Family + dog car

[Crumpet]

CAPP0 said:

Genuine question, if your wife isn't able to cope with driving an estate, how is she going to manage an SUV or MPV?

My wife is a pretty timid driver and lacks a lot of confidence. She went from driving a Peugeot 307 to a Discovery 3 and now a Discovery 4, because when it came to replacing the D3 she refused to have anything else! Essentially it gives her a great deal of confidence - the driving position, the all round visibility, the height reducing dazzle from oncoming headlights, the view over hedgerows on the country lanes round us and because it's a square box she knows where all four corners are. She loves it! She doesn't do any fancy parking so just parks at the back of car parks where she can pull straight in and out.

Anyway, my recommendation would be a Discovery, if you can stretch to the running costs. Absolutely cavernous, incredibly practical and the D4 is a very relaxing drive.

[ryry3]

I did look at the seat but boot was smaller than the others, its hard to see past the VW passat. The price of the i40 would help get something newer.

I think Im going to go have another look at some of the models. The Smax is the stand out choice but just feel it might be too big.

If I was to compare each catagory at the moment based on what Ive read and budget I'd narrow it down to the below

Estate - VW Passat V i40 V Honda civic

SUV - VW Tiguan V ix35

MPV - Smax

Stick with what I am used too and biggest boot in that size Civic hatchback

[FiF]

Ok if the Seat is too small, then tbh I'd be going for the Superb. Had one, not difficult to park, it even had the park assist, and whilst I didn't tend to use it day to day, on trial just to see how it worked it was amazing, albeit with caveats.

[ryry3]

The issue is with the Skoda name, I know this wont go down well, and I have to say I actually like the skoda octavia estate. However when I was younger the rep skoda had was terrible and that just sticks in your mind, I cant bring myself to buy a skoda, sorry for all you skoda drivers out there.

[Chester draws]

Why not a VW Touran?

7 seats when you need them,
big boot,
shorter in length than even a Golf Estate.
Pretty low boot sill height mean you don't need to lift things up and over.

[ryry3]

Chester draws said:

Why not a VW Touran?

7 seats when you need them,
big boot,
shorter in length than even a Golf Estate.
Pretty low boot sill height mean you don't need to lift things up and over.

This was on my original list but prefer the Smax, I did almost type it the the last list MPV - Smax V Touran, but if I was to choose MPV it would be between those

[KTF]

ryry3 said:

The issue is with the Skoda name, I know this wont go down well, and I have to say I actually like the skoda octavia estate. However when I was younger the rep skoda had was terrible and that just sticks in your mind, I cant bring myself to buy a skoda, sorry for all you skoda drivers out there.

I didnt realise people still thought this about Skoda. Do you say the same for the Korean brands as well?

[cptsideways]

With a dog the most important thing is boot access height, there is not a single SUV on the market new that has a low boot. The old Mitsubishi thing with the folding boot lip did though!

Estate all the way especially as the dog gets older

[fooby]

Civic's tend to be pretty amazing with how you can use their space.

[ryry3]

fooby said:

Civic's tend to be pretty amazing with how you can use their space.

I have owned 2 Civics before an R reg and 54 reg models, and boot space has always been great, only 2nd to my golf Y reg I had.

[ryry3]

KTF said:

I didnt realise people still thought this about Skoda. Do you say the same for the Korean brands as well?

I dont know if people still say this about skoda, its just when I was young. It just sticks with you in your head. I really do like the car thought, stupid I know but I cant shake the stigma.

Hyundai was fairly unknown to me growing up, I have read about it getting bad press years back but I havent heard much of it so isnt in my mind

[FiF]

cptsideways said:

With a dog the most important thing is boot access height, there is not a single SUV on the market new that has a low boot. The old Mitsubishi thing with the folding boot lip did though!

Estate all the way especially as the dog gets older

Thread hijack, do you know if any database where boot access height is listed? Or is it a case of getting brochures and searching through dimension drawings in case they list it.

[Mr Roper]

Thing is with dogs is that they often stink and leave hair everywhere.

My Bulldog stinks after a dip in the lake, sea or mud. Slobbers and sometimes rewards me with stinking of fox piss.

Do I want that in my nice car? Do I ste.

I spent a grand and bought a Skoda Octavia estate...Costs peanuts to run (90bhp) and I really don't care that it has a constant whiff of soggy dog. it also doubles as a tip run car and general daily banger.

i've just returned from a few days at the coast with the kids and mutt and now the car is airing out.

Just something to consider if you take your dog out with you regularly.

[ryry3]

I took these boots sizes from car buyer

Estate -

VW Passat - 650 L

Hyundai i40 - 553 L

Honda civic - 624 L

SUV -

VW Tiguan - 520-615 L (back seats slide)

Hyundai ix35 - 591 L

MPV -

Ford Smax - 700 L (to parcel shelf only)

VW Toura - 743 L

[KTF]

Mr Roper said:

Thing is with dogs is that they often stink and leave hair everywhere.

Often, more like all the time

I agree, you need an older car with a low loading height that you dont care too much about. Even if they dont stink and leave hair all the time, they will damage it getting in and out, throw up when they get car sick, slobber on stuff, chew the headrests, etc.

[a311]

Got the latest generation Octavia VRs hatch and recently had a kid and also have a Lab. The boot is cavernous, we recently went on a 6 hour each way trip up to Scotland to visit family with baby and all the paraphernalia and dog in the boot. Few bungee cords to keep the load secure and the dog had plenty of room.

[ryry3]

KTF said:

Often, more like all the time

I agree, you need an older car with a low loading height that you dont care too much about. Even if they dont stink and leave hair all the time, they will damage it getting in and out, throw up when they get car sick, slobber on stuff, chew the headrests, etc.

I've never had an issue with my dog. We dont take him everywhere, when we do he isnt in the car long A - B, he is dryed before he gets in, I use a boot protecter and hoover the boot regular, the kids make more mess than the dog, thats just the way it is.

[Adenauer]

Mr Roper said:

Thing is with dogs is that they often stink and leave hair everywhere.

My Bulldog stinks after a dip in the lake, sea or mud. Slobbers and sometimes rewards me with stinking of fox piss.

Do I want that in my nice car? Do I ste.

I spent a grand and bought a Skoda Octavia estate...Costs peanuts to run (90bhp) and I really don't care that it has a constant whiff of soggy dog. it also doubles as a tip run car and general daily banger.

i've just returned from a few days at the coast with the kids and mutt and now the car is airing out.

Just something to consider if you take your dog out with you regularly.

You have just stopped me from getting an estate as my next company car. I shall buy a DDC (dedicated dog car), and not drive to work stinking of wet dogs.

I shall buy you one small beer for your efforts when you come over in September.

[V40Vinnie]

ryry3 said:

This is what I am also interested in finding out what's best to drive. I don't drive any regularly but my wife usually drives nothing bigger than an auris/golf sized car.

My thinking was more the length of the estate, rather than the bulkiness of the others, plus I think she will be ok being up higher, my thinking only and would love more advice

My other half jumped from a Ford Focus, to a volvo estate with no problems get her to test drive couple, they are in effect a bigger hatch and it fairly easy to figure out where the corners are

[Mr Roper]

Adenauer said:

Mr Roper said:

Thing is with dogs is that they often stink and leave hair everywhere.

My Bulldog stinks after a dip in the lake, sea or mud. Slobbers and sometimes rewards me with stinking of fox piss.

Do I want that in my nice car? Do I ste.

I spent a grand and bought a Skoda Octavia estate...Costs peanuts to run (90bhp) and I really don't care that it has a constant whiff of soggy dog. it also doubles as a tip run car and general daily banger.

i've just returned from a few days at the coast with the kids and mutt and now the car is airing out.

Just something to consider if you take your dog out with you regularly.

You have just stopped me from getting an estate as my next company car. I shall buy a DDC (dedicated dog car), and not drive to work stinking of wet dogs.

I shall buy you one small beer for your efforts when you come over in September.

September? Try a week on Friday.

Did you book my apartment for September?