Hi Guys,

I was driving on the motorway towards london when some cross winds had the car (Octy Mk1 TDI elegance) pulling around all over the place at only about 65 MPH. I had the tires changed recently and the wheels aligned. Is there anything i can do to correct this problem?

Thanks.

nope! nothing you can do about cross winds apart from maybe slowing down,

aerodynamics were designed around forward motion not lateral,

unless you want to put a bodykit on that makes your car look like a pyramid!

i have to say the octavia is a lot worse than my old vectra for the old cross winds. not as bad as a micra i had though!!!

Had my octy VRS for a few months which drives sound until the wind gets up anything more than a light breeze. It then feels like the sides have extended 10 feet into the air the way it gets blown and buffeted around. Ive owned many different cars over the years - large , small and inbetween but none react to the wind like this one. Anyone else notice the difference?

Yeah, the Mk1 Octavia is the most aerodynamic of cars and when its windy you do notice it. I've had both the hatchback and the estate and strangly I found the hatchback to be worse than the estate.

I too have found this but fail to understand why.......

I too have found this but fail to understand why.......

Whereas, in my experience, my Mk1 Octy is hardly affected by side winds. Is it just differing perceptions or could there actually be differences between cars?

lol

I noticed this too. a wolf landrover feels nicer in the wind lol

billy

Mines like a boat

Whereas, in my experience, my Mk1 Octy is hardly affected by side winds. Is it just differing perceptions or could there actually be differences between cars?

I have had both the MKI & MKII combi and both have been fine in high winds...

I have had both the MKI & MKII combi and both have been fine in high winds...

Both my Mk1 vRS and my MK2 Elegance seem unaffected by high wind, stable at speed and in high wind. If your car wanders in the wind it could be down to geometry or poor road surface leading to bad tramlining.

Both my Mk1 vRS and my MK2 Elegance seem unaffected by high wind, stable at speed and in high wind. If your car wanders in the wind it could be down to geometry or poor road surface leading to bad tramlining.

I can see what you are saying but the cars fine under normal conditions so wouldnt think it was down to geometry? I drove down from Edinburgh back to Leeds this Sunday and the A1 changes considerbly in terms of surface but this didnt make a difference when the wind was up. Like I say Ive had many different cars and none seem to be afffected by the wind like the Octy. I'm just scratching my head as to why this happens to a car which weighs nearly 1 1/2 tonnes.

Can't say I've noticed this. Mk1 hatch & I regularly cross a very exposed flyover and even when other drivers are have problems and slowing down I hardly notice it? Seems no worse than any other car I've had, probably better than some?

I've merged the two threads currently running about this subject.

HTH

lol

I noticed this too. a wolf landrover feels nicer in the wind lol

billy

yeah they arnt great!!! try driving a battlefield ambulance round the falkland islands where the wind is usually 40mph+

My Mk.I elegance is fine in cross winds actually, never had a problem at all.

FWIW IIRC the Mk.II has active yaw control which helps apparently.

I'd agree that the Octy 1 (at least in estate form) is very stable in cross-winds. In fact, I'd rate it as more stable than a Citroen, and that is a major compliment!

Could it be the shocks or tyres? I am quite baffled on this one..

Trust me i doubt there is much wrong with your car, mine is the same, i have new shocks koni fsd's, new springs H&R, polybushed wishbones, new arb's, new droplinks, new tyres and mine still gets affected by cross winds!!!

Ive sort of got used to it now, just the design of the car which is probaly what helps it get to 145mph.

Some people just can't drive

What in a straight line.

Open all the windows and duck down behind the steering wheel to reduce the surface area of the side profile. This should stop the wind catching it and will be really, really safe.

What in a straight line.

Apparently so!

I was jesting, but in all seriousness any car will need correcting to an extent in really blustery conditions, and it does take an innate feel for what the car is doing and subtle inputs to steer a straight line. Just like some people can instinctively feel how much grip a corner has...... etc. etc.

Yes, sort the suspension. The front wishbone rear bushes and the rear beam bushes lead to this wandering and 'twisting' of the car which the wind can activate. I have absolutley zero, none, wind issues at any speed in any of the octavias with the caviat that the suspension is sorted.

Mismatched tyres or bad tyres don't help, wide tyres make it worse eg the tendancy will be much worse on 17" with 225's than the stock 15" 195's for a pre facelift, for example. The wider the tyre, the less directional stability. One of the reasons racing bikes and drag cars have very narrow front tyres for sharp steering and straight line precision.

Have your tracking dynamically checked too, static tracking is all very well till you put it in gear then the torque twsts those awful voided bushes and the tracking goes out by 6 degrees.... the tyre boys will swear it's perfect though, as when stationary all the lasers are on the mark.....

Greg.

Hi Guys,

I was driving on the motorway towards london when some cross winds had the car (Octy Mk1 TDI elegance) pulling around all over the place at only about 65 MPH. I had the tires changed recently and the wheels aligned. Is there anything i can do to correct this problem?

Thanks.

nope! nothing you can do about cross winds apart from maybe slowing down,

aerodynamics were designed around forward motion not lateral,

unless you want to put a bodykit on that makes your car look like a pyramid!

I heard the Egyptian look is going to be more popular than smooth Euro styling this year :rofl: