Driving something this slab sided...

"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
08/11/2014 at 13:03 • Filed to: None

...in high winds sucks. The fact it only weighs 900ish kg doesn't help either.

DISCUSSION (32)

thebigbossyboss > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:05

That car looks ridiculous what is it?

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:05

Well you'll never feel a 37' trailer getting hit with a cross wind. Unless you come to da States.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > thebigbossyboss
08/11/2014 at 13:08

Fiat Panda Alessi edition. I have the same basic car but mine is a normal trim package in blue without the two tone or strange wheels.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:09

Open the windows!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/11/2014 at 13:10

True, but the change in air pressure just from having a lorry or large van pass you unsettles my car. I don't think it's really built for 70-80mph travel.

505Turbeaux > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:11

slab sided what?

This is what you learn on right here...

CAR_IS_MI > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:11

You should try driving a Wrangler with full doors and hard top. There are no rounded edges, everything is flat and its effectively a brick on wheels...

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 505Turbeaux
08/11/2014 at 13:13

That would certainly would've been interesting in todays weather.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
08/11/2014 at 13:14

It slows down the car noticeably just having the sunroof open. 70hp for the win.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > CAR_IS_MI
08/11/2014 at 13:14

At least that has some weight to it. It feels like my car is made of cardboard.

CAR_IS_MI > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:15

But it's also higher off the ground and therefore has a higher center of gravity.

505Turbeaux > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:16

ha just high winds or are you guys getting some other good stuff?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 505Turbeaux
08/11/2014 at 13:18

It's supposedly the remnants of hurricane bertha so heavy rain too. Nothing too severe where I am though. Some have got flooding. http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/a…

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:19

900kg? What a lardy beast of a car! Try 700!

(I have a little trouble with really heavy winds, but my car isn't as tall, so there's a fair bit less side for the wind to blow on.)

...

(Also, the Alessi stuff looks mad cool. You ought to hunt around for some of those wheel trims for your car.)

505Turbeaux > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:20

ah yeah. Missed us in Maine USA just barely. I want a good hurricane though...

PS9 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:20

Kinja'd!!!

I thought you tamed a different kind of Panda.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:20

Remove the doors! Less weight and the air will pass through. It will be a legitimate Superleggera since it's Italian!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV
08/11/2014 at 13:23

You can blame the diesel, 5 doors and the decent ish safety for the weight.

My gf's micra blows about really badly despite being a fair bit lower than my car because the suspension is so damn soft. If you turn hard enough in that i reckon you'd scrape the mirrors on the road.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 505Turbeaux
08/11/2014 at 13:24

I don't mind some interesting weather, but it was a bit of a pain on my jog this morning...

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > CAR_IS_MI
08/11/2014 at 13:24

True.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
08/11/2014 at 13:25

It's italian, give it time and the doors will fall off on their own.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > PS9
08/11/2014 at 13:26

Unfortunately I'm not enough of a badass for that.

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:30

You can keep the doors and the diesel, but I'll admit I wouldn't mind a little more safety, though I suppose surviving the first two years - a good bit of which I spent as a shiny, shitty new driver - means I've a decent chance of surviving the rest.

I don't have the suspension issues - it's not incredibly firm, or anything, but I wouldn't describe it as anywhere near wallowy - but my 106 can still get a little unsettled in particularly heavy winds. I reckon it's mainly down to the weight.

Aside from the admittedly impressive reliability - nineties Micras seem to just go and go and go - the Micra really is a shocking car.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:35

Damn lorries

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV
08/11/2014 at 13:38

I still have my wobbles but no dangerous mistakes so far so hopefully I'll be fine.

My suspension is actually pretty firm but the tires have an insane amount of sidewall flex that pretty much cancels that out.

Micras are a pile of hatefulness. Every single one I've come across has a broken neutral return spring so the gearshift is awful. The rust protection is even worse, after 9 years mine has a few spots, most micras that age are full of holes. They feel even less powerful than they are and the handling is terrible. Their reasonable reliability is all they have, they arent even that good on fuel and tax.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/11/2014 at 13:59

These guys don't seem to have a problem with it.....

Kinja'd!!!

Cé hé sin > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/11/2014 at 14:24

?? Nobody else has trailers and crosswinds?

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Cé hé sin
08/11/2014 at 14:46

You can't have a 37' trailer in England or the rest of Europe. I'm not sure about the rest of the world but most places don't sell 5th Wheels out of the US.

Cé hé sin > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/11/2014 at 15:32

Trailers are allowed to be 13.6m in the EU when used internationally and sometimes more than that if used only in their country of origin but only as part of a commercial truck, you're not going pulling one behind a car, van or something.. Not sure what you mean about fifth wheels as obviously they're used on trucks everywhere - maybe you mean the ones that Americans fit to pickups to pull enormous caravans?. Anyways the thought of a Panda being blown sideways whether it's on its own or pulling something is something I'd rather not experience.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Cé hé sin
08/11/2014 at 15:34

This is what I meant. I knew you couldn't pull one of these in the EU and that's what I meant. I know lorries can have longer trailers. Commercial trucks here have some at like 53' I think anything above is usually over sized loads.

Cé hé sin > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/11/2014 at 16:11

No, you don't see those in Europe although I think this just isn't something people do rather than being illegal per se.The pick up in the picture is bigger than those sold here which are all Toyota Hilux size and it looks as if it might need a truck licence which would put off many potential buyers.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Cé hé sin
08/11/2014 at 16:43

In New York where I live they have Commercial licence plates but you don't need a CDL to drive it. Well the bigger HD trucks (3/4 and 1 ton) have Commercial plates.