RS4 Practical family/dog transport or way too nice for that?

[ParanoidAndroid]

Hi guys,

Another newbie here possibly considering an RS4, seems a popular choice at the moment given the number of requests for advice!

I've started reading the masses of information on here regarding the purchase, running costs and what to look out for and am in no rush as I need to sell my Jag XKR first. My current situation is I am running the XKR and a BMW 325i Touring (family duties, dog transport) and have been thinking of dropping to one car, combining my passion for fast motoring and the need for family/dog transport to look for an RS4 Avant.

Any way, reason for the post is I love to keep my 'toy' cars spotless and my main worry is using this as my sole car, sticking the dog in the boot it will soon be full of mud, dog hairs etc, etc.

Do any of you use your RS4 Avant in this way or are they just a fun second car? Are there things that can be done to keep it spotless? Did think about a custom cage of some sort to keep the dog contained slightly.

Cheers
Graham

[sonny]

Welcome.

Buy a Dog Guard and uprated floor Matt and you will be fine, Audi sold both these for the RS4 Avant, might struggle to get them now, keep an eye on the for sale section.

[stoddie]

i occasionally have the dog in mine.

she;s only a small beagle, so have no need for a dog guard - but have a boot liner which i got from audi £40 or so and cover the back of the rear seats with a large seat cover.

it normally gets hoovered out after shes in it and its managed to stay immaculate so far.

go for it!

[PJC]

Just bought a RS4 Avant bought a Audi dog guard that can still use the parcel shelf cover and an extended bought liner / carpet with a flap to cover the bumper £400.00 for both

[MikeD]

3 Boxers and a Newf, in and out of the car.
Its your car, so you set the rules, but a company called Boot liner make great covers that cover just about the whole of the rear area, add the pull up net and your set.
Enjoy.

[MikeD]

3 Boxers and a Newf, in and out of the car.
Its your car, so you set the rules, but a company called Boot liner make great covers that cover just about the whole of the rear area, add the pull up net and your set.
Enjoy.

[scottie1979]

Have a look here:
http://www.roofbox.co.uk/dogs-pets-carriers/
I have the pet tube for my saloon. It is superb. Contains all the hairs, dirt and stops the dog jumping about. Think it would still work in the boot - it comes with three straps - you would just need to find a way to attach.

[^Qwerty^]

If you take the dog out the equation, the RS4 is not that good a family car IMO. The rear leg room is pityful, and is certainly put to shame by my 1.4TD Fiesta, which I'm about to set off to Silverstone in with the wife and two kids - and that's a two hour trip for us each way.

[guffy]

My boxer dog goes most places with me and i have a saloon. I just use a fitted seat cover and blanket. Luckily she is very well behaved, but i do spend more time cleaning my car, which is no bad thing and i rarely carry people in the back.

The main downside is i have to temper my driving when there's a 30kg dog behind you, so the tube is probably a safer bet.

[Ricky]

Graham,

I have tried PM' ing you but it doesn't seem to work tonight for some reason. Email me on rkelso@btinternet.com as I can give you a solution to your problem !!!!

Ricky !

[yorkie]

The first time I took my Rott in the car he ate the corner of the load cover. I love my car but I love my dog more

[ParanoidAndroid]

Thanks for all the comments guys, sounds like it's not a show stopper then. Main problem is my dog (Hungarian Vizsla) has short fur but they obviously still fall out and are a bugger to get out of carpet, headlining etc. The link scottie1979 posted looks ideal, they do fabric dog boxes that assuming they fit the Avant boot seem the perfect solution. All the mud, hairs etc stay in the dog box that can be washed.

Interesting comment about the rear leg room, is it worse than other A4's? Assume the wingback seats must eat into rear leg room in that case?

Ricky - I received your message, have replied. Cheers!

Thanks for the warm welcome.... anyone want an 4.2 XKR?

Cheers,
Graham

[^Qwerty^]

Interesting comment about the rear leg room, is it worse than other A4's? Assume the wingback seats must eat into rear leg room in that case?

I think to be fair to the RS4, the standard A4 is also v.poor. Not sure about the seats, as I've not got buckets, but I'm sure somebody on here will be able to say one way or another

It doesn't help that I'm 6ft 3in for anybody sat behind me either.