It certainly can be less secure.

The forward load on the roll hoops with the OEM system is applied only to the outside hoop, very near where is connects to the side of the car. That gives it a path for the quarter panel to share some of the load.

If you load the inside hoop instead, you at least double the distance between where you are applying the forward load and the reinforcement at the side of the car.

Nothing is either "safe" or "not safe". Safety is always a matter of degree, of what risk you are willing to accept. I looked at this carefully, and it was not a risk I was willing to accept.

 

This setup sounds like it would crush your spine in an accident.

 

Not having rollover protection from a bigger 4 point can kill you in a harness. You can't squat into the seat, and if your head hit's the pavement your spine becomes the load taker. Don't do it.

 

That looks like a towel rack

 

If you take off the plastic piece you will see a big horizontal bar with lots of holes in it going from the left to the right of the car.

I know someone who welded a big steel plate against that bar and made some holes with a thread in it so he could mount the 4pt harness anchorscrews into it..

It looked pretty safe and very rigid that way.

 

Unless you're short (5'7") like I am...

My driving position is the seat fully forward and (sans helmet) I can pass the "broomstick" test with the stock roll-over protection.

(pic by Killboy at the Dragon a few weeks ago)
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpage....0VZ030066&po=66



But, again, I'm a short mo-fo. Most people won't pass the broomstick test, and the harness straps will be mounted too low when using the rear bulkhead.



The ASM "towel rack" is FAR too low for safe harness positioning - you'll increase the risk of compressing your spine in even relatively minor, non-rollover accidents.

 

That "bar" you are talking about is exactly what I was talking about when I said there was nothing I thought was safe to anchor in to there. That beam is not designed to be loaded fore-aft.

 

Why do you guys always want the "harness racer look" without a roll cage?

It is extremely unsafe during a roll over. The 3 points factory belt allows the body to slide so your head will be protected. The 4 points will hold your body upright and will leave your head exposed during a roll over ie the car will land on your head if you have average or above height

 

I personally don't want my body flying around the car during an accident (including the other >99% of accidents that aren't rollovers)

 

Having a proper race seat and harnesses is a definite performance advantage for driving. If you have ever hopped between two otherwise similar cars, but one had a harness and race seat while the other had just street seat and restraints, you'll know what I'm talking about.

And these setups are more than strong enough to hold you in place under the 1-1.5 G loads you might see in performance driving. So I can understand why someone might want them, and not just for "race-inspired looks". But the loads you might see in a crash are much, much higher than that.