Hey guys... was wondering if anyone has had to drive in really high winds. I was yesterday on the freeway and had to slow down to about 45mph just to get it under control.

any tricks to driving in the wind?

also so you know... I only have had my DL since nov. so this was a first for me...

 

we get some seriously high wind (60mph at times) here in vegas and i wouldn't say the xb is any harder to drive in the wind than any other car ive owned. you just have to be more conscious and keep both hand on the wheel. now my brother 6000+ pound chevy express van that is scary in the wind.

 

any car is hard to drive in gusty winds. there was one time in my matrix i was driving up to mt. high going down the 15 and i had the gas floored and i was going 60. i had to down shift to 3rd gear to get up to 75.

 

...brad, is that you???




(inside joke to brad aka Squirrel)

 

Put the Hotchkis sway bars on!! Helped me out alot in the Antelope Valley.

 

the Xa does not have that problem :twisted:

 

I've never noted any problem in stiff crosswinds, such as those in the Antelope Valley. Of course, I also drive a VW bus, so the little twitches of the xB aren't significant by comparison.

George

 

Had to drive out to Willow Springs raceway and back. On the return trip I had a strong wind from my right and frankly I was inpressed with the stability of my xB. Haven't lowered it or modified the suspension, but I do have 5zigen FN01R-C rims and Kumho ECSTA Supra tires on it. I was even surprised when I passed the big rigs and didn't get buffeted by them like I used to in my Blazer. Hotchkis sway bars are coming in the near future, but I'm satisfied with it the way it is.

 

Had to drive out to Willow Springs raceway and back. On the return trip I had a strong wind from my right and frankly I was inpressed with the stability of my xB. Haven't lowered it or modified the suspension, but I do have 5zigen FN01R-C rims and Kumho ECSTA Supra tires on it. I was even surprised when I passed the big rigs and didn't get buffeted by them like I used to in my Blazer. Hotchkis sway bars are coming in the near future, but I'm satisfied with it the way it is.

 

1 - Keep both hands on the wheel, preferably at 3 and 9 o'clock positions.

2 - Scan ahead, traffic conditions dictate how far, but I try to see at least 6 seconds ahead.

3 - Have an escape route/opening to prevent collsions, keep a buffer zone.

4 - Don't talk on the cell phone, don't have the DVD player going, and concentrate on driving.

Experience comes w/ time, and having some racing experience and high speed driving courses help.

It takes 3/4s of a second to see and process something, and another 3/4s of a second to react. So basically, it takes an average person 1.5 seconds from the time they see brakes lights to the time they start depressing the brake pedal. This is the standard formula that is used is accident re-creation. Then speed, and distance is also figured into the equation.

If all else, follow rules number 1 and 2.

And no Na'im, I haven't driven crazy in the Matrix lately. :twisted:

 

thanx guys... I have never driven any car thru winds like that so it was kind of shocking when the box started to drift...

Anyone know of cop driving schools available to the public that have DL's already?

Thomas

 

Take a Bondurant, Russell, or one of the other courses that are held at one of the race tracks.