Beginner's small car

[RacingJames1]

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?

[RacingJames1]

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.

[RacingJames1]

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.

[RacingJames1]

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.

[RacingJames1]

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.