Rollover?

[OllieWinchester]

Greasy roundabout, too much right foot, you clip a curb while out of shape at low speed in a cageless MK1 and end up on the roof.

Has anyone done it?

I imagine they aren't the best cars to accidently tip over, the earliest models are 20+yrs old now. Surviveable or not? I'd imagine you are better off in a 2yr old Perodua Kelisa...

[4Q]

You're probably safer on a bike!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGHzyNJ3-kI

However...

http://www.trlanefabs.co.uk/MAZDA-MX5-GP-ROLLBAR.h...

[MX-5 Lazza]

I know it does happen but I've only seen a couple end up on their roof and they were on serious hoon mode at the time. Both survived with cuts & bruises. One of those, the more serious looking crash was probably due to a "style bar" that took the cars weight and didn't fold.

[OllieWinchester]

The fabric roof obviously offers no protection, how much can the screen take before folding? I'm 6ft, and I don't really fancy using the top of my head as a skid plate.

[NiceCupOfTea]

The screen support can supposedly take the weight of the car, but that's not taking into account increased forces of the car landing on the screen. Also, don't forget that it will come to rest on the line between the top of the screen (wherever that ends up) and the back of the boot - ie, not a horizontal line. Add in some shifting in the seat as the rollover progresses, the fact that your weight is supported by the belt, and the possibility of being a tall chap, and it's not a good recipe.

I gave serious thought to buying and fitting a hard dog rollover bar a while back, but came to the conclusion that it was too risky on the road without wearing a crash helmet as I would be more likely to do myself some serious injury on the bar itself...

[Howard-]

Due to the low centre of gravity etc, I can only think of one or two situations where an MX-5 could end up upside-down on the roads, and certainly no situations which would involve driving which is safe for a public road, surely?

I seriously doubt a "low speed kerb impact" would flip one.

[JonnyFive]

Howard- said:

Due to the low centre of gravity etc, I can only think of one or two situations where an MX-5 could end up upside-down on the roads, and certainly no situations which would involve driving which is safe for a public road, surely?

I seriously doubt a "low speed kerb impact" would flip one.

You could, theoretically hit a curb at 90' and it could flip?

[MX-5 Lazza]

The ones I've seen involving a flip were caused by A) a car pulled out in front of them, they hit it at an angle and ended up on the roof and B) again, another car was involved but I can't remember how - car caught a bump/bank at the side of the road and went over at around 60mph. That last one a style bar stayed in place and probably saved his life.

[NiceCupOfTea]

That's 2 stories where a style bar as had an appreciable effect. Worth getting one on that basis? Still worried about head/bar interfacing

[JonnyFive]

NiceCupOfTea said:

That's 2 stories where a style bar as had an appreciable effect. Worth getting one on that basis? Still worried about head/bar interfacing

Was going to say the same, most I've heard about them people have said they'd collapse.

[MX-5 Lazza]

JonnyFive said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

That's 2 stories where a style bar as had an appreciable effect. Worth getting one on that basis? Still worried about head/bar interfacing

Was going to say the same, most I've heard about them people have said they'd collapse.

People say that all the time but have you ever seen any evidence that it happens? I'm not saying that anyone should fit a style bar thinking that it's a safety device but equally I don't think it should be seen as a danger either. Anything solid and/or heavy left in the cabin would be far more dangerous in a serious crash like that.

[JonnyFive]

The only one I've seen is this;



But thats the only one, and its still slightly up.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Also, you don't know what damage was done by rescue & recovery. I doubt the windscreen pillar was that shape from the crash alone for example.

[gdaybruce]

That looks like the IL Motorsports style bar, which is what I think my car has fitted and which MX5 Parts describes as the most substantially made of the style bars.

You certainly wouldn't expect a proper roll bar to have collapsed like that but who knows what kind of impact it absorbed in the process and, as has been said, it is still providing some measure of additional headroom. In short, probably better with than without.

[JonnyFive]

Found this on Google, says its what a roll bar is there for;



Which if it actually is the roll bar it rolled on (Pretty immaculate condition!) then its held up very well, as has the screen.

[JonnyFive]

This also, from the same site..



But these are the people who sell the Hard Dog so anything could have happened to that car after the roll..

[hornetrider]

Indeed - not even a scratch on those pristine looking roll bars Jonny.





I rolled my Boxster at speed by clipping a nearside verge avoiding a muppet pulling out on me, was lucky to walk away with scratches - and it landed on its screen/rollbars. Not sure the 5 would be so strong.

[OllieWinchester]

My old silver Mk1 had quite a substantial style bar, I certainly reckon my neck would collapse sooner than the bar would at any rate, so on that basis I think I'd rather have one than not.

[Munter]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Also, you don't know what damage was done by rescue & recovery. I doubt the windscreen pillar was that shape from the crash alone for example.

The other one (with style bar helping) was a blue MK1 posted on the MX5 owners forum as I remember. Must be 5 years ago? Seem to remember it went something like he came over a crest, a vehicle ahead was doing something silly, he swerved and connected with something, car lands on roof. Lucky boy.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Munter said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

Also, you don't know what damage was done by rescue & recovery. I doubt the windscreen pillar was that shape from the crash alone for example.

The other one (with style bar helping) was a blue MK1 posted on the MX5 owners forum as I remember. Must be 5 years ago? Seem to remember it went something like he came over a crest, a vehicle ahead was doing something silly, he swerved and connected with something, car lands on roof. Lucky boy.

That sounds like the one. I think it had a big Greddy sticker down the side. Probably more than 5 years ago too - pretty sure I still had my Mk1 at the time and I've had my Mk2.5 for over 6 years...