Discussion
chockymonster said:
The weakest point is the a-pillar, if you roll it it's going to hurt
It'll hurt a lot less if you get Phil to do his stuff and fit one of these: www.performance5.com/interior_rollbar.asp Legend83 said:
Thanks for the advice - seen plenty in the classifieds that have roll-bars already.
Be careful to recognise the difference between a style bar (looks good, offers no protection in a roll over) and a roll bar (doesn't normally look as flash but will save your neck in a roll).Legend83 said:
Is the 1.8 preferable to the 1.6? Or am I opening up a can of worms. I think I am happy to get a Eunos as long as there is good history since import.
The general consensus is that the early (91-93 116bhp) 1.6 is a slightly sweeter engine - it's a little more eager to rev. It's also a cheaper engine to add forced induction to if you so wish in the future (for example the Greddy turbo is only available on the 1.6 at around a grand). The 1.8 is a bit more powerful, a bit more torquey and has the potential of more ultimate power. The diff on the 1.8 is also stronger, and in the case of limited slip is a geared Torsen rather than the 1.6's viscous unit which by this age will likely be little better than an open diff. That all said, as safety is a concern you won't be wanting to go for an early 1.6 as they have little in the way of passive safety let alone active (no door bars, etc). Up against the later, detuned 1.6 engines (90bhp) introduced when the 1.8 was then the 1.8 is a much better engine.
Legend83 said:
Thanks for the advice - seen plenty in the classifieds that have roll-bars already. Is the 1.8 preferable to the 1.6? Or am I opening up a can of worms. I think I am happy to get a Eunos as long as there is good history since import.
1.8 or 114bhp 1.6 doesn't make a lot of odds on back-roads. The 1.8 will be more refined on the motorway though and has greater torque at lower revs.
Don't bother even looking at a 90bhp 1.6 (UK models 1995 to 1998) unless you are very young and need cheap insurance.
Be aware that what a lot of sellers will call roll-bars will actually be "style-bars" that don't offer any roll protection at all.
Style bars usually just attach at the seat-belt mounts. Roll-bars have more substantial mounts and rear braces to make sure they don't fold in the event of a roll.
Remember though that this is a sports-car with a low centre of gravity. People have rolled them but they are far less likely to roll than the average family box.
The UK 1.8iS model has leather seats, electric windows & mirrors and drivers air-bag (possibly passenger air-bag too but I think his only came in with the Mk2 1999 model).
Ah, Pistonheads. Fantastic advice as usual. Thanks for all your comments guys, much appreciated. I am tempted to avoid getting a model with roll/style bars and try and find one with a hard-top instead - better security and safety.
I will try and get a 1.8 as I do motorway miles with my job. Really, I want to get a standard car and add a few touched to make it mine.
I will try and get a 1.8 as I do motorway miles with my job. Really, I want to get a standard car and add a few touched to make it mine.
Legend83 said:
I am tempted to avoid getting a model with roll/style bars and try and find one with a hard-top instead - better security and safety.
A hard top certainly wouldn't be safer than a proper roll bar and may be just as unsafe as style bars.
Style bars can bend onto your head and aid the neck snapping process and I imagine a hard top would crush to similar effect, and of course there's the pane of glass just waiting to smash over your vulnerable bonce!
Just a (not very nice) thought!
Edited by Wigeon Incognito on Tuesday 22 May 15:26
Wigeon Incognito said:
Legend83 said:
I am tempted to avoid getting a model with roll/style bars and try and find one with a hard-top instead - better security and safety.
Style bars can bend onto your head and aid the neck snapping process and a imagine a hard top would crush to similar effect, and of course there's the pane of glass just waiting to smash over your vulnerable bonce!
Guessing you would advocate roll-bars then! Or careful driving.
Legend83 said:
find one with a hard-top instead - better security and safety.
The hard top is simply shaped fibreglass, and a glass window, no structural strength for a roll over situ.
but you can get rollbars that will still allow you to fit a hard top for security reason (its still easier to smash the door window that it is to get through the canvas roof anyway)
In truth I've never heard of anyone being hurt by style-bars folding onto them. I'm not sure it's ever really happened. I have however heard of style-bars that have held up in a roll and saved the drivers life. More often they fold back so don't hurt or help.
On the other hand, there are plenty of pictures and stories of true roll-bars than have saved lives.
On the other hand, there are plenty of pictures and stories of true roll-bars than have saved lives.
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