Front Bumper Beam Poll.....
 

Hey guys,

We've been meaning to set up a poll for this, but just haven't gotten around to it. As we all know, the FR-S/BRZ has a very small frontal opening. This limits intercooler shapes, sizes, and routing options amongst other things.

Most of the original forced induction companies developed intercooling set-ups that retained an unmodified factory front bumper support. However, it would appear that owners seem okay with many of the new set-ups that modify the bumper beam in the name of intercooler selection and routing options.

What we want to know is how owners feel about the matter. This information will help all companies involved decide how they want to approach development of future products in terms of intercooler core shapes, sizes, and routing, air intakes, radiators, oil coolers, etc.

To preempt any potential bickering, we want to reiterate again that this topic is designed to help future product development for ALL companies and NOT to start a product war. :happy0180:

Thanks for participating!

Voted

Thank you!

Ohh im getting your kit at some point. If there is an aftermarket bumper beam available you should tie it into your kit as an option. :)

No. Ditching the beam entirely is a great way to damage and push components further into the engine bay during a frontal collision; what may have been minor just became more major due to components that weren't designed to shift being moved around (see any FMIC without bumper beam front end collision in a WRX; the FMIC and all components behind it get shoved into the engine bay). In addition, you're running no protection up front...insurance will try to screw you out of coverage because you don't have OEM safety equipment that came standard.

Replacing it with steel tubes? Let's be real, the tubes are likely stronger than the OEM beam. They haven't been tested in a collision by the NHTSA/IIHS...your insurance will STILL try to screw you.

Do people remove them, modify them, or replace them? All the time. I wouldn't run a very cut-up beam, aftermarket beam, or no beam unless the car was NOT my daily driver.

I'm probably in the minority with my opinion, but it's often the worst case scenario you don't prepare for that occurs. Do $10K in damage to your baby and insurance denies your claim because you modified OEM safety/crash components...can you afford to fix that on your dime/out of pocket? I don't worry about fucking up my car that much, but I do worry about insane, inattentive, stupid, and otherwise useless drivers fucking up my car.

I agree with OrbitalEllipses. The quest for more power doesn't trump the safety of driver and passengers in a one in a thousand chance of frontal collision.

budi

I'mma be real here for a second. I hit a tree the other day going about 10 mph. (long story, a drunk pedestrian was involved)

3k in damages. Imaging removing the beam completely, and then hitting something. I mean hell, I was going 10mph, how many accidents do you know of that are that slow? Not many. Most are substantially higher, and without that beam, you are looking at a new car.

Personally, on a street car, I am very wary of modifying any kind of safety/crash equipment. If only for insurance purposes.

On a non-registered track-only car, go for broke.

Agreed, cars are death machines after all no matter where you drive them. Removing safety features is not a good thing regardless of where you drive it.

I don't know, the thing is the only way to know is there is a "suitable aftermarket replacement" is if it is crash tested and I seriously doubt any company is going to invest the time and money to do that, so i vote no modification at all.

In agreement with everyone else. If someone forks the money to test an aftermarket one, so be it.

No tuning company will test one to the satisfaction of the NHTSA/IIHS and insurance companies... they would need to crash many cars with their modified beam to prove it doesn't change how the car behaves in any sort of crash. I would bet they need at least 10 cars ready to be ruined.

No for DD but yes if I had a second one one for racing.

If this wasn't my DD I would consider using a reliable aftermarket part. But since this car hauls me around everyday I'd rather leave the stock.