Cross winds

[andyd68]

Its been very windy up here for the past couple of days and my 'rocco is very, very twitchy in crosswinds on the motorway. In fact it was so un-nerving this afternoon on the way home this afternoon that I slowed down to 55mph.

Could it be down to the car's relative light weight and aerodynamic shape?

Has anyone else had a similar experience with their car?

[Shaun]

Its not lighter than most average size cars and looks to have a low center of gravity, its no worse than any car i have ever owned, its just particularly windy in places.

[juniorbanks]

Well the Roc is twelfty foot high on stock springs thus exposed to winds, you need a lowering kit Just driven through some crazy winds and not the slightest movement !!

[bianco]

... I slowed down to 55mph....

Just for setting the picture. Was everybody else going faster than You, with one hand on the wheel and shaving/doing makeup with the other?

[andyd68]

... I slowed down to 55mph....

Just for setting the picture. Was everybody else going faster than You, with one hand on the wheel and shaving/doing makeup with the other?

Yeah, I was gripping the wheel with both hands - knuckles white and beads of sweat on my forehead

[Candy Monster]

An aerodynamic shape should make the car less susceptable to wind so it can't be that.
Only driven mine once in high wind and did notice that the car was twitchy. This was when it was on stock springs and in comfort mode. I just switched to normal setting and it was fine. It's the only time I've used normal mode to be honest! Sport obviously would stiffen up lateral movement and steering further.

[Ryy]

My old ST seemed to be susceptible to winds. Always thought that car was too high. Was great in a car park though to spot it.

This one, I don't think I have noticed anything come to think of it. If I had of, I would of thought to myself about it, but I didn't until reading this. Being lowered also, it is quite a low car come to think of it. Maybe that helps. lol.

[ZephyR]

... I slowed down to 55mph....

Just for setting the picture. Was everybody else going faster than You, with one hand on the wheel and shaving/doing makeup with the other?

Yeah, I was gripping the wheel with both hands - knuckles white and beads of sweat on my forehead

PMSL

[Trooper]

...and my 'rocco is very, very twitchy in crosswinds on the motorway.

Could it be down to the car's relative light weight and aerodynamic shape?

Crosswind stability is predominantly a factor of the posisitoning of an object's Centre of Pressure relative to the Centre of Gravity of. From the following atricle...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_eff ... ballistics" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"If the centre of pressure is ahead of the centre of gravity, the effect [of a cross wind] is destabilizing; if the centre of pressure is behind the centre of gravity, the effect is stabilizing."


Aerodynamic car design takes into account the positioning of the Centre of Pressure, but like everything else, is a compromise with aerodynamic efficiency (essentially fuel efficiency) and aesthetics..... Perhaps the 'Roccos design is marginally more compromised than other cars in terms of crosswind stability??