Dog Estate, £5k for canine, boat tow and continental duties

[TiminYorkshire]

So an amalgamation of an old past thread and where I'm at now...

This is my predicament, currently I have an MX5 as my 2nd car, a yellow Mk1. It's low, bumpy (on BC racing coil overs) and noisy, but great fun, so used for alternative commuting transport when the weather is looking dryish, local weekend transport when the sun is out and not a lot else. It also steps in as transport when either my day to day vehicle (VW T4 van used as a mobile surf shed/camper/daily driver) is at the garage, or the girlfriend's Corsa is at the garage.

We now have this:



So the dog has arrived and an MX5 isn't ideal, the dog has a fair bit of growing to do. Basically the car will have to be used as main dog transport as there is limited room in the van for dog + surf boards (the dog is only 13 weeks in the photo and has a lot of growing to do), and the girlfriend doesn't want her car becoming a dog smelling shed. It'll have to do continental trips to France, Austria and beyond, so not too horrific on fuel (a previous XJR averaged 23mpg, 30 would be better on a long run).It may also be used for sporadic boat towing and launch duties (a small Rib, looking to get a slightly larger one that will be circa 1te inc trailer). Being handy in the odd snow dump we have here on the Yorkshire Moors would also be a plus. And some character of some sort.

Therefore thoughts on vehicles for dog have progressed to (using some previous input):

Disco 2 TD5
Pros: 4wd, can tow boat and launch on slippy slipways, a Landrover, 4wd for in snow on t'Yorkshire Moors, high driving position, like the light leather interiors
Cons: Slow, rear chassis rust, leaking sunroofs, bits and pieces to keep on top of. ACE/air bag rear suspension & 3 amigos, fuel consumption, a bit pricey for an old wagon (£4-5k for a facelift in good nick)....

Audi A6 C5 TDi Allroad manual:
Pros: 4wd, can tow boat and launch on slippy slipways,4wd for in snow on t'Yorkshire Moors, fuel consumption ok for continental trips. Probably cheaper than a Disco 2. Can raise the suspension..
Cons: Air suspension. Chocolate cams?

Audi A6 C5 2.5TDi V6 avant:
Pros: 4wd, can tow boat and launch on slippy slipways,4wd for in snow on t'Yorkshire Moors, fuel consumption reasonable for continental trips. No air suspension. Probably cheaper than an Allroad
Cons: Chocolate cams? Less "different". Can't raise the suspension.

Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Spec B Manual
Pros: 4wd, can tow boat and launch on slippy slipways,4wd for in snow on t'Yorkshire Moors, Flat 6. Probably cheaper than a Disco 2. Probably more reliable than all the above.
Cons: Fuel consumption. Specifc parts, rusty suspension struts.

Any further ideas for dog/boat transport? Given I don't like many of the sportage/hilux surf/shogun sport type off roaders. £5k max as it'll be a 3rd vehicle, 4wd preferable but not necessarily essential (as a grey fergie is looking very likely for home based boat launching to its mooring).

No rush, I'll probably only get round to doing some purchasing in May/June ! In the meantime my van is now officially full with a dog crate and struggles to fit surfboards in

Edited by TiminYorkshire on Monday 6th March 20:48

[PositronicRay]

Sounds like a Mondingo

[spookly]

Estate?? That dog isn't very big even if he's going to grow.

I've had great danes sat in the back of an E Class, BMW 330ci convertible, Audi S4 convertible, rear seats of a Jeep GC, and currently have two danes in the back of a Golf Estate.

[TiminYorkshire]

spookly said:

Estate?? That dog isn't very big even if he's going to grow.

He's still growing!



He should be pointer size when he's finished (being a wire haired Vizsla), not huge, but not titchy. I understand he could go on the back seats quite happily, but when we go places we take tonnes of rubbish (bikes, boards etc.) and when friends and family are staying a 5/7 seater plus boot for the dog is a big plus, then only one person has to miss out on the Black Sheep!

[PositronicRay]

In that case a Ford Galaxy

[otolith]

I got an E320cdi Merc estate for the same sort of budget and a GSD sized dog problem. It's a 7-seater too, though two of the are folding jump seats in the boot.

[Heaveho]

We've been using a Lexus IS300 Sportcross as a cross between landfill and a dog kennel for the last 6 years or so. They're all getting on a bit now as they stopped making them in 2005, but take miles very well, dead reliable cars. And dirt cheap now. An 80k miler with history would sell for about 2.5k. Possibly a bit short on character though. The dog loves ours! And obviously, she's all that matters.......

[TiminYorkshire]

otolith said:

I got an E320cdi Merc estate for the same sort of budget and a GSD sized dog problem. It's a 7-seater too, though two of the are folding jump seats in the boot.

Is that the earlier IL6 or the V6? How are you finding the maintenance? Could be suitable apart from boat launch duties, but that's lower down the list, I guess it would tow well.

[Speed addicted]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Something like this?
I bought a Legacy 2.5 (for about half your budget) as a utility car because they're typically reliable and decently enjoyable to drive.

[spookly]

TiminYorkshire said:

spookly said:

Estate?? That dog isn't very big even if he's going to grow.

He's still growing!



He should be pointer size when he's finished (being a wire haired Vizsla), not huge, but not titchy. I understand he could go on the back seats quite happily, but when we go places we take tonnes of rubbish (bikes, boards etc.) and when friends and family are staying a 5/7 seater plus boot for the dog is a big plus, then only one person has to miss out on the Black Sheep!

Wire haired Vizslas are lovely, not that big though.



Fully grown bh is 57Kg.
Puppy is currently 38Kg at almost 5 months, will probably reach abut 90Kg range.
They can fit comfortably in smaller things than you think.

[TiminYorkshire]

Speed addicted said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Something like this?
I bought a Legacy 2.5 (for about half your budget) as a utility car because they're typically reliable and decently enjoyable to drive.

Legacy and Outbacks are under consideration, happy to pay less than £5k! Out of interest how big is the Legacy tank and what kind of range do you get on it? Once upon a time I had an old '96 GTB and the tank was pitifully small, made long trips a bit of a chore.

Edited by TiminYorkshire on Tuesday 7th March 08:16

[Speed addicted]

TiminYorkshire said:

Legacy and Outbacks are under consideration, happy to pay less than £5k! Out of interest how big is the Legacy tank and what kind of range do you get on it? Once upon a time I had a an old '96 GTB and the tank was pitifully small, made long trips a bit of a chore.

Just looked it up, 64 litre tank. I'm only on my second tankful at the moment (bought the car then went offshore) the first tankful averaged 27mpg on the trip computer with a mixture of town and fast country roads. Other people are getting better MPG in the 30+.
Should have a range of 400+ miles on a decent run.

The 2.5 is quite a bit less thirsty than the 3.0 apparently, it's not hugely fast but it's enough for what I want to do with it.

[confused_buyer]

E320 CDI is a good shout. Volvo XC70 or V70 AWD should also be on the list. Wouldn't bother with the Audi personally - suspension a pain in the whatsit and the 2.5 a pretty poor engine which is poor on fuel and high on maintenance.

[otolith]

TiminYorkshire said:

otolith said:

I got an E320cdi Merc estate for the same sort of budget and a GSD sized dog problem. It's a 7-seater too, though two of the are folding jump seats in the boot.

Is that the earlier IL6 or the V6? How are you finding the maintenance? Could be suitable apart from boat launch duties, but that's lower down the list, I guess it would tow well.

They replaced the I6 with the V6 a year before the facelift. It's one of those cars, with the newer engine and 7-speed transmission but the older everything else. The facelift cars are apparently less risky.

So far it's needed a new bonnet release cable, touch wood everything else is fine, though I only bought it in October.

[TiminYorkshire]

^ Sounds good, I've noticed there doesn't seem to be much love for the TD5 Discovery yet...

[Speed addicted]

TiminYorkshire said:

^ Sounds good, I've noticed there doesn't seem to be much love for the TD5 Discovery yet...

I assumed that you would like to return from the continental trips?
I don't have any ownership experiences of Discoverys, but I've driven quite a few and know a lot of people that bought them. There isn't a long enough barge pole.

[confused_buyer]

If you go for the Merc make sure you have a good local garage with decent diagnostics as if anything does go wrong on them the default Mercedes dealer cost to fix any of the common problems is £2k. Never seems to be less!

Watch out for failing swirl flaps and motors (can be mapped out), dodgy glow plugs, failing turbo actuators, poor cold starting and/or worn injectors, valvebody on 7-speed auto can play up as well. (This is on V6).

I6 is probably inherently more reliable if less refined (more economical though) and it's most common issue is leaking injector seals.

At this age you will also have SBC to worry about the the Valeo radiator issue wasn't fully resolved until late 2005 despite what some people may tell you.

[TurboHatchback]

The boat launching would push me towards a large proper 4x4 with an automatic transmission, many people have ended up with their car underwater from getting that wrong or using the wrong vehicle. My personal biased opinion would be towards a WK Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD Overland. They have the best 4x4 system in the business and are noticeably faster and more refined than any other proper 4x4 at the price point.

If you want a car rather than a 4x4 I would look at an Audi A6 (C6) Quattro estate with either the 2.7tdi, 3.0 tdi, 4.2l petrol or 4.2l FSI petrol. They are hugely spacious, should have enough weight and traction to make a decent attempt at boat launching/recovery and are really nice to live with.

[TiminYorkshire]

I launch my current Rib (a small 4m Avon Searider) using my T4 van, on to its mooring so launch and recovery only once a year at high tide. Potentially we might be upgrading to a 5.4m searider with a view to trailing it to the west coast of Scotland may be once a year, so launching requirements are lower down the pecking order, more of a nice to have...

Do the A6 (C6) have any big issues to look out for? And are they "proper" Quattro or haldex like some of the other VAG group?

I didn't realise those newer Grand Cherokees were so cheap! The girlfriend thinks the older ones look old mannish, but I may try and get her to look at/try one of the 3.0crds.

Edited by TiminYorkshire on Tuesday 7th March 11:49 Cherokee stuff

Edited by TiminYorkshire on Tuesday 7th March 11:50

[TurboHatchback]

TiminYorkshire said:

I launch my current Rib (a small 4m Avon Searider) using my T4 van, on to its mooring so launch and recovery only once a year at high tide. Potentially we might be upgrading to a 5.4m searider with a view to trailing it to the west coast of Scotland may be once a year, so launching requirements are lower down the pecking order, more of a nice to have...

Do the A6 (C6) have any big issues to look out for? And are they "proper" Quattro or haldex like some of the other VAG group?

Fair enough, I'm personally looking to purchase a boat in the 18-23ft range and am quite glad I have a Jeep to launch it though it would be overkill for a 4m rib.

The A6 has proper Torsen Quattro, it works very well. The only issues I'm aware of are the older 4.2 V8 needs rather expensive cambelt changes, there are stories of cam chain issues and carbon buildup on the later FSI V8 though I owned one for some time and it was great. The transmissions are 'sealed for life', they are strong and most seem to go to well over 150k without issue but I would be happiest with a fluid change on a higher mileage car.