Not a dangerous car, but with a roll over where you come to a stop on your roof in a stream not having a roof would seriously impede your ability to walk away. John's roof got squished so his melon didn't. Its one of the risks of being able to go topless....

 

Man what a rush that ride into the creek must have been! Thanks for sharing your experience with us, it'll sure make me drive like an old lady for a while. Glad you're okay and looks like you are going to saddle up with another XF, which is really cool.

 

I own one, so no, but the unusual way John landed...which was a big rock, causing it to flip, then land several feet down...would have killed him in a 'vert...this wasn't a simple roll over as he described it to me. It would be like dropping him 15' straight down on his top...in a rollover, I think the 'vert would hold it's own...may be wrong...but, I don't think so in this case...but John would know more if he thinks he would have survived in a roadster or not...many have...

 

Wow! Glad you are OK. That is one scary story! Also glad to see the car protected you pretty well, but I have thought that in certain siuations these cars would be tough to get out of.

 

Anybody else that's put roll bars in their coupe thinking what I'm thinking

 

I always wondered if this could really be done.

 

Do you know where those roll bars were purchased? There just may be a run on these. Edit: I just Searched "roll bars for coupe" and came up with a lot of info. Thank you to the pioneers of this project.

 

Let me guess........you are a news reporter????

 

I did, but I think my butt will still fit thru them.....

 

heres the link with tons of info and pics. PM me if you have any questions and Id be glad to help
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...s-coupe-4.html

 

now you know why i love my 32! vert and hardtop all in one

YouTube - Crash - Mercedes-Benz High Speed Crash at the Autobahn

 

There was no mention in all of this thread; Didn't you have roll bars in your Coupe John? I thought you did. If so, did they hold up the roof any, did they bend?

 

John, you had an angel watching over you that day.And that angel kept Molly from going.I cryed when I saw the pix. Glad your ok. I know you will always miss that beautiful x-fire. Hugs to you both.Joanna

 

Just out of curiosity...also being a Miata owner, there is a difference between "roll bars" (a device intended for additional head protection in case of roll over) and a "style bar" ( a device NOT intended for roll over protection but rather aesthetics), are the Crossfire bars "roll" or "style"?

 

Definitely "roll".

 

You are correct, and she is being built as we speak

I will get the DVDs made this winter, I have been slacking, but very busy between insurance suits, biulding a new car, taking care of the house (damn leaves) and work LOL

If someone were in a roadster, they would not have survived if they were much taller than I am, not to mention the fact that they would have more than likely been stuck in the car with no way to get out and it took the tow trucks at least an hour.

That is, if anyone even knew you were there

I did not have a set of roll bars in mine, but I remember wanting to add them until I found out they offer no structural or safety benefits because they are not rated as a roll over tool, they are a chrome add on for looks.

I haven't paid attention to your rear window, but if the 32 were in the same spot mine was in, I think you would still be stuck.



Whew - hope I got everyone, and thanks for the nice words everyone.

 

Maybe on the roadster, but I know on the coupe they are aesthetic and nothing more.

 

John, Our "roll" bars are cosmetic. They are not structural and not of sufficient height to qualify as roll protection.

I know of no track that will accept them.

That said, I do take some umbrage with the concept that our roadsters would have been insufficient to have protected the Driver in John's disaster.

The casualty problem with Covertibles in a roll over occurs mostly in the back seats. We don't have one.

The windshield frame is reinforced to carry the weight of the car. This is how Lee Iacocca's Chrysler got the "K" convertable car to pass rollover in '82.

If you are strapped in with your seat belt, one should be OK.

Not something I wish to prove in person but, from an engineer's perspective, I can visualize.

That said, John is right about crawling out. Not sure how he could have done it in a roadster.

John, Sorry we couldn't find you. I cannot express how inept Evan and I felt as we raced back and forth over the road from which you had simply "disappeared." We tried radio and visual searching. None of the guard posts were damaged 'cause your expert driving skills cleverly missed them.

Next time leave more bread crumbs.

 

John, I'm looking into adding the bars and it looks like they bolt into the same location points as the roadster. So it seems that they would be just as functional as the oem on the roadster. Curious why you believe they are just aesthetic. I realize they don't go all the way down to the frame and welded in and all; but they look real stout and bolted well to the bulkhead like oem. Thoughts?

 

I believe this to be true because the ones on the roadster are not functional either. In my opinion, unless the weight of the car can land on them and they will hold, they are of little use to me, and since the ones in the crossie will not do this, IMHO they are simply aesthetic. Not to mention they are bolted to the top of the gas tank, so if they do get enough weight on them, they COULD potentially pierce the gas tank leaving you in a very bad place.....

No need for apologies, my friend, you guys were there when I needed you the most - dry clothes, a ride to the lodge, and a drinking buddy when we returned