Ever wish you had airbags and abs?
Discussion
My mate's son has just be involved in a head on. Doctors think that eventually he will make a full recovery.
This has made me think about safety features - or the lack of safety features in my Chimaera. I know we could argue about defensive driving etc, but in this accident, the poor lad didn't even see the other car coming. So, defensive driving is not really an issue.
So, how safe is your TVR? Do you ever think about the lack of in car safety features?
Dav
This has made me think about safety features - or the lack of safety features in my Chimaera. I know we could argue about defensive driving etc, but in this accident, the poor lad didn't even see the other car coming. So, defensive driving is not really an issue.
So, how safe is your TVR? Do you ever think about the lack of in car safety features?
Dav
The only thing I wish my chim had is more side impact protection. With properly controlled braking you should be able to steer and stop at the same time and in a shorter distance (unless you have anti-skid installed as well) And I remember reading an article about airbags that reckons up to 50% of them fail to go off.
But being T-boned at a junction does worry me. However, if you do a search or have been on here for a while you will notice that the chim can take a hell of allot of punishment, and at some very high speeds, with out the driver and pax sustaining serious injury. I think the chassis and GRP are stronger than most people give them credit for.
But being T-boned at a junction does worry me. However, if you do a search or have been on here for a while you will notice that the chim can take a hell of allot of punishment, and at some very high speeds, with out the driver and pax sustaining serious injury. I think the chassis and GRP are stronger than most people give them credit for.
DavHughes said:Sorry, but unless the was hit by a car falling from the sky I don't see how this can be the case.
in this accident, the poor lad didn't even see the other car coming. So, defensive driving is not really an issue.
And no to airbags, in an open top car I'd like the option of not having my head smeared along the road if I do end up dirty side up. To fit airbags AND a properly engineered pop-up roll bar (as per Merc) would make a TVR too expensive even if they could do it, which I seriously doubt.
ABS? Maybe, provided it was switchable. Ditto traction control - which frankly would avoid FAR more accidents in a TVR than ABS.
victormeldrew said:
in this accident, the poor lad didn't even see the other car coming. So, defensive driving is not really an issue.
And no to airbags, in an open top car I'd like the option of not having my head smeared along the road if I do end up dirty side up. To fit airbags AND a properly engineered pop-up roll bar (as per Merc) would make a TVR too expensive even if they could do it, which I seriously doubt.
ABS? Maybe, provided it was switchable. Ditto traction control - which frankly would avoid FAR more accidents in a TVR than ABS.
The other car swerved from behind a lorry whilst avoiding an animal. How can you defend against that?
The whole issue of safety in TVR's does make you wonder sometimes, and this has been brought to the forefront of my mind just lately when i had the misfortune of being involved in an accident in my Mazda MX6 - the airbag did work (not bad for a 93 car!) and i am convinced that it did save me from suffering more horrific injuries. I dread to think what might have happened had i been in the Cerbera.
victormeldrew said:
in this accident, the poor lad didn't even see the other car coming. So, defensive driving is not really an issue.
And no to airbags, in an open top car I'd like the option of not having my head smeared along the road if I do end up dirty side up. To fit airbags AND a properly engineered pop-up roll bar (as per Merc) would make a TVR too expensive even if they could do it, which I seriously doubt.
ABS? Maybe, provided it was switchable. Ditto traction control - which frankly would avoid FAR more accidents in a TVR than ABS.
Why would the ordinary driver want to switch off ABS? Sorry if I am being naive.
DavHughes said:That would seem to be pretty unfortunate. I guess it may as well have fallen from the sky as far as he was concerned! Short of leaving the car at home, I think you're probably right, it doesn't sound much like he could have done anything. Sorry!
in this accident, the poor lad didn't even see the other car coming. So, defensive driving is not really an issue.
...
The other car swerved from behind a lorry whilst avoiding an animal. How can you defend against that?
>> Edited by victormeldrew on Friday 3rd March 12:52
DavHughes said:"both feet in in a spin", plus ABS is useless on snow.
in this accident, the poor lad didn't even see the other car coming. So, defensive driving is not really an issue.
Why would the ordinary driver want to switch off ABS? Sorry if I am being naive.
I chose a T350 for the full roll cage and proper seat fixings (into a steel subframe, not just through the GRP floor on a Griffth/Chimaera).
I believe ABS and Traction Control should be optional on new models - let the owners decide, just like they did with PAS in the Griffith/Chimaera. The market will dictate whether its worth doing then. Charge £2,000 for traction control and £1,000 for ABS - should cover the costs as both a nearly commodity technology these days. Lotus seem to have managed this so TVR surely can too.
I'm not bothered about airbags and the costs of designing and testing will probably be nasty for TVR.
Answered the initial posters question - I think most TVRs would stand up quite well in a frontal smash. Side-on and rear-on when squashed (instead of being shoved) are another issue. Look where the chassis stops at the rear on the Chimaera/Griffith. Side impact is a weak point on these models. Cerberas onwards and Wedges have side impact bars.
My only concern about TVRs is how they'd fare crashing into a SUV where the SUV will probably ride over the car's bonnet/hit the side higher than the impact bars. Probably much safer than an Elise/mini/Caterfield though.
I believe ABS and Traction Control should be optional on new models - let the owners decide, just like they did with PAS in the Griffith/Chimaera. The market will dictate whether its worth doing then. Charge £2,000 for traction control and £1,000 for ABS - should cover the costs as both a nearly commodity technology these days. Lotus seem to have managed this so TVR surely can too.
I'm not bothered about airbags and the costs of designing and testing will probably be nasty for TVR.
Answered the initial posters question - I think most TVRs would stand up quite well in a frontal smash. Side-on and rear-on when squashed (instead of being shoved) are another issue. Look where the chassis stops at the rear on the Chimaera/Griffith. Side impact is a weak point on these models. Cerberas onwards and Wedges have side impact bars.
My only concern about TVRs is how they'd fare crashing into a SUV where the SUV will probably ride over the car's bonnet/hit the side higher than the impact bars. Probably much safer than an Elise/mini/Caterfield though.
Gazboy said:Almost, they bolt to rails which bolt directly to the fibreglass floorpan. Same outcome though! You can get parts to bolt them to the chassis, though if you look at the state of many outriggers you might be forgiven for thinking that might make them no more secure!
... Someone said that the seats bolt directly to the fiberglass floorpan- is that right?
victormeldrew said:
... Someone said that the seats bolt directly to the fiberglass floorpan- is that right?
Dont worry though, I think the seat belts mount to the chassis, so even if the seat comes away from the fiber glass you should still stay with the car.
DavHughes said:
Isn't ABS now compulsory on new cars? If so, how did TVR get away with this on the Sagaris?
No its just a "gentlemans agreement" so no actual law!
I think switchable traction control should be an option over ABS, some will say that pollutes the true TVR experience but things have to move on at somepoint and a simple traction control system is not exactly over kill.
I looked into TC a while back, didnt like the race logic unit. Not supposed to be very good as an aftermarket kit.
It is possible but you would have to change the ECU to get it to work correctly I think the cost of 2-3k may be putting some off.
Its still on my list of things todo however when the money is there something else always seems to break
sucking the pot dry.
It is possible but you would have to change the ECU to get it to work correctly I think the cost of 2-3k may be putting some off.
Its still on my list of things todo however when the money is there something else always seems to break
sucking the pot dry.2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Let's be honest, we all do the trade off of fun & excitement against the "I hope it never happens to me" thing.
Everything we do in life involves a calculation of risk. To add ABS, TCS etc etc would make the car heavier, which would undoubtedly have an impact on the driving experience.
You can't legislate for every risk. For example, I'd rather be in a chim in the situation mentioned than on a bicycle...
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