What car - off road / dog carrier

[Krise]

I have made some motoring choices of late that are coming back to bite me on the backside. I haven’t really considered the fact we have moved to the middle of no where, so need something with a bit of ground clearance, and also something with a bit more room.

I downsized from a V90 to a Fiesta ST, that went well for the first few weeks, but, space is fast becoming an issue as our new pooch of unknown origins when we acquired her is currently bulking a kilo a week and we suspect is more than likely going to be 30-40kg when she’s fully grown now we have a bit more information on her parents.

The missus quite likes the idea of a truck , dogs can jump in the back, along with all our crap, and of we go.

So a Disco, RR, RR sport are a bit to nice and will get mullered in the back.

I’ve been looking at Rangers, Hilux, L200’s Navara ect. Even the Hummer H3 caught my eye, not that keen on the Amarok and I understand the Merc X is just a Navara in a different dress ?

The only other is a classic Defender or classic G Wagen but must be an auto.

Long term car 10 years £35k will probably only do 5k a year what would you go for ? And have a missed anything ?


Krise

Edited by Krise on Monday 3rd October 11:42

[MesoForm]

Krise said:

So a Disco, RR, RR sport are a bit to nice and will get mullered in the back.
And have a missed anything ?

Disco Sport? Not as nice as the others in the LR/RR range but plenty big enough (we have a 35kg Lab and a 25kg woolly mess who go in the boot no problem) and very capable off-road. Has a flat boot floor and fairly vertical bootlid so that gives the dogs more space.
Only issue with dogs is that the boot is very high off the ground so you'll need a ramp as the dog gets older and isn't as athletic.

Mother-in-Law has a Grand Cherokee to ferry the same dogs about it, that has an even bigger boot and there's a small 'ledge' before the boot floor which, combined with air suspension, makes it much easier for the dogs to get in. Still needs a ramp as they're all quite old (dogs and MiL...) so lifting the dogs straight in isn't an option.

[LimaDelta]

I'm on my second Hilux and can't really fault them for our mission profile.

However, they are big - you have one dog, not an elephant. Any kids? If not have you considered the Jimny? It is pretty much unstoppable off road, and more inline with fiesta running costs than a FFRR/RRS will be. The new ones look great, and the rarity should ensure good residuals. Auto available too if that is the preference. Brilliant for narrow country lanes too.

[Ussrcossack]

with 5000 miles Per Annum, might be best avoiding a diesel with a DPF. it will only clog

[Krise]

LimaDelta said:

I'm on my second Hilux and can't really fault them for our mission profile.

However, they are big - you have one dog, not an elephant. Any kids? If not have you considered the Jimny? It is pretty much unstoppable off road, and more inline with fiesta running costs than a FFRR/RRS will be. The new ones look great, and the rarity should ensure good residuals. Auto available too if that is the preference. Brilliant for narrow country lanes too.

We have another dog although she is tiny but she likes her space 🤣🤣, plus kids, while we don’t need full on off road capability the roads always flood with the slightest bit of rain where we are, plus it looks like we are going to be renovating rather than selling our house now so some materials lugging capability would be great also, I did look at a Jimmy but just to small

[LimaDelta]

Krise said:

LimaDelta said:

I'm on my second Hilux and can't really fault them for our mission profile.

However, they are big - you have one dog, not an elephant. Any kids? If not have you considered the Jimny? It is pretty much unstoppable off road, and more inline with fiesta running costs than a FFRR/RRS will be. The new ones look great, and the rarity should ensure good residuals. Auto available too if that is the preference. Brilliant for narrow country lanes too.

We have another dog although she is tiny but she likes her space ????, plus kids, while we don’t need full on off road capability the roads always flood with the slightest bit of rain where we are, plus it looks like we are going to be renovating rather than selling our house now so some materials lugging capability would be great also, I did look at a Jimmy but just to small

With kids then yes, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Hilux. Solid and nicely done inside, without the worry of muddy/sticky paws and hands all over the £6k leather option seats. Blend in well in the countryside (as long as they aren't covered in chrome tat), and more than capable in most functional (rather than deliberately challenging OLLI) off-road situations.

[Pistonheader101]

have you thought of something smaller but boxy, like a skoda yeti?

[Tigerj]

We were just in a similar position albeit lower budget. Disco sports seem to have dpf issues and low mileage put us off diesels. We have gone for an outlander PHEV. Not the most exciting thing in the worlds but big enough for two dogs and all our kit. Plus decent economy out of big petrol car.

[ChattingWham]

Subaru Outback springs to mind

[Krise]

ChattingWham said:

Subaru Outback springs to mind

The outback looks interesting, and for the budget could get an almost new one.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206076...

This with a matt black wrap would tick a lot of boxes, would just need to make the boot dog proof, not sure how long that nice looking carpet would last.

[MesoForm]

Krise said:

The outback looks interesting, and for the budget could get an almost new one.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206076...

This with a matt black wrap would tick a lot of boxes, would just need to make the boot dog proof, not sure how long that nice looking carpet would last.

I got a boot liner from these people
https://www.ukcustomcovers.com/
Fits perfectly and I give it a hose down every now and again, carpet underneath is fine.

[LimaDelta]

Krise said:

ChattingWham said:

Subaru Outback springs to mind

The outback looks interesting, and for the budget could get an almost new one.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206076...

This with a matt black wrap would tick a lot of boxes, would just need to make the boot dog proof, not sure how long that nice looking carpet would last.

We also had an outback, which while better dynamically than the Hilux, was full of nannying tech. That may or may not bother you, but in the end I'd had enough of constantly fighting the car for control. It's favourite party trick was when I timed a gap in traffic when joining a roundabout (you know, you start pulling out as another car is crossing left to right in front of you) and it would panic brake for me, just as I got rolling 'because collision detection' It was a very nervous car. I believe the Hilux has the same auto braking function, but I've never managed to trigger it. With the Outback it was going off on almost every drive. Otherwise it was a good (if thirsty) countryside family hack.

[Krise]

So obvious question, Pistonheads and all, STI version ?

The wife will be driving mostly, I have the ST and a KTM for my fixes so the nanny state tech will be fine for her as she hasn’t actually got her license yet !!

There’s a dealer just up the road also ;-) !

[jason61c]

The newest Landcrusier you can get?

[Krise]

jason61c said:

The newest Landcrusier you can get?

Ruled a land cruiser out, bulletproof, big enough and does everything well but there is just something about them I don’t like, don’t know what it is just can’t have one.

[66HFM]

We had a Discovery 4, which was great for everything, 3 kids in individual seats, huge boots with the last two seats fully folded away as well.
If you get an LR boot mat - they are properly thick and used to being hosed down, you can also buy waterproof seat covers for all along with proper LR car rubber mats.
In fact it was the longest period I had ever kept a car and great for going off road and unmade roads.
Go for one of the last ones (15/16) before they moved to the Disco 5.

The boot is also van like with all the seats down and has the added benefit of a split fold tailgate... I'm trying to think why we sold ours and bought an Evoque now....

[LimaDelta]

66HFM said:

We had a Discovery 4, which was great for everything, 3 kids in individual seats, huge boots with the last two seats fully folded away as well.
If you get an LR boot mat - they are properly thick and used to being hosed down, you can also buy waterproof seat covers for all along with proper LR car rubber mats.
In fact it was the longest period I had ever kept a car and great for going off road and unmade roads.
Go for one of the last ones (15/16) before they moved to the Disco 5.

The boot is also van like with all the seats down and has the added benefit of a split fold tailgate... I'm trying to think why we sold ours and bought an Evoque now....

We loved ours too, IMHO Land Rover peaked with the Disco 4. If only they could produce something as good again.

[Sporky]

I get a 35kg Old English Sheepdog, a 38kg Newfypoo, me, my best beloved, and luggage for a week for the four of us in a Golf Alltrack. Skoda Octavia Scout is the same thing.

[Walter Sobchak]

Krise said:

Ruled a land cruiser out, bulletproof, big enough and does everything well but there is just something about them I don’t like, don’t know what it is just can’t have one.

Don’t break down enough for you? .

[ZX10R NIN]

With an annual mileage of 5k per year I'd go for something American.

Tundra:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204109564406?hash=item2...

Ram:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285000359748?hash=item4...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209119...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209270...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209049...

RHD:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125560956265?hash=item1...

F150:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185593047605?hash=item2...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206196...

Fully Leftfield.

Ram SRT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207047...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134231678136?hash=item1...

All will last 10 years plus with ease.