Airbags

I am going to look at a new model (second hand) Vauxhall Zafira that part of
the description states "side airbags", how can I tell if they are fitted. I
know from my current car that there is a plate on the dashboard to say two
airbags (driver & pass) are fitted but as this replacement vehicle is going
to be used to ferry my offspring about then side bags are essential
according to SWMBO and I am not going to argue! I would like to be sure
they are fitted, is there a plate somewhere on the car to tell me.

Also any good deals on roof bars around at the moment as Vauxhall want £96
for a pair!

Cheers

John

 

Can't speak for Expression model which is so basic I've never seen one
on the road yet! Even this base model has twin front airbags & may
have side airbags too. Life model definitely does have side airbags &
hard plastic parts on outside of each front seat back will say
"airbag". Club & upwards get curtain airbags as well. Club will say
airbag on the plastic plug inserts near top of windscreen pillars &
Design, SRi etc probably get curtain airbags in the rear quarters
sections as well. Worthwhile getting Life or Club models with aircon
option - higher models get it as standard.

 

i have a club astra 1.6 petrol 8v, and it only has two airbags,
one for the driver and the other for the front passenger.

 

Sorry should have said it is a 1.6 Life with Air Con that I am going to look
at. Will it be underpowered with a 1.6 engine? I am not a 'boy racer' and
do not really need the speed but don't want to be driving a snail!

Cheers

John

 

According the sales book the Life doesn't have side curtain bags as
standard. You don't get them till you get to Club and above. But they may
have been ordered as an option when the car was supplied. Just look for a
white badge on the A and D pillars that say airbag to check.

 

Whatever you do dont buy a Zaffy without aircon. All that glass gets
effing hot in summer.
Dave

 

AIRBAGS ALERT
The Mirror 20/03/2007
AIRBAGS may cause deafness in children in car crashes, a Royal Society for
the Prevention of Accidents report warns.

 

Would rather my kids were alive and a bit deaf than dead.

 

"Will it be underpowered with a 1.6 engine? I am not a 'boy racer'
and
do not really need the speed but don't want to be driving a snail!"

Mine is a 1.6 Life with aircon. You only notice the relative lack of
go when starting off up hill fully loaded otherwise it is perfectly OK
for me & I do 25,000 miles per year. Once the bulk of the car is on
the move it is fine & the engine revs beautifully - far better than
any diesel would do.

I guess to satify your wife's demands for rear seat child protection
you should go for a Club with curtain airbags.

 

Seatbelts break your collarbone and rip rock band drummers' arms off, but
nobody campaigned against seatbelts for that reason.

Bob