Beginner's small car
Discussion
I am moving out to Cape Town in a couple of weeks. Whenever I've been there before I've always hired a Polo or Fiesta size car. A small hatch back is ideal for me, just enough room to cram my mountain bike in the back, but also fits in any parking space.
This year I'm thinking I may try some offroading. So is there a car that is Polo size, but fairly good to learn offroading in?
Jimny, boot too small.
Terios?
Grand Vitara? A little bigger, so I am not keen, same goes for a Freelander, ut I do want a car that is competent as I probably won't be.
Any ideas?
This year I'm thinking I may try some offroading. So is there a car that is Polo size, but fairly good to learn offroading in?
Jimny, boot too small.
Terios?
Grand Vitara? A little bigger, so I am not keen, same goes for a Freelander, ut I do want a car that is competent as I probably won't be.
Any ideas?
Just looking at the way the seats don't fold flat in a Terios, bike probably won't fit.
I just though of the SWB shogun. I think all SWB the boot will be too small. I can just about fit my bike in a Fiesta, I turn the front wheel to drop down between the rear seats and the back of the front seats, and it JUST fits.
Off to autotrader.co.za to look at your ideas. Thanks.
I just though of the SWB shogun. I think all SWB the boot will be too small. I can just about fit my bike in a Fiesta, I turn the front wheel to drop down between the rear seats and the back of the front seats, and it JUST fits.
Off to autotrader.co.za to look at your ideas. Thanks.
get yourself on this site & see whats available http://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/index.php 2nd hand cars over there seem v expensive compared to the UK, especially Jeeps
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm still very unsure. I will have to give a few a test. Despite seeing no good reviews, I am leaning towards a 2007 Cherokee, just because it's semi modern and cheap. Although, a SWB Defender might be the more sensible choice as they hold their value well.
Do you dismantle your bike to get it in the fiesta?
I can't get mine in the back of a defender 90 without taking it to bits
Much better off with a 110 as detailed in this thread...
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic7306.html?view...
I can't get mine in the back of a defender 90 without taking it to bits
Much better off with a 110 as detailed in this thread...
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic7306.html?view...
Edited by skyrover on Saturday 19th July 09:50
No, that was the thing that was so ideal, it just squeezed in with no adjustment with a little encouragement from the boot door. No adjustment is really appealing as it just means, chuck it in and go. I'm only a 5'7 so my bike is a fair bit more compact than your's looks. I'd imagine mine would go in a 90.
Thanks for measuring the bay, not sure on the bike dimensions it's already in CT. I think it'll be a weekend in a hired fiesta going round testing out if my bike will fit in the back of all these cars. A Defender is probably the smart choice, always thought I'd try one someday.
Unimog! I was talking about a Jimny a few posts back, this could get out of hand.
Unimog! I was talking about a Jimny a few posts back, this could get out of hand.
RacingJames1 said:
Thanks for measuring the bay, not sure on the bike dimensions it's already in CT. I think it'll be a weekend in a hired fiesta going round testing out if my bike will fit in the back of all these cars. A Defender is probably the smart choice, always thought I'd try one someday.
Unimog! I was talking about a Jimny a few posts back, this could get out of hand.
It was only a tongue in cheek comment. A unimog 401 is teeny!Unimog! I was talking about a Jimny a few posts back, this could get out of hand.
I had a jimmy for about 5 years. If I couldn't stick it on the roof, the rear or tow it I didn't need it. I moved house twice with it, once with a box trailer and once before with a little camping trailer. I not talking a 1 bed flat either I mean a 3 bed house for a family of 4. I had a full box trailer, dining table on the roof and the chairs inside!
All I had was a normal fixed tow bar, roof bars and a spare wheel bike carrier.
Here's my steed hanging on the back
It will carry 2 bikes and the arms fold in when not in use. I've never seen one new, I got this off my brother that used it on his samurai. While it can carry 2 bikes it's a fair weight behind the rear axle on a short light car, the steering can be light and lock a wheel braking in the wet but otherwise it's a great solution. You can get others than use the spare wheel mount itself. I used to run a strap round the roof rails to ease the load and I'd not recommend opening the rear door with the bikes on the back.
I used mine to shift everything, I've had 2 Hay bales in the back, 1/2 ton of wood (plus about the same in the trailer) the family , used it off road almost weekly.
All I had was a normal fixed tow bar, roof bars and a spare wheel bike carrier.
Here's my steed hanging on the back
It will carry 2 bikes and the arms fold in when not in use. I've never seen one new, I got this off my brother that used it on his samurai. While it can carry 2 bikes it's a fair weight behind the rear axle on a short light car, the steering can be light and lock a wheel braking in the wet but otherwise it's a great solution. You can get others than use the spare wheel mount itself. I used to run a strap round the roof rails to ease the load and I'd not recommend opening the rear door with the bikes on the back.
I used mine to shift everything, I've had 2 Hay bales in the back, 1/2 ton of wood (plus about the same in the trailer) the family , used it off road almost weekly.
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