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I have my eye on an Avant, but it's got buckets and with two young daughters (7 & 10) I'm worried that it will be impractical. I haven't viewed the car yet, but before I waste mine and the sellers time could anyone give me some idea of how much legroom it will have in the back. I am 5'7'' (but I act taller) and my girls are average height for their age. Would I do better looking for one with Recaro's?

I've been reading this forum for the last few days, makes me wonder how we ever bought cars before the internet came along! Would be grateful for any guidance.

The short answer is yes. There is more room with Recaros in the back seats and even then there isn't that much (although enough for young children). I am 6 foot and there isn't a lot of room behind me - I have Recaros which I specifically wanted as i thought they would be more practical generally.

Thanks Thorny, but does anyone know approx how much room there is to start with and how much extra space the buckets eat up?

blue62,
I'm over 6' and i've got 12 year old, tall for their age, triplets and buckets and I get all 3 in the back with no complaints in my saloon, good sized boot too, so I can't see any problem with an Avant.

Go and have a look, take a test drive, take your children in with you, you'll soon be told what they think !!

One thing's certain, you'll LOVE IT !!

You didn't mention if you are buying from a main dealer or privately ?

Bribe the kids with extra pocket money

I have the buckets (and a saloon).

I am 5' 10" and have two boys in front facing car seats. It's a bit tight on my eldest legs if he sits behind me (his legs stick out forward), but my youngest is fine. Without the car seats there is enough room to fit an adult, but they don't have much leg room. I can't imaging you having a problem. I'd guess the buckets take about 3-4" extra.

That's good to know Victor, I intend to look at the car but it's not on my doorstep. Everyone has a different perception of space, I've read some comments that suggest there's next to no rear room with buckets, but with the sort of team you lug around I'm confident I won't have a problem. I'd hate to see your food bill!

The car is up privately, I like the colour and spec and the owner seems a very genuine guy, someone I'd like to do business with. Will try to check a dealer car more locally just for peace of mind, but I appreciate your response.

blue62,
No problem, pleased I could help.
Any more questions, don't hesitate !
A word of advice, if the private car has lots of warranty left i'd be happy for you, along with all the usual HPI checks, but, if there's little or no warranty I'd be looking for a car from a main dealer for some peace of mind. But hey, you could be IN the trade !!
Good luck !

not in the trade Victor, but the car is a very late model, however it's not the only one out there so it will have to be right. Will let you know how I get on.

blue62,

I can handle the food bill, it's their mobiles that hurts ! (2 girls) (1 boy, loves the RS4)

A couple of points -

Buckets have deffinately contributed to a lower back problem since I have had the car - its been done to death on here.

Also i recently got a trade price for the car - £42500 for an 07 avant in black with all the extras and 6k miles

Interestingly they wouldn't have bought the car with recaros - several dealers all told me the same, they need buckets to sell in the trade.

So I might have to sell the car due to the buckets, but will get a better trade price - but if I had bought recaros the car would be easier on my back

I have 2 baby seats in the back for my 18 month old twins, they are very tight on ISOFIX bases and their shoes rub on the seat back.

hunty wrote:A couple of points -

Buckets have deffinately contributed to a lower back problem since I have had the car - its been done to death on here.

Also i recently got a trade price for the car - £42500 for an 07 avant in black with all the extras and 6k miles

Interestingly they wouldn't have bought the car with recaros - several dealers all told me the same, they need buckets to sell in the trade.

So I might have to sell the car due to the buckets, but will get a better trade price - but if I had bought recaros the car would be easier on my back

I have 2 baby seats in the back for my 18 month old twins, they are very tight on ISOFIX bases and their shoes rub on the seat back.

Very strange that as my dealer says the exact opposite! He says that far more want reccaros because more than anything the buckets apart from being tight wear very badly. Personally I wanted buckets but when I tried them found them horrid.

You have to play around with all the different knobs on the seat and I find I have to move to the left of the seat and have nothing in your back pockets to get really comfortable, when you get it right, they're superb !!

Avants never hold their values as well as saloons i'm afraid

I'd have thought that Recaro's had more general appeal and would be better received by the trade, also would've thought that the Avant would hold its money better than the saloon, estates generally do and looking at the current market there does seem to be more of a premium on the Avant. Hunty, I could be interested in your car if you're serious let me know, I'm looking for a late low mileage Avant in a dark colour.

victor2vt wrote:Avants never hold their values as well as saloons i'm afraid

See I know three dealers who would say the Avants hold their values better than saloons as the original RS was an Avant.

As to the original question, the quotes were always that buckets take up 3-4" extra like paulo says. I also have Recaro's and am 5'9" and there is room in behaind me albeit not as much as nbehind the passeneger seat with a front facing Recaro Yougsport seat. I think ISOfix seats sit a little higher and further forward to non ISOfix seats and the Recaro baby seat sits nicely in the contour of the rear seat base and back.

I was put off by the buckets because I have tree trunk thight and sitting in the buckets meant I could only sit comfortably with my feet on brake and clutch pedal and to reach accelerator meant pushing against the side bolster.

I had look at a number of RS4's with buckets and all used examples had for me excessive outer side bolster wear which I wasn't happy about. I hate to think what they look like now.

The Recaro sports seat are still supportive enough, you have to be going round corners and the limits of grip to sliding around in them.

victor2vt wrote:Avants never hold their values as well as saloons i'm afraid

Two dealers I've spoken to say the Avant is perceived by many second hand buyers as a "real" RS (because RS was originally only availabe as an Avant - RS2), so Avant values are holding stronger than saloons(sedans).

The same two dealers also say an RS4 with Recaros is worth at least £1000 more than the same car with buckets - because they will move off the forecourt quicker!