B8 A4 - Good Family Car?

[A4orce84]

Hey Guys,

Trying to do a bit of family planning with the wife. She currently has an SUV, and I have a nicely modded B6 A4. I know my backseat is pretty pathetic and maybe can fit a baby carseat if I move both my seat and the passenger seat up.....how are things with the B8?

Is it a better platform for smaller families (carseats, babies) and such?

Thanks,
Asif

[JeriQo]

an A4 is pretty much a limousine.
yes, its roomy.

[b6Hate4]

Coming from a b6 myself, the b8 back seat is much better, closer to a c5 a6 in rear seating.

[KFizz]

A rear facing child seat is still tight in the back of a B8. We need to move the passenger seat forward quite a bit to fit ours.

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[rdenivo]

I have a B8.5 and I have a forward facing car seat behind the passenger seat and a rear facing car seat behind me. I'm 5'10 and my seat back has about an inch of room between it and the car seat.

[LINDW4LL]

It's not an optimal "family car" by any means. The B8 rear seats are still pretty small, although a bit better than your B6. A car seat is doable, but if you have more than one young kid I'd look into something larger.

Here's a similar thread from the S4 section-

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-S4-big-enough

[lennon]

I purchased mine in August 2010, prior to a wife or kids. I now have a wife, 3 year old, and almost 2 year old. Agree with both KFizz and rdenivo. Non-issue with front facing seats, but if you are too tall fitting a rear-facing seat behind the driver's seat could be uncomfortable. And occasionally, we need to fit an adult into the back seat with our kids, which is less than idea. Other car is an Odyssey, so when we know there will be more people we just take that.

In summary, I think the back seat size is a pretty ideal balance between interior comfort and total car size. We are planning on several more kids, but I will keep this car as long as possible regardless. By far the best car I have owned, and I get excited every morning I get to jump in it to go to work.

[theSaint024]

Agree with others. Depends on your perspective and needs. People with 3 row suv's and minivans think it's completely inadequate. I'm in the camp that wonders why a family of 4 needs a minivan. I have 3 young kids and have 3 car seats. They are all front facing as of a couple months ago so that helped a lot with front passenger legroom. No way I could have a rear facing behind the driver seat and I'm an average 5'11". I can respect that people prefer roominess. My setup just fits a family of 5. Once I lose a car seat or two, will only get roomier. It's my preference for a smaller better drive than a suite in the back. "Good family car" depends on your definition. At least one member of my family (me) thinks its a great family car.

[A4orce84]

I'm about 5'8, so not super tall. Sounds like I should be able to manage with a baby seat behind me potentially.....worst case scenario behind the passenger seat.

Thanks,
Asif

[irish07]

I have a 2010 and I have 2 car seats and an infant carrier. The 2 car seats behind driver and middle, then infant carrier on passenger side. I'm 5,11 and don't even need to adjust seating for the rear leg room. Passenger though with infant behind needs to move forward a nice amount, but my wife is 5'0 so barely any seat adjustment needed for her.

Car seats are from Diono and carrier is a Maxi Cost..all fit tight BUT they all fit! I also have a 2009 E90 328 and have the same seats in that car.

We live in the city and Suv's are to large to get around or Park anywhere downtown(even on paid lots)..My oldest is 6yrs and youngest is 6mths, maybe when they all get older I'll need something bigger but by then, the kids will now be teens and will most prob be moving into there own cars or using public transit.. Making a 7 seater not really needed for us.

Hope this helps.. :-)

[COLD13]

I have an infant car seat and a rear facing convertible car seat in my car, baby and toddler. I have plenty of room up front but I'm only 5'5 and my wife is 5'1, so we are short. I can barely squeeze the diaper bag on the floor in the back seat and 2 strollers take up the entire trunk. Obviously they aren't always both in there but just something to think about. So you should be fine, when you need more cargo space take the wife's car.

[kdaffy]

If this is your first kid and hence, one car seat (assuming you are going with a click and go type thing like the Chicco Keyfit) then your best bet, for fitment and also, more importantly, safety of the baby is to put them rear facing in the center. This location is safer by a wide margin and will provide you with the most room up front. I'm 6' and was very uncomfortable with a rear facing car seat behind me. No problem in the center. With two kids now, I have the infant seat (chicco keyfit 30) in the center, and a front facing convertible (recaro) behind the passenger, and dont really have problems...i do need to move my seat forward with the infant seat in the middle, but its not too bad, even on long trips.

If I were to do it again, I would consider a more narrow convertible (i.e. Clek Fllo @ 17in wide vs recaro @ 19").

Also, the A4 is a decent family car...since you have an SUV in addition, it makes sense, and is the same situation im in...wife's suv is what we use for long trips where comfort and space is required, although we did a trip up to VT (3hr drive) this winter in the audi without issue.

[KompressorLOgic]

the a4 seems to work decent enough for having 1 child
I have the keyfit and it does rquire the one seat to move forward a ways for me. but is manageable

you may want to shop car seats as well, the keyfit seems to take up a lot more space than some of the other seats ive seen, but its nice it bolts into the stroller easy and what not.

[billybob_lee]

This thread has some photos of car seats and car seat combinations in B8's: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-one-fits-best

I would have to agree with Kdaffy in that I probably should've purchased a narrower convertible seat from the start. However, my wife and I weren't sure how many kids we would be able to have, so we bought what we felt was the best choice for us at the time.

[bluetori]

A rear facing child seat is still tight in the back of a B8. We need to move the passenger seat forward quite a bit to fit ours.

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Why not use a forward facing seat?

[bluetori]

If this is your first kid and hence, one car seat (assuming you are going with a click and go type thing like the Chicco Keyfit) then your best bet, for fitment and also, more importantly, safety of the baby is to put them rear facing in the center. This location is safer by a wide margin and will provide you with the most room up front. I'm 6' and was very uncomfortable with a rear facing car seat behind me. No problem in the center. With two kids now, I have the infant seat (chicco keyfit 30) in the center, and a front facing convertible (recaro) behind the passenger, and dont really have problems...i do need to move my seat forward with the infant seat in the middle, but its not too bad, even on long trips.

If I were to do it again, I would consider a more narrow convertible (i.e. Clek Fllo @ 17in wide vs recaro @ 19").

Also, the A4 is a decent family car...since you have an SUV in addition, it makes sense, and is the same situation im in...wife's suv is what we use for long trips where comfort and space is required, although we did a trip up to VT (3hr drive) this winter in the audi without issue.

Deleted

[theSaint024]

Why not use a forward facing seat?

Laws and recommendations vary by state, but you are supposed to have the child in a rear facing until they are at least one. California is about to have a new rule in effect that requires you to sit rear facing until 2! F'n big brother.

[COLD13]

Why not use a forward facing seat?

My son is 2.5 and still rear facing in a convertible seat. The wife says rear facing is a lot safer so she wants to keep him that way as long as possible.

[theSaint024]

My son is 2.5 and still rear facing in a convertible seat. The wife says rear facing is a lot safer so she wants to keep him that way as long as possible.

Not to go on a rant, but I will... The point I'm making is we should all have a choice. No problem with you choosing to keep your child in a rear facing. That is your prerogative. I just don't like it when some nameless law makers determine what is best for me and my family. I get that it is for the protection of dumbasses, but there's a point, which we have passed, that it goes too far. Many of us rode around the back of our parents' cars with no seat belts, let alone child seats. Driving is dangerous because of dumbasses on the road. That should not determine what we can choose, and which calculated risks we take. Many of us choose to go a mile or two above the speed limit. I know how we all feel about that one. My wife also told me that the rear facing was safer and wanted to keep our youngest that way. I out-logic'ed her and reasoned that it's only safer in a head on collision. That is my choice. We make choices based on calculated risks. For those who think I'm a bad parent, we can also choose to stay in the house to protect our children at even another level. Point is, we as intelligent adults can make these informed choices. These decisions do not affect other people like driving drunk or driving while distracted or irresponsible gun use and sales. I have obvious issues with authority. End rant. Audis rule!

[ToddBrunswick]

Not to go on a rant, but I will... The point I'm making is we should all have a choice. No problem with you choosing to keep your child in a rear facing. That is your prerogative. I just don't like it when some nameless law makers determine what is best for me and my family. I get that it is for the protection of dumbasses, but there's a point, which we have passed, that it goes too far. Many of us rode around the back of our parents' cars with no seat belts, let alone child seats. Driving is dangerous because of dumbasses on the road. That should not determine what we can choose, and which calculated risks we take. Many of us choose to go a mile or two above the speed limit. I know how we all feel about that one. My wife also told me that the rear facing was safer and wanted to keep our youngest that way. I out-logic'ed her and reasoned that it's only safer in a head on collision. That is my choice. We make choices based on calculated risks. For those who think I'm a bad parent, we can also choose to stay in the house to protect our children at even another level. Point is, we as intelligent adults can make these informed choices. These decisions do not affect other people like driving drunk or driving while distracted or irresponsible gun use and sales. I have obvious issues with authority. End rant. Audis rule!

Well there you go. I can only guess how you feel about seat belt laws.

[stussy2870]

5-9, 2 kids, one in a forward facing car seat.. I car pool with a buddy whos no short of 6'4 and although hes VERY uncomfortable, he can manage for a short while with a FF car seat behind him..

I think its a good fam vehicle.

[redge2.7t]

Get an Avant I have a rear facing Graco Snugride 35 Click Connect in the center back seat of mine. Have oodles of room in the back for stroller, diaper bag, pack and play, etc.. I am not super tall at 6' but I like my legs as straight as possible so I have my seat nearly all the way back and have no issues.



The towel was only temporary until I had gotten this

[oneant]

I have a 6.5yr old using a full-size booster on the passenger side and 3 yr old using a full-size forward-facing car seat behind me. It is not overly roomy by any means, but it is comfortable for both them and us in the front...even for hours at a time on longer trips. My $.02, it is a good compromise between having a car that will fit a family of 4 while also not looking/feeling like a family sedan. And the trunk is massive which helps too.

Cannot speak to rear-facing, but sounds like some good info above.

But heed redge2.7t's advice on a proper seat protector!!! A towel will not cut it; you need something more solid to protect your seats from permanent indentation, spills, dirty child shoes, etc. I use the Prince Lionheart seat saver set on each seat.