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Hi,

I've been lurking in here for a while and just signed up.

I'm starting my search for a B7 RS4 Avant - no rush, and I'm likely to buy one in June/July.

I've been looking at cars for sale, and bucket seats seem to be a pretty desirable option - but I've also read a couple of comments that the seats aren't that comfortable - I'm 41 years old and have a bad back, so looking for a car that will be comfortable - do you think I'll have any problems with the buckets (I guess the easiest answer is to just go and try some!!)

Secondly, I've seen a car with ceramic brakes for sale - instinctively this scares me - I've never had a car with them before, and I've read various horror stories (not just RS4, but ceramics in general) about high running costs, etc. - what's the general view on ceramics on a RS4 - good for bragging rights in the pub, I guess, but are they reliable, and how long do they last?

Thanks for help on this, and sorry if I'm asking questions already asked...
Richard

Hi Richard, FON!!

As far as the bucket seats go, they are pretty good in my opinion and have loads of adjustment to help with your back. I have found that being slimmer helps you fit them a bit better. Where as being a 'fuller' figure can be a bit tight. You are right to go and just try them and spend a bit of time with different settings.
Where are you from? There may be a forum member near you that you can blag a ride from and try the seats before a test drive.

As for the ceramics, I'm not really clued up on them but the costs of pads and discs are quite a bit more than the standard equipment.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to give you the lowdown on the brakes.

Alex

Buckets are really comfy. They, as said, are a problem for the bigger person. But skinnier sorts love em !

I find them a LOT better than normal seats.

The overwhelming view is ceramics are the nuts...as for the seats the buckets look right for the type of car,once you are in them they hug you nicely and when you go to sell more people look for ones with them...the recaros are much more user friendly and give more rear passenger legroom..I would guess that they would also be better for dodgy backs..hth

Good luck with your search..what are you after by the way..saloon/ avant.. What colour?

And lastly FON..

My understanding is the disks should be good for 100k miles but the pads are expensive. Having said that the overall cost to maintain will be cheeper than standard brakes (I know, just had new disks and pads all round @ nearly £2k)

I have a bad back too although I've had it fixed (screws, clamps, artificial disks etc) but find the seats great. I have leather recaro's in my MK4 Golf which are kinda similar to comfort seats and I don't notice any difference (other than when I'm cornering fast lol)

M

Hi
I was about £400 for brake pads for the ceramic discs from audi. My discs broke at 29K at a cost of £2000 each thank f*** they where under warranty just some thing to think about
Audi say they should last hundred thousand or so miles not sure about that?

As for Buckets its a must have

Thanks for all the responses.

I'm not at the skinny end of body shapes so I'll definitely try the buckets out before I buy.

I'm based in Canary Wharf - anybody live round here and generous enough to let me try their seats out?!!

I'm looking for an Avant - I'd prefer sprint blue (is that what the colour is still called on the b7?) or possibly red. Having said that, most cars seem to be black, grey or silver, so i may need to be a bit open-minded in terms of colour.

I'm not buying the car until June/July so I have a bit of time for more research etc.

Richard.

Discs will do more than 100k miles and pads normally last 40-60k, an rs4 without buckets is sacrilege!!!! Other than the looks they are a really comfortable seat imo

Here we go again.... the bimonthly buckets vs Recaros debate!

Just try before you buy Richard and let your bum (and back) decide which you prefer - if you're not on the skinny side and have an iffy back, I reckon chances are Recaros will suit you, but only you can be the judge. Buckets really look the part, but for some they can be a right pain in the ar5e to get out of (literally!) - I prefer the way buckets look but couldn't get on with them so searched for a car with Recaros and love 'em.

Don't forget that both seat types come as standard with a 4.2l V8 bolted a couple of feet in front of them, so the overall effect is much the same!

Good luck with the search

TBH i dont think there is much difference in the feel of the buckets to Comforts once you are sitting in them and doing normal driving.

My B6 S4 had the Recarro Comforts and my RS4 has the buckets.

Im not a super slim person (5ft 8 weighing 15 stone) and find the buckets fine, been on very long journies with no issues - only real difference is getting in and out of the car - i had to adapt the way i get in and out to avoid hitting the larger bulster on the buckets.

Asd others have said only way to find out which seats are for you is to try them.

I may have just the car for you as im thinking of changing

spikeyboy101 wrote:I may have just the car for you as im thinking of changing

Thanks Spikeyboy - are you ever up near Canary Wharf? if so, I'd love to see the car, and more importantly see how the buckets feel?

cheshire_carper wrote:Buckets are really comfy. They, as said, are a problem for the bigger person. But skinnier sorts love em !

I find them a LOT better than normal seats.

I have to say the exact opposite.

I'm only 13 stone (so I'm not a "bigger person") but for me, with my lower back injury from 14 years ago, the buckets were excruciatingly painful on a test drive in Camberley Audi's demonstrator saloon back in 2006.

So it's no surprise that I factory ordered Recaros (in silver Silk Nappa leather plus silver headlining and it came with silver seat belts) - and absolutely love them.

The question "buckets vs Recaros" comes up on here at least annually - and over the years we've come to the conclusion that there really only is one answer: try both and buy what works for you, no other persons opinion matters one single iota.

Hi Richard,
I've got an Avant, with buckets and ceramics, and my previous car was an A4 3.0tdi with a full exclusive interior and 'comfort' Recaros; and I've got a really bad back, so I should be able to advise!
I largely agree with most of the comments on here; yes ceramics were an expensive option when new but they should last the life of the car I read somewhere, pads are expensive certainly, as are replacement discs, but on the plus side you get awesome braking, no brake dust, longer life, and importantly, they look the nuts!
Re seats, obviously I don't know what your particular back problem is but I found both seats to be good enough for me though I notice that petroldave above wasn't so fortunate. IMHO an RS4 has to have the buckets, its just not right not to have them! Same with the FBSW. I'd try a car with buckets first and see how find them; even if you bought one with buckets and you didn't get on with them you would easily get rid of them via a swap or a straight sale.

Iain

I've also got a dodgy back (L1 -L3 IIRC). I'm actually more comfortable in the buckets than out of them !!!
Have done plenty of long trips oop north, plus plenty of spirited driving.
The buckets are awesome (but can be a knack to get out of without twinging your back).

Try both types if you can, but as Iain says.... they're really a must-have in the RS4

Edit. Don't forget to check that the inflatable bladders (bolsters) hold their pressure.

What are all you lot doing to have gammy backs??????