Discussion
I think there is a substantial cross member inside the door, but I could be wrong.
Still, the door catch is only bolted to the bodywork so even if there is a cross member it might just serve to impale you in a side impact.
I had a substantial side impact from a septegenarian a while back, which lifted my A8 off the floor. Drivers door and the rear door were very badly crushed, but the impact didn't get as far as my seat. I had a headache from nutting the side window, but otherwise ok. I'm pretty sure a few years ago it would have been a lot different.
What did surprise me was that none of the numerous airbags in the A8 went off, including the side impact bags in the seats. Maybe because I was actually stationery? Never really thought about that until now.
>> Edited by forgotmypassword on Tuesday 11th February 12:56
Still, the door catch is only bolted to the bodywork so even if there is a cross member it might just serve to impale you in a side impact.
I had a substantial side impact from a septegenarian a while back, which lifted my A8 off the floor. Drivers door and the rear door were very badly crushed, but the impact didn't get as far as my seat. I had a headache from nutting the side window, but otherwise ok. I'm pretty sure a few years ago it would have been a lot different.
What did surprise me was that none of the numerous airbags in the A8 went off, including the side impact bags in the seats. Maybe because I was actually stationery? Never really thought about that until now.
>> Edited by forgotmypassword on Tuesday 11th February 12:56
The Chim and Griff hove no metal structure in the door at all, they are simply a fibreglass inner and outer skin.
The Later cars, Cerbera, Tuscan, Tamora and T350, all have steel door beams which connect to steel frames at the hinge and lock ends.
This clearly has to be better but although ver strong, no TVRs have very subtle crash management.
My suggestion, don't crash!
The Later cars, Cerbera, Tuscan, Tamora and T350, all have steel door beams which connect to steel frames at the hinge and lock ends.
This clearly has to be better but although ver strong, no TVRs have very subtle crash management.
My suggestion, don't crash!
No they don't have, reactive rollbars, side impact beams or 8 air bags but if you would like to douuble the weight and the cost of the cars I am sure they could be arranged.Its like Jeremy Clarkson once said the best form of road safety would be to have a metal spike sticking out of the steering wheel boss,then we would see a improvement in road safety!
>> Edited by P7ULG on Wednesday 12th February 12:52
>> Edited by P7ULG on Wednesday 12th February 12:52
P7ULG said: No they don't have, reactive rollbars, side impact beams or 8 air bags but if you would like to douuble the weight and the cost of the cars I am sure they could be arranged.Its like Jeremy Clarkson once said the best form of road safety would be to have a metal spike sticking out of the steering wheel boss,then we would see a improvement in road safety!
>> Edited by P7ULG on Wednesday 12th February 12:52
Well lets go back to riding motorbikes then! Rudimentary door bars don't cost anything significant. And I don't imagine that a tiff has to scrabble for every extra mph possible. Some safety has to be important especially for the passenger. Do the factory carry out any crash testing to industry standards or do the buyers do it? Risk can be fun as can speed but I'd hate to be T boned by a pensioner in a micra. I agree the 'spike' would work wonders though.
A few years ago there were some studies into side impact bars. It was pretty inconclusive but they did indicate that in some circumstances they helped, but others they didnt - so a mixed bleasing there then!
The Chimaera doesnt have side impact protection, but dont forget that the chassis does extend to the sills at the side - this is as strong if not stronger than those of a 'normal' car (only cos I cant spell monocoque?!?!)
GRP is very good at absorbing an impact - it can transfer the impact across its panel / side easily and doesnt bend / buckle or rupture like metal. This is one of the reasons why cars made from GRP have never really had any issues with crash testing regulation. So I personally dont worry about this type of stuff... good points and bad points so I guess they cancel themselves out.
What causes the most damage is intrusion into the cabin space (side impact being one) - frontal crashes for example - pushing pedals and steering column into the legs and feet - thats the bad stuff. See people having years of Physio to get over a pretty simple crash cos the mainstream car they were in had no provision for driver protection! Nasty stuff. Fortunately the TVR fairs better there due to massive chassis and well set back engine etc...
Cheers,
Paul
The Chimaera doesnt have side impact protection, but dont forget that the chassis does extend to the sills at the side - this is as strong if not stronger than those of a 'normal' car (only cos I cant spell monocoque?!?!)
GRP is very good at absorbing an impact - it can transfer the impact across its panel / side easily and doesnt bend / buckle or rupture like metal. This is one of the reasons why cars made from GRP have never really had any issues with crash testing regulation. So I personally dont worry about this type of stuff... good points and bad points so I guess they cancel themselves out.
What causes the most damage is intrusion into the cabin space (side impact being one) - frontal crashes for example - pushing pedals and steering column into the legs and feet - thats the bad stuff. See people having years of Physio to get over a pretty simple crash cos the mainstream car they were in had no provision for driver protection! Nasty stuff. Fortunately the TVR fairs better there due to massive chassis and well set back engine etc...
Cheers,
Paul
boosted ls1 said: Paul, I agree that GRP is extremely strong and absorbant. Maybe that's why TVR don't do any crash testing.
...Other than the Tuscan challenge - a new crash every other week for several years now which has proven the inate strength of the chassis in all type's of impacts!
trackdemon said:
boosted ls1 said: Paul, I agree that GRP is extremely strong and absorbant. Maybe that's why TVR don't do any crash testing.
...Other than the Tuscan challenge - a new crash every other week for several years now which has proven the inate strength of the chassis in all type's of impacts!
Yes that's true but is it the same as hitting a volvo travelling in the opposite direction or a tree or being barged by granny in her fiasco. Still, if the cars hit barriers or solid objects that would count for a lot in my book so long as the drivers were ok. I guess I would feel more confident if I knew there was crash testing carried out as with mainstream cars, maybe there is but I don't know about it?
Didn't want to sound Gung ho but if you go through life assesing every risk you would worry yourself to death.There are lots of performance machines which have very little safety features but you do have a choice whether to buy them or not.If you feel strongly about the inclusion of safety features you have to pick a car which has them.
boosted ls1 said: It made me wonder if TVR's had to be crash tested. Anybody know?
My understanding of these things is that all production cars must be crash tested these days. I think the law is 20 or so years old and is certainly much more stringent today than it was then. Side impacts are comparatively rare, and unless something has gone horribly wrong at speed to put you side on to another vehicle generally low speed and therefore survivable. If you are worried, an approved cage, (not just a roll bar), will give you as much protection as anything, (though makes getting in and out of the vehicle a bit more difficult in one's finest togs).
I think TVR has to pass the European standard head-on collision test. Concrete block, 50 km/h.
I have seen the video on the Griff-prototype (one built for testing, one built for crashing!), and the crashed car at the factory (around beginning of '90's).
The test is, that the intrusion of the steering wheel into the cabin is recorded (high speed cameras). There is a maximum, and normally a TVR has no problems. But we know how "not-real-live" these tests are.
Impact results: You get the obvious polyester flying around, the radiator works as a crumple zone, and then the front tires are hit (and the car actually bounces off the concrete wall).
Result for the Grif: passed the test very well, and is a "very safe" car under those conditions.
Also it was probably enough to put a new radiator in, a bit of polyester and it was an ok car again!
Safe enough for me.
But I'm driving a 350i with: a longer nose (not mine, the car's), and side impact beams. Fine for me, but it is a lot better to use the brains as a safety feature then hoping for something else to help you out.
Rob
I have seen the video on the Griff-prototype (one built for testing, one built for crashing!), and the crashed car at the factory (around beginning of '90's).
The test is, that the intrusion of the steering wheel into the cabin is recorded (high speed cameras). There is a maximum, and normally a TVR has no problems. But we know how "not-real-live" these tests are.
Impact results: You get the obvious polyester flying around, the radiator works as a crumple zone, and then the front tires are hit (and the car actually bounces off the concrete wall).
Result for the Grif: passed the test very well, and is a "very safe" car under those conditions.
Also it was probably enough to put a new radiator in, a bit of polyester and it was an ok car again!
Safe enough for me.
But I'm driving a 350i with: a longer nose (not mine, the car's), and side impact beams. Fine for me, but it is a lot better to use the brains as a safety feature then hoping for something else to help you out.
Rob
I had a particularly nasty incident when driving my Chimaera a few year back. A spanish truck decided to take the middle lane of the M4 while I was there. The truck caught the left rear quarter of the Chimaera. I was spun across the front of the truck and it hit me side on @50 ish mph. All three lanes were packed, I came out on the hard shoulder backwards. I couldn't hazard a guess at the speed differential when the truck hit me but it was a good jolt. Anyway, after the nice police man had stopped the traffic and turned the Chimaera around, taken it for a spin down the motorway, he pronounced it safe for me to drive and it was. I was minus the passenger window and door mirror and there was a pretty decent gash along the whole left side but structurally the car was fine.
>> Edited by VYT on Monday 17th February 21:22
>> Edited by VYT on Monday 17th February 21:22
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