Those light bars look great.

 

I was asked a strange question at a car show:

Does the brake light on the bar work when the top is up? Or only when it's down?

I'll have to check that today!

 

You can wire an 2005+ so that the light doesn't function with the top up.

Pre-2005 Mustangs will need this:
http://www.americanmuscle.com/mustan...ar-switch.html

I've installed 3 of them, one each for my wife, son, and myself. Two 2000's and a 2006. The 05 up bars are easier to install IMO due to less modification needed on the panels, it makes you a little nervous the first time around.

Regardless of the year model involved, they all make a Mustang look much better.

 

Think it varies on version of bar, by my light does get disabled when the top goes up.

 

Is there a bar available that does provide rollover protection?

Is it over-rated / not necessary in this car?

For those that have installed it, do you feel any safer having installed it or was it purely for cosmetics?

 

Yes, you can get a true rollbar. Four-point, six-point, etc...

Are you referring to a true rollbar? If so, necessary depends upon your needs. Drag racing will require one if you hit a certain ET or speed. Likewise road racing may require one.

For general driving it's not "necessary". However depending upon how much you're concerned about a rollover accident you may want one. However, if that's a concern, maybe a coupe is a better alternative if you are looking to buy a car.

It's hard to answer that without knowing more about what you mean by "necessary".

After installing mine, the car does seem to be a little more solid in regards to a reduction in chassis flex. Also after seeing how the S197 bar is mounted I'd be willing to say that having one is better than not having one at all, as it "could" help provide some degree of protection under the right circumstances.

However, it's still not a true roll bar and really isn't a item to increase the safety of the occupants by it's design. So to buy it based upon the assumption that it will offer protection, is the wrong assumption.

 

thanks misbehavin

"necessary" as in - is rollover a legitimate concern or not? The 2010 gets 5 stars for rollover from the NHTSA but IIRC that is specific to rollover *avoidance*. I have owned 4 other convertibles but have always had roll bars installed (or in the case of the audi, it was a 'pop up' feature that was built in). I bought the stang a few weeks ago and simply assumed the roll bar was an option (after seeing them on the shelby) but admittedly didn't research it as much as I should have. Come to find out, it's not a roll bar at all, but a light bar.

You answered my question on the protection aspect-- it's not designed to offer protection, but it is secured to the vehicle in such a way that it "could" offer protection.

Regarding a "true" roll bar, can you point me to one? Ideally one that doesn't eliminate my back seat. There I go asking for too much

 

I think I understand what you're after now. You're more concerned with basic street protection, not really track rules. As you mentioned, the 08+ Mustangs have a 5-star crash test rating, although it applies to all test not just avoidance. In fact, they were the first convertible (of any make) to achieve this in the NHTSA tests. This is due in large part to the side airbags that became standard equipment that year, but were optional in previous years. The funny thing is that the vert fared better than the coupe, as the vert has additional bracing that appears to help protect the rear passengers.

With a vert injury in a rollover is always a concern. While it would take a lot to probably induce a rollover, esoecially in a S197 Mustang, nothing is 100% certain. Most people don't worry about it, as it's unlikely enough to not worry about. However, everyone is different in what they consider a risk. If that's a real concern to you, a true roll bar is the only thing that will offer the sort of protection you're after.

Here's one link for what you're after (the top one will suffice), but there's plenty more options out there if you want to shop around.

 

Huge help ... thank you.

It seems like a relatively simple thing that one would think is common, but to your point, perhaps the rollover concern is so remote as to make it an irrelevant issue

So now I need to decide if it's a worthwhile project to make my daily driving cruiser car look half way like a track-ready machine, when all I want is a similar peace of mind as my past non-stang verts. The mind reels