Mazda MX5 Club - Roll Bars

**p.dath** · 6th December 2009, 20:51

I was heading along the southern motorway this morning in Auckland around 10:30am, and along came about 10 MX5 convertibles. I assume it must have been a club out for a Sunday drive.

And as they came streaming by I noticed how most of the convertibles had rolls bars (usually one behind each of the two seats). You'd have to think the manufacturer fits these because they must have a tendency to roll in an accident.

I would have to say at least half the drivers heads were protruding above the roll bars.
Now while it is noble to try and protect the roll bar on your car using your head during an accident - wouldn't it be better to use the roll bar to protect your head instead?

I assume the height of the roll bar must be adjustable in some way to accommodate different height drivers? Or is it that the MX5 convertibles are just designed for the vertically challenged?
Or is it that the MX5 convertible driver just doesn't care about their life, assuming they'll never have an accident and roll their vehicle?

**hayd3n** · 6th December 2009, 20:53

they are for looks! not safety a actual roll bar has to be welded to the car and certified

**p.dath** · 6th December 2009, 20:55

Originally Posted by hayd3n

they are for looks! not safety a actual roll bar has to be welded to the car and certified

Your shitting me! Are any of the other safety features just for looks on these vehicles?

I wouldn't want to try the brake pedal only to find out it was made of cardboard of something.

**huff3r** · 6th December 2009, 20:58

He's right, they are for looks mostly, although when a rollbar is designed for a convertible the idea is that the line from the rollbar to the top of the windscreen is above the drivers head. I'm not sure if the ones they fit to MX-5s do, but chances are they might...

**geoffm** · 6th December 2009, 21:02

IIRC, the windscreen frame acts as a roll bar for these. The one time I have driven one, my head stuck out the top so it wasn't goign to do much....

**hayd3n** · 6th December 2009, 21:09

Originally Posted by p.dath

Your shitting me! Are any of the other safety features just for looks on these vehicles?

I wouldn't want to try the brake pedal only to find out it was made of cardboard of something.

they are the top rated entry race car

**Madness** · 6th December 2009, 21:18

Originally Posted by p.dath

You'd have to think the manufacturer fits these because they must have a tendency to roll in an accident.

You'd think wrong. Mazda didn't fit them for the fact that the mx5 sticks to the road like shit to a blanket.

**AllanB** · 6th December 2009, 21:40

Stock they do not have them.

Nice cars.

ACC does not discriminate against convertables compared to hard-tops.

**Tank** · 7th December 2009, 08:34

Originally Posted by p.dath

I was heading along the southern motorway this morning in Auckland around 10:30am, and along came about 10 MX5 convertibles. I assume it must have been a club out for a Sunday drive.

And as they came streaming by I noticed how most of the convertibles had rolls bars (usually one behind each of the two seats). You'd have to think the manufacturer fits these because they must have a tendency to roll in an accident.

I would have to say at least half the drivers heads were protruding above the roll bars.
Now while it is noble to try and protect the roll bar on your car using your head during an accident - wouldn't it be better to use the roll bar to protect your head instead?

I assume the height of the roll bar must be adjustable in some way to accommodate different height drivers? Or is it that the MX5 convertibles are just designed for the vertically challenged?
Or is it that the MX5 convertible driver just doesn't care about their life, assuming they'll never have an accident and roll their vehicle?

They are style bars - not roll bars and are generally just attached by two bolts.

Very few have full MANZ cages (or 1/2 cages) as they are a pig to get in and generally dont look as good.

Anyone with a MANZ cage will prob have their head below the line by some distance (to make room for helmet).

They handle awesomely - do not have a tendancey to roll. Awesome motorsport car if you throw the $$$$ at it. I built one for Targa a few years back all work by flyin miata in the US - was fucken harlarious - sold it because it was going to kill me.

Apparently there is such a raitio power to weight to driving ability.

**huff3r** · 7th December 2009, 10:07

I can testify to that, full MANZ cages are a pain in the arse to get in and out of, especially if they have side intrusion bars... i hated it when i was daily driving my racecar at the start of the year

**SMOKEU** · 7th December 2009, 10:18

When the roof is chopped off a car the chassis has to be strengthened due to the fact that the roof plays a large part in the structural integrity of the vehicle, therefore 'roll bars' are often intended to increase the strength and rigidity of the chassis.

**Tank** · 7th December 2009, 10:40

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

When the roof is chopped off a car the chassis has to be strengthened due to the fact that the roof plays a large part in the structural integrity of the vehicle, therefore 'roll bars' are often intended to increase the strength and rigidity of the chassis.

of course the MX5 never had a roof - it was a soft top from the outset.

The style bars done offer any rigidity. Roll bars quite a bit - subframe bracing on the MX5 does a lot also - although very few in NZ have done this.

**Blackbird** · 7th December 2009, 11:43

Originally Posted by Tank

of course the MX5 never had a roof - it was a soft top from the outset.

The style bars done offer any rigidity. Roll bars quite a bit - subframe bracing on the MX5 does a lot also - although very few in NZ have done this.

Mrs B's has the suspension tower brace up front and a rear strut brace too but it came kitted with them from the MazdaSpeed factory along with other goodies so haven't been able to do any comparisons with standard set-up. It certainly handles better than our old Mk 1 though.