Rear-seat access on mk5 3-dr?

[flux]

What's it like? Would I be able to (easily enough) get a baby's car seat in the back? It wouldn't be every day (my wife has a 5-dr so that would be used most of the time) but I just wanted to know how the front-seat tilts back for access - does the back just tilt forward, or does the base move forward as well? Is it easy enough to get a seat in and out of the back? Many thanks!

[ysabelle]

Get a 5-door man. Think of your partners back. Those peskies have a tendancy to grow! Seriously, the missus has a 5-door and with 2 kids it is essential. TBH I dont think that there is much in the looks department either.

[poobarr]

I had a 3 door Mk 5 Gti when my two kids were 3 and 5'ish and too be honest its a pain in the backside. For example the front drivers seat doesnt slid back to the same position so you have to adjust it every time you let people in the back and often smack your knee on the centre console in the process when you forget! Not just that you will have too lean in a long way and bend around to adjust the buckles etc. which is quite painfull. Got a 5 door R32 now, sooooo much better. The 5 door is a no brainer dude.

[yousif]

Hi Poobar,

What car do you like most? GTI or R32?

[Tarmac_Terrorist]

I've got a 4 year old and a 1 year old and purposely bought a 3 door. I also owned a 5 door Golf at the same time as my 3 door model and can confirm that the 3 door is much much easier.

My wife is 5'5 and of very slight build and she too finds it much easier with the 3 door model. The touble with the 4 door types is that you have to lift the kids over the side bolster of the child seat whilst not banging their heads on the top of the car, so with the eldest your trying to lift 2.5 stone at arms length at an angle into the car to avoid banging their head. You then have to dive in on top of them to put the car seat belt buckle into the socket which is the far side of the seat. The 1 year old is straight forward and both the 5 door & 3 door are easy. This is also helped by the 1 yo having the 5 point harness in the seat.

Hope this helps

[fresco1]

There is a good reason why VW make a 5 door - so you can get in the back with ease!

Had a 3 door A3, not too bad for access (with a newborn and 4 year old). But a 5 door is practical, and once kids are mobile you just hold the door open, in they jump, and just check the seatbelt and you're off ... !

Get the 5 door!

[AndrewEdward]

I quite agree, i bought my GTi when my son was 18mths. I initally wanted a 5dr but nabbed a cancelled 3 door 10mths quicker. To be honest, i think a 3dr is quite adequate for babies/toddlers. Ok, i am of slim build, you may or may not be of similar, but i find it most easy to lift up the passenger seat and slot my child into his child seat (Isofix i hasten to add). I had a 5dr prior to this car and it was often a hindrance!!! Also, let's face it, a 3dr GTi is so much better looking than a 5dr!!

[mikemod]

[ QUOTE ]

For example the front drivers seat doesnt slid back to the same position so you have to adjust it every time you let people in the back and often smack your knee on the centre console in the process when you forget!

[/ QUOTE ]

You need to keep the seat back in the forward position while sliding the seat back to maintain the original position.

Not as nice a system as the Recaros in the MKIV