies to This Discussion
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But Geo, the slow lane on 85 north of Cupertino will make ANY car feel like a mechancical bull. And the slow lanes of 280 from Saratoga Blvd to 85 intersection aren't any better in spots.
Saw a tractor truck trailer launch on the uneven part just before the Wolf exit today.
But you are right, it shouldn't wander or have tracking problems unless they are road connected. SATO is fighting this fight on his car now, and I suspect once others find out their car should track properly, they will join him for a proper fix.
Glad to hear you have your smartie and are enjoying it.
Perhaps I will get to do the same - soon.
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Yes, those are bad spots but the smart over those sections is much, much worse than in my other cars.
Since I took that route on my home from the San Jose smart center when I picked up my smart, my first impression was "Holy Sh!t Batman, what have I done?!?!" I think what makes it worse in the smart than in my other cars is; 1) the short wheelbase, 2) the fact that in the smart you are practically sitting on top of the wheels (feet over the fronts and you arse over the rears).
But after 1,000 or so miles I can now report that road surfaces aside, my smart is fine.
geosynch
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what color are you? Living in Cupertino like I do, you may have been seen bouncing along.
I know we have a blue and silver Passion and a blue and black Cabrio regularly in the area. The smart center of SJ has been putting a lot of smarts on the road, but surprised I don't see more of them.
There is Dent Man, the Yellow, a Silver, couple whites and a couple blues as noted, where are all the reds? And I know there are more than 7 cars delivered!
Are you seeing them during commute?
Took a trip to UT week before last and saw one smart! One! That was two minutes away from home on the return leg. None in Sacto, none in Salt Lake City! Are they saving them for a clear day?
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My smart is a red cabrio with the black trim. I've seen a few around town, and they are getting more common. Funny thing is, someone I work with picked up his red cabrio with black trim last week. (Actually, not that funny. I liked being the only smart in the parking lot.)
geosynch
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I ride motorcycles as well as drive cars, trucks, boats you name it and I can drive it. One thing that I have learned about bikes and small cars is you have to have "wind guts". Pay attention to what the wind is doing to your vehicle and drive in such a way as to combat the effects the wind is having on you. And simply pay attention to what you are doing! When you are going fast enough in a smart to feel the effects of wind pushing you around in you lane on a highway you are doing something that is physically impossible for human beings to do in our natural state. You are HURLING YOURSELF DOWN A ROAD AT 70 MPH!!!! Do everyone around you a favor and PAY ATTENTION to what you are doing and remember this ain't your grandma's '86 Grand Marquis which weighs 4700 lbs. It's a 1600 lbs scooter with a roof and a whole lot of technology integrated into it to keep us somewhat safer than without it. This is a tiny car with a very short wheelbase. So as you go down the street look up through that wonderful polycarbonate roof in your smart and look at the trees to see how much wind is moving them around so you can adjust your driving accordingly.
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Today was the ultimate test pos alignment @ mb/smart dealer. The winds were, nasty to put it mildly. If anyone watched the golf game at TPC, you saw it, 30 milegists were the norm. Im happy to report that smarty behaved better than before. Aparently the adjusting of TOE did settle it a bit but it still wanders some.... And NO! Its not caused by the wind. The feeling is more of crossing open grating on a bridge in slower motion.
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SATO, you might check the thread you started on SCOA as there are some intelligent replies, finally. Perhaps you HAVE been following it, in that case I apologize.
Of note there was some discussion of shimming the wheel on the out of alignment side, the lack of familiarity with the didion rear tube, talk of tire issues, and a general feeling that you might really be having a problem because the car was mishandled or the tube was manufactured incorrectly.
Though it sounds like it is better, it still doesn't sound right. I know my Honda Pilot was squirmy and it was in part because the car was delivered with 20lbs(!) of pressure in the tires, but ultimately wasn't resolved satisfactorily until I installed new tires of an entirely different brand. (Not to say that was your problem, just that there IS a solution.)
Here's hoping it all works out.
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I have a little of what you describe at between 65 and 70. It actually is not as bad above 70. I attibute to soft sidewall tires. At this time, it is an annoyance more than a problem so will not throw money at it. However, I am convinced a set of Michelins would eliminate this feeling. I have had a similar feel on two other much heavier vehicles. The stiffer sidewalls totally eliminated it both times. However, stiffer sidewalls also means a little rougher ride.
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amen brother! i rode 200 pound bikes down the road at 70mph, i was driving a 1800 pound metro for 10 years and a 1700 pound subaru justy for another ten years, you ride light, you gotta ride TIGHT!
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Permalink Reply by Bryan on -
The dealer told me that the power steering causes the car to move a little from side-to-side, because it is correcting for bumps and changes in the road. Most drivers automatically correct their steering when the road changes, but the power steering is also adjusting at the same time and this causes the side-to-side motion. I don’t know if I believe this or not, but it makes some sense.
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save your $415 for your CD collection or whatever. driving a smart is something to get used to. it's got a 6 foot wheelbase, and it is different from any other car in the country. first you adjust to the 6 foot wheelbase, very "twitchy" to start, after a few days, you're smooth as silk.
the steering is light as hell in manual. if you're under 70 and almost healthy, you don't need power in smart. the power steering makes the smart "dart" more to steering inputs (adding quick steering to a 6 ft wheelbase)
from your pic, looks like you could lift the front end of a smart, all the happiness and energy of your smile.
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Permalink Reply by 451 Kahn on -
My Smart used to feel squirmy but thicker rubber changed it all. Find someone who has a Smart with 205 or 215 tires in the back and 195 in the front. Make a big change. The car will corner stop and do everything better. Trust me.
You are welcome to drive my Smart but you will have to travel a little.
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