My current situation is that I ma expecting a baby girl in February. Even though the 8 is a practical car there are some worries I have. My main worry is the side airbags in the rear. The way they are positioned they will blow right in the face of my baby girl , this has me and my wife worried. I have three options at this point, Option 1: Remove the fuse for the airbags, Option 2: Cut the wire to the rear airbag where the baby will be, that way the fronts stay working and the other rear one as well, or Option 3: Get a new car I test drove a 335i coupe yesterday and it felt great. It’s more practical then the 8, more power, handles great. It is a deffinit upgrade but I've put so much time and money into my 8 that hurts me to let her go. I like the first two options because of the $$ I will be saving and I get to keep my 8. The latter option will raise my payments up by $100 not including the 5K down payment. In the end I need to do what is best for my baby firl. I guess my question goes out to all those who already have kids and have an 8, what would you guys do? Having a grown kid in the back won’t be to bad but an infant and those bags just worry me.

 

You seriously think cutting the airbag wires is a better option

 

I've never personally seen the RX8 as a family car, and always get flamed for it, but I just dont see it being big enough, nor the back seats all that fuctional with me being 6'5 and having the seat slid all the way back. As far as the cutting of the wires, would that actually work? I would think it might cause the bags to go off? Also, your payments go up $100 dollars, but what will your insurance do? How about gas money? There are other factors to think about.

 

do you have a second car in the family that you could use when you are transporting the baby or is it just the 8?

 

Not sure that's why I'm asking. I havn't spoken to the dealer what doing this will cause. I assume that cutting the wire for the bag will just disable it, but like I said I'm justr assuming.

 

I spoke to my agent about this last week and she said our payments will stay the same. Due to the fact thta we have a house two cars and two life insuarance policies. Fuel milage is rated at 19/28, so not much of a difference there.

 

Yea we do, ny wife has a 4dr wrangler. The problem is that there will be times when I would have to ferry the baby around. The odds of an accident are slim but even a 1% chance is to much for me and my wife.

 

Thats a hard decision than! heh.

 

What is the likelihood of an airbag exploding on your baby girls face? How safely do you drive? What happens if the airbag does blow in your baby girl's face? Will it cause any serious injuries? Do you think cutting of the airbags is safer than letting the airbags blow on your baby's face?

These are the questions you need to answer first (to yourself).

 

I can't see how disabling safety items is ever a good idea. The 335ci also has side airbags and in some areas the RX-8 has more room in the rear than a 335ci. I have a 4 year old son that has been in my 8 since I bought it. Its a very safe car crash wise and will handle emergency maneuvers better than a Minivan / SUV. Would I drive it 1,000 miles with the whole family, no. But simple trips with the kids are no problem.

 

Yea it is, I love this car and I love taking her to the track. It's an addiction now. My other option is to buy a 23K car and spend 7K on a used miata and use that for the track. But I don't see myself driving around town in anything less then my 8.

 

In the 335i the seat can go in the middle. If the 8 had a middle spot then I wouldn't even be contiplating this. You also need to remember that my wife is also a big driver in this decision. I need to convince her of the safety of it. I e-mailed Mazda to get their take on the safty of baby seats in the back, hoping they did some kind of testing on it.

 

While not a great photo of the bags I do not see how a kid in a child seat is going to be hit by an air bag in a way that whould hurt. Your concerns are not valid. Mazda is also only going to say to you that the RX-8 meets all mandated safey requirements. Anything more would be a risk for them legally.

 

It's not how safe I drive it's how stupi other people drive. Alone I am a bit aggresive but with my pregnant wife in the car I am like an old lady. Not sure what the effects of it going off would hve on her since I don't know of anyone who has ever had it happened to them. I e-mailed Mazda to see if they did any tests of this type.

 

I agree. Devildog seems to claim that Mazda-RX8 has placed a dangerous device to discourage people from carrying their kids!!

 

Now this something I can show my wife, from the pic it seems the airbag does not blow far inward enough to hit the seat. Thanks for the pic. I'm still going to ask the dealer about the cutting wire deal. Now I'm just curious what are the effects.

 

Most better new cars will have the same side impact bag. I don't see this as much of a problem.
The bigger problem would getting a baby out of the rear facing baby seat in the back seat. The "Freestyle" rear doors will make getting the baby in and out of the seat more difficult.

 

The rear seats have anchors for child seats... you think they would "make" the car for that if it wasnt safe?

 

I never claimed anything, it's a concern I have and for the safety of my child I want to be 100% sure. Airbags are dangerous for young kids hence all the warning signs on them. I just want to be 100% sure that my kid is safe in the back. Beleive me any excuse I can come up with to keep my 8 I will use. But like I said my wife needs to be convinced as well.

 

Yea, that's when the whole practicality issue comes into play.

 

Seeing the pic posted by Expo I agree that it does seem safe. What is safer though is the question now. No doubt the the 335 is more practicle but which one is safer for my family is the true question now.

 

If there is any issue with any 1 of the air bags, you will set off the airbag light. If the brain does not see an airbag, its puts out this warning. Thus cutting the wire will do this. Just ask anyone who has replaced their stearing wheel...I know firsthand because for the first year of driving, the stupid thing kept having issues with "seeing" the driver airbag.

Basically, cutting the lead would compromise the safety system, PERIOD.

Now, here's something to think about. Airbags are designed as suplemental safety systems, not primary. They will only go off in the most extreme/appropriate circumstance...and only the appropriate bags. Thus, in a front crash, the front bags. In a side crash, the side curtain, and side seat...the ones in question. So...would you rather have the airbag cushion your daughter/baby seat, or the actual side of the car. I am very serious when I say, please, leave the system in place and let it do its job. I believe it would be an extremely safe vehicle for your child. This car has a very high, 4 star for the rear passanger in side impact. Here is a link: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ncap/cars/3534.html

Being completely non-biased, make your choice based on the safety criteria. Look up on nhtsa. (Edit: look at http://www.safercar.gov and you can look at the safety ratings of any car.)

I hope this helps, good luck, and congratulations to all 3 of you!

 

The airbag danger is for kids (and small adults) in the front seat. That's why the warnings tell you to put the kid seats and kids in the back.

The back seat has always been safer for child seats, even before the air bag problem in the front.

Why don't you go to NHTSA's web site and look up the crash ratings for the 8 and for whatever you might buy to replace it? Also check out the ratings on the Wrangler. You may very well find yourself replacing that.

Ken

 

I bet your farther and Grandfather lived without any child seats at all.

Is this paranoia on your part?

Like Ken said, it's a front seat issue not rear.

 

The guy just wants his kid to be safe, who cares if its paranoia? Think some of you are being a bit aggressive against the fact he was unsure of the safety.