Side airbags to be standard on nearly all 2010 vehicles

Side airbags to be standard on nearly all 2010 vehicles | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Interesting tidbit: "The agreement required vehicles in the 2010 model year, which starts Sept. 1, to have head-protecting side airbags. It does not apply to fleet sales, including vehicles sold to rental car companies."

I wonder how many rentals won't have them. I'd imagine they'd take a hit in resale value beyond that fact that they were once a rental.

Look out for the Gen III model I Prius. My guess is this car will not be available to the public but will only be sold to fleet and rental buyers.

This reminds me of my first car, a 1969 Ford Falcon, with no radio or heater and a 188ci engine (normal was 200ci & 221ci). Only sold in this trim level to fleet buyers. I bought that car from News Limited.

Look forward to some cheap ex-rental Prius hitting the market in a couple years.

Whenever I think of used rental cars, I remember some of my former coworkers and how they would rent a car on company business and try to find new ways to totally abuse it. I wouldn't buy a rental car unless I had no other choice. :madgrin: