Chassis stiffening plate - fact or myth?

[JimboJones]

If you read through the stiffening plate thread, there are some there who say that the BT plate will save your life! I've read through all the anecdotal, qualitative evidence, and it's obvious that there aren't any hard quantitative data on the effect of the supposedly much-stiffer BT plate versus the OEM plate.

It seems to me that regardless of how stiff the chassis is, cross wind is cross wind and this force will be felt by the car.

Does anyone have any hard scientific data on
-whether OEM plate is "too soft"
-whether the BT plate is stiffer than OEM plate
-the effect of this "stiffer" plate on vehicle handling and crosswind

[qbee42]

On no! Don't start this debate again!!!

Tom

[PriusOwner004]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Oct 1 2007, 01:50 PM) [snapback]519910[/snapback]</div>

On no! Don't start this debate again!!!

Tom
[/b]

I've a Touring and there is absolutely no need for a stiffening plate. I've put 8000 miles in two weeks (cross country trips) and I've been through most any situation imaginable with no issues at all.

[JimboJones]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Oct 1 2007, 02:50 PM) [snapback]519910[/snapback]</div>

On no! Don't start this debate again!!!

Tom
[/b]

Sorry if this has been debated before, I didn't do a really good search of the pros and cons data. Are there actual numbers on this in the forum somewhere?

[efusco]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboJones @ Oct 1 2007, 04:04 PM) [snapback]519970[/snapback]</div>

Sorry if this has been debated before, I didn't do a really good search of the pros and cons data. Are there actual numbers on this in the forum somewhere? [/b]

If you've read the original, what is it...600+ posts now, thread then you know the answers to all the "innocent" questions you put forth. If you want to open up the can of worms again then do it in the original thread, I'm closing this one, you can carry on there if it makes you feel better...but read the entire thing, this has been hashed, rehashed, flipped over, hashed again. If you don't think it's worth it, don't buy it. To date there has been, I think I'm accurate, ONE member who felt it didn't help.