Center Steering Wandering
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Center Steering Wandering
My wife and I were the first to test drive a brand new 2014 (non-Z51) Stingray with the 6-speed automatic. We were impressed with how effortlessly the car accelerated to highway speed, and in particular with the spine-tingling feel and sound at startup. However, we found one characteristic troubling, namely that we needed to make constant small corrections to keep the car centered on smooth, straight concrete highway at 65 MPH.
This is a problem that we've never had with our 1997 Lexus ES300 or with our 2009 Honda S2000. Is this behavior characteristic of all Stingrays, or was there an alignment issue with the car we drove?
This is a problem that we've never had with our 1997 Lexus ES300 or with our 2009 Honda S2000. Is this behavior characteristic of all Stingrays, or was there an alignment issue with the car we drove?
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 84
Likes: 13
Mine was out of alignment from the factory and pulled to the right. Required constant steering input. Took it to a local tire company and paid for a front end alignment (didn't want to do the whole dealer thing). Been perfect since. 2LT non-Z51 5000 miles.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
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From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Agreed. It is not normal.
The only time I notice that sort of thing is our freeways here, in the right (and sometimes) center lanes, due to the groves in the road surface caused by studded tires and semis
The only time I notice that sort of thing is our freeways here, in the right (and sometimes) center lanes, due to the groves in the road surface caused by studded tires and semis
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
Likes: 2,432
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2014
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Unfortunately we so excited about our unexpected opportunity to finally drive the C7 that we neglected trying out the different driving modes. Also, the drive was too short. My wife described the car as having a "floaty" feeling while driving on concrete slab, whereas I simply found myself continually making fine corrections to keep the car pointed in a straight line. We definitely want to do another test drive where we can compare the "comfort" and "sport" modes that we would expect to use most of the time.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,867
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From: . Wyoming .
Unfortunately we so excited about our unexpected opportunity to finally drive the C7 that we neglected trying out the different driving modes. Also, the drive was too short. My wife described the car as having a "floaty" feeling while driving on concrete slab, whereas I simply found myself continually making fine corrections to keep the car pointed in a straight line. We definitely want to do another test drive where we can compare the "comfort" and "sport" modes that we would expect to use most of the time.
Also, concrete road surfaces are typically grooved, and the wide tires tend to track in them, likely contributing to what you felt.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
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It has been reported here that the steering in Tour mode feels "floaty." Fortunately, you have a choice to set the steering I mode separately from the driving mode, if desired. I like it set to Sport mode.
Also, concrete road surfaces are typically grooved, and the wide tires tend to track in them, likely contributing to what you felt.
Also, concrete road surfaces are typically grooved, and the wide tires tend to track in them, likely contributing to what you felt.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 270
Likes: 21
My wife and I were the first to test drive a brand new 2014 (non-Z51) Stingray with the 6-speed automatic. We were impressed with how effortlessly the car accelerated to highway speed, and in particular with the spine-tingling feel and sound at startup. However, we found one characteristic troubling, namely that we needed to make constant small corrections to keep the car centered on smooth, straight concrete highway at 65 MPH.
This is a problem that we've never had with our 1997 Lexus ES300 or with our 2009 Honda S2000. Is this behavior characteristic of all Stingrays, or was there an alignment issue with the car we drove?
This is a problem that we've never had with our 1997 Lexus ES300 or with our 2009 Honda S2000. Is this behavior characteristic of all Stingrays, or was there an alignment issue with the car we drove?
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: Fullerton Ca
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,661
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From: Phoenix, Arizona
My first impression test driving ours before buying was the same. Changed the steering setting under "Tour" to Sport and all is well.
For others, Friday when we bought ours, salesman came back from wife's test drive and said she hit 110 on the freeway on ramp. She is really liking it.
For others, Friday when we bought ours, salesman came back from wife's test drive and said she hit 110 on the freeway on ramp. She is really liking it.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2014
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 981
Likes: 157
Sounds like the toe-in adjustment is off http://www.townfairtire.com/wheel-al...oe-alignments/
The important part:
"Toe-in also provides increased stability because it discourages turning. If your vehicle has the proper amount of toe you should experience ideal straight line stability..."
The important part:
"Toe-in also provides increased stability because it discourages turning. If your vehicle has the proper amount of toe you should experience ideal straight line stability..."
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
Agree....steering feels loose/floaty in Weather, Eco, and Touring.
Fat tires will track the seams and grooves in the road, so that could be a contributing factor.
But checking the alignment on all 4 wheels is a lot cheaper than replacing the tires.
Fat tires will track the seams and grooves in the road, so that could be a contributing factor.
But checking the alignment on all 4 wheels is a lot cheaper than replacing the tires.
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 339
Likes: 40
I have had this experience also. Found it to be grooves in the road from studded tires. I wasn't sure that is what it was until I was driving my truck on a rainy day and could see the grooves because of the water setting in them. Even on dry pavement, if I don't keep centered in the groove, it will wander because of the wide tires.