Side Airbags & Kids

[StuTheDon]

Hey Guys - I wondered if you'd be able to answer something for me?  I've got a white 5dr GTi on order, and opted for the additional option of side airbags when I ordered.   There are going to be times when I have both our kids in the car, and they use ISOFIX car seats.

Does anyone happen to know if this would be ok, or do/can the 'bags need to be disabled when the seats are in?  I also believe this option causes an alarm on the dash if someone is in the back with no seatbelt on - given ISOFix seats don't use the seatbelt I'm wondering if this will be an issue.

I'll check with my dealer of course, but just wondered if anyone had experience of this (apologies for the boring kids question in advance!).

Stu

[p3asa]

Could be mistaken but I think James Gould on here researched this, he might be able to point you in the right direction.

[James Gould]

Hi, Stu and P3asa  -  yup, I did research it and I'm still lost as to what to do on that score  -  I was going to go for the 5-dr with side rear air bags but there are loads of scare stories about how they can injure children  -  apparently, they can inflate in such a way that ok for adults but bad for kids in that they 'hit' children in different areas than adults  -  and adults are more sturdy that kids  - there are reports of kids receiving serious neck injuries from the things. As I opted to not go for the rear side airbags, I went for the 3 dr because it has, I believe, a tougher body shell than the 5 dr  -  I do think the 5 dr would be a much better family choice for me but....sorry, no answers...

[mac7]

given ISOFix seats don't use the seatbelt I'm wondering if this will be an issue.

Good question that one. I'd imagine as they are integral that they would cancel the seatbelt warning, otherwise there'd be hundreds of complaints from owners!

[gossa]

Most Isofix bases do use the seatbelt,  my Maxi Cosi clips in to the isofix d loops but you need to then pass the seatbelt through the base too.

[StuTheDon]

Cheers Guys - definitely one for the dealer to confirm. Neither of our MaxiCosi's use the seatbelt, they just snap into the ISOFIX points - obviously I dont wont some alarm going off constantly as it detects weight on the seat, but no seatbelt in use!

I'll find out and post what I find out.

[gossa]

Stu, check the instructions mate, you might find the belt goes across the base and then there's a clip that locks the belt onto the base.

[p3asa]

Cheers Guys - definitely one for the dealer to confirm.

Good luck with that  I'd personally take a best of 3 route and ask 3 dears and go with the consensus