ndk4

Ok. I am very curious about this.

How many of you here actually get your alignment done with you sitting in it?
and is it really beneficial?
I been getting mine done at the local firestone shop and thought it would be perfectly fine to get it done with the factory setting without me in it. Honda would probably had that factored in to its spec and i dont believe they came up with those numbers while having someone sitting in it?

But every often, I hear people getting their alignment done while they're in the car, and I really want to learn about this subject.

RED MX5

My alignment guy puts 145 lbs. (my weight) in the drivers seat.

If you sit in the car you have to sit VERY still. With a laser alignment machine you can sit in the car and see for yourself how every time you move, the alignment readings change. Equal weight is a far better solution.

INDYMAC

I sit in my car while it's aligned. If it's mostly just you in the car while you drive, then why do it any other way? You can also assist the technician by turning the wheel and centering it. Like Red MX5 said though, you have to be still while the adjustments are being made. It is very sensitive. Once you have gotten your alignment done this way, I doubt that you;ll ever want to do it any other way in an S2000.

audiophile

I used to be in the auto repair biz and my specialty was alignments, I've done in the neighborhood of 3500 alignments. I completely agree with Red MX5, it is a huge PITA do to an alignment with someone sitting in the car, however, putting weight to simulate the driver in the drivers seat works very well. In fact some euro cars, in particular BMW, specify loading the car down prior to aligning it, including a full tank of gas and a specified amount of weight in all seats.

pistolpete17

I worked at a BMW shop and they always put weight in the car for an alighment. I was wondering if my local Honda shop does the same.