SC430 safety during roll overs
#1
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
SC430 safety during roll overs
I love driving our car but the possibility of a roll over particularly when the top is down really scares me...maybe I'm just paranoid...especially after seeing this:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...car-it-is.html
Do we have "U-bars" that come out from our rear headrest? I understand that the rear headrest is made so it can support a roll-over but I wanted to know if bars move out of the headrest vertically to add a few more inches of safety. The back headrest are just too low in my opinion...
I am fairly paranoid and even sit a bit lower (like it will help) when the top is down because I feel like the the top of my head is only 6 inches or so from the top of the windshield...I'm sure our cars have to be be safe during a rollover...right?
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...car-it-is.html
Do we have "U-bars" that come out from our rear headrest? I understand that the rear headrest is made so it can support a roll-over but I wanted to know if bars move out of the headrest vertically to add a few more inches of safety. The back headrest are just too low in my opinion...
I am fairly paranoid and even sit a bit lower (like it will help) when the top is down because I feel like the the top of my head is only 6 inches or so from the top of the windshield...I'm sure our cars have to be be safe during a rollover...right?
#2
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Yes, there are pictures on this forum that show the roll bars, don't recall where, but they are hidden in the rear head rests. I don't think they come out, they are just there under the headrests. I'll look to see if I can find them.
#4
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
^yea, I've seen that but am scared that they aren't tall enough...if the car were to to rollover I feel like my head would protrude out of the top higher than the windshield which is 6" higher and the rearheadrest which is about the top of my head when I'm sitting with tires on the ground...
#5
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Try looking on about the third page of this forum under spoiler cleaning VVIBob has put up a picture of the layout of the rear head rests. I guess if you still don't feel safe, you'll just have to drive more cautiously when the top is down, and wear a helmet. lol
#6
Moderator
Unless your so tall that your head is well above the seat's headrest, or you choose not to wear your seat belt there is little or no risk. Remember most cars since the mid to late eighties come with seat belt "pretensioners", including ours. In the event of a crash, the pretensioners will tighten the belt almost instantaneously, reducing the seat occupants movements, or ability to slip out of, or under, loose fitting seat belts in a violent crash. Like airbags, pretensioners are triggered by sensors in the car's body. So if you believe in airbags, trust your pretensioners too.
I have no doubt there was concern over this issue during the design phases of our cars. I suspect Toyota/Lexus did extensive rollover testing. I find it hard to believe they would have produced a car for 10 years, if the body style was known for decapitating its occupants.
But on the other hand, folks who choose to ride in an open convertible and NOT wear their seat belt are a whole other matter. And maybe, just maybe, that line of DNA should come to an end anyway.
For your own peace of mind you should have someone take a photo of you sitting in the car and see exactly where your head and headrest meet.
I have no doubt there was concern over this issue during the design phases of our cars. I suspect Toyota/Lexus did extensive rollover testing. I find it hard to believe they would have produced a car for 10 years, if the body style was known for decapitating its occupants.
But on the other hand, folks who choose to ride in an open convertible and NOT wear their seat belt are a whole other matter. And maybe, just maybe, that line of DNA should come to an end anyway.
For your own peace of mind you should have someone take a photo of you sitting in the car and see exactly where your head and headrest meet.
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#8
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Thanks guys...just paranoid about it as this car is terrible on on/off ramps and there have been a few times where I was within the speed limit and felt the car slipping so I am cautious...I always wear a belt and try to drive as safely as possible...
#12
Pole Position
Further thinking the rollover issue, it appears that the CG of the SC430 is reasonably low in comparison with its track so you'd think a skid would happen before a rollover in many situations. But if it did occur it's hard to believe that the aluminum / plastic hardtop would offer much crush protection but it could be better than nothing (and then again it just might consume 2" of survival space). Nevertheless, as you suggest, I think the defining characteristic is the imaginary line between the top of the windshield pillars and the top of the roll bars in the rear seat headrests.
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