I'm not going to argue one way or the other on side impact air bags... But that statement about it being a federal law just has my head shaking! I've see PLENTY of Federal laws that only would have been implemented by a complete donkey named jack, so I'M not willing to use that as evidence one way or the other....
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Agreed, however car safety laws are done by independant commissions from the government and then placed on the books. They are verified over hundreds of tests, and old, unused ones are regularly dropped.

Name one federal car safety law that doesn't have the possibility of saving lives or stopping injuries.

 

Well - I don't dispute the added safety, but as silly as it may seem, I would rather save the money.

Again - I don't think they are a bad idea, but I don't want to pay extra for them. I know they can make them "standard" and raise the base price in the future.

Hard to follow that logic when I am willing to chuck the money for the IUP. What do I know - I also drive a Chevy...

 

I got the air bags - maily for the insurance drop, but hey, I don't know when a car's going to t-bone me. Even if you didn't get them, don't worry - you probably aren't about to die - the crash test gave it a 4 out of 5 rating for side impacts, and that was WITHOUT the side airbags!

Grantsdale - your cars been garaged for the last 2 months? what kind of weather do they have in CT?

 

Been snow on the ground since before New Years. Roads have been clear, but completely sand and salt coated. I have a beater, might as well use it.

 

wow, thats rough man - I feel for you. roads get way over-salted here too - the freeways look like pretzels! I'm not driving mine in the winter, and good thing you have a winter car too - hope the weather gets better - that's torture!

 

Red454, I was debating on getting them at first too. Think of this: Is there anyone who would ride in the passenger seat of you car that you care about? If so, and you were T-Boned and that person died, would you pay $300 to bring them back to life? I didn't want to spend the extra money either, but if someone was riding with me and got killed, I would regret not getting them for the rest of my life. Besides, they'll help you on resale value and possibly insurance. Your choice, just trying to help you think of something you may not have considered.

 

thats another good point (hadn't even thought about resale value) but its one of those things thats so easy to change right now, and if you don't ever need it, you're lucky and can sell the car for more bc of the option and the new federal guidlines it will comply with. and at worst, it might just be the best 300 bucks you ever spend. If you can afford 'em bro, call the dealer

 

I suppose I think of it as a calculated risk. There is a risk that I may die every time I get out of bed in the morning, but I don't dwell on it and stay in bed all day and not drive. I am not making light of it, but I don't look at an air bag as a survival guarantee.


As far as resale value - I plan on owning the vehicle for a long time and I can't imagine an item like that adding a significant value factor. I think it would be nice to have, but not a requirement or show-stopper...


If we are talking safety, what about smoking? I could really stir the pot with that one (but I won't) ...

 

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.


ummm... cigarettes of course.

 

Chris for myself I could really care less if my new mustang had seat side air bags ...but for my family ,friends and there children I could not think or bare the thought that if one of them was hit in the passenger side of the car that "I" had the option for extra safety and passed on it that I would feel guilty that I knew I could have done more ...and didn't.

 

I have side air bags ordered on my car and I don't have IUP but the ISP.