Need help picking C5 A6 or 02-04 A4?

[Eric Sanborn]

When we had our first kid I was driving my 4ktq and my wife had a CRX Si.
 We use Britax car seats which are awesome (especally if you don't have
latch), but they are huge.  It fit fine rear facing in both cars.  It did
require the middle seat for the Audi.  Once we had our second my wife got a
four door Civic (still have the CRX).  The kids are now 4.5 and almost 7 and
can buckle themselves in so about two months ago my wife went back to a 2
door car.  They are now both in high back boosters and my wife is driving a
2003 two door GTI.  She loves it.  It is easier to reach back at a light and
help them if needed, and it is plenty of room for them.  The two door car
with flip forward seats is actually much easier for installing car seats
when needed.  We can fit 5 in the car if needed, but with as wide as booster
seats are it is a chore.  For reference I am 6 ft and my wife is 5-9.  Both
our kids are tall for their age.

By all means drive the car you want to have, but resist the knee jerk
reaction most people have to get a bigger car when they consider having
kids.

To throw my 2 cents in.  I had a 98 C4 Avant for about 10 months and
absolutely loved it, but it was butt slow and just too big.  I know you are
looking newer than this so may not be helpful.

-Eric

On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 1:53 PM, Michael McLaughlin <mcloffs at mac.com> wrote:

> If space is a consideration at all, especially in the back seat, I'd
> skip the A4. We have a B5 A4 and a B5.5 Passat in our household and
> the difference in rear-seat room is considerable, so much so that
> we're going to sell the A4 in anticipation of having children.
>
> -Mike
> Spokane, Wash.
>
>