OB really susceptible to crosswinds?

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by Cobalt

My outback is probably right at the top of the list for being the worse vehicle I have driven in the wind.

Today we had probably 15-20 mph winds with gusts maybe to 30 and I was blown all over my lane, the worst part about it was I was passed by a smart car and I jumped over behind it and that little short wheel based car was planted firmly in the center of the lane.

I have driven all kinds of lifted vehicles that were never effected by the wind like my outback is so I'm not buying that it is due to having a taller then standard car profile.

Cobalt pack it full of some heavy stuff and its a totally different car in wind. Ive done enough long trips in very windy conditions in both light and packed format - hands down packing it full of heavy crap turns it into a completely different car rock solid and not really upset by much. I'm attributing this to its lighter weight vs SUV profile and the stupid raised suspension.

[OB1995]

I so agree - terrible in the wind!!
Spoke w/ a 2010 OB owner at a gas station who unprompted told me it was terrible in the wind & he had owned other OBs in the past & loved them & said he didn't think his next car would be a Subaru due to this issue.

It is the most frustrating issue about an otherwise great car.

Another reason why it would be great to be able to get a Legacy Wagon in the U.S.

[MNOutback]

2004 Toyota Sienna. That was pretty scary with crosswinds

[kpk02]

I don't notice it a whole lot personally, but maybe it's dependent on what else you'd driven. My past vehicles have been: 2010 Highlander, 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP, 2005 GMC Envoy, 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. I'd say all of them had equal to if not worse crosswind problems than my 2013 Outback.

Also, I still think that the craptastic OEM tires have to play some role in it. I've got my X-Ice winters on now and I'd swear it seems significantly easier to keep going straight whether crosswinds or calm. I have to wonder how solid it would be with a quality 3 season tire.

Edit: I should note that I have the 3.6. I imagine that the added weight is helping me some over the 2.5, about 200 pounds more if I read correctly.

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by kpk02

I don't notice it a whole lot personally, but maybe it's dependent on what else you'd driven. My past vehicles have been: 2010 Highlander, 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP, 2005 GMC Envoy, 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. I'd say all of them had equal to if not worse crosswind problems than my 2013 Outback.

Also, I still think that the craptastic OEM tires have to play some role in it. I've got my X-Ice winters on now and I'd swear it seems significantly easier to keep going straight whether crosswinds or calm. I have to wonder how solid it would be with a quality 3 season tire.

Edit: I should note that I have the 3.6. I imagine that the added weight is helping me some over the 2.5, about 200 pounds more if I read correctly.

Actually I recall it was about 80lbs not even 100lbs difference

Your passenger in the right seat makes a larger difference in vehicle weight then the difference between the 2.5 and the 3.6

[Budaru]

Subi Noobi here. Have had my 3.6R less than a month, but I've already noticed it wandering on the highway. I suspected the tires and found that the OB was delivered to me with 38 psi in three tires and 40 psi in the fourth. Setting the pressure to spec helped a lot. Still the car reminds me of driving in the 60's with bias ply tires. Ok, not really that bad, but still worse than any other car I've had with radials.

I'm interested in the comments about the 19mm sway bars, but would like a bit of advice please. Could these help my car, which is a 2013 OB 3.6R limited? Where do I get them and can I put them on myself?

Thanks everyone. Great Forum

[Aorys]

Originally Posted by kpk02

I don't notice it a whole lot personally, but maybe it's dependent on what else you'd driven. My past vehicles have been: 2010 Highlander, 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP, 2005 GMC Envoy, 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. I'd say all of them had equal to if not worse crosswind problems than my 2013 Outback.

I agree. I have also experienced the "wandering" in the lane and had to "fight" the steering wheel on a 3.6R, but my last car was a Charger R/T, and there was a Mini Cooper S before that. Those cars tracked straight...when the alignment was fine. I drove a Cherokee for 9 years, but that was so **** long ago that I would not be able to correctly recall the feel of the steering.

I tend to think that the OB drives like an SUV and will not change the sway bar unless there is damage to the current one. According to some of the other comments, a tire change may well reduce the wandering. Besides, those Continentals are crap off road.

[subiesailor]

Could be worse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwiv23dLhMY

[borislanger]

Yes, it certainly does tend to be more susceptible to cross-wind movement. My previous car was a 1999 Honda Accord, and i haven't noticed as much shifting in the wind. My first long trip in the '11 Outback was through the mountains of Western Maryland, and I did notice that I had to correct the direction with steering a lot more, and after a 180-mile drive, I felt more tired. With that said, i don't typically notice any problems like this during regular daily highway driving, unless the wind gusts particularly hard.

[bfoutch]

It could be even worser: ;-)
Strong winds. [VIDEO]