How safe is a GTS in a rollover?

The piece behind your head will take a lot. The windshield will fold down though.

 

I wouldn't trust either.

But it's a hell of a hard car to roll, unless you drive it off a cliff.

 

thats why i drive around with lotsa hair gel as a protective measure.

 

Have a few vertebrae removed and bolt your seat directly to the floor w/o rails, and you should be good to go!

 

Dude, I drive a tin can Miata to work every day w/ a Momo steering wheel (no air bag). Life is short, enjoy it. How are you afraid of rolling her?

 

Biggest factor in roll over is wear your seat belt--all the roll over cases I have worked including convertibles with tops down seat belted survived. Unbelted often did not when came 1/2 out of car, van pickup or suv and had it land on them--or bad case of road rash (1-2 inches) as car slid on top dragging them. Based on about 60-80 cases over the years. None in a Ferrari.

 

Rollover? That is about the furthest thing from my mind in the GTS.

And even with it lack of airbags, I feel infinitely safer in the Fcar than in this, with it solid steering column, lap belts only, pizza-plate-on marbles handling, and blow-apart plastic body, so I really don't worry about it in either one, other than to pay attention while driving.

Doug
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They're very strong. Two 308's in one day tested them. It was a very bad day! One was a GTB, and the other IIRC was a B. The cars were restored back to their original glory, and the owners came out in good shape.

Another rollover event was a GT4. The owner was able to crawl out from the broken side window. That car went to the great racetrack in the sky. I didn't see that car after, but heard it put up a good fight protecting the driver, although he got some minor cuts getting out.

It's worth mention that it took a serious mishap to cause this. They do not roll easily.

 

If you're so concerned then install a roll-cage in your Ferrari, that's what did to my rock crawler.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8XYl5yz7RI&feature=related

 

In most modern vehicles the windshield frame will hold up the car giving the front seat driver passenger some protection. Others add a mini roll bar behind the seats (Ferrari 360, BMW) or a popup roll bar (Mercedes) The convertibles I have seen have held up alot better than some of the 90s SUVs including Explorer and Isuzu.

A few examples--

As a teenager my sister proved it out with a 1980 Fiat Spyder 2000 she barrel rolled after hitting a culvert then slid about 150 feet on fenders and windshield frame before going through a telephone pole with minor injuries (Top was up) Windshield frame and front bow was pushed in and back about 2 inches. Car was repaired.

70s MG Midget with top up rolled completely over with minor knee injury to seat belted driver small fender dents broken mirrors and torn top fabric.

Early 2000s Ford Mustang top frame held up and driver seatbelted minor injuries passenger unbelted was fatally squished between trunk and road. This was with top down. We found the car on its windshield and trunk.

As an aside if you look at fatality rates for cars that come in both coupe and convertible versions the convertible tends to be a lot safer than the coupe--Ford Mustang and Camaro coupes among the most dangerous cars and convertible versions among the safest. Driver selection and behavior is likely part of the explanation along with coupes being driven more.

 

Nice car!

 

One reason I suspect a lot of convertibles can be statistically safer than sedans is that many ragtops are two-seaters.

I feel safer in the Ferrari than in the EVO because the shoulder harness is properly placed in the Ferrari -- across the shoulder.

In the EVO, the B-pillar mounted shoulder harness hovers in *front* of the shoulder, and I've no doubt I'd slide out from under it in a side impact.

 

Younger daughter was offered a Bertone X 1/9 but chose a Volvo 240 sedan instead she wanted more room in the car.
Older daughter was offered a Chrysler Lebaron convertible but chose a Dakota Pickup instead because she wanted a Jeep or a Truck.
Either way with a convertible driver need a rain/snow vehicle available.
Mustang, Camaro, and Honda are on the not available on my nickel kids cars--have cut too many dead kids out of those and it was usually the kid at fault.