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New Head Restraints – Safety, Torture, or Both? - READ ONLY

39 messages,  Last post on Jul 06, 2012 at 10:21 AM

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What is this discussion about? Safety Technology, Automotive News

Messages Page 3 of 4

#20 of 39 take one apart & re-sculpt? by morin2

Nov 26, 2010 (9:31 am)

My own head restraint is fine, but I have seen the problem in other models and it is real. Has anyone tried to modify the head restraint internally on a car they love otherwise? Its just foam inside and would appear to be reasonably easy to carve a new shape and then recover at an automotive upholsterer.

#21 of 39 Re: take one apart & re-sculpt? [morin2] by steve_ HOST

Nov 26, 2010 (11:36 am)

Replying to: morin2 (Nov 26, 2010 9:31 am)
I didn't save the link, but someone around here took their headrests off and ran over them. Bent them just right.

#22 of 39 Re: take one apart & re-sculpt? [steve_] by morin2

Nov 26, 2010 (1:00 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Nov 26, 2010 11:36 am)
Ran over them on purpose or in hindsight "I meant to do that"?

#23 of 39 . by fintail

Nov 26, 2010 (1:37 pm)

Headrests are for wimps
 

#24 of 39 Re: . [fintail] by morin2

Nov 29, 2010 (9:12 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Nov 26, 2010 1:37 pm)
My 09 subaru outback head restraints saved me tonight. I was stopped at a long red light and got slammed from behind. The kid driving an Impala said he was "going at least 60" when he hit me. I always keep a good distance between me and the car ahead of me at red lights, like 15', but this impact was so severe, it drove me into the jeep ahead of me and peeled back my hood to the windshield. It was so sudden I don't remember hitting the head restraint but I must have. The car is a no-doubt, easy-call total, but I was able to open my door and get out by myself. The car crumpled and sacrificed itself as designed to save me. It was too dark for pictures.

#25 of 39 Re: . [morin2] by steve_ HOST

Nov 29, 2010 (9:58 pm)

Replying to: morin2 (Nov 29, 2010 9:12 pm)
Oh jeeze, that's terrible. Bet you're still going to be sore even with the restraints. Hope you got checked out by a doc too. Dang, hate to hear that.

#26 of 39 Re: . [steve_] by morin2

Nov 29, 2010 (10:35 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Nov 29, 2010 9:58 pm)
Thanks Steve,
Yeah, I'm a bit sore and stiff with moving the head & neck, but will get checked out tomorrow just to be on the safe side. I hate to lose my beloved '09 subaru because I don't like the new ones, but I also felt sorry for the 22 year old kid who admitted it was entirely his fault. His dad came & wasn't happy with the kid, but accidents happen and nobody tries to do this, so I spoke to the dad and asked him to be gentle with his son because he already knows he made a mistake. I've got a son a few months older than this kid and I hope if he does something like this, somebody won't go off on him.
 
I don't think the insurance company will want to rebuild this one. About the only things undamaged are the stereo and the roof racks.
 
So now the question is to either replace it with something new & safe or some old depreciated junker that I won't love so much as my sweet subaru. I see accidents every day on my 110 mile commute and fatalities about once every 2-3 weeks, so its not a matter of "if" there's another wreck so much as "when" and "how bad". So far, my plan to win the lottery and quit the commute of carnage hasn't worked out.

#27 of 39 Re: . [morin2] by acdii

Nov 30, 2010 (8:21 am)

Replying to: morin2 (Nov 29, 2010 10:35 pm)
Glad to hear you are OK. Cars have made major leaps forward in safety, if that car was 10 years older, chances are you would have had to be cut out of the car, and would be laid up in the hospital now. I know a lot of people complain about the head restraints, but as you experienced last night, a little discomfort can go a long way after seeing just what they can do for you. If the car was crushed front and rear, and glass was broken, then its a good chance it will be totaled, but in some cases cars can be rebuilt after a crash like that, all depends on what got bent.

#28 of 39 Re: . [morin2] by steve_ HOST

Nov 30, 2010 (8:27 am)

Replying to: morin2 (Nov 29, 2010 10:35 pm)
With that commute, I'd want all the airbags I could get.

#29 of 39 Re: . [steve_] by morin2

Nov 30, 2010 (9:05 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Nov 30, 2010 8:27 am)
It could have been much worse. The kid admitted to 60mph+ but I see much higher speeds there, and I was completely stopped. About a mile from my wreck site is the only place where I have ever seen a severed head in the road from an accident about two years ago. Talk about your nightmare commute. So, yes, I am very grateful for modern car - subaru design.

Messages Page 3 of 4

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