mx5cartalk.com

Hey guys,

Stumbled across this on sleazebay this afternoon:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/89-05-MI ... 0560382197

What are your thoughts on it?

Price isn't too bad I guess......

Hethro

On first glance it looks ok and has a lot of triangles in it's design so it's probably quite strong but I have to query the position. It's only bolted to the parcel shelf so in an accident it doesn't have the strongest of foundations to sit on. The bd and torque box for instance use the seat belt towers which are one of the strongest parts on the car. The roll bar should snap before the towers do.
This also ONLY uses the parcel shelf it seems. When you look at the Cusco safety 21 cages and so on, although they aren't the safest of designs due to the bolt on bars and swivels in them, they join at the shelf as well as the floor so you have multiple contact points. Therefore in an accident there is a wider distribution of weight and it's not all on the one place.

This is just my view based on observation. You probably want someone with a little more knowledge in the field but that said, I've put down my two cents so do with it what you will.

Do not buy it.. its just a different kind of style bar and wont help if u ever roll the car..

charlie_91 wrote:Do not buy it.. its just a different kind of style bar and wont help if u ever roll the car..

+1 to this

Agree with the others. It's a POS more likely to injure you in a roll over than do anything to protect you. Something else to look at...when was the last time you saw a real roll bar chromed? You didnt!! As I understand it the chroming process weakens the metal.

Converts your mx5 into a human sized mouse trap!!

charlie_91 wrote:Do not buy it.. its just a different kind of style bar and wont help if u ever roll the car..

Ditto
This is only attached to the "parcel shelf" which is a thin piece of metal. It's just a style bar with more steel.

actually if you look thru all the photos, it looks like it is attached to the chassis and the parcel shelf has been removed.

i concur tho, it looks less than ideal. it may seem like a bargain, but if you add the shipping and it'll be around $600.

why buy that when you could spend a couple hundred more and get a mx5 plus torque box rollbar?

deviant wrote:Something else to look at...when was the last time you saw a real roll bar chromed? You didnt!! As I understand it the chroming process weakens the metal.

Claims to be made from 2mm 304 stainless.
Still has the same question, when was the last time you heard of a bar made of stainless!

I feel it will be more trouble than the savings are worth compared to a locally manufactured bar.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your feedback....

I just so happened to look and think of the what if's?!

Def on the look out for a second hand BD or Tourque Box.

Ta,

Hethro

While I am all for shopping locally.... Just an example:

Miata Hard Dog Ace Bar 1990-2005
[remove] Select Configuration : Side Braced No Diagonal No Harness Bar
Select Harness Bar : No thanks
$354.95 $354.95

Subtotal: $354.95
Shipping: $115.00
Tax: $0.00
Total: $469.95

USD of course..... Shipping price is into Brisbane, but I assume other capital cities would be similar.

Thats a great price!

Linky?

Ta,

Hethro

www.gomiata.com

When you add items into your shopping cart, view the cart and you will see a shipping calculator at the base. I have just ordered from them (they shipped it quickly) and their freight rates look good. For most items, I will buy in Oz, but I have found Gomiata and Flyin Miata stock some items I can't get here, or there may be a ridiculous price difference. If the price is 10-20% higher here and they can get it, I buy locally. When I can get something for half price, shipped to my door within a week from the USA......

Also, these bars have a really good reputation in the USA. If you search for Bethania Garage (the manufacturer of the Hard Dog bars), you can view some pics of MX-5's that have rolled over... Makes you want a roll bar real bad!

Has anyone got the full roll cage kit.

at $1200 delivered to Aus -- its very tempting.