Roll Over Protection discussion

[Old Dude]

i agree with deviant & Guran. they are not mentioned most probably due to legal reasons. perhaps they don't meet AU standards, or if there are no such standards, perhaps the legal department determined that they might have a hard time convincing a court that the strength or height of the hoop design offers sufficient passenger protection in the unlikely event of a roll over.

there has also been mention of other convertibles equipped with OEM pop-up ROPS. clearly these competitors have superior occupant protection, from a ground clearance perspective at the very least, in the event of a roll over - why would mazda's marketing department outline one of the few inferior aspects of the MX5?

I personally would prefer a permanent fixture as ROP, as I would hate to rely on an electronic actuated device to work in the event it did occur. I know most of the electronics is pretty good, but if it doesn't work you don't get a second chance
In the US add for the NC it does state that it will hold 2 to 2.5 times the vehicle weight....that has to be of some comfort to the owner.
Cheers
Dale

[Guran]

Actually it says the headrest rollbars will hold 2.0 times the vehicle weight, and the rollbar built into the windscreen will hold 2.7 times the vehicle weight.

[Guran]

Looks like it would survive a soft roll over which I suppose is typical of what might happen on the road at road speeds. It also looks like it could be unbolted and all those mounting points used to bolt in something a bit more substantial!

They certainly do! Check out the thread on the Good-win Racing forum for detailed installation instructions and heaps of cool photos:
http://www.mazdatalkforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=582

[Caffeine]

I would hate to rely on an electronic actuated device

Like an airbag?

[Old Dude]

I would hate to rely on an electronic actuated device

Like an airbag?

That should have read "I would hate to rely on electronic actuated devices ALONE"

At least with an air bag if it doesn't work you still have a seat belt on, so that will provide a fairy amount of safety in an accident, and there are plenty of instances were air bags haven't deployed so that strenghthens my case. I think that its great to have all the electronic activated safety devices, but its reasuring to know that if they do fail, there are mechanical safety features like Seatbelts and Roll bars as well.

With the type of ROP in the VW EOS, if the car rolls and it doesn't activate your dead, or at least very squashed.

Thanks for that information on Goodwin Racing Guran that was very informative, how do you guys find all this info

Cheers
Dale

[Sailor]

[quote=
In the US add for the NC it does state that it will hold 2 to 2.5 times the vehicle weight....that has to be of some comfort to the owner.
Cheers
Dale [/quote]

Yep, as long as you gently place the NC on its back..all will be fine.......

[dave2221]

mums car has pop up rops.....

not sure how they work

but under intense cornering (full use of all traction EPS devices ) i got them to come up.....

Dad wasnt impressed when i got home.

its a load thing on the suspension, also happens if you hit a speed bump too hard, and you unload the weight from the suspension, BANG! they pop up (happened to a mate)

damn hard to get back down too........


but i think you can also put them up... so if your at the track, you can manually lock them up before a thrash

[Dweezle]

Wow..

I would have assumed they would be like an airbag with an explosion.

Once they popup they need to be a "reset at the factory dealeo"..


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[dave2221]

Usually yes, the dealer wants a few hunderd to reset them


in actual fact (on a CLK Merc anyway) they re spring loaded and lock in when up


you need to use a big allen key (supplied with the car) and you have to press down (in a little gap down the side for the head rest) to depres the locking mechanism, and then you can push them back down......

They are a mechanical design (unlike an airbag that bursts through your dash)

so you just reset them back down and off you go again......

[de Bounce]

I remember a bit of footage from Fifth Gear, Vicki was thrashing a CLK around the track, got it fair sideways and the roll bar deployed, scared the crap out of her.
They had to slow the video down in the replay so you could see it pop up.

[Old Dude]

Usually yes, the dealer wants a few hunderd to reset them


in actual fact (on a CLK Merc anyway) they re spring loaded and lock in when up


you need to use a big allen key (supplied with the car) and you have to press down (in a little gap down the side for the head rest) to depres the locking mechanism, and then you can push them back down......

They are a mechanical design (unlike an airbag that bursts through your dash)

so you just reset them back down and off you go again......

I bet the dealers love spirited Drivers a nice money spinner for them.

Cheers
Dale

[Mr nanotech]

I WAS going to buy coilovers next week but after reading this, I've convinced myself into ordering an MX5 Plus single hook roll bar on Friday.
Screw suspension, I choose life.

[snshami]

I still think we are all letting ourselves become more and more scared and cocooned. I maintain that if you drive sensibly and do not take risks then the chances of rolling an MX-5 violently enough to crush your A pillar are very very small.

[Mr Morlock]

I agree with Snshami. I suggest the info on the discussion does not come down with any hard evidence that it is a good idea. Anyone buying an MX5 or owning one can however be sure of one thing- the scientific observations of the cars safety in real life is fully supported by gathered data and presented by MUARC.

Those worrying about safety should consider buying the latest model with more safety features or go to a different vehicle. The risk of roll overs is far greater in for example some SUV's and certainly 4wds.

[deviant]

But there is evidence that after market roll over protection is a good idea. There are dozens of pictures and videos, I don't know what more evidence there needs to be?
The NB onwards appears to be reasonably safe....But I still would not fancy rolling one though especially on track where there is far more speed involved.