Glad to here how wonderful the RX8 faired in a crash and that your family is OK.

Is the S-10 driver's insurance covering all involved in the accidents?

 

I appreciate all the support, folks.

Yes, my understanding is that the expenses will be charged to the S-10 driver's insurance and that I will not be held responsible. So far the insurance people have been very good.

 

Do you know if the seatbelt tensioners fired?

 

I am soooooo sorry to here this news. Glad to hear your OK. I know that section of 95 very well, I traveled it frequently- there are many points of mass confusion with cars going every which way. And it certainly doesn't help when someone decided to stop in the left lane.

I never totaled a new car, I did total a 1 year old nissan and made out Ok with the insurance value. Good Luck.

 

Did you have passengers in the back seats? This has been a concern with me since I have kids and am always worried that a crash may box them in.

Glad to hear everyone is ok. I rolled my Blazer years ago and can testify that being in a serious wreck is scary as hell....it seems like that 10 seconds went in slow motion.

 

Thank God you and everyone else were alright. Cars can be replaced.

 

And the main reason the back seats do not fold down. There’s a lot of cross bracing there for protection and rigidity.

 

Like everyone else on the forum, I am glad to hear that you came out of this OK.

Oddly enough I was listening to an interview on NPR the other day. The discussion was of American's incorrect idea of automotive safety. The popular belief that big SUV type vehicles are safer than other vehicles is actually incorrect. Analysis shows that maneuverable, quick stopping vehicles are demonstrably safer, something I think you have personally experienced.

However, in terms of protecting you from "the other guy", we should be thankful to the engineers at Mazda who provided you (and all the rest of us) with such well designed crumple-zones.

 

Sferrett, I don't know whether the seatbelt tensioners fired. All I know is that the seatbelts held. Is there something I could try to remember that'd give me a sign?

A few of you have asked about the back seat. I have to say that I can't say exactly how people in the back seats might have fared. We were in the front two seats. My (driver) seat stayed upright; the (front) passenger seat inclined back somewhat as a result of the crash (probably because my wife was thrown backward pretty forcefully; also, I suspect the front passenger seat is built differently from the driver's seat; also, for what it's worth, I was holding tight to the steering wheel, my wife wasn't holding on to anything).

As to the back compartment, I honestly don't remember too much. I do remember that all four doors opened normally, to my huge surprise given the amount of flattening of the back end of the car. I also remember retrieving gifts that I had been carrying on the back seats. They were intact. But I can't really say what might have happened to back seat passengers.

I do remember when I bought the car being disappointed to discover that, instead of fold-down back seats, there were rigid structural members. I have gotten over my disappointment.

 

Glad as well that you and your wife are alright. It looks like the RX-8 would do well due to it's shape/design.

 

The belt tensioners go off like airbags (except no bag) to remove any slack out of the seatbelt to inhibit forward movement. Since you were hit from behind it makes sense that they probably didn't go off. I haven't seen one go off but I would imagine it would be like someone tugging hard on your belt to tighten it at the moment of impact.

Sounds like you both escaped pretty lightly - very excellent news indeed.

Cheers,
Simon.

 

Hi Simon,

Thanks for the good wishes.

I think you're probably right on the tensioners. I took a look at a manual and it's likely the tensioners wouldn't deploy from a rear end collision, which is where most of the force came from. I gather that if I had hit the van in front of me hard enough both the front airbags and the tensioners would have gone off.

 

I am glad to hear that you and your wife are fine.

I know that this has already been said but you should get full value on your car. Go for purchase price and be strong. Some insurance companies won't argue with you but others will try to skimp out if they can. Again be strong don't let them push you around and if it looks like they won't budge have your insurance get you an attorney or do it on your own but don't let them sell you short. On a new car first year and all they have to go by market value and since there are no used RX-8s for sale that means that new is all there is. With the savings you should be getting on the 2nd purchase I recommend getting gap insurance.

Again I am glad you are both ok.

 

Do you have any pics of your wrecked 8?

 

Thanks to all. I still don't have any pictures. Still haven't heard from the insurance adjuster. If I do return, I'll take pictures and post them. Grisly but interesting.