OB really susceptible to crosswinds?

[wutbürger]

Originally Posted by blSwagger

The first Gen4 OB I test drove on a highway, an '11 3.6r, wandered a lot. Yes it was windy out, but I've never experienced something that terrible before. I actually had to grip the steering wheel harder going around the corner to make sure I didn't get pushed into the other lane. For this reason (and a couple others), I'll probably go with a JSW when my GTI lease runs up instead of an OB...

Just don't go with a TDI unless you want to face the possibility of an $8,000+ repair like I did with my 11 Golf TDI whose HPFP imploded for no reason in January of this year.

And the only VW TDI's to require urea in the US are the touareg and passat- golf/jetta/jsw do not however all require fuel filter changes every 20k, oil every 10, and dsg fluid at 40 if so equipped.

My recommendation: go with the GTI; superb drivability, excellent interior, just great cars. Just note that there have been numerous issues with carbon buildup and broken timing chains on all VW 2.0t models as miles have racked up, otherwise they seem to be holding up well.

[Jeepwatchman]

My 2013 must be a great Outback. I feel none of the wandering anybody else is feeling even here in Wyoming with all the wind we have been having. When I turn a corner, the steering wheel comes back towards center position just like it should and I can drive down the interstate with one hand on the wheel and maintain a straight line just fine.

The car does move some when you get hit with a gust of wind as will any vehicle you drive and get hit with 35mph+ gusts.

Maybe you guys have too much of a "death grip" on the wheel

[Georgeh]

I still think it's all in the alignment.

[DieselOx]

Originally Posted by Jeepwatchman

My 2013 must be a great Outback. I feel none of the wandering anybody else is feeling even here in Wyoming with all the wind we have been having. When I turn a corner, the steering wheel comes back towards center position just like it should and I can drive down the interstate with one hand on the wheel and maintain a straight line just fine.

The car does move some when you get hit with a gust of wind as will any vehicle you drive and get hit with 35mph+ gusts.

Maybe you guys have too much of a "death grip" on the wheel

2013 model has been mostly fixed; Subaru did a major overhaul on the suspension. The problem is 2012 and earlier. Seems to me, getting the alignment dead on and a bigger rear sway bar will fix most of it. Add the 2013 front sway bar and strut mount bracing for even better control. The only thing left at that point is the return to center: the first 2 inches of steering travel has no returnability on my car, but it's easy to learn to deal with by habit.

[Jeepwatchman]

Originally Posted by DieselOx

2013 model has been mostly fixed; Subaru did a major overhaul on the suspension. The problem is 2012 and earlier. Seems to me, getting the alignment dead on and a bigger rear sway bar will fix most of it. Add the 2013 front sway bar and strut mount bracing for even better control. The only thing left at that point is the return to center: the first 2 inches of steering travel has no returnability on my car, but it's easy to learn to deal with by habit.

Oh okay. So it was earlier models that had the issues then. Explains why mine drives the way it does then. Thanks

[Aorys]

I'm driving the freeway with two fingers on the wheel. I've gotten used to it. No big deal.

[DieselOx]

Originally Posted by Aorys

I'm driving the freeway with two fingers on the wheel. I've gotten used to it. No big deal.

Then you do not have a wanderer. Mine only really wandered in the wind, but it was both hands and full attention just to stay in the lane, honestly. Front left and right rear had a whole bunch of positive toe from the factory, way out of spec. A careful alignment fixed it entirely. NOW I drive with 2 fingers on the wheel in the wind and don't think about it for hundreds of miles.

[Aorys]

Originally Posted by DieselOx

Then you do not have a wanderer. Mine only really wandered in the wind, but it was both hands and full attention just to stay in the lane, honestly. Front left and right rear had a whole bunch of positive toe from the factory, way out of spec. A careful alignment fixed it entirely. NOW I drive with 2 fingers on the wheel in the wind and don't think about it for hundreds of miles.

I let go of the steering wheel, and the f*cking vehicle wanders off the road on a straight, flat path. Ergo, it's a wanderer. Besides, I put "wanderer" in quotation marks, which means it is a so-called wanderer. As I said before, it drives like an SUV.

It's great yours is fixed after the goddamn headache it's given you. Sounds like the 2012s were the crappy ones with the issue.

[fatabbot]

Originally Posted by Aorys

fucking

Funny, you can't type "h e l l" without the censors kicking in....

****

[Georgeh]

Originally Posted by Aorys

Sounds like the 2012s were the crappy ones with the issue.

Sounds like to me that it's alignment that is the issue, not the year. Positive toe ("toe out") will wreak havoc on the directional stability of nearly any car.

Seriously people - GET A F-ING ALIGNMENT!