A8 Isofix / Towbar 3.0 4.2 TDI

[dta8maybe]

Hello!

New member, new thread! I'd be really grateful if someone could help me with some questions.

I'm in the market for a nearly new diesel a8. I have 2 kids currently (4 and 6 months) with another on the way and I’d like to know if anyone has experience with putting 3 children along the back seat all in car seats? Do they fit? Are there enough Isofix mountings? Is there enough room in the boot to take 3 kids clobber to the beach?!

I know it’s not really a family car but I want to use it as one as its exclusive, fast, looks great, Quattro and I’m allergic to SUV’s!

I’d also like to know if anyone happens to know if there is a removable towbar available for an a8? This is because I may want to tow a jetski behind it.

Last question – 4.2 or 3.0? I’d love to get the 4.2 but have only driven a 3.0. Is the extra outlay / diesel / CRIPPLING ROAD TAX(!) in the UK worth it?

Thanks for your help – I hope to join you all soon as a fully paid up A8 owner!

[nickc1972]

Hi,

I am in a similar position to you. We have 3 kids (1, 6 and 8). We have no problem fitting one fixed seat and two boosters on the back. However, you may find two fixed and one booster a bit tight, that's not to say that it is not possible though. I would take the seats to the dealership to make sure. There are no isofix.

The boot is huge and swallows up all our associated paraph****ia, which as you can imagine is quite a lot! We recently went away for a week with no trouble.

In regards to the 3.0 or 4.2 quandry, I test drove both and went for the 3.0 (I own a 2006 3.0 tdi sport) because it is simply enough. The 4.2 is undoubtedly the more impressive, the sound and power are awesome, but I found the 3.0 does everthing perfectly well and is surprisingly quick too. Another obvious reason for the 3.0 is ECONOMY. You can easily achieve 35 - 40 mpg, if you really took it easy probably mid low to mid 40's. Did you see Clarkson attempting to go from London to Edinburgh and back on one tank of fuelin the 4.0 tdi? He averaged 35mpg and drove at 50 mph without using any electrical equipment. The 3.0 would do that at a steady 80mph with a.c and everything else on! Also, the 3.0 is probably about 15% cheaper to buy in the first place. I believe the residuals are stronger on the 4.2 though.

Overall you would not be disappointed with either. It is a wonderful place to be on those long drives and, in my opinion, oozes good taste.

Hope this helps, Nick.

[dta8maybe]

Many thanks Nick - your comments are very helpful. One quick question though - what's a fixed seat? Is that a forward facing child seat from this website?

Child Car Seats : Types of Child Seats

If so I'd say we're OK and good to go - time to test the 3.0 again and the 4.2 to see if I can be sufficiently tempted!

P.S. - couldn't agree more with the good taste comment! Spot on - so much more classy and unpredicatable than those X5, Cayenne, ML driving sheep!

[nickc1972]

No problem at all, I'm glad I could help someone else with a great taste in cars!

Yes, the seat I referred to as 'fixed' are the forward facing type.

A word of warning - if you drive the 4.2 you will WANT ONE! Your head will say 3.0, and your heart will say 4.2.

Good luck with it all.