sedan handling sucks

[punch]

I have noticed over the last month, that my sedan in stock form, sucks in the handling department... eg. today at highway speeds (120km/hr), with a damp road, the car was hard to handle and felt unsafe... then a transport truck passed me and the wind from this truck, broke my rear-end loose, almost causing me to hit the center-rail..

Will better tires, and lowering my car help this handling problem, my previuos car handled like it was on rails, and this one has me in fear !!!

Punch

[Moose]

I dunno, man. Mine (also a sedan) has been wonderful as far as handling is concerned. I drive almost 100 miles a day, most of the time at 80mph, and even in the rain I've had no feelings of instability. I've even done a couple runs into the mountains where I live, and I've found the car to be very balanced, even "flickable" for you two-wheelers out there.

Stupid question, but have you checked your tire pressure and tread depth?

[Tankota]

While the does get buffeted a bit by high wind and trucks due to it's light weight, I've never had any problems near that.. I just took it yesterday on a nice tight deserted 70 mile mountain road, realy got to play around with it and pushed it in the corners, other than the rear being a bit light and no rear sway bar, it handled much better than I was expecting... I think I took a few thousand miles off the tire rubber though...

Like said above, maybe check the tire pressure, it should be set to what's listed in the door, if they are over inflated they will perform realy bad on wet surfaces.

[stuffy]

i've had the experience of being tossed around a bit in a cross wind (in my hatch), but nothing too bad.

[fearturtle44]

Well, this car is a very LIGHT car (one reason for the nice MPG) so the chance of swaying when a tractor trailer or cross wind comes by is very possible.

Kevin

[Ryu]

My hatch got lowered with eibach spring, and even that rally spoiler installed from dealer( god knows will it help air drag or not), my car get tossed around sometimes during big crosswind and big trailer drive by.

I think this car do a pretty good job against front air drag but not the crosswind and the crowsswind from trailer, cuz those wind are from the side, and due to it's light weight, it sure get tossed around sometimes

But I do find a small but not huge technique to prevent this, when you encounter crosswind or trailer drive by you, don't let go of your gas pedal.
I find that when I stop pressing my gas pedal during those situation make the car sway worse, so step on the gas pedal all the way might add a little secured feeling to yourself.

Ps. This information might not be correct, but I just want to share my experience with you guys, at least it works for me

[Moose]

Originally Posted by Ryu

But I do find a small but not huge technique to prevent this, when you encounter crosswind or trailer drive by you, don't let go of your gas pedal.
I find that when I stop pressing my gas pedal during those situation make the car sway worse, so step on the gas pedal all the way might add a little secured feeling to yourself.

Good point- I have found in my little adventures that there is a fair amount of lift-throttle steering with the Yaris (take foot off gas, car slightly dives to right or left depending on vehicle attitude). It's great for autocrossing and mountain runs, but I can see where it could be a little unnerving just driving around town.

I could see this coming, though- the Yaris comes with a nice, supple suspension that, while insulating you from the road, will have negative side effects like this. Not to mention, the side of the car is so tall that crosswind will have a bigger impact on it than other, lower profile cars.

[Lafiro]

Well, from my experience, it handles incoming air pretty well. But air coming from the side from crosswinds really do "push" the car. It feels weird. yesterday we had a severe storm pass over where I was driving, and lets just say I hydroplaned more times on the highway then I will ever want to again, I almost crashed once just cause I tried changing lanes. And ofcourse this was keeping up with highway speed.

But handling is alright, it isn't the best ofcourse, but I like it. My car is still stock.

How does yours' do with difference rims/tires?

[Ryu]

I can't even imagine how does the previous generation echo stand those crosswind because they are even lighter than Yaris lol

[wwwh355]

Originally Posted by Lafiro

Well, from my experience, it handles incoming air pretty well. But air coming from the side from crosswinds really do "push" the car. It feels weird. yesterday we had a severe storm pass over where I was driving, and lets just say I hydroplaned more times on the highway then I will ever want to again, I almost crashed once just cause I tried changing lanes. And ofcourse this was keeping up with highway speed.

But handling is alright, it isn't the best ofcourse, but I like it. My car is still stock.

How does yours' do with difference rims/tires?

No matter how fancy your car is.
Match your speed to the road and weather conditions is important.
My sedan got tossed by the side wind also.
But to a light weight car, it is normal.
As long as I can keep the car in lane, it is fine and safe.
I believe a tire and ride-height adjustment can change that though.

[YarisPR]

Mine sticks to the road pretty damn good before my Yaris Sedan I hade a VW passat AWD and I can assure you there isn't much difference. Then again i'am ridding on TRD 18 and I lowered the car (no shock just springs).

About the wind there is nothing to do about

[sroberts]

We had a really big rain a few days ago and I was extremely impressed how it did in the rain and going around the corners. Felt very solid.

[ChinoCharles]

Lower car = lower center of gravity and less surface area exposed to high winds = more STABLE

Wider tires would help too. Its simple physics.

[YarisPR]

Originally Posted by ChinoCharles

Lower car = lower center of gravity and less surface area exposed to high winds = more STABLE

Wider tires would help too. Its simple physics.

couldn't say it better myself

People always remember we are driving a economy car not an lexury ca r so don't expect more than what u paid for

[Katana]

Originally Posted by sroberts

We had a really big rain a few days ago and I was extremely impressed how it did in the rain and going around the corners. Felt very solid.

Here too.And I was amazed by the way the car handles.

[pxpaulx]

i thought it does quite well in the rain also - the crosswind moves are expected because it is such a light car. they're not as bad as it was in my 99 civic, or our saturn vue - that was the worst, really bad in the rain glad we got rid of it!

[vodkalush]

punch

what size tires do you have? I remeber reading awhile back (last week prob ;-) ) someone saying the the handling was alot better with 15 vs 14...