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Hi Guys -

Though i'd introduce myself as am on the verge of taking the plunge with a RS4 Avant and just wanted to tap you lot for a bit of info re: seats.

as i understand - there were two basic options for the B7 RS4 - 'sports seats' or Recaro buckets.

no were due a little 'un in the summer and one of the conditions of the new car was that she could drive it too - now I know the RS4 isn't exactly a renault megane - but at least the estate should be OK for buggies and the like, no?

so - my basic question to the forum is thus~: are the recaros too low/bucketlike for a pregnant wifey? Little point in having her try now as there is not much bump to speak of....

not the most usual question i know - but would appreciate any input from you guys......

look forward to shareing more stories on here...

Cheers,

BERGS

hi
i swapped my S3 for a RS4 as we my girlfriend was pregnant, i have the avant with buckets in, she did struggle a bit in the later stages but not that bad, plus you can adjust the width of them, so as her bum gets bigger they will still fit ok, and after the babys born she will notice weight of her arse as the seat doesnt snug her bum so tight.
hope this helps, i have the black optics pack with tinted windows and is great so the sun doesnt get in my little one's eyes

Don't go for buckets, in a few months time she will NOT BE ABLE to climb in or out of them !!!
Drive a saloon so can't comment on Avant for buggy space etc.
Suggest you go and look at an Avant

Good luck

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but the RS4 has either the Recaro sport seats (the big comfy ones) or the RS4 buckets (the grippier more 'racy' ones).
I never had any complaints from my wife while she was pregnant about the Recaros in ours.
To be honest, the Avant boot isn't massive, but while nothing will prepare you for the amount of junk you'll take everywhere with you, it can cope with a bit of careful packing.
Good luck with the new baby.
(The RS4 as well as the other one.)

Depends on the size of your partner. Lady P_G is a size 10 and she hated the buckets when I was testing cars even before she was pregnant, we have the Recaro Sports seats. The other factor with the buckets are they are a lot thicker a seat back by about 1-2 inches over the sports seats and it eats into the rear footwell space which later in life with your toddler in their seat means they may be more cramped and more likely to be able to kick and scuff the backs of them.

I traded up from an S4 saloon to an RS4 Avant because as said, the load space isn't great but far more accessible in the Avant (lower boot lip for putting buggies in and retractable load cover) and we managed a weeks worth of gear including two buggies for Centreparcs plus car fridge with careful packing of the boot and nothing in the rear seat.

It is still for me the ultimate all rounder in terms of performance and practicality.

It's only towards the end of the pregnancy that movement becomes hindered. 2-3 months of difficulty for her is not enough to give up the buckets imho

P_G wrote:The other factor with the buckets are they are a lot thicker a seat back by about 1-2 inches over the sports seats and it eats into the rear footwell space which later in life with your toddler in their seat means they may be more cramped and more likely to be able to kick and scuff the backs of them.

Wow, I didn't realise they were that much thicker. Our 10 month old's feet are already just a few cms away from my wife's seat back (she doesn't fit behind mine) so I'm doubly glad I've got the Recaros.

I would also say that if you have anything more than sparrrow legs then IMO the buckets are a hindrance as I when I sat in the seat my feet were resting on the accelerator and brake pedal and I had to push against the inner bolster for clutch and footrest plate.

gmk666 wrote:

P_G wrote:The other factor with the buckets are they are a lot thicker a seat back by about 1-2 inches over the sports seats and it eats into the rear footwell space which later in life with your toddler in their seat means they may be more cramped and more likely to be able to kick and scuff the backs of them.

Wow, I didn't realise they were that much thicker. Our 10 month old's feet are already just a few cms away from my wife's seat back (she doesn't fit behind mine) so I'm doubly glad I've got the Recaros.

Yep, when I went ot the RS4 debut they had one with buckets and the other with sports seats and adjusting the driver seat in both to my setting I could only get a hand span in the rear footwell whereas with the sports seats I could sit behind it and put my legs in. And I'm no giant so the seats weren't that far back.

Would LOVE to get your wive's opinions on these comments, male chauvenists (?) you love your car more than me.................. WHO ME !!!!!

gmk666 wrote:

P_G wrote:The other factor with the buckets are they are a lot thicker a seat back by about 1-2 inches over the sports seats and it eats into the rear footwell space which later in life with your toddler in their seat means they may be more cramped and more likely to be able to kick and scuff the backs of them.

Wow, I didn't realise they were that much thicker. Our 10 month old's feet are already just a few cms away from my wife's seat back (she doesn't fit behind mine) so I'm doubly glad I've got the Recaros.

I have no problem with my 2 1/2 year old. All i do is the pull the seat for slightly and take her shoes off.

pippyrips wrote:I have no problem with my 2 1/2 year old. All i do is the pull the seat for slightly and take her shoes off.

Shhh! I've nearly convinced my wife we need an RS6...

P_G wrote:Yep, when I went ot the RS4 debut they had one with buckets and the other with sports seats and adjusting the driver seat in both to my setting I could only get a hand span in the rear footwell whereas with the sports seats I could sit behind it and put my legs in. And I'm no giant so the seats weren't that far back.

My findings exactly

pippyrips wrote:I have no problem with my 2 1/2 year old. All i do is the pull the seat for slightly and take her shoes off.

So you're uncomfortable, and she can't get out without you or your partner first getting out and putting her shoes back on...

What about when she's 3??

gmk666 wrote:

pippyrips wrote:I have no problem with my 2 1/2 year old. All i do is the pull the seat for slightly and take her shoes off.

Shhh! I've nearly convinced my wife we need an RS6...

Yeh, just don't tell her the price or the massive depreciation the C6 is taking!

Hi Bergs,

Just joined this forum and seen ur question regarding bucket seats and a pregnant wife.
i bought my rs4 in march 07, we were planning on having a wee at the time and test drove the bucket seat version. the seats are great, i loved them - however it was never gonna work.
we went without the buckets and i am glad we did.
a really good friend of mine bought the cabrio with buckets - while the wife was 6 months preggers we went out for a wee run in the car and realised then that bucket seats are not for pregnant ladies.

Anyway, all the best with the wee one when he /she finally arrive.

p18bon