Do you have a small car and dog?

[A900ss]

Hi,

I'm thinking of downsizing the wife's car and want to speak to others to realistically find out what my lower limit is.

We have a medium sized Labrador which would need to go in the back for short trips (up to 20 minutes). Whenever we go further, we take my bmw touring.

Before you ask, I can't fold down the rear seats as my 2 small kids are often there.

So (and I know I'm being cheap) cars being considered are:

Toyota Aygo - already discounted as too small
Seat Mi - boot is bigger than Aygo but still think too small
Skoda Fabia
Honda Jazz
Nissan Juke

If you have a dog and one of the above cars (or other recommendations), can you please let me know.

It is fair to say that I'm probably being a bit unkind on the dog as it is the wife's dog, I got an iPad instead. Any savings I can make will be invested in the TVR so this is all in a good cause.

Thanks

[Dr Interceptor]

Not got one... but the Jazz and Juke would probably be good bets as they're taller = more headroom for Rover.

I'd just look at the boot dimensions for all and go with whatever provides the biggest cube.

[Detinker]

I recently saw a fully grown Great Dane at a motorway services squashed into the back of a Pug 106.

I don't think your being particularly cruel...

[A900ss]

Detinker said:

I recently saw a fully grown Great Dane at a motorway services squashed into the back of a Pug 106.

I don't think your being particularly cruel...

Surely the back seats were down though?

[Alucidnation]

We can fit our retriever and similar size mongrel in the back of my daughters K11 Micra.

That is for less than a miles journey though.

[HustleRussell]

It's not just the size of the boot you have to worry about, but the height of the opening. Most small modern hatches have very high boot openings now that even the youngest, fittest Labradors would struggle to jump into. Would expect the Skoda and the Dacia to be better in that respect.

[A900ss]

HustleRussell said:

It's not just the size of the boot you have to worry about, but the height of the opening. Most small modern hatches have very high boot openings now that even the youngest, fittest Labradors would struggle to jump into. Would expect the Skoda and the Dacia to be better in that respect.

That is a good point and I'm not lifting the mutt.

It is a fit young dog though and the reason it needs to go into the car is to take it out to the fields everyday for an hour to two hour run.

[KTF]

What about a Dacia Logan MCV?

Still a small car but with a bit boot so plenty of space for the dog, low load floor for it to jump in and out and its not so pricey that you will worry about the damage/smell it will pick up along the way.

Edit: Or a Skoda Fabia/Seat Ibiza estate will be similar.

Edited by KTF on Monday 9th December 17:44

[northwest monkey]

We've got a dog (cocker) & looked at a Juke. Decided against it as the boot lip was very high & the boot itself isn't particularly deep with the floor in place. Basically the dog was very close to the top of the back seats.

[philmots]

I've got a 30kg Lab and be goes in the boot of my 206 easily.. Jumps in and out no bother.

Like you I never really go far with him.. If I did long trips etc I'd probably look to get something maybe Focus size.

[Vladimir]

About to change from a small estate to a fairly small hatch. The dog will be fine; I hope!
Hatchbags are great for dog protection in boots.

[Monkeylegend]

I used to carry my old english sheepdog in the back of my TR6 with the roof down, and the back of my GT6, she loved it.

[frank hovis]

The wife takes our 45kg ridgeback in the boot of her 58 plate Civic , no issues
He use to fit in the boot of her 54 plate Polo but that was a tight squeeze !

[Justayellowbadge]

MNI Clubman.

Simply the perfect urban dog wagon.

[Fulvisti]

45kg black lab is more than happy in the boot of my wifes 07 Fiat Bravo, I put the seats down for him to jump in or else he overshoots and scones himself. Found that out the hard way poor guy. He would rather be in the back seat with his head out the window though.

[Bluebarge]

if you can't fold the rear seats then I think you're looking at an estate. We have a Lab and a new Polo - looking at the boot aperture, there isn't enough room for him to jump in lengthways without crashing into the seat backs and, once in the boot, he wouldn't have enough room to sit up. I don't think the Juke would be much different - don't know about the Jazz.

You might find a Fabia estate or Clio Sport tourer might fit the bill - not the prettiest cars, but massive boot for the size of car and a nice low load lip.

[Evil Monkey]

We took our Golden Retriever out in our 2005 Fiesta with no problems, just had to remove the parcel shelf. Don't forget the bottle of window cleaner to get all of the dog flob off your rear screen.

[Crockefeller]

A900ss said:

That is a good point and I'm not lifting the mutt.

It is a fit young dog though and the reason it needs to go into the car is to take it out to the fields everyday for an hour to two hour run.

Our dog is young and fit. He jumped into the boot of our 3 door civic no probs and sat there quite happily.....on the way to the fields. Coming back he would just look at me like an idiot until I picked up his stinky fox st body and put him.

I sold the civic and now he has to walk to the fields.

1-0 me.

[adsvx220]

I've also got a Labrador!! He gets in the back of my MINI Clubman Cooper S and lies down quite comfortably.

Adam

[Alucidnation]

Lets face it, if a dog knows that getting into the back of a car means 'walkies', they themselves will find a way to fit