Thinking about Roll Bars.... Let's talk about them.

So it's been becoming more and more apparent how dangerous it is to drive the NB miata (or any style for that matter) around. If it flips.... at any speed.... everyone gets their head squished in and dies. So I've been very seriously considering some sort of roll bars. I looked it up online and was very pleased to see it's only $140 for a roll bar! Super easy to install! 5 minutes! And as I was inputting my credit card info.... I saw "Not a roll bar, cosmetic only" and I snapped my fingers and exited out of the screen and came here.

It's as expensive as I imagine it is isn't it? $1000-$1500? Would a Hardtop do the same thing? Or would that not withstand what a roll bar does?

What are my options here on making my car safe to drive my 9 year old brother around in, as well as myself or any other people that get in it?

What types of styles and what price range am I looking at?

Any reasons not to get a roll bar?

Any reasons to get one other than saving people inside if the car flips over?

General roll bar conversation?

If you flip over your car will catch fire. The roll bar will only keep you alive long enough to burn to death.

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Originally Posted by slowchildmiata

If you flip over your car will catch fire. The roll bar will only keep you alive long enough to burn to death.

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Eh....?

Been watching Miata Rolls.... scaring the shit out of me.... thinking about all those times I was going WAY too fast.... or taking corners at crazy speeds.... fish tailing at 80 on accident...... I need to get a roll bar.

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Originally Posted by slowchildmiata

If you flip over your car will catch fire. The roll bar will only keep you alive long enough to burn to death.

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...yea just like in the movies.

Look into hard dog roll bars. Around $400 - $500 depending on the type, not including installation. Pretty much all of the 'real' roll bars will get the job done, just which style you like. TrackDogRaging is a local vendor here, they sell them and install them as well, check their website for a product listing and some general info.
How tall are you?

check out Track Dog Racing's website. there are different types or rollbars, some fit hard tops and some dont.

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Originally Posted by Jiggerachi

...yea just like in the movies.

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Exactly. And I don't want to die in upside down car like Han.

Imagine this... upside down.
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets...ndon_miata.jpg

To answer one of your questions, a hard top will not support the car and you'll still be squashed.

The Hard Dog products are legit and stiffen the car up a ton, making it feel a lot better on the road. Get help to install. I did it myself (thanks guys!) and it was a bit of a beating.

Thanks for your suggestion on the website, I'll be using it for sure to order from.... now Installation.... about what does it run? I dont see the installation prices on TDR website. What exactly is installation? Is there welding involved?

Slow your roll there, buddy. It's pretty hard to roll a Miata in reasonable driving. Maybe you should own the car for more than a week before you make it track- ready.

Labor would be at least a few hundred bucks to install a roll bar. You should save the $$ and install yourself. Get a few buddies to assist, and take your time. You can Pick up a simple but effective roll bar under $400.

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Originally Posted by OZMDD

Slow your roll there, buddy. It's pretty hard to roll a Miata in reasonable driving. Maybe you should own the car for more than a week before you make it track- ready.

Labor would be at least a few hundred bucks to install a roll bar. You should save the $$ and install yourself. Get a few buddies to assist, and take your time. You can Pick up a simple but effective roll bar under $400.

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Pun intended? I suppose it would be pretty hard to roll one.... but I figure... taking a highway loop at 90.... might do it if I lost control? Or getting hit by another driver. Anyways.... youtube has got me pretty terrified to drive my car faster than 60... and I was having a lot of fun in the little thing. Roll bar would make me feel safe. Lol.

I see that its just a bunch of nuts and bolts to mount it on, no welding required. I could do it myself with some buddies from work. And at $400 thats not bad at all. I'm currently looking at the double diagonal M2 HardDog Sport, the M2 Hard Core, and the hard bar since it's half the price of the hard dogs... but I'm curious if it will save me as well as the other 2 will. I don't ever plan on racing on a track with it... I just want to feel safe if the car flips over. I think I may give these guys a call tomorrow, I'm sure they have tons of people like me wondering the same questions.

Do some more research. I'm not trying to muddy the situation intentionally, but there's lots of things to consider. Tall people, for instance, fear the possibility of hitting their head on the bar in the event of a rear-end collision, which is far more likely than a rollover.

Regards.

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Originally Posted by Piff

Do some more research. I'm not trying to muddy the situation intentionally, but there's lots of things to consider. Tall people, for instance, fear the possibility of hitting their head on the bar in the event of a rear-end collision, which is far more likely than a rollover.

Regards.

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It's fine, advice is good. I'm really short, I'm hoping whichever one I get I won't be able to hit my head on it. Saw some padding you can put on them.

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Originally Posted by MiataProtege

blah, blah... taking a highway loop at 90.... might do it if I lost control.? ...Roll bar would make me feel safe. Lol...blah,blah,

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I'll be the first to say it. If you are taking loops and on/off ramps at 90, or driving on any public street highway at 90 you have bigger issues than "feeling safe". You are an Edsel. You don't need a roll bar, you need a brain.

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Originally Posted by SixAce

I'll be the first to say it. If you are taking loops and on/off ramps at 90, or driving on any public street highway at 90 you have bigger issues than "feeling safe". You are an Edsel. You don't need a roll bar, you need a brain.

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+1!

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Originally Posted by SixAce

driving on any public street highway at 90 you have bigger issues than "feeling safe".

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Didn't Texas just approve raising the highway speed limits? Some to 85mph? 90 would be safe and "legal" at that point. Just sayin'

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Originally Posted by Rob®

Didn't Texas just approve raising the highway speed limits? Some to 85mph? 90 would be safe and "legal" at that point. Just sayin'

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No where near DFW is the speed limit 85 but we will give you partial credit.

Nice job attempting to help out your new lil pal! :clap:

90 on an off-ramp will make the news on how another street racer meet his doom. Plus his Dad may be able to chime in on how he had told his son many times Mazda's were unsafe!

I know, it's called a joke ;) (even though it was said doing 90 on "any public highway" not "any public DFW highway") And Mazdas are unsafe. Too expensive too. Terrible cars.

And thanks for the partial credit, btw.

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Originally Posted by Rob®

And thanks for the partial credit, btw.

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I know you are trying real hard so I thought I'd be generous. ;-)

Now get that car running!

I think the Hard Dog Sport is a good choice. I recommend you find someone with a double diagonal bar that you can sit in and see how it blocks the inside mirror some. The double diagonal is stronger and I would prefer it. The Sport sits further back than the Hardcore model, so head contact would be easier with Hardcore.
From your previous questions, I believe you should get professional experienced install. This is safety equipment. The install is pretty straight forward, but since are you are justifying it for safety reasons, get the install. If in Dallas, I think Gary at Track Dog Racing is a good choice. He could even sell it to you. Call him with questions.

Maniac Mitch