Advice on Children and RS4

[luffenham1]

Getting to that time in life when children are on the cards and family transport become more important. Not saying that the RS4 is unsafe but can RS4 cope with the children.

I love the car, sound and power and have spent time and money on it. The question is, does anyone on the forum have children and if so hows the RS4 stood up to the challenge of children. Are thet any products you can buy i.e. chair covers, kick panels to hang behind the front seats.

Or do i sell the car, get a discovery and please the wife. Help

[Nobber]

I have 2 step kids, Boy is 16 and the girl is 12. I also have a 3 year old labrador and so far they haven't demolished anything! I think the Avant is the perfect balance of family and performance car.

[drbru]

I have an avant with an 8 month old baby... So far so good...

Fits everything we need with ease..

Wouldnt considering anything else but then again if a second child comes along then I may have to consider something else but no way would I sell the RS4

[sidzz]

Have an avant and a 4 year old daughter.
RS4 feels safer than any other car I've driven. I have a device in the car that emits a high pitched shriek if i go too fast with family on board - the wife! so i drive sedately until i drop them off.
on the serious side, its fine, rear leg room may become an issue in a few years to come as bucket seats are quite big, but at the moment the plastic backs of these seats are very easy to clean muddy footprints off.
only downside i've really noticed are impressions left in the leather upholstery from car seats, but i believe mats are available to go between the seat and child seat to remedy this problem.

[adsgreen]

I have a saloon with 3 boys (4,2 and 3 months).

Kids work excellently in the rs4.

Here's my setup:
-Behind passenger seat is a britax group 0 rear facing baby carrier on an isofix base.
- in the middle 1 group 2 seat booster with side protection.
- behind me is a group 1 child seat.

Three seats *do* fit but it's a squeeze.

I do have a couple front seat back protectors to stop muddy feet.

Under and behind each seat is a (I think) lionheart seat protector. This is cushioned hard flexible rubber that stops seats getting damaged.

Under the seat protectors and extending onto the floor is a waterproof picnic may (those plastic tartan ones you get in motorway services)

The key is to not stress - swimbo has a mini cooper s and when we had two kids we packed it with 2 adults, 2 kids, suitcase, double Phil n teds pram, 2 pillows, 2 inflatable kid beds and all the little odds and end you need for a week away. It was fine - the key is to work out what you need and not what you'll think you'll need.

We're getting a multimac car seat for te mini and this also fits in the rs4.

[neilc]

Well I have only just changed my saloon with bucket seats to an avant with comfort seats and that is the way to go if like me you have two small children.

The rear seat space is much better and the load bay is much more flexible and easier to load.

I looked at loads of other options before changing my saloon like an S6 avant and an M5 touring but to be honest they dont compare when it comes to enjoying your car.

[adsgreen]

I have buckets and no problem with room in the back.

I agree that the saloon has limtations as the boot isn't that big. but being said, can still cram everything in. I didn't buy the avant as I just don't like the looks and prefer the saloon. Certainly had no issues at xmas full of everything and more.

[blue95]

I have a saloon with 3 boys (4,2 and 3 months).

Kids work excellently in the rs4.

Here's my setup:
-Behind passenger seat is a britax group 0 rear facing baby carrier on an isofix base.
- in the middle 1 group 2 seat booster with side protection.
- behind me is a group 1 child seat.

Three seats *do* fit but it's a squeeze.

I do have a couple front seat back protectors to stop muddy feet.

Under and behind each seat is a (I think) lionheart seat protector. This is cushioned hard flexible rubber that stops seats getting damaged.

Under the seat protectors and extending onto the floor is a waterproof picnic may (those plastic tartan ones you get in motorway services)

The key is to not stress - swimbo has a mini cooper s and when we had two kids we packed it with 2 adults, 2 kids, suitcase, double Phil n teds pram, 2 pillows, 2 inflatable kid beds and all the little odds and end you need for a week away. It was fine - the key is to work out what you need and not what you'll think you'll need.

We're getting a multimac car seat for te mini and this also fits in the rs4.

Hi mate,

I am in the same position...3 kids , 4yrs, 3yrs and 10 months! Just been to halfords to look at seats, flippin hell its confusing!

Just wondered if you had any more details as to what seats you are using e.g. model name/number?

Also when you say tight squeeze, how tight? do the seats touch the door cards?

Cheers

[adsgreen]

I will check - all seats are Britax.
They only do one reaql model infant carrier and the isofix works well.
http://www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/car-s ... lus-shr-ii

I think the group 2 is a britax robbie?
Don't get a multi grade seat (Evolva type) - group 1's are massive (and heavy).

The group 1 is a duo plus.
The eldest sits in the middle as he can climb over the isofix base ok. The base has a support leg so it doesn't touch the seat cushion.

It's tight in that all seats are touching and the baby carrier has to be levered and ricked in but it's definately safe. The seats don't touch the doors at all.

Long term, I see us getting a multimac (http://www.multimac.co.uk/home). Yes, very expensive but cheaper than changing cars and will last ages and will fit in the Mini so swimbo can get all kids safely in.

[ShaneyB]

My 7 year old boy loves the saloon. He loves the Start Button, 'S' button, the sound everything. I think the boot's pretty big but the entrance is a little restrictive. I have rubber seat protectors in the buckets (can't remember make) and I have had no issues with muddy seat backs (even after football at weekends).
Only downside is he loves me putting my foot down and compares my driving to his on GT5

[rs4nick]

Have an avant and a 7 & 5 year old - all works fine. Have "neatseat" rubber protectors behind their seats to protect the leather. Don't have anything on back of buckets but do wipe down easily and no long term damage. Boot is plenty big enough when we go away to inlaws but we're past the stage of buggies etc which may be more of a challenge in terms of boot space.

Agree with earlier comments that there is no other car that combines such practicality and performance - I love it and can't think of anything I'd swap it for!

[ollys]

I will check - all seats are Britax.
They only do one reaql model infant carrier and the isofix works well.
http://www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/car-s ... lus-shr-ii

I think the group 2 is a britax robbie?
Don't get a multi grade seat (Evolva type) - group 1's are massive (and heavy).

The group 1 is a duo plus.
The eldest sits in the middle as he can climb over the isofix base ok. The base has a support leg so it doesn't touch the seat cushion.

It's tight in that all seats are touching and the baby carrier has to be levered and ricked in but it's definately safe. The seats don't touch the doors at all.

Long term, I see us getting a multimac (http://www.multimac.co.uk/home). Yes, very expensive but cheaper than changing cars and will last ages and will fit in the Mini so swimbo can get all kids safely in.

I have had a multimac in my b5 RS4 for over a year now - great bit of kit. The only small gripe with it is that the minimac (baby seat) is too upright and baby's head can loll forward a bit when asleep. Our youngest is now out of that and into one of the three berths so no worries any more, but it's a great bit of kit.

Olly

[blue95]

I will check - all seats are Britax.
They only do one reaql model infant carrier and the isofix works well.
http://www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/car-s ... lus-shr-ii

I think the group 2 is a britax robbie?
Don't get a multi grade seat (Evolva type) - group 1's are massive (and heavy).

The group 1 is a duo plus.
The eldest sits in the middle as he can climb over the isofix base ok. The base has a support leg so it doesn't touch the seat cushion.

It's tight in that all seats are touching and the baby carrier has to be levered and ricked in but it's definately safe. The seats don't touch the doors at all.

Long term, I see us getting a multimac (http://www.multimac.co.uk/home). Yes, very expensive but cheaper than changing cars and will last ages and will fit in the Mini so swimbo can get all kids safely in.

Cheers

Been looking at the multimac aswell, cost is a factor though as we don't usually all go somewhere together, very often.

Thanks for giving seat details, I will check the britax website for further details. The seat protector sounds a good idea as well.

Don't understand why the seats are so wide? by the time the kids are big/wide enough they will prob be able to sit in a normal seat!

You would have thought that one of the manufacturers would have realised by now that people do have more than 2 kids or do like to use the rear seat with more than 2 seats in.

Must also add the RS4s 5 seats is one of the main reasons we bought it. Don't understand why alot of cars only come with 4 seats these days?

[psg001]

have had neice in the back in a baby seat when she was 8 months old, slept really well, was driving it sensibly of course.

girlfriends 2yr old neice and 5 and 7 yr old nephews loved it, child seats slotted straight in with isofix, and the car took the usual child battering / testing well with no bits falling off it. the boys loved it and wanted me to make it "go louder" all the time, putting the windows down. think they liked the sound of the milltek more than it going fast!

you've got an avant as well so even more room. worry not, the RS4 will be fine.

[adsgreen]

Must also add the RS4s 5 seats is one of the main reasons we bought it. Don't understand why alot of cars only come with 4 seats these days?

TBH, most 5 seater cars are more like 4.5 seaters with the RS4 included in that. The middle seat is definately an occasional use thing but works ok with with group2 seats. By the time our youngest is forward facing should be able to use a normal booster cushion (group 3).

The only car I've seen that works well as a family hack is the Honda FRV. My bro-in-law has one for his 4 children and with two rows of three full size seats in - so much so that there's three isofix mountings in the back and they can all fit the big bulky group1 seats all at the same time.
Much better than a 7 seater where the rear two seats are the crumple zone with no boot. Crazy but honda have binned it which is a shame.