Miata crash survivability
Dean
Does anyone have any experience or information on how well the Miata
performs in any kind of road accident? I have a late 1996 (October)
MX5 (Miata) 1.8. Does the windscreen frame provide adequate protection
in the (unlikely) event of a rollover or should I fit a rollover bar?
I love the look of the car, especially with the top down.
If you have information, please post follow up message to the
newsgroup.
Thanking you in advance, Dean
James D Brockman
Dean (de...@enterprise.net) wrote:
: Does anyone have any experience or information on how well the Miata
I'm not familiar with the windscreen frame, but I'm going to guess
that...no. It would probably provide about as much protection to you, the
driver, as...a bicycle helmet. For rollover protection, you need to buy a
roll bar. (Not a style bar) A style bar looks like a roll bar, smells
like a roll bar, and is sturdily mounted, but not sufficiently. It is
really just for show, and can (and will) snap down in the event of a
crash, crushing your head (hence the nickname 'mousetrap' in racing
circles). A proper roll bar should offer you some protection in the event
of a crash. Installation can take anywhere from an hour to a couple of
days. There's a great article about this in http://www.miata.net.
--
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at...@aloha.net
I have read the account of one rolled Miata and the rollover bar did
support the weight of the car and left driver and passenger with their
hair dangling in the grass but unhurt. Of course, speed and force of the
colision would have a lot to do with the success of this maneouver, but in
this case they were able to push the car over and drive it away. The car
had puked a lot of fluid onto the engine but it survived as well. This
story is out of the Miata Magazine, so perhaps their on-line index would
be a help.
In terms of overall safety the Miata does better than comparable cars its
size (and weight) mainly due to its excellent brakes, low center of
gravity, and unusually rigid body. Still, it is just a little car and I
harbor no illusions that crashing it would be the same as crashing my
Jimmy.
atlas
Tom Lefebvre
I don't have a survivor story but there was a report in 1992 or 1993
around Christmas time about the Miata being THE safest car designed.
The report was aired on PBS no less! I wish I could remember more but
the years....
James Zimmerman
Actually, there have been numerous reports about Miata's in accidents in
the Miata Club of America's magazine. The car holds up incredibly well,
and the windshield frame WILL support the car in a rollover - that's why
it is so thick compared to other convertibles. I have yet to see a
picture there of one crushing down more than an inch or two at most. A
sturdy little car, one that I am NOT afraid to be in an accident in.
jZ
Keith Tanner
Dean wrote:
>
> Does anyone have any experience or information on how well the Miata
> performs in any kind of road accident?
You need to have a look at http://ftp.wi.net/~fizzx/safety/index.html.
Stories and photos of what happens to Miatas in accidents.
If you're really worried about rolling over (a difficult feat in a
Miata, really), then get a true roll bar. The Miata does meet all the
safety standards as is, though.
Keith Tanner
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Page de Home:
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PrimenetCA
>: Does anyone have any experience or information on how well the Miata
>: performs in any kind of road accident? I have a late 1996 (October)
>: MX5 (Miata) 1.8. Does the windscreen frame provide adequate protection
>: in the (unlikely) event of a rollover or should I fit a rollover bar?
>
>that...no. It would probably provide about as much protection to you, the
>driver, as...a bicycle helmet.
There is a link from Miata.net that goes to some site where they post
pictures of Miata crashes. You would be amazed! I've seen at leaset three
Miatas that have rolled (without a roll bar) and came out smiling. Yes, the
car was destroyed, but the driver/passenger compartment STAYS INTACT!
Bounmy Phouthavong
jZ writes...
There have also been stories (not in the MCA magazine) where people get
their heads ripped off/flattened in their miatas during rollovers.
Don't expect the windsheild frame to save you. Get a real roll bar if
you are so inclined.
-Shiv who has been in a serious miata accident and now has a hard dog sport.
Please do not reply to this account.
Reply to sh...@tnp.com
abda...@gmail.com
> Does anyone have any experience or information on how well the Miata
> performs in any kind of road accident? I have a late 1996 (October)
> MX5 (Miata) 1.8. Does the windscreen frame provide adequate protection
> in the (unlikely) event of a rollover or should I fit a rollover bar?
>
>
> If you have information, please post follow up message to the
> newsgroup.
>
Leon van Dommelen
> On Thursday, February 6, 1997 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-8, Dean wrote:
>> Does anyone have any experience or information on how well the Miata
>> performs in any kind of road accident? I have a late 1996 (October) MX5
>> (Miata) 1.8. Does the windscreen frame provide adequate protection in
>> the (unlikely) event of a rollover or should I fit a rollover bar?
>>
>> I love the look of the car, especially with the top down.
>>
>> If you have information, please post follow up message to the
>> newsgroup.
>>
>> Thanking you in advance, Dean
>
> I had a 1995 Special Edition Miata with only 44K miles. One day on Hwy
> 49 just before entering Downieville I did not see the curve come up
> before it was too late. I hit the mountain side straight on. Both
> airbags deployed and the windshild cracked, but I walked away without a
> scratch. In a frontal collision the Miata will do OK.
> I do not know
> about roll overs.
getting in the clay next to the track. He was unhurt, but his windshield
was flat. The windshield provides some protection, but it is limited.
> But if you do that kind of driving beat to get a roll
> bar. I perefr to drive with the hardtop installed too.
Leon