~~~~~highway handling~~~~~

[Lowflyer]

Is it me or the inherit nature of the Insight?
I mostly commute on the highway and understand that the vehicle will wander when it's windy out...but when it's perfectly calm, dang!, I really gotta pay attention to staying in the lane.
My 2010 Insight has a tendency to drift left and right even when you hold the wheel steady on a calm day, with a level road (center crown). In comparison, my Jeep Grand Cherokee drives laser straight.

Is anybody else experiencing this strange characteristic with the steering? She steers nice and tight in the curves, but an hour or two on the highway and you can get a little fatigued from autopiloting a straight course...

Other than that, this car is exactly what I needed for my 75 mile commute.
I've got the Honda Protection Plan, so I'm curious about how the dealer will handle this, but it'd be nice to get some feedback from other owners first!

I was following another Insight once (quite rarely seen) and it was doing much better than mine.

So, do you'all drive with your thumbs or arms??

Cheers!!!

[zurk]

it should not drift AT ALL. i can let go of my steering and it will stay dead straight for miles. you have a major defect somewhere. i'd suggest a wheel alignment and tire rotation and ask the dealer to inspect the vehicles steering closely.

[Cobb]

Mines tends to follow banked roads similar to my 240d. I agree, I think you got something out of alignment.

Now in the wind it will move around a bit, lowering, a sway bar and reducing the tire psi helps that.

[InsightRider101]

Originally Posted by Lowflyer

Is it me or the inherit nature of the Insight?
I mostly commute on the highway and understand that the vehicle will wander when it's windy out...but when it's perfectly calm, dang!, I really gotta pay attention to staying in the lane.

I too drive on the highways everyday to work, I feel the push from the wind sometimes too it's just because the cars really light. Also I've read in other threads that the tires are sort of cheap and buying a good tire for the car can improve a lot.

[waterdog]

Mine really blows around in the wind, but is fine when it is not windy. Maybe not as arrow straight as my Volvo, but not at all objectionable.

[TNQR-TOY]

The recommended tire pressures for the stock tires is 35psi for the front tires and 33psi for the rear tires.
With the 58/42 weight distribution of the Insight and the stock tire load ratings-
these tire pressures will provide full surface area contact from the tires.
Any higher tire pressure will reduce the tires surface contact area which will reduce the cars straight line stability.
If you are using higher tire pressures then the symptoms you are decribing are the result of those higher tire pressures.
If you are using the recommended tire pressures on your car then there is a problem with your car and you should have the dealer check it out.

Tnqr-Toys Dad

[Lowflyer]

It's the first time I had to carry my toolbags in the back cargo compartment. With approx 70 lbs of equipment in the rear, the car tracks like some of you describe (zurk), super straight. I can now take my thumbs off the wheel and it doesn't skate anymore.

My thoughts are that it's not the front end, but rather the rear end being battered with side gusts from trucks and larger SUV's. There's alot of side surface area in the back to get pushed around when empty.

My tire pressures are correct for a light load, 32psi F&R (door sticker says 33 F&R, which is recommended for full load).

So this past week, we have had some nasty winds here in the north east and at 75-80 mph, had an opportunity to test the handling with or without my cargo...definitely much closer to perfection when slightly loaded.

I purchased the vehicle new in august 2010 and now 6.5 months later have 20,000 miles on it. Not one complaint (now that the handling is solved).

With fuel prices imminently rising past $4.00 soon, this is my kind of car!

Thanks for all the responses, it's exactly what I needed to hear from other owners!

Leather wrapped steering wheel, mud guards, door visors, winter mats, cargo mat, cargo cover, and a very happy owner .

[steve_b1]

This Motor Trend article uses the word "hunt" to decscribe the nature of what I consider too to be strange handling on some roads at certain speeds:

".. On the highway, the Insight hunts in its lane..." 2010 Honda Insight Long Term Update 4 - Motor Trend

Yeah, for me that's the best label that describes the feeling - it's hunting for a line to take.

[Lowflyer]

Obviously, that Motor Trend article is biased. "The joy of driving is absent here".....hmmmm, I can't agree with that. For me, 20,000 miles in 6 months is a true test of like or dislike. So far, $60.00 in maintenance cost and 8 gallon refills is a huge joy. Not to mention the dashboard layout and the quality of the option kits. Yes, the engine revs when demands are put to it, but that's the nature of a small capacity motor attached to a tranny that acts like a snowmobiles' torque converter. On the other hand, I love the 2500rpm's at 75 mph. Besides, where the $#*^ is the Prius's dashboard???? I saw the lack of and never even test drove one. I need gauges!!!! I think Motor Trend gets kickbacks from Toyota.

"Hunt for a line" is a perfect description of what I was experiencing before, but with the added weight in the rear cargo, I can cruise past tractor trailers without feeling battered. To illustrate, I rest my left hand on my knee and steer with thumb and forefinger now. My round trip commute takes me 213 miles along the connecticut trnpke and new york thruway, the depression grooves left by trucks result in a railroad ride where my head bobbles left and right, but the Insight tracks exactly where I want it. To verify this, the trip requires more effort with an empty cargo hold.

[MN Driver]

By adding weight to the rear you are possibly taking weight off the front or at least changing the distribution to be more rear-biased. Try raising your front tire pressure another 5-10 PSI(or sidewall max) for a similar trip and see if it has the same/desired operation. Carrying extra weight in the back will only reduce your MPG, so if its stuff you don't need and you are carrying it just to change the dynamics of the car, I'd search for a different solution. ..that's probably stuff you need though, so ignore that if it is.

A car with a zero toe alignment will hunt a little on the road or if there is an issue with castor but if you haven't modified, damaged, or worn out the suspension castor shouldn't be a problem. Adding a slight amount of toe-in, like what most cars have, would assist with keeping it pointed straight, however you lose a small amount of MPG doing that.