RS 3 Practicality For a Family

[pc83]

Hi All,

New member here, but have been lurking for the better part of a month once I started digging into the RS 3 in more detail.

Currently have a 328i which replaced my 135i () when we had our 1st kid, and now that we have our 2nd I'm starting to realize that having a manual car that only I can drive doesn't make sense for us. Wife is getting an SUV soon, so the bulk of the child hauling duties will fall on that car, which puts the focus on moving away from a manual so that we can alternate cars if needed.

My timeline is likely later this year (and maybe even next year), when my oldest is forward facing in his convertible seat and with the youngest transitioned from his infant seat into a rear facing convertible seat.

After seeing an RS 3 at a local Audi dealership this weekend it looks like the car could handle a couple of car seats and has decent trunk space to fit a stroller (if nothing else). I adjusted the seats to my position (5'10") and was able to fit behind myself without issue. The seat behind my wife (5'3") would have even more room to likely accommodate the rear facing convertible seat, but it could be a tighter fit.

Does anyone here have any experience with the practicality side of the RS 3?

Thanks,

Phil

[captainhaggs]

I hoon around with my wife and 6 month old all the time. We drive it rather than then the x3 unless were going on a roadtrip or want to take the dogs (or the 911). Fits rear facing car seat and trunk has plenty of room and it gets better traction in the snow than our SUV. Depends how big your family is.

[DQBRS3]

For reference, you have to take the back wheels off a full size stroller like the uppababy vista to get it in the trunk, and small carseats like the Clek Fllo will fit rear facing with just enough room for front seat passanger. It's snug but fashion is pain. I have few regrets and love that there will likely be a new M3 available when i go trade in a few years. Not the most practical but as far as a small sports car I don't think you can do any better right now

RS3 is same size as S3 / A3 so I'd say take a solo trip to the dealership with your car seat and stroller to see how they fit

[finnicky7]

I loved the S3 but gave it the golf club test. I take my clubs to a test ride, and if can fit my bag in without folding seats, pulling drivers out, and not cursing at my car. It passes, S3 did not pass. I do use a tour bag, but it was hopeless. Now the S4 I could put 2 bags in. Also, the back seat would be really snug with a rear facing car seat in s3. Awesome cars just a bit small for family life.

[uclaman]

I have a 3yr old and 1yr old.

Its a tight squeeze to get both of them in. My 3year old has a front facing carseat and kicks the passenger seat leaving footprints all over. The rear facing one year old prevents me from putting driver seat back very far(i am 5'10" as well).

I have yet to try putting rearfacing seat in the middle. That may help.

So its doable but tight.

[uclaman]

I get the car back from tints, clearfilm and ceramic on sat so i may try a different configuration. Ill snap some pics.

[pc83]

thanks for the responses. Seems like if there's a will there's a way. Now I just need to work on convincing the wife :)

captainhaggs do you have the car seat in the middle seat? I had a good lesson about RWD and summer tires in the winter on 495 out by your neck of the woods, needless to say I've invested in competent winter tires for my RWD car. I'd do the same if I got an RS 3.

DQBRS3 I too have the Uppababy Vista and Mesa infant seat. I'll check out the Clek Fllo seat too once my infant is in a convertible seat. Right now our oldest is in a Britax Boulevard, and this will transition into forward facing likely in the summer. Good tip on the Vista rear seats, I completely forgot that they easily come off.

finnicky7 thanks for the tip on the golf clubs, I play but likely won't be doing so for a while.

uclaman any reason why you don't put the younger child behind the passenger so that you can have more leg room? With regards to the footprints; my wife got a seatback pocket roll up cloth device, I wonder if something like that would help to eliminate those footprints while also giving a few pockets for snacks and toys.

thanks,

Phil

[uclaman]

uclaman any reason why you don't put the younger child behind the passenger so that you can have more leg room? With regards to the footprints; my wife got a seatback pocket roll up cloth device, I wonder if something like that would help to eliminate those footprints while also giving a few pockets for snacks and toys.

thanks,

Phil

Yes, the only reason i havent really experimented with different configurations is because I literally just took delivery last weekend. Its not my daily driver. And its in the shop for tints, clearfilm and ceramics.

I only put the kids in one time for 10min over the weekend so my wife could drive it around the neighborhood.

Regardless of configuration it is definitely a tighter fit but doable. Prob dont want to do it daily though.

Will take pics this weekend when i get the car back.

[andru1313]

For me the size of the RS3 was my biggest adjustment. I came from an RS4 then a 2015 STi then the RS3. I was shocked how small it felt. I do miss having a bit more room. For example, I am an avid snowboarder and also have a 13 year old daughter. So with 3 people in teh car its hard to get all our gear in and be comfortable. I am tall 6'2 so sitting behind me in teh back seat is limiting. That being said it was that way in most of my cars but definatly less room than the other cars. I am more used to the size now and it has grown on me. I would say it is an adjustment if you are used to something bigger but its managable once you stop being a size queen :-) . slap it in sport/dynamic and problem solved ....;

[captainhaggs]

Yes, i keep the car seat in the middle and it works just fine. That way you dont have to adjust front seats as much. I have a mico ap car seat and i keep my uppababy vista in the trunk with the car seat adapters on. It fits for sure, and ive never taken the wheels off, you just have to fit it in right. Worth investing in some snow tires if your in the NE i love my sottos

[kashakrs3]

Yes, kicking the front seats is the only issue. I have two kids, 4 and 2, that I drop off/pick up and my daily commute is 120KM total. Older one is smart enough not to kick the back seat, so she sits behind me. Younger one is front facing, behind passenger seat with that seat all the way forward. On the weekends we also use RS3 most of the time. It's big enough for groceries but don't expect to fit any ikea stuff in there :)
My previous car was a stage 3 GTI, 2 doors, billy boat exhaust...once wife went back to work and I took over the kids duty, it was pretty easy to convince my better half. Good luck!

[NoogMan]

I came from a B7 RS4, to a TT-RS, and now the RS3. The RS3 is almost exactly the same size as the B7 RS4, which was the greatest car I've ever had (totaled it in a triple rollover with my 5 year old son in the car----Not our fault). I tried an E92 M3 after that, but hated it, so I ordered a TT-RS while the kids were still smaller.......was fine for a few years, but when your kids are fighting over who gets "shotgun", it becomes a bitch, and you can't get a 4 person family in it AT ALL.......

So, here I am with an RS3, and I'm in love. My family is happy again.....we drive it more out to places than our Honda Minivan. My 13 year old is almost 5' 11", and he never complains about the back seat. It would be a little cramped for my 6'3" frame in the back, but it would be fine for a short drive around town. Car feels great.....and my 10 year old daughter LOVES for daddy to throw in a "launch control" run as a reward for an A on a test at school.......she loves dads car again!

[shivaswrath]

Fits two car seats. Enough said....IMG_6112.JPG

[S3DUDE]

I am also 5'10" and my wife is about 5'2" and we fit just fine on the S3. I have a car seat in the back and it fits just fine and I also did what you did, adjust the driver seat upright and then got to the back seat and sat and I fit just fine. As long as you don't drive like any of these hip-hop "artist" with the seat reclined all the back you should be able to seat in the back just fine.

[pc83]

Not too worried about the Ikea stuff since we'll have an SUV to tackle that :). Also, from what I saw in person and the feedback above if you're an average sized adult or child you shouldn't have too much issue getting in the back seats. Anything larger than average and it's possible but not pleasant long term. I may have to take my convertible car seat in for a test to really understand the rear seat room with that installed, but it's bulky and a pain to do (Britax Boulevard ClickTight). May need to invest in a pair of Clek of Diono car seats and give my Britax to the wife for our 2nd in the SUV.

@Noogman, lol at the launch control reward comment. That reminds me of the kid laughing on the way to school Porsche video, and something I've shown to my wife as a selling feature of the RS3 for our two boys lol.

[keninblaine]

Overall, the car is pretty snug in all seats and in the trunk. But I bought it because I wanted a smaller car than my previous Macan. I do find it a little limiting at times, such as having 4 adults in the car to go out somewhere (we often use the Mazda CX5 for that now). The height of the trunk is pretty small, especially compared to my old 85 Jetta GLI which could swallow a lot of stuff in its trunk. I find the RS3 ideal for my normal day to day needs, which is typically just me in the car and sometimes a passenger. It is great for a 2 person trip too. If I had really needed the space, I would have kept the Macan.

[will13k7]

once you make it past the rear-facing phase, plenty of space.

[brad65ford]

Its roomer for what it is, but having my seat positioned that comfortable to me people are freaking crammed in the back. That said IMO its tight for a family of 4.

[finnicky7]

once you make it past the rear-facing phase, plenty of space.

Hell isn’t that like till they 2yrs old now!

[S3DUDE]

I seen it worse. look at the CLA from mercedes which compites with the A3, it is much smaller in the back. To day I sat on the rear seat on my S3 while my wife was driving. I am 5'10" and I had enough room however I had to bow down to get in. For all purposes I am totally fine, we are 4 in the family, the next person is like 5'4 then a 5'2" and a 4'2 so we all fit just fine, I guess it depends of what you need the car for.

[shivaswrath]

Hell isn’t that like till they 2yrs old now!

It's like 3!

[pc83]

Yeah, in NJ 2 years old is the earliest by law and I've seen articles recommend well beyond that for transitioning to forward facing... Whatever is safer. It seem like for the RS3 to work I'll need at least one of my boys to be forward facing, which is one of the factors dictating the (potential) timeline for me.

[Bezlar]

4 of us kids are 13-10 my girls never complain about being in back. My girls play comp softball and their bat bags fit in back no issues. My routine is weekend of dust then complete interior clean up on Monday.


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[OE2]

We are a family of 3 + 50lbs dog. Baby is 3month old.

This will be my car and we have the wife's mb suv when we need to fit the dog as well. All other instances the 3 of us can easily fit in an A/S/RS 3.

[macrs3]

Weighing in as well...

Two kids are tight, one rear facing, one forward. I dread every time I have to put them in the RS3 compared to our full-size SUV. Obviously there's a trade off between vehicles, but I think when both are forward facing there won't be any issue -- aside from winter boots on the back of the seats.

That being said, the trunk is tiny -- but I didn't buy the vehicle for storage. Coming from a Golf R it feels even more so compact, but I still wouldn't trade it.

[macrs3]

Another follow up, I have the rear-facing seat behind the passenger side so that I could have more space.

With that, the car is essentially unusable for anyone but my wife in the passenger seat. I don't transport the kids too often in the RS3, but if I need to pick up someone more adult-sized, I'll typically remove the rear facing seat -- otherwise they'll be knees to the dash on the passenger side.

[pc83]

macrs3 just out of curiosity, what car seats do you use?

[macrs3]

macrs3 just out of curiosity, what car seats do you use?

Two Clek Filo's, one rear, one forward.

[BaltimoreCaesar]

For whatever it's worth, I'm 6'2", and have 3 and 5 yr old boys. The youngest sits behind me in a 5-point full-back front facing car seat, and because his legs aren't long enough for his knees to be able to bend (legs stick straight out), I have to move my seat up about 1.5-2" when he is sitting behind me. If I had my older kid behind me in the standard booster seat, I could probably have my seat in a normal position because his legs bend at the knee in the car seat and go straight down. My advice to anyone buying a RS3 (or any car for that matter) who has a family is to go to the dealership, and put your car seats in the car you want before you buy it to test it out. If the dealership doesn't have a RS3, find one with a S3 with the sports seats because the rear car seat fitment will be identical.

[John P.]

I’m 6’3” and it’s a tight fit with people in the back. I have a 6’2” 14 year-old, an 11 year-old, and a 1 year-old. Oh, and a wife, too.

And an X5 when we all need to go somewhere together.

[Quattro617]

4 of us kids are 13-10 my girls never complain about being in back. My girls play comp softball and their bat bags fit in back no issues. My routine is weekend of dust then complete interior clean up on Monday.


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what products do you use to clean your interior?

[noswalz]

once you make it past the rear-facing phase, plenty of space.

What is that seat protector you use? I'm assuming it's to protect from your son kicking the front seat? haha

[Bezlar]

what products do you use to clean your interior?

Usually just wipe down with damp cloth.


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[saxon]

i dont have an rs3 but i had an s3

certainly not the best car if you plan on taking trips with the family, but will work for day to day activities.

golf bags dont fit the best either

[Hugonzalez01]

Works Fine For Boosters seats I Ride My 2 Girls around no issues with available room. Bit tight for high chairs though. Rear Facing baby chair also passed the fit test in rear center position. But no drive time yet to comfirm front seat space on longer drives.


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[sleeperwagon]

ADDING 1 thing I did not see a cargo carrier mentioned (we have a Q7 also btw). I have a thin cargo carrier on mine when I take 1 or 2 of my "teenagers" to sports tourney's. All of us, except my wife, would rather road trip 4-8 hrs in the Rs3 then the boring Q7. Lacrosse/baseball gear, daughters packing too much shit, coolers heck even going skiing if its 2-3 of us vs. the family of 5 we take the RS3. You can't beat the fun factor, it outweighs any shoemarks, cheerios everywhere, mud, footprints on the front inside windshield before I yell at them to get their feet off the dash...., etc. Launches, rides through tunnels, treating turnpike booths like F1 pitstops, all put the biggest grin on your kids faces. Rs3 with family = priceless.

[Baylorguy]

I'll chime in... I don't have an RS3 though I have one on order and I had a 2016 S3.

With two kids, it is more than fine. Now, I wouldn't take a road trip with the whole family in it, and that is because there are better options. The workhorse is my wife's Chrysler Pacifica (yes... there is a mini van in the family :) ) and my car is only for commuting in the city. I don't take it on road trips, yet I do take the boys to and from school.

[KelTan]

I've done a road trip for an extended long weekend to Santa Barbara. Granted, it was the summer, so the packing was lighter, but it worked just fine. My brother used to take his family of five on long trips in his Prius, so it's definitely about how you pack. Our winter trips almost always involve taking the SUV, though.

[RSgoals]

IMG_6535.JPG

I have no issues besides training them to not kick the seat.. This is how I drive and there is room to move up if I need. I have a 2 and 4 year old.

[shivaswrath]

I have a Clek Fllo and a Nuna....4.5 yo sits in Fllo.
With newborn reverse facing will suck for my wife in passenger seat


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