I would have bought an Evo in late '03 if they were an option. Any idea if Mitsubishi has plans to implement them into any of their '05 Evo trims? It almost seems like common sense now based on all the crash test safety results insurance companies have been doing. If the Evo remains "side impact airbag-less" for '05 I'll most likely take my money to Subaru and buy an STi even though I personally like the Evo's lines a little better.

 

why not check the mitsubishi website?

 

I don't know how they could squeeze the side airbag on the recaro seats.

 

My experience has been that a car community knows more about their car then the manufacturer itself. And although the only thing mentioned on the website is frontal airbags, I'm hoping somebody, anybody, has some inside info...I dunno...whether it will be a mid-year option or why it may never be an option. I know that the other Lancer trims offer it. Just seems like somebody at Mitsubishi must be aware of that gaping hole in their occupant's safety net.

 

sorry no side but I know a company that can instlle thm for you

 

If they do anything, I believe they'll strengthen their B frame welding to be more ridgid, since this is a lot cheaper than adding side airbags to the car.

I still don't see how they could make the current Recaros with side air bags in it. It offers too many problems for the manufacturer to solve, I think.

It is a concern though.

 

Recaro has been installing seats in SVT Focus' since 2003 with side impact air bags, so it is possible.

The 2005 Evo's do NOT have side impact air bags and I'm not aware of any chance of them getting them during this model year, sorry.

 

Yeh, but the design of those recaros are a lot thicker allowing more room for the side air bag to be installed and deployed.

Recaros' make Semi truck seats too, but it's nothing like the performance seats that we have.

It's got a built in air suspension! lol.

I'm just saying that if they need to put in a side airbag, they need to redesign the recaro seats that we have now, thus squeezing the back seat room.

Some compromise must be made, whether its cost or space or redesign, which turns into cost.

I think they may have to in few years, because the standard safety rules are getting tougher and more strict.

 

You could always put a RSX leather seats in your car or s2000. They're really supportive and got a side airbag.

 

Clue?sion...I might be interested in having the side airbags installed after I buy the car. What is the cost and who does it? I'm in the SF Bay Area.

As far as squeezing them into the Recaros, if that's not physically possible I would think they could still install the curtain style side airbags that come out of the cieling. It wouldn't have the abdominal and torso protection side airbag seats provide but at least some soccer mom in her SUV wouldn't implode my head with her bumper.

I love the Evo but can't understand why the people pulling the strings at Mitsubishi haven't overcome this challenge considering what we all know nowadays about side-impact collisions.

 

I guess its the cost of performance.

I think they pass the side impact test without it so they didn't need to put one in.

 

what ever.... I personally hate airbags. It's something about having the equivelent of an M-80 sitting in front of me that I dislike. With side air bags, they sit right about kidney level...

I would rather see Mitsubishi strength the side pillars (and further increase the structural ridgity of the car) instead of caving into more air bags...

Also to help prevent accidents where airbags are nessesary, better driver education would be nice. The best way to get rid of the need for the air bag is to learn how to better avoid the accident...

In the mean time, if mitsubishi doesn't have the safety features you feel you need, have fun with your subaru.

 

I don't think better education is all you need. You could be driving perfectly sane when a drunk could side swap you.

This happens every night through out the country.

 

but the better education might teach the would be drunk that driving is a bad idea....

that's what better driver education is all about.

besides schiett happens. you can't protect yourself from everything, Mitsubishi can't be tasked to do the same.

Life is nothing without some risk.

 

If you want to be really safe put a roll-cage in with a Recaro racing seat and a 5-point harness.