35 replies to this topic

[TheFunkyGibbon]

I don't know what she's trying to say about my driving but my long haired general struck a deal....

I finally get my new toy.....as long as I don't die driving it....

I didn't argue too much because I think they can look pretty decent when done properly.

So to the advice. I know nothing about them. How much should I pay, do I want a full, back, front can you buy the two seperatley is it honestly any help if a volvo plows into the side of me?.....I've not got a clue. Any general advice or directions to a decent site to size 'em up would be appreciated.

Cheers in advance,

FG.

[english-bully]

Ayup !!!

yeah my miss's was the same,The best kind of cage would have to be a safty device front and rear with door bars and a least a diagoanl bar fitted....I dont think there any way in the world to stop an ovlov from taking the side out of you,but a cage is only going to help ya....Dont be tempeted to go for one of those NEW ones seen on are favorite auction site (nudge nudge win wink) There just know where man engouh for the job,there more of a show cage than any thing else....a cage must follow the body of the car to make sure its strong,if you take a look at these NEW cages on these AUCTION sites and tale a look at a safty device cage you will see what i mean.....

[v8mini]

I'd also recomend Saftey Devices,

strange what conditions wifes put on things, mine wouldn't let me buy a TVR due to the fact i'd probably kill myself in it, but has let me build a V8 mini instead . again must have a roll caged fitted (that i wanted any way) also not allowed to take the kids out in it

[93-rio]

also not allowed to take the kids out in it

Bound to crumble on that one. Kids nagging can get tiresome, i know i used to be one .

Safety devices seems to be the way to go for a roll cage, might get one myself someday

[minivanman]

never underestimate pester power!

[Don't Panic]

Safety Devices or Rollcentre.

You can buy front, rear and extra bars (door, dash etc...) seperately but it probably saves on postage to get them all at once.

www.rollcentre.com do a full cage (fixed rear diagonal) and door bars for £339 + VAT and delivery, i think makes it £420

good luck

[MaryQuant88]

What about OMP? Im sure they make one for the mini, and was quoted a cheap price by Sbardun

[simini]

I had exactly the same condition put on me when i got a mini. Have looked at the cheap ones but feel that this is an item that should not be scrimped on. Will be getting front and rear but don't really want door bars (i have trouble getting in anyway). Are bolt in just as good as weld in?

[Grayedout]

Yes bolt in universal door bars are just as good as welded ones. I use them in my grasstracker and have no problem with scrutineering !!

[Wil_h]

Jesus what's the world coming to? next you'll be asked to wear a roll cage when crossing the road!

I wonder how any of us survived not having seatbelts in the rear, no airbags etc, etc....

[Steamo]

Ha - like it Will - the nanny state must be starting to influence people!!

I thought my GF was being harsh not allowing me to have a motorbike!

[Wil_h]

I hope you lot are equally as controlling over your girlfriends. Do you stop them buying shoes for instance?

[miniboo]

u chaps are a little under the thumb me thinks

[Dan]

Oh god this comes up far too often.

As I have said before.....

Roll cages are designed for competition cars. In competition, drivers are in a seat fitted to their body which is held into the car a lot better than a normal seat and generally speaking in a slightly different place in the car. They are held in by a multi point seatbelt which does not stretch at all, unlike a road seatbelt which is required to stretch by regulations. They wear full body overalls generally made of tough ballistic materials and they wear a crash helmet. All the cars are generally travelling in the same direction and in the event of any incident all the traffic is stopped instantly. If they do crash, their body pretty much cannot move around in the car at all. The cage does it's job which is to stop the body collapsing around them and trapping them inside as a result. They tend to have very high speed accidents which result in their cars being far more likely to roll over than in a road accident.

If you crash on the road it is very different. Firstly as above your seatbelt stretches, and it doesn't hold you in place particularly well at all. The seat flexes and bends and moves about, your limbs flail around and your head moves all over the place. If any part of your body with bones in it hits a roll cage during a crash, these bones will break. That includes your head. If car bodies with many compound curves are allowed to deform in a crash they aborb a lot of impact energy into the shell and dissipate the energy of the crash. Minis are quite good at this. If they are not allowed to deform, they skate about the road surface a lot and the people inside get bounced around. Particularly if they are fairly light weight.

Minis have a very high degree of pasive safety. They are small, light, fast and accurate and intuitive to control meaning that it is harder to get into trouble in the first place and easier to get out of trouble if something does go wrong. I'm not by any means trying to talk you out of getting a roll cage if you think you need one. If you want one then get one by all means. Just don't think it will always make your car any safer in the event of a crash. In the highly unlikely event of your car ending up on it's roof or under another vehicle then it will help you a lot but in a more minor accident it can increase the injuries you may suffer. Especially it can increase the severity of whiplash injuries as the car gets knocked about more.

If you are really worried about a side impact then you should also consider getting a twin point Mini. They have pretty effective side impact bars fitted. They also have the air bag system and seat belt pre-tensioners.

Remember also that the majority of insurance companies hate roll cages with a passion and will load your premium fairly heavily for having one fitted.

Edited by Dan, 27 June 2006 - 11:38 AM.

[Grayedout]

And it's possibe to survive this without a roll cage and still drive them today !!!