SAFETY

[vroom]

Hi,

Having sold my Chim, I’m ready to take the plunge for a 4.2 Cerb. I’ve been doing my homework regarding what to look out for etc….

However, my main concern is safety. We all know that TVRs don’t have ABS , Airbags etc. but what protection is provided for the rear occupants i.e. my 12 month old daughter? Is there any side impact protection (other than the natural strengths of Fibreglass)?

I’ve read that the roof has roll over strengthening. Is that correct?

I know I’ll drive like an old man when I have passengers, but this won’t stop others ploughing into me!

Cheers,

VROOM

[williamball]

Full roll cage - FIA approved I understand. But in terms of side impact protection between the drivers door and the rear wheel, there's not too much. Remember though that the rear seats are almost 'inside' the rear wheel track, so it'd be an unlucky intrusion that didn't get blocked by the wheel.

I've got to say that driving with my kids in the back never slowed me down too much from what I'd do 'solo', as I never drove in a way that I felt was unsafe in the first place. It's a bit like this fireman's strike thingy "Drive carefully, the fire services are on stike", like everyone's goind to say "yes that's right, I do drive like a loon when I know there's a fireman to cut me out, so now I'll drive slower". Unless you presently knowingly driving beyond what is sensible, I doubt having kids in the back will slow you down.
WB

[rocket]

Check the rear seatbelts work properly. Mine seem to lock correctly, but passengers in the rear are very close to the front seats. I had to brake quite sharply once, and despite the seatbelt my little boy still hit his head on my seat (and the backs of those front seats are quite hard!)

[Jarcy]

williamball said:
It's a bit like this fireman's strike thingy "Drive carefully, the fire services are on stike", like everyone's goind to say "yes that's right, I do drive like a loon when I know there's a fireman to cut me out, so now I'll drive slower". Unless you presently knowingly driving beyond what is sensible, I doubt having kids in the back will slow you down.
WB

Baby-on-Board stickers! I always drive really carefully if someone is displaying one of these, and I make extra specially sure that I don't crash into them. On a number of occasions I haven't crashed into one of these cars, and I put it wholely down to the fact that I took extra special evasive action once I saw the sticker. As If.

[vroom]

Thanks for the replies.

Just a bit worried that's all. I trust myself it's just the other drivers on the road that I worry about. Also being low down makes you feel more vunerable - especially when passing a lorry on the motorway and all you see out the window is a big wheel...

Still going to get one though!

Cheers,

VROOM

[Byff]

From what I can see of the roll cage, it seems pretty substatial to me. I was initially wary of side impact but after seeing some piccies of the cars in assembly at the factory, for all fibreglass won't save you, theres a bloody load of steel to reinforce it.

[rolexblue]

Jarcy said:

williamball said:
It's a bit like this fireman's strike thingy "Drive carefully, the fire services are on stike", like everyone's goind to say "yes that's right, I do drive like a loon when I know there's a fireman to cut me out, so now I'll drive slower". Unless you presently knowingly driving beyond what is sensible, I doubt having kids in the back will slow you down.
WB

Baby-on-Board stickers! I always drive really carefully if someone is displaying one of these, and I make extra specially sure that I don't crash into them. On a number of occasions I haven't crashed into one of these cars, and I put it wholely down to the fact that I took extra special evasive action once I saw the sticker. As If.

Hummm…………….. my take on the “baby on board” stickers is not necessary make everyone else drive slower but, in the event of a nasty accident to warn emergency services that very small children could be stuck, covered up or, if not warring a seatbelt (stupid but I’ve seen it!) thrown clear of the car. It’s like the “toxic” or “flammable” stickers you see – it’s to warn others that things are not always what they seem

Paul

[agent006]

Jarcy said:

williamball said:
It's a bit like this fireman's strike thingy "Drive carefully, the fire services are on stike", like everyone's goind to say "yes that's right, I do drive like a loon when I know there's a fireman to cut me out, so now I'll drive slower". Unless you presently knowingly driving beyond what is sensible, I doubt having kids in the back will slow you down.
WB

Baby-on-Board stickers! I always drive really carefully if someone is displaying one of these, and I make extra specially sure that I don't crash into them. On a number of occasions I haven't crashed into one of these cars, and I put it wholely down to the fact that I took extra special evasive action once I saw the sticker. As If.

Not meaning to piss on you sarcasm, but one of those stickers was the reason my car met with a lamppost last year rather than the back of a Renault Scenic. Oh.. and the fact that lampposts don't claim on your insurance.

[williamball]

err...wouldn't the reason you hit something be down to driving too fast or too close for the conditions?

WB

[whatever]

rolexblue said:

Hummm…………….. my take on the “baby on board” stickers is not necessary make everyone else drive slower but, in the event of a nasty accident to warn emergency services that very small children could be stuck, covered up or, if not warring a seatbelt (stupid but I’ve seen it!) thrown clear of the car. It’s like the “toxic” or “flammable” stickers you see – it’s to warn others that things are not always what they seem

Paul

I'll give you that, but surely the effect is lessened by the number of cars driving around with these stickers or "danglies" in them that quite clearly do not contain any children whatsoever.

The true meaning of the notices, therefore, can only be interpretated as "a child spends an indeterminate period of time in here; it may well not be in here now or may be old enough not to be a "child" anymore; in fact the previous owners of this vehicle may have a child"

I see loads of cars with these stickers and such-like on nowadays, and I make a point of looking to see how many are not telling the truth. IMHO, the answer is enough to ruin the overall effect of them.

[rolexblue]

Yep I'd go along with that whatever, I think it's a cunning plan though to park in the mother and baby bays at Tesco’s when you don’t actual have kids

Paul

[rocket]

Oh I love parking the Cerb in the parent and child spaces at Tesco. You get all these drop jaw looks as this loud unsociable beast trundles into the carpark, followed by looks of disgust and disapproval as you glide into the last remaining parent and child space. At this point I jump (ok fall) out and announce in a loud voice "ok, out you get kids!".

People just don't realise what a practical, family, shopping car the Cerbie is!!

[VYT]

Be careful passing a lorry especially a left hand drive lorry. I had the misfortune to be in heavy taffic beside a Spanish truck in my Chimaera coming out of London one evening when the guy decided to take my lane. He hooked the rear quarter and turned me sideways across the front of his truck. Pushed me sideways for a while, then I came out backwards on the hard shoulder. A nice policeman stopped the traffic and took the Chim for a spin, just to see it was still road worthy of course.
Since that time I have been a tad wary of trucks and try not to hang about beside them but at least I know that TVR's are very strong. Not many Euroboxes could have been driven home after that.
Took 2 years for the spanish insurance company to pay though.

[Jarcy]

whatever said:
The true meaning of the notices, therefore, can only be interpretated as "a child spends an indeterminate period of time in here; it may well not be in here now or may be old enough not to be a "child" anymore; in fact the previous owners of this vehicle may have a child"

Actually the other meaning is:
"Look, the fruit of my loins hath brought forth seed , and be it no Jaffa, the seed hath spawned a fair infant to prove my masculinity. For I doth not require a V8 to demonstrate my fertility, merely a Renault Scenic and 2 booster cushions."

Any before you ask - I've got kids.

[beano1197]

rocket said:
People just don't realise what a practical, family, shopping car the Cerbie is!!

.....and do you play golf???


PS I find that you get a better class of trolley at Waitrose. Joking aside, one of my local Waities has trolleys with brakes on the wheel - I always feel that the paintwork is a bit more secure in that car park! I am sure it's not a trolley design that Peter Wheeler would manufacture if he was in the business - they'll have ABS next!!!!!

[whatever]

beano1197 said:

rocket said:
People just don't realise what a practical, family, shopping car the Cerbie is!!

.....and do you play golf???


PS I find that you get a better class of trolley at Waitrose. Joking aside, one of my local Waities has trolleys with brakes on the wheel - I always feel that the paintwork is a bit more secure in that car park! I am sure it's not a trolley design that Peter Wheeler would manufacture if he was in the business - they'll have ABS next!!!!!

The trolleys at our local tescos have got brakes, too.

I'm waiting for the ones with suspension next.