We want to purchase an Allroad. However, if we install the child saftey seat in the center of the rear seat, then it is very difficult for other to use the other seat belts as the buckles rest under the base of the infant seat. Any one else have the same problem? What are potential remedies?

Note: Sales people at two dealerships ignored the issue, essentially inviting us to leave without offering potential remedies. Is this behavior indicative of the level of service provided post purchase?

2000 Lexus RX300
Toyota Corolla

YOu can sometimes find seltbelt extenders, I would send a email to Audi of America.

> Is this behavior indicative of the
> level of service provided post purchase?

You bet it is! I found Audi service to be worse than MB, BMW and even Honda. AoA is just as bad (personal experience). Audi, never again.

My experience since buying an A4 in March of '98 has been absolutely excellent - by far the best I've had from any dealer over the years. A recent example: when I went in for an oil change last week the service advisor noticed a problem with my folding key. The little plastic piece that holds other keys in place had snapped off, and when he saw that he volunteered that Audi had redesigned this piece, and then offered to replace the whole gizmo under warranty, which in my case is going to expire in a couple months (back then it was 3 years, now it's 4). Not a huge deal, but it's typical of the first-class service that this dealer (Carousel Audi in Minneapolis) has given me. My only complaint is that it does typically take too long to schedule a service appointment.

On the child seat issue I would ask to speak to the dealer's sales manager, and calmly explain your concern and your disappointment that your assigned sales rep didn't seem interested in helping you out, and ask him if this would be typical of the level of service you could expect if you decided to purchase a new Audi at his dealership. If this fails to generate a higher level of concern in trying to help you out, I would take this as a "yes" and then try the same tactic at the other dealer.

One other thought: would all models of child seats cause this problem for other passengers? I'm wondering if a switch to another brand/model might do the trick.

I had an A4 Avant, a 2.7T A6 sedan and now the allroad. In either of the A6 body styles I was able to fit 3 car seats across the back. That was one of the main reasons I sold my A4 Avant as I couldn't fit all 3 car seats in the back.

In the A6 body style it is snug but I found I could do it. For reference at the time when I bought my A6 sedan, my kids were 4,2 & 1. The older kids were in a "booster style" car seat and my youngest was in more of an infant style seat based on size of the child.

Definitely try different brands of car seat as well. The bases have a huge variation in them. Also, are your outboard seats going to be filled all the time? I also found that sometimes it worked better to stick the seat with a base out board and the other two in the middle and other side.

As for dealer service, the Audi dealer here in St. Paul, MN (Maplewood Imports) has given me outstanding service. The same owner also owns Carousel in Minneapolis. I also found that sales and service was more personalized at Maplewood. You can quickly get in for service at Maplewood vs. Carousel. I have had nothing but excellent service from Maplewood both before and after the sale. My salesperson, Carlos Mathena, was great to deal with too. I have bought 3 new Audis from Maplewood this year so they must be doing something right. When I buy my next Porsche it will be from them as well.

Besides asking the sales rep about the seats, check with the parts people and the service manager to see if they have any solutions as well. Just a thought. If you can figure it out I am sure you will love the allroad. I have had mine a little over a week and already have a 1000 miles on it. Its addictive to drive. No more SUV for me once I get a trailer hitch for this thing!

C'mon guys?! Do you really think that it's Audi telling it's dealers to be rude? Gime a break! Find a dealership that makes you happy. I purchased my first Audi from Audi Volkwagen of Stevens Creek, San Jose, California. I felt thier service department left a little to be desired. I then took my car into Rector Audi of Burlingame (closer to San Francisco).

These guys make me feel like I'm a king when I'm there, and that keeps me coming back. They listen to me and give me answers to my questions, nevermind that they do an excellent job on my cars every time.

This is a market economy - you have the power to take your business elsewhere, so do it. Also send your Audi regional manager a letter telling them about the shoddy service you received.

When we purchased our allroad we also purchased a Fisher Price car seat that utilizes the ISOFIX or latch system that enables you to install a car seat more securely, without having to use the seat belts. However, the ISOFIX attachment points under the back seats require the carseat to be installed on the outboard positions. The car comes equipped with the ISOFIX sytem mounting points "only", we needed to order the attachment cleats from the dealer to complete the installation. The car is equiped with 3 tether mounting cleats on the back side of the rear seat for use with the ISOFIX and standard belt mount seats. With the ISOFIX system, the carseat is then installed more or less permanently without all the shifting and loosening that happens with a regular carseat. Also, on a recent outing using the rear outboard seatbelt to secure the carseat (still waiting for the parts to show up), 2 adults fit in the back seat with the car seat without a problem. We ordered our allroad specifically "without" the rear seat airbags knowing that the ISOFIX system was designed for the outboard positions only. There are several warnings in the owners manual about the rear seat airbags, carseats and kids.

I saw the flyer about them at New Dimensions last week. 408-980-1691

Dealers, for the most part, sell cars. Manufacturers are the ones that design them and should take credit or blame if they cannot handle infant/toddler seats. However, some of that blame should also go to the manufacturers of the child seat.

I got one for my S4 that it is fairly narrow (it fits on 911's back seats) which may work on the center. It is a Britax car seat; I mostly use it on the sides since the shoulder belt adds stability to it. I do not know if the allroad has anchor points as the new cars do for the car seats-these may solve the stability issue oon the center. The recaro may be the best car seat on the market but may stil have the same problem (?) due to it width.

good luck!

for the center rear seat position. It seems to have a nice, narrow base and is rated for children from 20 to 80 pounds. This is one of the only booster type seats on the market that goes down to 20 pounds. The bottom seems to be moulded with nice smooth, flat curves rather than edges that are not nice to leather.

I too was having problems with my old car seat covering up the female buckle for the center and left side seating positions. In fact, I even drove 45 minutes last night with my daughter unbuckled due to a rear seat passenger fumbling in the dark to get his seat belt fastened. Since his buckle was pinned under the child seat he accidentally unbuckled hers to get his buckled!!!

Hopefully the new seat will work better in the narrow center seat.

You can get a carseat installed much better if you use this feature. If you pull out the entire lenght of the seatbelt, it will retract with a ratcheting action (will go in but not come back out).

This works in all rear seat positions.

Your suggestions and/or comments are well-received. We are evaluating other car seats and toying with the outboard positions. The ISOFIX system appears to be the best alternative, however, does not work with rear-facing infant seats.

Note on Audi service: After less than satisfactory service at two Baltimore, MD area dealerships (Len Stoler and Valley Motors), I found YBH in West Chester, PA where first impressions and comments/suggestions from the Audi faithful, have me excited about our pending purchase. ('01 Allroad, Silver, Tip, Prem., Convenience, Bose, glass roof)

the "H" in YBH is "hanna".

I spent a lot of time trying to find out if this would be available only to be told no by Audi. Once I got my car of course it's in the ^%&%$&^ owners manual. Heading out to get a new seat in the next few weeks so I'd like to know what needs to be ordered. Probably the mystery bits from the Eurpopean options lists I guess !

I spoke with someone at Audi corporate who investigated this for me... she says that there will be a parts kit for the isofix lower attach points, but the kit doesn't exist yet, they don't have a part number for it yet, and they don't know when it will be available. She says she'll call me when they can tell me what to order. I'll post the info online when I get it.