![]() TOM: But it was nice of you to mention that you can fit four people in the trunk. And as far as we know, they're not planning to do that until some time in 1994. RAY: So Debbi, you won't see us recommending the Lumina (or any GM cars with door mounted seat belts) until they get rid of these useless door mounted seat belts and put in airbags. TOM: Second, if you crash and the door is forced open, you're not belted in anymore! This happened to a New Hampshire state trooper who was killed when he was ejected from his Chevrolet Caprice after the door opened in an accident. So most people just disconnect the belts. RAY: Why is this a lousy system? Well, first of all, it makes it very difficult to get in and out of the car, especially if you're carrying anything. TOM: But dead last in the "concientious" department in this regard is General Motors, who was even too cheap to put in motorized seat belts! Instead, GM came up with a cockamamie system in which they simply mounted the seat belts to the door frames and called them passive restraints. Individual second- and third-row seats were easily removable and were included in the optional 7-passenger seating package. The standard 5-passenger seating included a rear bench seat. It was used to mate a standard 3-speed automatic transmission or an optional 4-speed automatic overdrive. Many of these manufacturers have switched to airbags in the last few years as consumers have demanded them. The Luminas base engine was a 3.1-liter ohv V6. RAY: The less concientious car makers took advantage of the loop hole and installed motorized seat belts-which are annoying, and not as safe as airbags. TOM: To comply with this law, the more concientious car makers installed airbags, which are the safest and most effective passive restraints. #CHEVY LUMINA DRIVER#Instead of specifically requiring "airbags," federal law says that cars must have "passive restraints." Those are defined as safety systems which don't require the driver to "do" anything to activate them. RAY: Unfortunately, the federal government allows General Motors to get away with this because of the loose way the federal safety law is worded. ![]() The Ford Taurus and Eagle Vision each have two airbags! It's now 1993, and we don't think Chevrolet has any excuse for NOT having an airbag in its mid-size "family" car. TOM: One is that we no longer recommend cars without airbags. But we don't recommend it anymore for two reasons. Admit it guys, you goofed! Or did you rule out the Lumina because it was UNDER Brenda's price range of $25,000-$30,000? Even my uncle thought it was roomy in the back, and he's NOT small. I'm not a big person, but I could fit at least four of me in the trunk of that car, and at least as many in the back seat. ![]() ![]() The gas mileage is great (even in the city), and it's not a boat (it's the same length as my husband's Camaro), and it's a dream to park. I have a four-door 1990 Lumina Eurosport (the "sporty" version), and it is the smoothest, roomiest car I have ever driven. Every description of the car she wanted sounded just like a Chevy Lumina to me. In the question from Brenda, who was looking for a new car, I thought I knew which car you would recommend. My questions is WHAT HAPPENED?! As a loyal reader, I was cruising your column, looking for solutions to all my relatives' car problems. ![]()
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