Car for the dog

[Watchthis]

Looking for suggestions what I should buy. We have a medium sized dog and I need a suitable car. Budget is £9-13k, estate rather than SUV, hatchback would also work as long as doggo has enough space. I have a 3 series saloon so would rather have something different than an f31.

Looked at a 2.0hdi Peugeot308 sw GT line which was alright but that particular car was needing work and not worth money. Considered mercs etc but for my budget most are leggy. Happy buying private or trade.

[Silvanus]

If you want bang for your buck go for a Fiat Tipo MultijetII. Alternative to a Merc would be a Volvo V60 R-design. If you want something in the middle, SEAT Leon FR or Skoda Octaves vRS are both great. Wild card would be a Dacia Logan MCV Stepway. Bigger boot than most, surprisingly well equipped, nippy turbo engine and you could pick up a 2020 car with change and have few years manufacturer warranty. We have one as the family wagon and its great.

[edc]

If you liked the Peugeot how about a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso?

[stevemcs]

The dog will love an estate, big boot and lower to the floor.

You should be looking at an E Class, Mondeo, Astra (it’s bigger than the insignia) superb or Octavia, although I find the two the least reliable

[InitialDave]

Why not change your 3 series saloon for a touring, or are there other factors that make a second car beneficial?

[P. ONeill]

Find the best Volvo in your budget. A well specced V60 would be my choice.

[anonymous-user]

Dogs can't drive. Some can skateboard though.

[Watchthis]

InitialDave said:

Why not change your 3 series saloon for a touring, or are there other factors that make a second car beneficial?

We need two cars and I've owned my 3 series from new and have got very attached to it. The sensible thing would be to swap it for a 3 or 5 touring and buy a run about but I've looked after it to some would say an obsessive degree and I'd regret parting with it.

Someone mentioned Skodas and funnily enough I saw one that looked decent but that's interesting that they're not the most reliable.

I had a Q5 briefly but found it heavy on diesel and the dog didn't always like jumping up into the boot so it got sold on. Didn't realise it'd be such a faff finding something else decent

[Watchthis]

Silvanus said:

If you want bang for your buck go for a Fiat Tipo MultijetII. Alternative to a Merc would be a Volvo V60 R-design. If you want something in the middle, SEAT Leon FR or Skoda Octaves vRS are both great. Wild card would be a Dacia Logan MCV Stepway. Bigger boot than most, surprisingly well equipped, nippy turbo engine and you could pick up a 2020 car with change and have few years manufacturer warranty. We have one as the family wagon and its great.

I really like the look of the Tipo estate, had one a few years ago as a courtesy car but they're a bit underpowered if I remember correctly? I will investigate though, good shout.

Like Volvos also but the ones I'm seeing are a bit bland so far. Definitely keeping an eye out for a decent one

[Cambs_Stuart]

pocketspring said:

Dogs can't drive. Some can skateboard though.

Handy on a moped too.

[Silvanus]

Watchthis said:

Silvanus said:

If you want bang for your buck go for a Fiat Tipo MultijetII. Alternative to a Merc would be a Volvo V60 R-design. If you want something in the middle, SEAT Leon FR or Skoda Octaves vRS are both great. Wild card would be a Dacia Logan MCV Stepway. Bigger boot than most, surprisingly well equipped, nippy turbo engine and you could pick up a 2020 car with change and have few years manufacturer warranty. We have one as the family wagon and its great.

I really like the look of the Tipo estate, had one a few years ago as a courtesy car but they're a bit underpowered if I remember correctly? I will investigate though, good shout.

Like Volvos also but the ones I'm seeing are a bit bland so far. Definitely keeping an eye out for a decent one

you could pick up virtually a new one for your budget, Many PH will turn there noses up at the Tipo, but on paper it ticks a lot of boxes. I think I'd rather have a Tipo for practical duties than some ropey old high miler. It doesn't need to be lighting fast or handle like a rally car if its the family workhorse. Its why I chose my current car, doesn't make me any less of a car fan, certainly worth going and taking one of the top spec petrol or diesels out for a spin.

[stevemcs]

The boot on the V60 isn’t very big

[lost in espace]

I adopted 2 big dogs, got myself another T5 LWB. It is a bit overkill but I am never short of space! SWB would be more sensible I suppose, just a really versatile vehicle and you are higher up than a Range Rover.

[Doofus]

stevemcs said:

The dog will love an estate, big boot and lower to the floor.

You should be looking at an E Class, Mondeo, Astra (it’s bigger than the insignia) superb or Octavia, although I find the two the least reliable

We find our dog happier in a hammock on the back seat. Tethered to a seatbelt buckle means he's safer too. Plus we can use the boot for carrying things.

This means we don't need an estate.

Edited by Doofus on Saturday 10th September 12:50

[Turtle Shed]

Make sure it's got a sub-woofer.

[Wilmslowboy]

We've had many different flavours of car/ suv etc over the last 12 years of dog ownership.

If the dogs could talk I think they would suggest the Volvo V70 or BMW 5 touring were best.

[eldar]

The obvious answer is a Rover.

[Silvanus]

stevemcs said:

The boot on the V60 isn’t very big

Depends what you mean by big, was plenty big enough in mine when I gad one.

[stevemcs]

Silvanus said:

Depends what you mean by big, was plenty big enough in mine when I gad one.

Not much height, short in length, its only 60 litres bigger than a Golf, or 140 litres short of a Mondeo.

[croyde]

A Prius.