Too much Lightness?

[Kitcat]

I replaced my stock roll-over bar with the upgraded unit. The shipping weight for the FIA spec Caterham bar is 33 pounds. I just got around to weighing the stock bar: 8.5 pounds! About the same as the aluminum bicycle rack I use on my Accord. I am sure the stock bar is better than nothing, but the question is, how much better?

[slngsht]

Are you sure it's better than nothing? If it wasn't even there, at least you wouldn't have the false security :lol:

[SkinnyG]

Your remains would be more identifiable.

 

G

[Ian7]

Std Caterham bar on my car is used for pushing car around and in/out of garage. I dont count on it for much more...

... about the same as I count on the side panels helping in an intrusion event.

 

Life's too short to worry about such things anyway. :-)

[athens7]

The general consensus when I got my car was that the standard bar was a cosmetic item, and offered little in the way of safety. I felt then, and still feel, the FIA bar is a "must have" accessory.

 

It is interesting to hear of the weight difference. How much did it cost to ship the bar from the UK? Mine came from Caterham USA, so I didn't experience the "pound"ing.

[JohnCh]

The Westfield stock rollbar is even more of a joke than the Caterham item. Although the tubing is much beefier, there is no bracing – just a single, unsupported hoop. Works great as a push bar. It was about the same price to have a local shop make a proper rollbar to my specs than it was to buy the RAC rollbar from Westfield and ship it over. Gotta love the strong dollar and low fuel prices

 

I agree that an FIA/RAC/SCCA spec rollbar is a must have. The thought of rolling my Westfield is horrifying, but using my head to support the weight of the car is even worse...

 

-John

[Kitcat]

Cost: priceless (haven't got the credit card bill yet, tho as I recall it was around $500).

 

The killers were the Caterham 6 pt belts at $353 (each!). Well, they DO say Caterham on them.