Rear-facing group 1 seat in Audi A3 - experiences please

[sausagedoesnotroll]

We have an Audi A3 and are considering buying a BeSafe IZI combi rear-facing child seat for DS who is coming up to 11 months and about 1 good growth spurt short of growing out of his Maxicosi infant seat.

The seat is approved for our car, but getting it in means putting the passenger seat forward almost as far as it will go. As I am only 5 foot 3 and my husband is the main driver this needn't be a problem, but he is concerned about how much being so close to the airbag/dashboard etc. might compromise my safety in the event of a crash.

Does anyone have this seat in and A3? How have you found it? Or has anyone got a different RF seat which works well in this car? Alternatively any suggestions about how we can research the possible effect for the passenger of having the seat so far forward?

Thanks

[iliketobounce]

I can recomend the car safety car in milton keynes (depending on where you live). We had similar issues in that most seats didn't leave enough legroom in the passenger seat but they tried all the seats to make sure we got the one which fitted the best and gave the most legroom. We were there over an hour!

[Tangle]

We have an A3 Sportback and a BeSafe IziKid non-isofix (wasn't available when we bought it). The passenger seat does have to be reasonably far forward, but it doesn't feel dangerously so. I'm 5'8 and sit there quite happily for long journeys. My sister is about 5'11 with long legs and can fit in without looking cramped.

We tried the Britax 2-way elite and the Brio Zento, but because of the rake of the rear seats they both resulted in a very upright position for DD, even with the seats reclined and we weren't happy with that for a 15 month old (not entirely happy at any age, but would be less stressed now she's 3...)

The ladies at the Essex Council In-Car Safety Unit are also extremely good and can give you lots of advice over the phone, even if you can't get there.

[EldonAve]

We fitted a Britax Hiway with no issues

[Lucky13]

We have a beSafe IZI combi isofix in our A3 (3 door) and it fits fine behind the drivers seat - as long as the support leg is not angled too much. I'm only small, but my DH is 6ft and has no problems with it. In all cases it is touching the drivers seat, as we adjust the leg accordingly.

It fits in the A3 better than our Volvo actually - but then you have the trouble of the 3 door car with the Audi - but that isn't the seat's fault!

Its a great seat, really well built and easy to fit (isofix version) and i would highly recommend it. Be warned though that it is v v heavy and not easy to move from car to car if you are small like me - but we manage!

We also have a Brio Zento and that takes up more room than the beSafe!

Our seats were fitted by the Essex Road Safety ladies - who were fab.