would a little bit of steel tubing really be that much help if your getting T-boned by an F-150? im sure it would help a little but youd still be cracking your skull off the inside of the car. it just wouldnt smash in as much or have as much give to cushion the blow, right?

 

I'm not exactly sure if a steel tube linking the side walls would do that much justice. But I'd imagine it probably couldn't hurt.

 

I'd be real interested in learning what kind of steel they use. If safety is your concern, stick with Volvo and Mercedes.

Volvo always brags about the types of steel they use:

"Standard steel
high-strength steel,
very-high-strength steel,
extra-high-strength steel,
ultra-high-strength steel."

I seriously doubt they will divulge the details of each composition, but the point remains that "steel" is not "steel." I attended a demonstration presented by Volvo wherein they compared the strength of a side crash beam from a new BMW and the new S40. The strength of the Volvo beam was impressive in comparison.

 

I've been T-boned in a Honda S2000 and the car actually did very well for the size and height. The other vehicle I believe was a 1980s Suburban.

 

A roll cage may provide some extra structural rigidity which could potentially help lessen the depth pf penetration of the oncoming vehicle. However this is not what typically causes injury. Like some have already mentioned, the serious injury comes when you head strikes the B-pillar, window or even the hood/bumper of the incoming vehicle. The only why to prevent this is with airbags. Since you can't retrofit airbags, just drive carefully. Those on this forum who ride motorcycles know that if you want to survive, you have to drive as if every other car on the road is going to swerve into you/pull out in front of you/not see you etc. If you assume everyone is out to kill you, you'll avoid alot of accidents.