Labrador in the boot of a Mini Cooper?

Labrador in the boot of a Mini Cooper?

Author
Discussion

sagarich

Original Poster:

1,213 posts

149 months

Saturday 21st January 2012
quotequote all
The girlfriend is considering a MY03 Mini Cooper as her next car. The only issue she's worried about is the boot space (or lack of). We need to ferry about her parents full grown chocolate lab on weekends, but will it fit in the boot?

Has anyone else had a similar sized hound in the the boot?

Changedmyname

12,545 posts

181 months

Saturday 21st January 2012
quotequote all
We have a 4yr old lab, she sits quite comfy in the back of a golf.

sagarich

Original Poster:

1,213 posts

149 months

Saturday 21st January 2012
quotequote all
Suggested a golf, but she's pretty keen on a mini.

S1_RS

782 posts

199 months

Saturday 21st January 2012
quotequote all
Changedmyname said:
We have a 4yr old lab, she sits quite comfy in the back of a golf.
Have you seen the size of boot on the MINI though? It put me off buying one. Not sure I'd put a full size lab in it.

scotty_d

6,795 posts

194 months

Saturday 21st January 2012
quotequote all
No way would a dog of any size fit in the boot of a mini unless your very cruel. my parents have a similar sized dog and i just sit him in the passenger foot well with the seat right back if i need to take him any where.

Edit to add i am talking about a hatch back like the one in my profile Ie with next to no boot space.

Edited by scotty_d on Monday 23 January 17:29

sagarich

Original Poster:

1,213 posts

149 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the feedback, I think riding in the footwell will have to do.

Also, does anyone have any experience with ditching the RF's? Do you need to inform your insurer that you have done so?

Miglia 888

1,002 posts

147 months

Sunday 22nd January 2012
quotequote all
Or fold the rear seats down on the hatch, or use the footwell.

Don't overlook the 07 onwards Clubman versions, which have much more dog/luggage space and a longer wheelbase too for more legroom if you still need to keep the rear seats in action for people at the same time as the Labrador is onboard.

Ditch the runflats asap for a much better ride and not sure why it would affect insurance or be any of their business what brand or type of tyre you choose as long as it's the right size and speed and load rating as the non-runflats that come out of the factory as standard today.

crizhill

6 posts

237 months

Monday 23rd January 2012
quotequote all
Hi

I have a Labrador and a Clubman - fine for her on shorter journeys and can fold 50% of the back seats down for longer ones.

Not sure about the hatchback though.

Cheers

hughjayteens

2,029 posts

268 months

Monday 23rd January 2012
quotequote all
We have a little Westie and he's been in the boot of our hatch a few times, but I did feel mean! No way would a Labrador fit in comfortably.

MarsellusWallace

1,180 posts

201 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
I sold a Clubman to a lab owner last year.

He had it 3 months and traded it back in for a Freelander 2.It was too small.

D1bram

1,500 posts

171 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
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Our German Shepherd fits in the wifes clubman no problem, we do remove the false floor though so has has more head room.

Mako V12V

3,135 posts

214 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
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Cant say i've ever had a dog in the back of a mini......my Golf on the other hand!!!! hehe

900T-R

20,404 posts

257 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
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I've got a Mini but I would only suggest putting a dog of any reasonable size in the boot if you don't mind being charged with 'cruelty to animals'...

madbadger

11,563 posts

244 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
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We put a chocolate lab in the boot of a Mini - but only ever with the rear seats folded down. There is not room otherwise.

If you never need the rear seats it is fine.

tristan73

2 posts

116 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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I have an R53 Hatchback and three dogs.

No dog can fit in the boot normally as the seats angle back.

With the seats down 2 large dogs, 3 medium, 4 jack russels! smile

Long term if you have dogs I would suggest:

a) Removing the rear seats and cover the boot area and rear seats to make a large area for the dogs, fit a dog guard between the front seats and the back (floor to roof). Warning dogs set off alarm.

b) Angle rear seats upright (half folded down) in a 90% angle (straight up) and fit a dog guard straight up from boot to roof (you will need sucker cups that angle/bend). this removes the rear angle from the seats and creates a bigger boot. You will need to tie/velcro all of it in place but it does mean you have a boot and some rear storage, more importantly the dogs wont set of the alarm, cannot see out all the time so will reduce barkign and the mud is all in the boot.