Considering a 2004 or 2003 used A4
 

I used to own a TT until a newborn made me make a move to the A6. I like the A6, but when I was in a A4 loaner last week, I started thinking that I really wanted to be back in a smaller car.

I've looked around the forum for a while, but can't find any answer to teh following. I'd appreciate thoughts and comments.

Anyone have any experience with puting a rear facing car seat in the back of an A4?

Are there any major differences between a 2003,2004 and a 2005 that should make me consider one over the other?

Matt

not much room
 

The A4 (IMO) is not car seat friendly. It'll fit for sure, but its tight as hell. Im running a modded booster seat so I have less of an issue.

yeah - rear facing is tight....
 

you might want to wait a few months until fwd facing.

2003 -> 5spd. 2004 and up -> 6spd. Also 2004.5 and up -> painted lowers.

After being hit right inbetween the rear wheel and rear door I'd never put my kid in an A4.
 

I was hit going 20mph and the way A4's are constructed it crumpled so if a child was on the side he probably would have suffered major head trauma and cuts etc to his/her arm. Pick a larger car if you have kids. The middle section is ideal but I'd worry about glass flying around. The F-150 truck was scuffed on its bumper and it was dented upwards. The door had crumpled inwards by atleast 8-12inches. The thing that stopped it was the Rearpillar and transferred the force to the wheel and side pillar. The B5/B6 share the same chasis with different panels.

I have a lot of experience... keep the A6
 

A4 is tight in the back... I disagree with JogJog, as the B6 is a safe car for rear occupants, but space is tight.

When our second child arrived, we got a minivan... A4 was WAY too small for two kids under 2yr old and all their stuff.

It's the car seats. They take up a massive amount of space in the back seat.

Two car seats in mine, one is rear facing, it's fine for me...
 

I have a Britax rear-facing seat behind the passenger seat. I was surprised I didn't have to move up the passenger seat to do this, but I rarely have a passenger anyway. My 3-year-old has a smaller forward facing seat behind me. Things are tight back there, but they fit.

Question - is this car your main child-hauling vehicle? Big things like strollers and pack-n-play's don't fit well in the trunk if you have anything else in there. If you're going to be hauling much cargo with the child, you'll wish you still had the A6. The A4 is my commuting car, my kids are in it only when I drop them at daycare or run the occasional errand with them. My wife has a Volvo XC wagon that is our real family truckster.

Regarding model year, 2004 or 2005 is better just for a few additional features that were available. The biggest difference is the 6-speed manual transmission on quattros. Also, aluminum interior trim came with the sport package, quattros came with satellite-ready stereos (and the upgraded Bose stereo included XM or Sirius), a few other little things. But the 2003 is the exact same car otherwise, same engine, suspension, chassis, exterior design, etc., as far as I know. And, because of having no satellite radio, 2003's don't have the ugly shark fin!

Re: yeah - rear facing is tight....
 

Thanks for all the input. Right now all I have is a forward facing car seat, but the wife is starting to talk about number 2......

Re: Considering a 2004 or 2003 used A4
 

Definately stick with the A6, unless the front passenger has no legs.

My passenger seat has good legroom in front of a Britax rear-facing seat...
 

Passenger might get kicked in the back once the child seat turns around, but that's true in many cars.