I just read in the paper that the federal gov't is considering new rollover standards to replace the current 28-yr old rules requiring the vehicle to support 1 1/2 times its weight without collapsing more than 5 inches. 9,873 died in rollovers last year, 1/4 of US traffic deaths. NHTSA is accepting public comment until early December as to new testing methods and standards. do these rules apply to convertibles and if they do, does anybody know by how much the S2K exceed the current standards?

 

The new standard will probably apply only to SUV's since that's what all of the controversy has been about .

 

Reminds me of the "simpsons" episode with the Canyonero SUV that rolled over to save the day

 

I was just thinking that. When it blew up and the Rhino stomped on it thus putting the fire out.

 

Of the more than 9,000 fatalities, I think less than 1 percent were in convertibles. But the standards are going to apply to non-SUV vehicles as well since many of the fatalities were in sedans. Back in the 70s when the standard was implemented, Porsche's response to the standard was the Targa roof. I guess with the advance of technology, convertibles will be able to meet the higher standard without resorting to more weight or demise of the convertible.

 

This probably does not apply to convertibles. Most domestic convertibles do not have roll bars and thus do not meet the current standards.

 

Yeah what said.RandyP . Don't see how they can make a convertible meet any roll over standers.