Dog friendly, fun everyday car?

[Unlight]

Having trouble finding a good all rounder, here the criteria :

- Max budget of £7.5k
- Practical, everyday daily driver
- Reliable
- Dog Friendly (large lab sized dog in it regularly)
- Slightly fun or quirky

I only do a max of 8k a year so am after a petrol.

So far all I've been thinking of is a Mini Clubman Cooper S, or an Audi S4 Avant (but my budget isn't enough for the latter I believe).

Any opinions or suggestions?

[billzeebub]

Subaru Impreza Turbo Wagon
Legacy/Forester

[pinchmeimdreamin]

We regularly have our 2 Labs in both the Focus ST and the Megane Coupe. So it doesn't need to be an estate.

[rottie102]

I might just have something perfect for you

[Unlight]

rottie102 said:

I might just have something perfect for you

Nice! If you fancy selling the RS6 for my budget let me know though!

Impreza Wagon is nice, but don't think I'd like to put my whole budget into one. Don't think the budget quite stretches to a decent facelifted Forester STI unfortunately!

[Fentons]

Saab 93

[sparkythecat]

Unlight said:

Having trouble finding a good all rounder, here the criteria :

- Max budget of £7.5k
- Practical, everyday daily driver
- Reliable
- Dog Friendly (large lab sized dog in it regularly)
- Slightly fun or quirky

KIA Soul and Nissan Juke tick boxes 1,2,3 and 5.
As for box 4, boot capacity of both is circa 350litre. How fat is your Labrador?

As a bonus, both these cars will be cheap to run,

[RowntreesCabana]

It depends what sort of dog you have I suppose. If its a great dane that he shouldn't have any problem reaching the pedals, a jack russel however may be better off with a small auto.

[wildcat45]

Volvo 850 T5R?

[IanCress]

Sub £8k VRS?

[Krikkit]

sparkythecat said:

KIA Soul and Nissan Juke tick boxes 1,2,3 and 5.
As for box 4, boot capacity of both is circa 350litre. How fat is your Labrador?

As a bonus, both these cars will be cheap to run,

And in no possible sense of the word are they fun.

[rottie102]

Unlight said:

Nice! If you fancy selling the RS6 for my budget let me know though!

You have a PM

[sparkythecat]

Krikkit said:

sparkythecat said:

KIA Soul and Nissan Juke tick boxes 1,2,3 and 5.
As for box 4, boot capacity of both is circa 350litre. How fat is your Labrador?

As a bonus, both these cars will be cheap to run,

And in no possible sense of the word are they fun.

Erm...The options were " Slightly fun or quirky"
Both cars I suggested are slightly quirky.

[silverthorn2151]

Why not a Fiat Multiplayer. Pretty damm quirky.

[User33678888]

RowntreesCabana said:

It depends what sort of dog you have I suppose. If its a great dane that he shouldn't have any problem reaching the pedals, a jack russel however may be better off with a small auto.

Ha

[Justayellowbadge]

Our two springers have a Cooper S Clubman.

Living in London, I cannot think of a better suited dog wagon for us.

[markevo6]

I use a Golf Mk5 Gti Dsg as my daily /dog ( English Bulldog ) carrier .

Works for me

[Rouleur]

Golf GTI
Leon FR
Megane R26

[Justayellowbadge]

Just take the fking picture or I'm going to come over there...

[mccrackenj]

Mercedes R129, seriously

For the last 6 years my car choices have been influenced by the dogs. I went so far as to replace a lovely Mercedes W124 estate for a Honda Jazz because 1 of the 2 labs wouldn't jump into it, just flatly refused!

Settled on a Jazz because of the way the seat bases fold up and the dogs can just walk in to the car via the rear passenger doors without climbing over anything.

Anyway sadly and unexpectedly we now only have 1 lab - and he hates the Jazz! Bought a R129 recently and he just hops in and settles himself on the tiny rear bench.

So, go on, if you love your dog get a R129 - you know it makes sense.