Quote:
Originally Posted by AL427SBF
FYI, U.S. law requires that the windshield frame on convertibles be able to support the weight of the car - why is that?
A quick look at sport convertibles (like Miata's, BMW Z4/Z6, Porsche Boxer, Cooper Mini's etc.) shows most have factory installed dual roll bars - why is that?
There's a track day event and you decide to go, no roll bar so you can't play - why is that?
Some tracks require instructor seat time 1st, no passenger roll bar, go home - why is that?
According to some, roll bars have nothing to do with safety (or increasing a level of safety), but I can't connect the dots as to why so they need to elaborate a little more. Why are these dual roll bars so popular on many sports cars, a factory installed item, and required for recreational track days?
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A Porsche 911 and Corvette do not. Are they unsafe cars? In fact, many manufacturers have moved to retractable hardtops for increased safety.
Do you see any open cockpits in NASCAR or the Nationwide series of racing?
Roll overs represent a very small fraction of auto accidents. The overwhelming majority of accidents are side, front or rear impact. In general, Cobras offer ZIPPO in those areas. No ABS, no crush zones, no air bags, no 5-star safety rating, no modern engineered reinforced structure that modern cars offer.
Dual roll bars in a Cobra are about as useful in those instances as a single roll bar. Zero.
You and your passengers are more likely to die from heart disease, stroke, cancer, dementia/Alzheimer's, etc. than a roll over accident in a Cobra. Do you and your passengers take care of your bodies with a proper diet and exercise? Do you tell your wife and kids to put the fork down and get to the gym? Do you and your passengers get screened for various ailments, diseases, etc.?
I'm talking about perspective. However, as I mentioned before, if the dual roll bar helps you and your passengers feel better psychologically, satisfies you and your passenger's emotional need for safety, and makes you sleep easier, then the dual roll bars have done their job.
Love your wife? Come on. Seriously? That's a load of hypocritical crap. Personally, I'd focus on a proper lifetime diet, rigorous exercise, medical screening, life insurance, a will and trust, putting money away for retirement and saving for your kid's education. And buy a 5-star crash-tested modern car. That will keep you, your wife and your kids "safer."
