What's it like to be in a roadster wreck

[jamesw]

I've always driven small cars so am used to being the smallest car on the road (especially in Houston). But I'd like to hear from people that have been in a wreck in a roadster - what was it like? How did you and car fare?

I know people may be shy about answering - but this is a safety question so the feedback would REALLY be appreciated.

Cheers
James

[Alvin]

My 2cents: we are not safe driving along today's cars. Belts, visibility aids, etc. help but defensive driving is probably the most effective! Folks just can't see us

[GeoffM]

There was 5, or so, of us Roadsters traveling down the freeway on the way home from the Vancouver show last weekend. Taking the opportunity to see other roadsters in traffic, you get the sense of how ridiculously small they are in comparison to even a modern Civic. Point being; I'm not so optimistic about the outcome of tangling with another vehicle let alone a Jersey Barrier, tree, squirrel (Large), McDonalds bag etc.

[tjp]

I seem to remember seeing pics of a Roadster and Elk (?) collision. That was not pretty either.

How'd the driver & passenger (?) fare in the above pics? OK I sure hope!

Shaken by that pic in WI!

Tim

[dbrick]

I tend to agree, defensive driving and being very aware of other drivers. Basically like riding a motorcycle with less acceleration and no helmet.

[SLOroadster]

I took a Saturn to the drivers front end while sitting at a stop sign back in '06. Cracked the windshield, and made a big mess of the whole front suspension on the drivers side, and the lower ball joint on the passenger side. The engine didn't even stop. The idiots who hit me managed to make their escape before I could get unbelted to go beat the crap out of them. Lucky for me, someone else followed them down the street and called the police.

Will

[cole455]

Summer 2009 I was driving down yadkinville rd doing 50 when a deer ran across the road. About the time I saw him, a second deer "tried" to jump over my 70 1600... He smashed the windshield, bent the w/s frame forcing the doors out of alignment. Pretty scary experience, its hooves were just inches from my head. Plus it was 10am, don't usually see deer around here that early. I'm still finding deer hair in my car; plus I found the sausage biscuit I carelessly tossed during the event about a year later I try to drive safe when I'm in the roadster, but there's only so much you can do. I even added a factory roll bar for additional piece of mind, but in my example, it sure wouldn't have helped.

[dbrick]

See what happens when you eat and drive!!

[jamesw]

Thanks gang. I'm interested in hearing from more people who have been in wrecks. I already know that the roadster is unsafe - because my wife has told me so...

Cole, did you toss the sausage biscuit before or after you'd eaten it?

Cheers
James

[cole455]

[quote="dbrick"]See what happens when you eat and drive!! [/quote]
Exactly!!! Roadsters get damaged, and I spend the rest of the day with my 30.30 trying to find that little booger

[pletch]

Dam this post, it gets into my head. I already sold my 1974 Honda CB450 and my 1952 GMC truck because of how unsafe they are on the road. I keep telling myself that I would be fine if I was in a accident but I dont know if I'm kidding myself. I think I've had too many Birthday's and I'm scared of my shadow.

[SLOroadster]

You know, I think I'd rather take my chances in a roadster than in a Smart car, or even a Miata. The frames are pretty robust, and with a roll bar and harnesses, I'm inclined to think its more safe than a Miata. Stock seat belts kinda scare me, but 5 pt race harnesses (or even just modern seat belts) make me less worried.

On my way back from autoXing on Sunday I nearly ended up in two messes, one on the back side of a hill and the other the back side of a turn I couldn't see all the way around on 101 south of Gilroy. In both cases, traffic went from 70 on the front side to 0 on the back side. People were diving for the median, somehow there was no contact with anyone. I thought I was going to get taken out by SUVs that were following me both times as I WAY out braked them (race pads and race tires, the combo stops pretty well. ) Both times I had to get off the brakes to open room up to the people behind me. Yeah, I was worried I was going to get smeared for the 2nd time this year, but it wasn't the case (lucky for me.)

Will

[Alvin]

You know, I think I'd rather take my chances in a roadster than in a Smart car, or even a Miata.
Will

I felt like posting this because we can't give people the wrong idea...we love our cars and they are fun to drive but let's be realistic.

You can control your driving behavior all you want to avoid a collision, but in a head on there's is no way yourself or the car would fair better than in a Smart Car or a Miata.
[youtube][/youtube]
Size is deceiving. It's what's underneath and hidden that counts, including suspension, crumple zones, brakes, air bags, inertia seat belts, etc. Technology has optimized all of these over time.
[youtube][/youtube]

You should really drop the "my classic car is better than anything" mentality for your own safety

Those 5-pt harnesses are great for the track to hold you in place in the corners, but they are useless in a crash. I don't even have headrests

oh, and Darwin COMPLETELY owns you:
http://www.iihs.org/50th/default.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


what a morbid thread




.

[cole455]

It's been years since I read it, but I believe the old Rallye catalog had a story documenting an accident with a drunk driver? If I remember correctly, the car was crunched up pretty good and a lot of the metal around the seat bolts and seatbelts had stretched or ripped. I believe after this he really recommended some substantial washers be added for strength around these areas? Of course, I could be making this up, I haven't read the catalog in 15 years! I believe a lot was credited to the collapsible steering column? Hopefully someone can reference it, because it was a very good story and was the main reason I went with a 5 point harness back when I was 16.

[Skyman]

James, at least your car has the collapsible steering wheel. 67.5 and earlier had the death spear. There was a video somewhere of a roadster rolling down a hillside. I think the car held together pretty good. It was a staged accident though. I think it was a foreign film. Very short. I wish I could find it again.