TaterTot_USMC

So there i was just cruising along at 45 (Showed 48, but tires are a little undersize) and it was 25 degrees outside.

A deer jumped in front of me and thats when i started to notice the problem...

That brick wall in the ditch was not supposed to be there...

Neither was my car...

well...here is my real question...why, when i run into a brick wall supported by a driveway behind it at 40 mph did my airbags not go off?

Here is the damage and you tell me what you think...was there not enough force?

dmc27

Airbags may not deploy if the impact is at an angle, even if it is a slight angle.


Your post is slightly confusing . . . seems odd that there would be a ditch and a brick wall?


A ditch would add yet another angle to the impact, so that could affect airbags, too.


Glad you were not hurt.

shaunv74

Glad you are okay.

WTF does the thread title have to do with your question?

Phi

yeah, hope everythings alright.
his car is hurt which comes out to his lost of power.

shaunv74

Yeah but he picked just about the worst title ever to try and attract people who might help him.

risky business

if you hit that wall at 40+ i am very impressed. your car doesn't seem to show to much damage. glad to hear you are ok

j67345

should have gotten them to flatbed you car! Glad you're not hurt

TaterTot_USMC

It was the only wrecker service open that morning...otherwise i would have been sitting out there all day for them to open one with a flatbed....

The lack of power title was more of a joke playing on other people who don't like to search...

The wall was more of a retaining wall that supported a driveway which had dithes extending from both sides...

Body shop said reason airbags didnt deploy was that the crash bar was not hit. the wall went about an inch below it and crushed everything below it. I guess the sensors are in the bar?!?!?!

WVBoosted8

iTrader: (5)

Im glad you are ok but 1 question.... is that hood pins in a stock hood?

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

An obvious (at least to most of us) satirical title playing on the myriad "my car has a loss of power" threads. His car certainly has a loss of power at this juncture, albeit for a very unfortunate reason. However, shows the OP's sense of humor in the face of adversity. Refreshing!

Also glad you're ok. A machine can be easily repaired or replaced.

dmc27

ahh, I see. Like a Country Road/Rural Route drainage style set up. Makes sense now.

greg985

of course an SS

TaterTot_USMC

Yes, i made the impromptu mistake one day of putting hood pins in, then realized i couldnt go back....woops (read: RICER)

Yes, i am pretty much fine, i came out with a little "Cervical Strain and head trauma"...according to the doctors anyways...

Ya, it was Rural Paved Route 1105 aka Haws Runs Rd. there have been more than 25 deaths on this stretch of road in the last 3 years and more than 100 accidents in 5 years. And I have to travel it because I live on it.

TaterTot_USMC

Well, the Insurance appraiser called it a total loss...we will see if the insurance company says the same thing...iono yet...about $8000 in damage and injuries...

TaterTot_USMC

It's official...it's totaled...now i am looking at something cheaper...maybe a little more family friendly too.

I am looking at a 2003 bugeye WRX for about $6000. I know, I know, RX-8 is faster on the highway, but I cant afford another RX-8...and the wife wont let me get another one...Oh well, time to move on. Not necessarily a upgrade or a downgrade, but definitely a different type of car. and definitely better gas smileage...if i dont smile too big.

DubbsLuvs8s

iTrader: (1)

Haha, you strained your cervix,

Sorry to make light, sucks about your car...good thing is you're ok.

dmc27

The subie is a great car, too. Different animal, but it will be nice to know an intake, exhaust, and other fairly inexpensive upgrades will actually give you significant gains. And if you're living in a rural area you could always find some nice unpaved "roads" to enjoy. Try that in an 8!! lol

Consider purchasing the 8 and parting it out - it may be worth it financially.

Good luck!

Razz1

That car doesn't even come close to being totaled by the pictures presented.

Send the photos and question to Mazda and ask them why the air bag didn't go off.

dmc27

You may not be considering the value of an 8 these days. 8k in damage would be close to the 8k value of a higher mileage 04 rx8 right now.

TaterTot_USMC

Visible damage is not everything...you have to consider that I landed on top of the wall after the initial impact...destroying the tranny housing, the subframe connector and cracking my lower a-arms on both front wheels.

Both rimms were also bent...the obvious visible damage. Almost every body panel was bent/scratched andthe windshield is clearly destroyed.

Once you take into consideration all that, and a new paint job, you see what I mean by "Totaled". And all that was without the airbags going off...

I already asked about the airbags, and there is very little to nothing i can do because the airbag is not a primary restraint...only a secondary. It is not necessarily required to go off in a non-fatal accident.

I am still having my lawyer look at it, but doubt i shall see anything from it.

I appreciate the comments and hope everyone takes my advice: if the deer is really big, hit it. if it is small, then avoid it...small ones go through windshields and kill passengers, big ones total cars and go over.

Also, my car was valued at $11000 with no mods...with over $8000 in damage, you start to see more than 70% and USAA totals at 70%.

Razor Rolla

Dude this sucks, Glad your okay.....
Go with the subie they very fun cars and extremely "mod-able" and they last forever

TaterTot_USMC

Well, it has been a very long time, but i finally got another car...a 2002 Mustang GT convertible...aaaaaaand got rid of it after 4 months...

After that, I got a 2002 black WRX and the motor blew 12 days after i bought it...Fortunatley I got a warranty with it and they covered everything. I also had the shop doing the new motor do a full build on the internals, exhaust, turbo porting, tune and it already came with the old-school STi 5-speed RA hardened gearset.

I am now driving a 12 second, 4 door, turbo, all-wheel-drive car. Life is interesting how it all works out.

CarAndDriver

Appreciate the update. Good luck.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Great that it worked out so well for you Marine. In the end, good karma. Semper Fi.

alz0rz

iTrader: (41)

For a second there I expected the last line of your post to be "sooo I bought another RX8" =X