To those with DF210s... much improved?

I'm beginning to think that something in the whole aero of the car causes a ton of air to get channeled under the car, explains why it gets really light at speeds even when calm and tossed around in winds... the Echo comment really confirms what I thought, something seems to make the GE really light.

Those with lowered rides, did you trim the bump stops?

 

Yep. read my earlier post if you missed them. #5 and #14.
I cut my bump stops in half. No problems.

 

Yeah, if you don't cut the bumpstops in the front you will be riding on them, trust me I know this. And i must say this is the first suspension install I have ever done where cutting the stops was the hardest part of the job. They are a royal PITA in the front.

 

I think the back were a pain. That stupid metal sleeve is a stupid design.

 

I didnt cut my backs and I have zero issues :P

As per front as mentioed, it was the longest part lol.

 

I handled that by slicing the plastic dust cover in half, sliding down the stops, trimming, then wrapping the covers back together with black vinyl wrap.

 

HA that works too.

I just took everything apart. Luckily we were in my buddies shop/garage and he has every tool in the world.

 

Sometimes I wonder if I am driving the same model car as I read about on this forum!? I have been driving my Fit Sport here in SE Arizona for the past couple of weeks in 20-40+ mph cross winds. I think the car handles remarkably well! You can feel the wind but thanks to the quick steering it is easy to maintain position in the lane.

 

Locally, we've had gale force wind gusts for the past week. Those are hard to handle in about any high-profile car.

In my 99 civic, with 15x7.5 tires, it didn't make any difference. I guess it's because I'm so used to not feeling the wind that I'm making such a big deal out of it.

It's not like it blows me into another lane, I can correct for it, it's just annoying to have to do so. Oh well, such is life.

 

I just sprayed them with silicone, did a little prying with a screw driver to work the silicone in, then the bump stop came out of the accordian sleeve pretty easy. Before I did that it seemed like it would be a loooong night.

 

On the GD, I installed the Progress rear sway bar and noticed an immediately decreased crosswind sensitivity, so I think stiffening up the suspension in whatever way you can will have an affect.

 

There's nothing but wind out here.

The gain from a tailwind will never make up for the loss from a headwind. Just do the math. Calm winds = best mileage.

I try to relax in crosswinds but I just can't. When I get back from a long drive on a windy day my shoulders are stiff. At first I thought it was the driving position. Then I took a long drive on a calm day and was perfectly relaxed when we arrived. Maybe when I get a few more hours in the Fit...

Cheers

 

Just open all the windows...

 

FWIW, I agree with you. DFW has had several cold fronts blow in, in the past 2 months with 30-40 mph winds and higher, each time. I expected my Fit Sport to get tossed around a lot more than I experienced, and I certainly didn't feel like I was counter-steering against the wind or fighting it down the road. A big wind gust would buffet the Fit a tad, but not as if it was a big effort to maintain my lane or fighting the car every inch of the way.

I've driven other high sitting vehicles-try a Jeep Wrangler or a full size panel van some time-that are worse, believe me.

 

I have drove the Fit in some strong winds and I didn't think it was too bad. Of course I once owned a Ford Aerostar Van or as my kids called it the Aerosail. I always figured it was more like sailing then driving a van in high winds.

 

I don't think I've own any car that is good in crosswind situations, even my miata, evo, wrx, rx7 gets push around in wind gust. My girl friend's xB is even worse than my Fit.

 

Sometimes I wonder if we're driving the same car - either that or the crosswinds I felt was really really more like a Cat 1 hurricane or something. It felt plenty out of control at times going 60 mph, this isn't like the being blown around a bit or feeling the effects of passing a semi, this is close enough to call for some pretty severe corrections and constant to keep the car in line.

 

I'm with you. Drove 400 miles yesterday: 200 in 20 mph or so crosswinds and 200 back last evening in light breezes. No comparison. You really need to attend to constant corrections. I think I've found a driving position that is comfortable enough in high winds, but I have to remind myself not to grip the wheel so tightly. When I mention it, my co-driver shrugs and says she doesn't notice it at all when she drives.

41 mpg yesterday, though. The gas pump makes up for a lot.

Probably 500 miles tomorrow. Should be a nice day to go to Chicago.

Cheers

 

I have a stock 2008 Fit Sport with a Beatrush front undertray. As I've said elsewhere, the undertray really plants the front of the car. I noticed the winds but they were not worrisome.

Get an undertray (and larger tires if you have a Fit Base) if you don't want to sacrifice ground clearance.

 

I wish the beatrush undertray was available for the GE8.