hi guys, sorry if this question is dumb and should have known already, but whats the importance of having a roll cage? does it affect performance, or is it mainly cosmetic? thanks for youre guys responses!

 

you mean besides saving your life in a big crash it adds around 100 lbs, it will stiffen your car up too. get pading or wear a helmet you dont wann bonk your head on steal.

 

But otherwise it's all cosmetic :-)
Like putting scare stickers on your ride :-)

 

Depends...

I have an aluminium half cage. 2" pipe, forming a main hoop, with a diagonal crossbar with two 2" legs extending back to the tail area. The cage itself is quite light, at maybe 10kgs. It's braced uderneath it's mounts using ~8mm mild steel spreader plates, that by themselves add at least another 10kgs, so about 20Kgs all up.

It's a little cosmetic I suppose, but it'll also add support if the car should roll, that is better than not having it, and it'll stiffen the chassis up a bit as well, improving handling.

Most importantly though, it gives me somewhere to mount a camera for track days!

 

If you're going to the trouble of installing a roll bar, it only makes sense (at least to me) to make sure it's SCCA Solo 1 legal. Even if you don't plan to compete, if it meets SCCA tech, it will meet anyone else's tech requirements for open track days, high performance driving schools, etc. (We're not talking drag racing - I know nothing about that.) It will stiffen the car some (more resistance to chassis flex) at the cost of some added weight. It also provides a place to mount your shoulder harnesses, and can save your life if you roll the car. I don't know many folks that install a full cage unless they are club racing (different tech requirements) - it's just too difficult to get in and out of the car for street use.

 

I heard they add 100hp