Cabriolet owners – please answer these questions

[Dieselman]

Did the spectators act as judges and award points for style and presentation?

 

[Benzmanc]

I would say that when the right way up a cabriolet is stronger than a hard top due to all the strengthening beams, thicker sills etc. upside down however the difference is clear but with fully extended rear roll bars then are extremely sturdy.

 

[steve333]

Cabriolet owners – please answer these questions.

For my personal interest I’ve a quick few questions for past/present/future cabriolet owners.

When buying your cabriolet car do you consider the crash safety of it?
If not specifically EuroNCAP tested do you look at the hard top equivalent and make a judgement as to the cabriolet’s crash safety?

Please answer the poll question.

I expect the crash safety of my cabriolet to be:

1. Better than the hard top version
2. The same as the hard top version
3. Worse than the hard top version

I would feel much less confident about the outcome of rolling a cabrio if the roof was down at the time,otherwise i would expect simular protection to a non cabrio saloon say.

 

[wemorgan]

Thanks all for the replies so far. Currently it's 50% the same and 50% worse - though from what I read most understandably have concerns regarding roll-over in a cabriolet, but not so much in a frontal collision.

 

[stwat]

I remember seeing video footage on camera police action stop with camera's of a 129 SL flipping at high speed on the German autobahn. It hit the central reservation flipped over and slid along on its roof for a fair old way. The driver climbed out and walked away unharmed.

 

[BTB 500]

I remember seeing video footage on camera police action stop with camera's of a 129 SL flipping at high speed on the German autobahn. It hit the central reservation flipped over and slid along on its roof for a fair old way. The driver climbed out and walked away unharmed.

See post #4 in this thread!

 

[MD5]

That's a fair old whack you had. Glad you were all OK in the end.

The roof looks to still fit the a-pillar quite well. Not bad for an old car.

Most EuroNCAP results I've seen show the passenger to fair better than the driver in an offset frontal impact. Quite a few people say they can brace themselves in an impact, but the harsh reality is that it's not possible @ +40g.

Thanks Will. In this case, the driver was inexperienced, and we went every which way from a standing start on a wet road, before hitting the tree. He had the benefit of knowing when to give up steering and holding tight onto the wheel. I could see what was going to happen once we'd missed the oncoming traffic, but had nothing to grab hold of.

As you say, the car held up well, but all thanks to the way MB designed the car, I'm sure.

 

[rorf]

Thanks Will. In this case, the driver was inexperienced, and we went every which way from a standing start on a wet road, before hitting the tree. He had the benefit of knowing when to give up steering and holding tight onto the wheel. I could see what was going to happen once we'd missed the oncoming traffic, but had nothing to grab hold of.

As you say, the car held up well, but all thanks to the way MB designed the car, I'm sure.

I was going to say - how the hell does one allow a car to get out of control on that sort of MINOR road - as** oles born everyday!

 

[Howard]

I know it isn't a rollover situation , but my 208 cab held up pretty well after being rear ended at 40mph while stationary waiting for a roundabout.

For sure it was written off , but i managed to drive it 2 1/2 miles to the dealer to dump it afterwards.

Frontal damage is where i was forced onto the roundabout by the impact and hit the car in front.

 

[wemorgan]

Ah yes, I remember reading about your accident a few years ago. No one wishes for an accident, but it did mean you ended up owning a V8, so quite fortunate stepping stone event really.

I know several people have mentioned the roll-over situation, but I was more thinking about the more common frontal impact when I started this thread. So I'm grateful for those replies especially. I wonder if OEMs take public opinion polls about such things - doubt it somehow. Like Will said earlier - specification sells cars more than safety.

 

[mercnewby]

Hi

I can speak with authority on Merc cab strength. (2000 230clk cab).

I hit a pot hole on Dec 31st 2011, did a great deal of damage to wheels
suspension and steering... final bill was near £5000 (all paid for by a water
company), car following me was a little Renault Clio which went into the
hole and stayed there.

I am convinced a car of lesser build integrity would have disintegrated, I have the car still and it is commendably tight and rattle free.

I think no worries with Mercs, even if they are cabriolets.

Ian

 

[wemorgan]

How not to do it:

[YOUTUBE]IfsIEBefZf4&[/YOUTUBE]

 

[grober]

I'm always slightly disappointed when I see this sort of thing in any car that cost millions of dollars/pounds/euros to develop. After this test did they do a major redesign on the whole car----- very unlikely ------ did they increase the number of spot/seam welds in certain vulnerable areas or a bit of extra steel re-inforcing in strategic places --- probably. Which poses the question - why did they not do this in the first place? Do they not crash test their convertible prototypes or did they merely take an angle grinder to the body shell--- bit of extra chrome finishing trim to cover the joins - rag top bolted on and the jobs a good un?

 

[st4]

Question here.

We saw a lot of heads and arms getting thrown free in these accidents.

Would the roll over test have fared better with the windows up.

In my hard top car, should I drive with the windows up for more safety in case of a crash as it will prevent my arms leaving the car. I know someone who lost quite a few fingers off this hands because of a window being down in a crash, and he was lucky!!!

I like driving with the window down, I like the fresh air, but perhaps I should have it up most of the way just in case.

Crash safety is something I take seriously. I surived a roll over that my mate put me in, only so many lifelines you are thrown

 

[whitenemesis]

Modern Mercs with Pre-Safe will automatically close the windows and sunroof if an collision/rollover is imminent. Even places the seat backrest in the ideal angle and brings the headrest forward.

 

[BTB 500]

Modern Mercs with Pre-Safe will automatically close the windows and sunroof if an collision/rollover is imminent.

Can they close fast enough?

 

[whitenemesis]

It seems to work successfully - NCAP

There is also Pre-Safe Brake

[YOUTUBE]fMqEf4NwsKg[/YOUTUBE]

 

[BTB 500]

It's all good stuff, however seat adjustment/windows/sunroof all operate relatively slowly so I'm still doubtful they'd have moved much by the time most accidents actually happened.

No issues with the seatbelts being tightened and/or brakes being applied though.

 

[whitenemesis]

From NCAP -

"Starting from 2010, Euro NCAP Advanced rewards and recognizes car manufacturers who make available new safety technologies which demonstrate a scientifically proven safety benefit for consumers and society."

Seems they think it all works in a beneficial way?

 

[Truffs]

I didn't even consider the safety aspect when buying the SLK, obviously there are draw backs in the event of an accident with the roof down, but the roll over hoops are above head height.