[1loudsti]

Originally Posted by GilMikalian

Well, since you aksed for our opinions...
Knob = good idea (check out my journal <<<<<)
St. Wheel = Bad Idea (giving up too much safety & convenience)

safety? if you wear your belt it will be safer...getting a wheel that fits your hands and driving style better will allow you to control the car better

how would you lose convenience? that doesnt make any sense?

[bcfsc]

i dont plan to swap my shifter till it gets grody from use and when i do change it im getting one of these
TWM Performance Weighted Shift Knobs - M1 Abrams Shift Knob

[GilMikalian]

Originally Posted by 1loudsti

safety? if you wear your belt it will be safer...getting a wheel that fits your hands and driving style better will allow you to control the car better

how would you lose convenience? that doesnt make any sense?

Well, I didn't mean to imply that I don't wear my belt The stock steering wheel has this thing called an airbag. My understanding is that the overwhelming research has shown that they do save lives, despite leaving the occasional burn mark. I'll take a burn mark over a caved-in face any day of the week. I'm not sure how one's hands would not "fit" the stock steering wheel but I've never heard of a steering wheel actually causing an accident.

Convenience because we have the cruise control and radio buttons on the stock wheels. I'm guessing with most, if not all, aftermarket wheels, you would be giving up this convenience. Hope it's making sense.

[1loudsti]

Originally Posted by GilMikalian

Well, I didn't mean to imply that I don't wear my belt The stock steering wheel has this thing called an airbag. My understanding is that the overwhelming research has shown that they do save lives, despite leaving the occasional burn mark. I'll take a burn mark over a caved-in face any day of the week. I'm not sure how one's hands would not "fit" the stock steering wheel but I've never heard of a steering wheel actually causing an accident.

Convenience because we have the cruise control and radio buttons on the stock wheels. I'm guessing with most, if not all, aftermarket wheels, you would be giving up this convenience. Hope it's making sense.

trust me i know what an airbag is....ive also seen the damage they can do
i have an aftermarket wheel and i still have cruise control....my car didnt come with radio controls on the wheel but i could have adapted those as well

i wasnt referring to the stock one not fitting...i was referring to a chosen aftermarket one can fit BETTER.....from my perspective its easier to control the car with a wheel that you feel comfortable with...its easier to control with a smaller wheel too IMO

[GilMikalian]

Got it. IMO, the downside of the airbag is more than offset by the safety it affords as well as any benefit, if any, a smaller wheel may provide.

[UturnSTi]

Here is the thread I was referring to: STi Driver Hurt at Streets of Willow

[White on Gold]

dang...that sucks for him and the car

[1loudsti]

yes that does suck but IMO if you make the choice to change the wheel you should also realize that you need to upgrade the belts...especially on the track....one of my next mods is harness bar and full belts...all of my other cars had them

this is an arguement no one is going to win the opinions are very different and mine are slightly biased simply because i personally dont like airbags....but i dont expect the next guy to feel the same which is why even though i took the drivers bag out i made sure to wire the system so the rest do work in the unfortunate event of an accident

[kaz]

My two pennies are this:

The stock system has had a lot of research to work well to be protective. I am changing out my seats, and willing to lose the airbag in the bolster for better control and feel of the car. I am going to modify my stock wheel to be slightly thicker and with alcantara to have better grip - and this way I keep the airbag.

On the street I'll use the stock belts and the airbag, on the track I will use a 6 point with my Hans. And my helmet is closed face so not worried about the airbag on the track. Easy solution

[White on Gold]

lol thanks

[topper]

You don't want to crash because you were reaching for the radio, and while you where sliding you where thinking to your self, I could use a airbag right now.

[Nativepenguin]

Originally Posted by waktasz

Anyone know the legalities of removing a working airbag from a street car?

You need to check your local laws, it is illegal in my home state to "tamper" with your airbag'd wheel...aka take it off.